ECRM Introducing DM Screening Option

ECRM, Tewksbury, Mass., will launch its DM Screening at Graph Expo, Oct. 3-6, in Chicago.

Available as an upgrade option for all ECRM RIP users (can be integrated into version 8.3 - E&P Online, Sept. 24), the new digitally modulated screening option's technology enables it to digitally analyze each pixel it produces to give more detail, smoother vignettes, and no moiré.

Compared with conventional screening, DM uses a dot equivalent to 350-400 lpi, images highlights down to 1% and shadows up to 99% on press for more shadow detail and contrast, and reduces ink consumption owing to higher optical gain.

ECRM DM screening's benefits over FM screening are: easier calibration, with built in dot-gain compensation technology; easier on-plate and on-press control (small variations in processing plates or ink densities on press don't suddenly fill-in the shadows or lose the highlights); smooth flat tints, especially for black; highlights to 1% and shadows to 99%.

Users are provided with a simple test sheet to select optimal highlight, mid-tone and shadow dots, which are unique to an individual platesetter, plates and press, and smoother vignettes of up to 50,000 gray levels.

"Traditional AM screens suffer from a loss of detail, especially in the highlight and shadow areas, making higher screen rulings unobtainable," ECRM Product Management Director John Marzec said in a statement. "Although FM screens often improve detail, they tend to suffer from dot wear in highlight areas, an inconsistent dot structure in mid-tone areas, and significant dot-gain issues in the shadow regions."