Question About Line Pairs

I have a question that is a follow-up to two threads: one was mine https://goscf.com/t/6703 but I can't find the other one.

My question has to do with the LINE in these pairs. In this 597 pair, the line is crisp and well-defined.



But in this 598 pair, the line is poorly defined



In the thread I can't find, there was some talk about how ink collects during the printing process then fills/flows ... I don't know; this is were I got lost.

Can someone refresh my memory and please tell me what I'm talking about

Thanks,
Kirk

Both are joint line pairs. In the rotary press, the originally flat plate was curled into a cylinder. Where the ends of the plate meet, is called the joint. Ink will fill into this joint, resulting in the printing of the joint line.

The joint line is straight, but the inking may not be uniform or overinked, or even gunk gets stuck to the joint. So sometimes you get fragmented joint lines, or you get the blotchy lines as shown in your 1.5c Harding.