Assembled absorbent article components with graphics having aligned masked zones

Abstract

Absorbent articles herein may include components having graphics including unmasked and masked zones, wherein the masked zones are defined by alternating arranged printed and unprinted regions. The masked zones give the appearance that the graphics fade or gradually transition from areas of relatively high print intensities in the unmasked zones to areas of relatively low print intensities. In addition, the graphics may be printed with relatively constant print densities in both masked and unmasked zones, and thus, avoid many of the unintended negative effects and difficulties associated with printing graphics with faded zones of print intensities. As such, substrates and/or components to be incorporated into manufactured absorbent articles include graphics include masked zones that may be positioned and/or printed in such a manner so as to functionally reduce noticeable visible results of imprecise and/or inconsistent assembly operations performed in areas where the graphics are located.