A blanket is a flexible rubber or rubber-like material that is used to transfer the image from the printing plate to the paper or other material being printed on. The blanket is typically mounted on a cylinder that is in contact with the plate cylinder, which carries the inked printing plate. As the plate cylinder rotates, the ink is transferred from the plate to the blanket. The blanket then comes into contact with the paper or other material, transferring the ink from the blanket to the paper. The blanket is designed to be slightly porous, which allows it to absorb a small amount of ink from the plate and transfer it to the paper. The blanket is also cleaned after each print run to remove any excess ink, and it is also replaced periodically to ensure consistent ink transfer and to prevent any damage to the press.