A new set of hybrid screens that improves print quality significantly for flexo work has been launched by Global Graphics Software. The flexo screens address the issues of how to achieve high quality in the highlight areas of images – such as tones close to white or skin tones – and how to print these areas with smooth, consistent gradations. It’s a technical challenge that the Harlequin product team solved using its Harlequin Cross Modulated screens as the basis for development. Hybrid Screening is a combination of AM and FM screening and is designed to improve print quality by increasing the output LPI for any given resolution. For example, if a printer is currently imaging plates at 2,400 DPI with output at 150 LPI and is able to hold a 1% dot when printing on the required substrate, it would be possible using HXM screens to print at 200 LPI to 250 LPI without any special prepress or on-press requirements.
“It’s about giving the prepress operator the choice of the right tools for the job at hand,” said Martin Bailey, CTO of Global Graphics. “To achieve premium quality you need to be able to select from a wide choice of screen resolutions, rulings and dot sizes so that different graphical objects can be produced as well as possible. So we’ve expanded the number of screens available with Harlequin and included a mechanism to auto select the calibration that goes with a particular screen. Prepress operators also now have the ability to bump up curves at the highlight end to compensate for flexo not being able to produce tones close to white clearly. The result is that you can achieve smooth gradations even in high-key images.”
Harlequin Cross Modulated Flexo (HXMFlexo) works with the latest editions of the Harlequin RIP. Cross modulated screens give smooth, noise-free flat tints while retaining fine detail in highlights and shadows. They allow users to print screens at a higher line ruling than would normally be considered reliable, produce “pin-sharp” images, and help overcome common printing imperfections – such visible rosettes and moiré effects.
Global Graphics launches Harlequin Flexo Screens
