07.19.05
Phototype, of Cincinnati, a prepress service provider for the packaging industry, has announced the availability of a new imaging process for photopolymer plates that claims to improve flexo printing quality on smooth, non-porous substrates, such as those used in flexible packaging applications.
The patent-pending process, named NuDot, uses high frequency “imaging granules” to break down conventional screen dots into much smaller units and rearranges those units to form new dot shapes, or shorelines, according to a company spokesman. These shorelines exploit the natural beading and “rivering” characteristics of ink on high holdout materials.
According to Gary Russell, Phototype’s director of technology, NuDot plates produced “darker, more uniform solids; richer, fuller shadow tones; better highlight dot reproduction with less gain; and process images with a larger color gamut. We routinely see much higher solid ink densities under print conditions favorable to reproducing process images. We’re actually achieving SWOP density specifications, provided we have the appropriate combination of ink, solvent, and substrate. That’s a goal that’s been out of our reach before now.”
NuDot plates are available exclusively from Phototype in a variety of photopolymer materials, thicknesses, and sizes. Details are available from Jim Simpson, tel. 800-304-7989, or by e-mail at simpsonj@phototype.com.
The patent-pending process, named NuDot, uses high frequency “imaging granules” to break down conventional screen dots into much smaller units and rearranges those units to form new dot shapes, or shorelines, according to a company spokesman. These shorelines exploit the natural beading and “rivering” characteristics of ink on high holdout materials.
According to Gary Russell, Phototype’s director of technology, NuDot plates produced “darker, more uniform solids; richer, fuller shadow tones; better highlight dot reproduction with less gain; and process images with a larger color gamut. We routinely see much higher solid ink densities under print conditions favorable to reproducing process images. We’re actually achieving SWOP density specifications, provided we have the appropriate combination of ink, solvent, and substrate. That’s a goal that’s been out of our reach before now.”
NuDot plates are available exclusively from Phototype in a variety of photopolymer materials, thicknesses, and sizes. Details are available from Jim Simpson, tel. 800-304-7989, or by e-mail at simpsonj@phototype.com.