an ink metering system for a roller train in a printing machine which in the illustrated embodiment includes a fountain roller and a downstream train of rollers communicating with a plate or form cylinder of the printing press . one or more plating devices are provided which each have a plate - like element adjustably positionable with respect to a respective roller for leveling ink on the surface of the roller before or after passage through a contact zone with an adjacent roller in which ink is pulled off and separated between the rollers . the plating devices are relatively simple in construction and operation and provide stable ink guidance on the roller surfaces that noticeably improves print quality .