We all know the old saying that oil and water don’t mix. Interestingly, that is the concept behind lithography, as oil-based inks are almost completely repelled by water on the plates, forming a slight emulsion.     Unfortunately, though, emulsification, or ink/water balance, is the largest headache for offset printers. It’s not just the ink and fountain solutions; plates, substrates, temperature, humidity and pigment strength, are among the many factors that can derail the ...