Abstract: A profiled roller for pressing sheet material evenly against a roller that applies a film of liquid to the material, without collecting or forming a meniscus of the liquid in the absence of material to be moistened, comprises on a core a sleeve composed of many contiguous identical rings each provided with a peripheral series of protuberances that recur n times circumferentially thereof with each ring turned circumferentially relative to a contiguous ring at an angle thereto of less than 360.degree./n. The tops of the protuberances, each having a surface area of less than 0.5 mm.sup.2, define a cylindrical roller outline and are spaced apart by a distance of 1.5 to 4 mm, providing between them open spaces that will not retain the liquid by capillary action. The opposite sides of each ring are formed with complementary profiles disposed circumferentially apart at the said angle so that the rings may be readily assembled in the required angular disposition on the core.