The plates designed for use on web-offset presses can yield 300,000 to 500,000 impressions. Waterless plates used on sheet-fed presses are commonly rated for runs of 100,000 to 200,000 impressions. Waterless printing yields higher ink densities and a broader color spectrum than conventional offset printing does. The image surface of a waterless plate is intaglio (recessed), allowing the plate to carry a greater volume of ink than a conventional plate does and allowing extremely high screen rulings, ranging from 300 to well over 800 lpi (lines per inch). This temperature distinction is achieved by running chilled water through tubing in hollow cores of two or more vibrating rollers which are found inside ink trains on printing presses. The temperature of the inks must be strictly controlled to maintain the correct viscosity, as the plate surface is designed to repel inks of a specific viscosity.

Waterless offset inks have a higher tack and viscosity (thickness) and are generally stiffer than conventional offset inks. Direct imaging (digital) offset presses are waterless, with no dampening system. A more common design includes a dampening system to allow the press to function conventionally when required. A waterless press resembles a conventional offset press, with the absence of a dampening system. These presses function because the plate's non-image areas consist of a layer of silicon that repels ink. Waterless offset presses do not use a dampening solution to keep the plate's non-image areas free of ink. Typically, a temperature-control system is integrated. Waterless printing employs silicone rubber-coated printing plates and specially formulated inks. Proponents of the technology claim efficiency and ecological benefits. Unlike traditional printing presses, waterless offset presses do not use a dampening solution to clear the press of ink. Waterless printing is an offset lithographic printing process that eliminates the use of water or the dampening system used in conventional printing. ( Learn how and when to remove this template message) ( November 2021) ( Learn how and when to remove this template message) See Wikipedia's guide to writing better articles for suggestions. This article's tone or style may not reflect the encyclopedic tone used on Wikipedia.

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