Surface printing is an automated printing method. It first used in 1839. Most wallpaper was originally printed on surface printing machines. Surface printing machines are structured similarly to a ferris wheel, with a large central roller over which the paper travels; the individual ink rollers transfer an image to the paper on the main roller.
Surface printing was first used in 1839.[1] It is the oldest automated printing method still in use today.[2] Most wallpaper was originally printed on surface printing machines.[3]
Surface printing machines are structured similarly to a ferris wheel, with a large central roller that the paper travels over. Up to 12 individual ink rollers transfer an image to the paper on the main roller, laying down heavy amounts of ink.[4][5] Because the ink is pushed onto the paper, the images are not as crisp as the other methods.[citation needed] Also, there is no drying stage between laying down each color, so the order of color run-throughs is very important to keep the inks from running into each other.[citation needed] Because of the amount of ink required for impressions, and the inexact image rendering, surface printing has a very distinct look.[citation needed]