Present Development: With the G.A.T.F. Press Inkometer.

The Press Inkometer is a sensing instrument developed by the Graphic Arts Technical Foundation used to detect and measure the ink/water balance on an operating offset press. A test model has been developed which closes the Inkometer control loop resulting in the direct control of the dampening fountain roller speed. Based on the operational data of this test model, a production prototype built his unit has undergone laboratory tests and the results of these tests indicate that press dampening can be automatically controlled by sensing apparent ink tack.