An ink transfer is modeled and experimentally verified using roll-to-roll electric direct gravure printing process. The ink transfer model based on the physical mechanism for the maximum ink transfer rate is proposed, and experimented by the electric printing machine in FDRC for the relations of the maximum ink transfer rates to the printing pressure, the operating speed, the operating tension, the surface roughness of substrates, and the contact angle between substrate and silver ink. The free ink split coefficient and immobilized ink under the maximum ink transfer rate are calculated by the physical parameter in a printing process and contact angle between substrates and ink. Numerical simulations and experimental studies were carried out to verify performances of the proposed ink transfer model. Results showed that the proposed ink transfer model was effective for the prediction of the amount of transferred ink to the substrate in a direct gravure printing systems.