Troubleshooting Checklist: Blurred Print When Pad Printing?

Unsharp printing means blurred reproduction of lines or lettering.

PROBLEM	SOLUTION
Pad too soft	Use a harder pad.
Pad wrong shape	Use a different shape
Cliché etching inaccurate	Make a new cliché.
Wrong type of screen	Test a new cliché with a different screen.
Wrong type of cliché	Use the suitable cliché type (e.g., steel in place of polymer).
Etching too deep.	Etch a new cliché with less depth.
Ink too thick	Add more thinner.
Ink too thin	Reduce the amount of thinner.
Slow drying	Use a faster-drying thinner or cliché pause.