Patent ID: 8720335

Claim:
A method of proofing ink prior to application of the ink to a printing press, the method comprising: preparing a printing plate of a photopolymer material; securing the printing plate to an impression roll, the impression roll disposed in a handle assembly; disposing an anilox roll proximate the impression roll, the anilox roll disposed in the handle assembly; providing a first micrometer to the handle assembly such that the first micrometer can, by rotational adjustment, set a minimum distance between the anilox roll and the impression roll; providing a second micrometer to the handle assembly; adjusting the second micrometer to set a minimum distance between the impression roll and a substrate and to define a setting for a nip between the printing plate and the substrate; providing a positive rotational linkage between the anilox roll and the impression roll providing ink to the anilox roll; inking the printing plate by contacting the anilox roll to the printing plate disposed on the impression roll to generate an image on the substrate, the image having a color property; generating an ink proof on the substrate; and adjusting the second micrometer to change the nip setting between the printing plate and the substrate to alter the color property of a future image.