Realistic Dots?

[GTrev]

Hi all - new to these forums

I'm curious about what's the norm for holding dot's around and under 1%?

We've got a Heidelberg workflow plating to a Prosetter and have picked up some tradework from another printer.

Had a job thru last week that had 2%Y - 0.8%C & 0.6%K in a DL size background - that previous printer produced CTP - standard screening

Our chemistry is all good & my dots are bang on when read.

Hi Res proof showed a reasonable match to previous print.

Short Story! - no luck matching on the press.

Call to previous printer informs me that they bump up all their dots under 3%

Is this practice fairly common

Thanks

[Cory]

not for us...on our 1-5% we pretty much run linear... I would think bumping those highlights would produce harsher edges on gradients and vignettes

[GTrev]

8O Thanks for that - funnily enough they explained that bumping their 1-3% dots gave them smother edges on drop shadows & less banding?

[Cory]

huh...not sure how that would work out....3% dropping to nothing seems to be a bigger step than 1%, hard to say tho...maybe they have one of them special presses :wink:

[GTrev]

Sorry - probably explained it wrong from the start! What I think they are doing is running all their dots from 1-3% Strong.

Say 1% @ 1.5 - 2% @ 2.5 - or greater - just guessing - they were a bit sketchy when I quizzed em.



:?

[Scope]

GTrev

What type of plate are you using, and what type of reader are you using?

We are using a Fuji Violet Polymer and have trouble holding highlights,
what variance do you see in your range from 1 to say 5% plate to plate?

I am wondering how stable thermal plate are compared to our violet.

[GTrev]

Originally Posted by Scope

GTrev

What type of plate are you using, and what type of reader are you using?

We are using a Fuji Violet Polymer and have trouble holding highlights,
what variance do you see in your range from 1 to say 5% plate to plate?

I am wondering how stable thermal plate are compared to our violet.

We use agfa violet plates in our Prosetter and keep track of the dots with an IC Plate Reader - I'd say we'd hold our dots past 2% pretty well - below this depends on your cleaning cycle on your plate processor.

Our Raptor processor needs a weekly minor clean & if you can keep to a monthly complete clean your gonna have a better chance with your highlights - we've found a retired guy to do this for us as it's a pretty dirty task & if staff do it under sufferance you get an ordinary job done!

good luck :?