tip one

Carefully screen your options

Because small dots produce cleaner lines, smoother tints and a closer match between photos and separations, clients might assume that the finest possible line screen is best. But a finer screen does not automatically produce a better image. Fine screens, in fact, increase dot gain, regardless of paper type or quality. So for the best results, don’t specify a finer screen than necessary — and do select a paper with a smooth, refined surface.

tip two

Vary things up

You can use a different line screen for each of the four process colors to produce images that look and feel more like continuous-tone originals. By varying the dot size and screen angles for each color, printers can reduce or eliminate moiré and rosette patterns — and improve skin tones and other textures.

tip three

The shape of dots to come

Talk to your Domtar rep and your printer about the right dots for your paper and your project.

Square dots are the most common, and are thought to give the best detail. But they may cause midtones to “chop” or create roughness in large, smooth areas such as skies.

Elliptical dots not only control “chop,” but also mitigate the effects of dot gain and reduce “tone breaks” in skin surfaces.

Round dots are the way to go when you expect heavy dot gain on newsprint or web sheets. They extend midtone range and help keep highlights clean.

tip four

Stochastic = fantastic

Stochastic printing produces sharper images and better color matching with less dot gain. The technology distributes smaller, finer dots like the grains in a photograph — with more dots in shadows, and fewer in highlights. Since the dots are generated by a computer, they can be spaced organically rather than mechanically. So, in replacing the uniform grid of columns and rows associated with traditional line screens, stochastic screening eliminates moiré and rosette patterns. And without the limitations of screen angles, printers can match colors more accurately by using as many inks as needed.