Abstract:High-speed overprinting of intermediate colors onto intermediate colors is a mainstream process in the high-end printing industry. However, the diversity of intermediate colors, including gloss, low gloss, reflective, and matte finishes, increases the complexity of registration recognition in multi-cylinder systems. To address this challenge, this study proposes a registration control method based on photoelectric sensor detection. The proposed method analyzes the time series detected by photoelectric sensors during the printing process to automatically infer and identify the waveform characteristics of color marks. The distances between color marks on different cylinders are precisely calculated, and adjustment pulses are generated for real-time error correction. Experimental verification is performed on a four-color printing press for decorative paper. The proposed method demonstrates the ability to handle the detection and recognition of various intermediate color bands, achieving precise registration control. The detection response time reaches 400 μs, meeting the high-speed printing requirements of 300 m/min. This study provides an effective technical reference for registration control in high-speed multi-color printing.