In the print industry, trapping refers to the ability of one ink to print correctly over another. When two or more process colors overlap (like cyan over magenta), they need to “trap” properly — meaning the second ink must adhere to the dried or semi-dried surface of the first ink without issues. Poor trapping leads to color shifts, muddy overprints, or visible gaps between colors — directly affecting final print quality.
Several factors influence trapping: ink tack (stickiness), drying time, press speed, and substrate absorbency. For example, if ink dries too fast or the surface is too slick, the second ink may not stick well — resulting in low trapping. This is especially critical in high-speed printing where trapping impacts the clarity of blended colors and overall sharpness.
How a Spectrodensitometer Helps ?
You can’t evaluate trapping just by looking — it needs to be measured, and that’s where a spectrodensitometer becomes essential. 3nh Spectrodensitometer YD5010 can accurately measure the trap percentage using a built-in formula known as the Preucil method:
Where:
• D₁ = density of the first ink
• D₂ = density of the second ink
• Dₒₚ = density of the overprint
But you don’t have to do any of this manually — the device handles it for you. Once you measure the solid ink density of single color (like Cyan and Magenta) and their overprint density (e.g., Blue = Cyan + Magenta) the spectrodensitometer instantly shows the trapping value on screen. This makes it easy for press operators and quality teams to take corrective actions if needed.
So, What’s a good trapping percentage ?
• 70–85% → Excellent trapping (great ink transfer and color strength)
• 60–70% → Acceptable, but may need monitoring
• Below 60% → Poor trapping — possible ink or press issues
With this data, you can spot problems early, adjust ink or roller settings, and maintain high print quality across your entire run.
Why Trapping Matters ?
Good trapping ensures:
• Color accuracy (correct overprints)
• Image sharpness
• Consistent quality across the press run
If trapping is low, it could signal ink problems, poor press conditions, or substrate issues — and can be corrected before wasting a full job.
In short, trapping is a critical part of print quality, and with a spectrodensitometer, you can measure it precisely and improve your results with confidence.