PURPOSE: To monitor the quantity of dampening water at all times, and to obtain a best print stably without fine adjustment by using the dampening water containing ink having a specific quantity of high water-absorptive resin fine particles and specific lower alcohol and having specific electric conductivity while containing ion conductors.

CONSTITUTION: Dampening water having electric conductivity of 300 μ/Cm or more by containing ink including 3-50 wt.% high water-absorptive resin fine particles, to which distilled water or ion-exchange water more than the twenty times of its own weight is absorbed, and 1 wt.% or more of at least 4C lower alcohol and/or comprising ion conductors is employed. A resin, which is formed in spherical primary particles having grain size of five microns or less, or a resin pulverized to five microns or less by a proper crusher and sieved can be used as a high water-absorptive resin.