Scooping in Pad Printing
Scooping is one of the most common and insidious defects in pad printing. It occurs when the squeegee—whether flexible or under pressure—enters too deeply into the plate’s engraving, removing an excessive amount of ink. The result is an uneven print, with heavier edges and a visibly lighter or even “empty” center.

Why Scooping Occurs
Scooping is almost always linked to a combination of mechanical and technical factors: Very large print areas (full areas) that do not provide support for the squeegee. Plates that are too deep or too soft, which give way under the pressure of the blade. Worn or overly flexible squeegees, which tend to bend toward the inside of the engraving. Excessive working pressure, which amplifies the phenomenon. When the squeegee “digs” into the plate, the ink is removed unevenly: the edge retains more color, while the center empties.

How to Prevents Scooping
In pad printing, the screen is not used to create gradients as in offset printing, but has a structural function.
Inside the engraving, the screen creates micro-pillars that physically support the doctor blade and prevent it from sinking into the plate.

This leads to three immediate benefits:

Uniform ink distribution over the entire printed area.

Reduction of wear on the doctor blade and inkcup.

Maggiore costanza di stampa dalla prima all’ultima copia.

Which screen to Choose to Avoid Scooping
The choice of liner is essential to balance support and ink quantity:

120–150 L/cm (fine screen) — for fine details, but less suitable for solid bottoms.

80–100 L/cm (medium screen) — the most versatile and recommended solution in most cases.

54–60 L/cm (coarse screen) — ideal for very opaque inks or prints that require a thicker layer.

The standard 45° angle avoids visual interference with the lines of the logo and keeps the edges clean.

How to Prevent Scooping in the Engraving Process
To achieve a stable and scooping-resistant cliché, it is essential to follow the correct exposure procedure:

Prima esposizione con la pellicola del logo.

Seconda esposizione con il retino su tutta la lastra, con un tempo leggermente inferiore.

Un retino troppo fine o un’esposizione eccessiva possono “chiudere” l’incisione, riducendo il volume d’inchiostro disponibile e causando stampe sbiadite .

Perché è Importante per i Clienti di Etampo
Offrire cliché e retini di qualità significa garantire:
meno difetti come lo scooping,
maggiore durata delle racle,
stampe più uniformi e professionali,
processi produttivi più stabili e prevedibili.
È un dettaglio tecnico che fa una grande differenza nella resa finale.