Abstract: A die cutter blanket assembly includes a plastic sheet material member and a sheet metal liner that has an array of preferably dome shaped dimples molded to the plastic sheet material member, the liner being attached to the member by bonding during the molding process. The dimples permit the plastic material to flow therebetween on a side of the liner opposite the sheet material member to encapsulate the liner with the plastic material as the liner and plastic sheet member are molded. The resulting blanket assembly is more flexible and easier to install on an anvil cylinder than prior blanket assemblies which comprise conventional flat metal liners without the encapsulation.