Anti-marking covering for printing press transfer cylinder

A method for preventing ink marking of freshly printed sheets conveyed on a printing press transfer cylinder, comprising the steps of:

• (a) applying a covering to the transfer cylinder, said covering having a structure including a thickness with an inner surface facing the transfer cylinder and an outer surface facing outwardly toward the sheets to be conveyed, and further having an axial air permeability through the covering parallel to its outer surface sufficient to allow an air layer to be maintained between the printed sheets and the covering when the transfer cylinder is rotated, said outer surface of said covering being a substantially uniform surface free of raised areas that might protrude through the air layer and make contact with the printed sheets;
• and
• (b) conveying the printed sheets by rotating the transfer cylinder having the covering applied thereon so as to allow the air layer to be maintained under the printed sheets due to the axial air permeability and substantially uniform outer surface of the covering, whereby contact between the printed sheets and the cylinder is avoided,
• wherein said covering is 100% rayon hydroentangled nonwoven fabric subjected to comb-roll microcreping for compressive forming of microcreped areas in the outer surface of the fabric.