Abstract: A flexographic preview printer for duplicating conditions of a contemplated press run. The preview printer includes an inking unit and a printing unit. The inking unit has an ink roller and an anilox roller with a doctor blade for precision metering of the ink on the anilox roller. The printing unit includes a plate roller and a drive roller. The nip between the plate roller and the drive roller is adjustable. There are first and second motors and first and second gear trains. The first motor and gear train drives the inking unit at a set slow speed through a throw-out clutch. The second motor and gear train drives the printing unit at a speed that is higher than the speed at which the first motor rotates the inking unit. The second gear train is meshed with the first gear train through a throw-in clutch. The second gear train drives the first gear train through the throw-in clutch when the second motor is activated while the first gear train is disengaged from the first motor by the throw-out clutch.