Abstract: An apparatus for remote ink control fountain selection comprising a video camera for reading a signature image, an image digitizer, an image comparator for comparing the signature image to a sample image set and a memory device for storing the sample image set in digitized form, as well as a method for remote ink fountain selection comprising the steps of digitizing sample images and providing each said sample image with an identification; digitizing a printed signature image from a printing press which corresponds to at least one of the sample images; comparing the digitized printed signature image to the digitized sample images; and outputting the identification of the digitized sample image upon a match with the digitized signature image.