Fluid Movements

He explains that because gravure presses typically run with the blade in a trailing, or positive doctoring configuration, the conversion to enclosed systems—which doctor in a reverse, or negative doctoring configuration—is difficult.

Edward Graphics' testing of chambered systems for gravure has found that the process's chrome-coated cylinders can be damaged or worn fairly quickly when doctoring in enclosed systems' negative configuration. Foley says "drying in," or ink drying in the cells of the engraved cylinder, can also become an issue with chambered systems. The ink does not have much time to re-wet and therefore can lose color strength as the run progresses.