Based on RandotX, the second-order FM screening product launched earlier, Screen has launched a proud hybrid screening product, Spekta.
In order to combine the benefits of amplitude modulation and frequency modulation screening, Rapid Plus technology uses so-called “true†FM screening in a 1% to 10% highlight area and 90% to 99% tone adjustment area. However, the number and location of outlets are randomly changed; in the midtone region of 10% to 90%, AM screening is used. The size and location of outlets vary with the order, while the number is fixed. Due to the fact that it is not restricted by the angle of the net, Vidabida claims that it can completely eliminate the occurrence of moire and rosettes.
Spekta technology can achieve a 300 lpi or even higher screen number at 2400dpi output resolution.
Spekta is a high-quality screening technology. The equipment requirements are not very high. Even some old machines can obtain good printing results.
Screen company will launch the newest product Trueflow V3 this summer. One of the latest features of this product is to select different objects in a picture for different types of screening, including mixed screening, AM screening or random screening.
Cases
　　 Merit Printing is a commercial printing house that produces some marketing flyers and various business cards. There is a six-color, 40-inch Heidelberg sheetfed press; a two-color Heidelberg SORZ; a six-color, 25-inch Heidelberg MO; and a two-color GTO. These devices have been around for some years, and the latest presses were also installed in the early 1990s. Recently, Spekta Hybrid Screening Technology has been used on these devices to achieve 21-micron dot-size printing.
Users reported that they could barely express the gap between traditional halftone screening and Spekta screening. With Spekta, they could easily complete the 210 lpi print job, which was very exciting.
Spekta is now the main screening technology used by Merit Printing. Initially, the company spent about a month and a half to establish an output curve suitable for production, and it made an ICC file for the proofing mechanism. The company now uses an eight-page PlateRite 8600 thermal platemaking equipment for printing and Epson inkjet proofing equipment. Proofing, the company's requirements for color management are very high.
Today, the company prints on non-coated paper, up to 300 lpi; on coated paper, up to 400 lpi can be printed. This screening technology enables these small printing companies to also produce high-quality products.
Creo: Random screening reproduces more details
Creo's Staccato second-order FM screening products use a variety of dot sizes, and the latest Staccato 10 can generate dots with a minimum size of 10 microns, although some suppliers believe this is small The network is not practical for commercial printers, but Creo insists that 10 micron technology is spreading at a faster rate.
This screening technology is said to be very suitable for many high-end printing plants, such as those producing automobile brochures. Creo said that with Staccato10 screening, photo-quality products can be reproduced, with better color stability and more detail, and through color management, the consistency of proofing and printing can be maximized.
Spotless printing
　　 At drupa, Creo demonstrated its pointless printing software, which reproduces the color gamut of FM screening. According to reports, the new software will simulate most spot color printing. The Spotless 4 package uses traditional CMYK four-color inks to accurately simulate spot color printing. Various spot colors within the color gamut, whether named by a file or measured by a color management device, can be automatically converted to four-color data, proofed, and printed.
SpotlessX software will utilize flexible, scalable ink settings (usually six colors). SpotlessX software not only applies its color gamut to vector images (traditional spot color gamut), but it can also be used for raster imaging (eg photos) , has more powerful features than spot colors.
Staccato Extended Color Screens added six other screens to the existing Staccato CMYK color group, bringing the total to 10, which will be bundled with the Spotless X software.
Cases
　　 Arandell is an offset company with 660 employees and 250 million assets. It is a user of Creo Staccato. The company's existing equipment is Heidelberg, including three 5-color M1000BE and four five-color M3000, the fifth is just installed in April. The latest M3000 is a 72-inch wide format printer capable of printing 32 pages. The print volume can be printed from 350,000 to 4 million. In addition, the company has two new, super large-format Creo Trendsetter platesetters; a Kodak Approval proofing device.
Arandell probably introduced StGato's Staccato technology two years ago. It is used in conjunction with Creo's other equipment. Arandell's ink, fountain solution, printing plates, blankets, and mechanical records are carefully manufactured to ensure production. High quality FM network products.
Although many people think that there will be some difficulties in the use of FM, Arandell has not encountered any problems. This may be related to all of their supporting equipment. This means that when they try to use a random network, it is far from buying software alone. Far from enough, the entire printing shop must be transformed.
Initially, the customer also thought that there were many negative impacts of switching to random screening technology. However, Arandell Company made a bold attempt to adopt two screening methods and presented the results to customers. It is said that once it was launched, the effect of FM screening was sensational, and customers saw the very good development prospects of random outlets.
Arandell's preference for accurate stochastic screening is due to the fact that customers have very strict color requirements and a catalogue of their main products. With the new technology, the company can now print at 450 lpi (the dot size is about 20 microns). Random screening adds about 18% of the color tone, which can reproduce the original shadows that cannot be copied. It also includes some red, bright orange and Green and so on.
Heidelberg: Don't worry about FM screening
Like Agfa, Heidelberg has developed the FM screening product Diamond Screening as early as in the early 1990s, which is a first-order FM screening product. The later Satin Screening was a second-order FM screening product.
The Satin screen features a variable dot size, with a minimum of 20 microns, and the ability to change dot pitch is also a feature. Compared with the first-order FM screening, the biggest difference in the second-order FM screening is that there are few particles.
The advantage of FM screening is obvious. In the AM screening, the more colors are printed, the more attention needs to be paid to the setting of the screening angle to avoid some problems. For FM screening, don't worry about this.
The Satin Screen is an option for the metaDimension RIP in Heidelberg. Diamond Screening is bundled with Satin.
Cases
　　 Print Media Services is a company founded by Ms. Carol Maclean and her husband. It covers an area of ​​7,500 square meters and employs 25 people. The company’s business is mainly in the leaflets of the retail industry, with prints ranging from 500 to 10,000 prints.
The company owns a Heidelberg Speedmaster 74 double-sided printing press that is coated with five anti-two belts, a small Quickmaster, and a Prosetter 74 violet laser plate making device based on the PDF flow. Proofing is done on the HP5000 device.
Ms. Maclean explained that Print Media did not experience any difficulties during the screening process. They printed various types of printed materials, including images containing large amounts of skin information, some food printing materials including fabrics, and many other materials, but adopted new ones. With the screening method, almost no problems were encountered.
Ms. Maclean said that by using Satin Screening, the product showed better color consistency and a high-quality printing effect was obtained from beginning to end. Business has increased significantly.