A mandrel assembly for a can decorator, said mandrel assembly including an elongated mandrel shaft assembly and a mandrel, wherein: the mandrel comprises an elongated mandrel body including an outer surface, a proximal, first end, a proximal medial portion, a distal medial portion, and a distal, second end and having an axis of rotation; and said mandrel body outer surface includes an elongated conical portion disposed adjacently about said proximal, first end; characterized in that said mandrel body outer surface includes a cylindrical portion disposed adjacently about said distal medial portion and said second end, the cylindrical portion defining a non-engagement surface; and wherein: the mandrel shaft assembly includes an elongated body that defines a mandrel shaft body vacuum conduit that, when in fluid communication with a negative pressure generator, is structured to bias a can against the mandrel to draw the can against the conical portion while the cylindrical portion extends into the can; and said elongated mandrel body defines a number of mandrel body pressure conduits having an inlet disposed at the mandrel body first end and an outlet disposed adjacent the mandrel body outer surface non-engagement surface that, when in fluid communication with a positive pressure generator, is structured so that a space between the cylindrical portion and the can is pressurized so as to resist deformations in the can during a decorating process. the mandrel comprises an elongated mandrel body including an outer surface, a proximal, first end, a proximal medial portion, a distal medial portion, and a distal, second end and having an axis of rotation; and said mandrel body outer surface includes an elongated conical portion disposed adjacently about said proximal, first end; characterized in that said mandrel body outer surface includes a cylindrical portion disposed adjacently about said distal medial portion and said second end, the cylindrical portion defining a non-engagement surface; and wherein: the mandrel shaft assembly includes an elongated body that defines a mandrel shaft body vacuum conduit that, when in fluid communication with a negative pressure generator, is structured to bias a can against the mandrel to draw the can against the conical portion while the cylindrical portion extends into the can; and said elongated mandrel body defines a number of mandrel body pressure conduits having an inlet disposed at the mandrel body first end and an outlet disposed adjacent the mandrel body outer surface non-engagement surface that, when in fluid communication with a positive pressure generator, is structured so that a space between the cylindrical portion and the can is pressurized so as to resist deformations in the can during a decorating process. the mandrel shaft assembly includes an elongated body that defines a mandrel shaft body vacuum conduit that, when in fluid communication with a negative pressure generator, is structured to bias a can against the mandrel to draw the can against the conical portion while the cylindrical portion extends into the can; and said elongated mandrel body defines a number of mandrel body pressure conduits having an inlet disposed at the mandrel body first end and an outlet disposed adjacent the mandrel body outer surface non-engagement surface that, when in fluid communication with a positive pressure generator, is structured so that a space between the cylindrical portion and the can is pressurized so as to resist deformations in the can during a decorating process.