Stochastic Screening

Stochastic screening offers a superior illusion of photo-realism by disintegrating the rigid grid pattern of dots conventional screening must adhere too. The position of the dots is random (or as random as a computer can be), and the size of the dots is, well, as small as possible – about 4 ten-thousandths of an inch in diameter.

With smaller dots and no patterns, how can you lose? Easy. It’s hard to proof it, hard to make plates with it, and generally hard to print it. Most printers steer clear of stochastic screening for these reasons. Unless you have the technology (ain’t cheap), the necessary experience (doesn’t grow on trees), and have the motivation to set a new standard (unheard of), and are willing to do it for free – forget it!

Stochastic Screening offers the following benefits:

• Vastly Improved Detail
• Increased Color Gamut
• No Moiré Patterns
• Overprinted Tints Not limited by Available Screen Angles
• Increased Clarity and Sharpness
• 21µ Dot Size Made Ink Receptive On Plate via Generation-less
Direct-To-Plate Laser Imaging

“Stochastic” Screening or “FM” Screening?

Both of these terms mean the same thing. FM, or Frequency Modulated, Screening is an alternate term for Stochastic Screening. It refers to the nature of Stochastic Screening. The frequency of conventional screening is fixed at a specific “screen frequency” measured in Lines-Per-Inch (LPI). Stochastic screening introduces controlled variation, or “modulation”, of the frequency of the screen, but uses a uniform dot size. Conventional screening works in precisely the opposite way – is it any wonder that it is sometimes referred to as AM screening?

Hexachrome Process

Hexachrome is a revolutionary six-color process printing technology. Conventional CMYK process color printing has certain blind spots in its color range (gamut). Hexachrome augments process color by adding two (CMYK unachievable) colors to the color primary series. Special separations are then created from suitable originals that include green and orange hues that can’t possibly be simulated by conventional process color. Hexachrome has the distinction of being capable of simulating 90+% of the Pantone Solid Color Library. Stochastic screening is an enabling technology for Hexachrome, as it is not effected by screen angle interference patterns.