Making CtP Work For You

HighWater Products announces the release of DMS Screening based on Hamillroad Software's New Auraia-II Screening Solution, enabling printers to produce superior colour quality and flat tints smoother than conventional screening.

HIGHWATER DMS (AURAIA II) ACHIEVES HOLY GRAIL OF STOCHASTIC SCREENING BY ACHIEVING STUNNING IMAGE DETAIL OF 400+ LPI AND ULTRA SMOOTH FLAT TINTS

Hamillroad Software, a leading RIP and screening innovator, today announced that it has achieved the "Holy Grail" of stochastic screening; it's second generation "Digitally Modulated" or DMS not only achieves the high level of image detail long associated with FM stochastic screening, but also produces smooth flat tints that are as smooth or smoother than conventional screening.

The new DMS technology, "Auraia-II," is a revolutionary new type of screening that can enable high-end violet and thermal platesetters to produce images that emulate the quality of a traditional 400+ lpi screen (subject to plate type), while also producing rosette-free, moiré-free and noise-free flat tints that equal or better the smoothness of conventional screens. The patent-pending software upgrade is now available from HighWater Products for selected plate types.

Taking advantage of the immense computing power now available, DMS is so named because it digitally modulates each and every pixel it produces, precisely controlling not only the dots in each separation, but also the dots between the separations so as to completely eliminate noise. It does this through the use of a "stochastic rosette," which interleaves the stochastic screens in all the separations. By doing so, it eliminates noise (and moiré). The "stochastic rosette" also maximises the amount of ink-on-paper and minimises the amount of ink-on-ink, which expands the available colour gamut whilst eliminating colour shifts on mis-registration.

Andy Tribute (Industry Analyst) says

"When you look at the tints, they are so smooth there is absolutely no banding, no screening visible in it. And they look like solid tints, like solid flat colours. I'm very impressed with this."

Gordon Pritchard (formerly Print Quality Marketing Manager at Creo/Kodak) says

"So, yes, I did get a chance to look at the samples, and yes they are most impressive. If indeed Auraia-II screening enables Violet CtP to do FM in a reliable manner then it has the potential to be a disruptive (for the better) technology."

Developing Scientist

"We're blown away by the reactions and comments we're getting with our Auraia-II screening," comments Andy Cave, Hamillroad Software's CEO. "Everyone we show it to finds it hard to believe that we've managed to produce a stochastic screen that actually works, especially on Violet CtP devices. Despite the marketing that various large companies have used to promote their stochastic screens on thermal devices, we know first-hand from talking to a large number of end-users that many of them have problems with noise in flat tints. Following initial enthusiasm many users quickly give up on using it. Auraia-II is the only stochastic screen that produces incredible image detail equivalent of up to 400+ lpi together with flat tints that are smooth, if not smoother than conventional screening, whilst also being reliable and stable on press and so can be used on a regular basis on any job."

Andy goes on to say, "the quality of print we can achieve on a good violet or thermal CtP device now significantly exceeds the industry standard of 175/200 lpi and enables a printer to produce a quality of result that far exceeds their competitors. This allows them to not only win new business, but also retain existing customers which frees them to concentrate more on other aspects of their business."

Test Results

DMS has been in use in real world production use over the last five months by HighWater Products Python CtP system user Parkes Print & Design. Parkes involved (using a HighWater Products violet CtP device) has reported that it not only generates very high image detail and perfectly smooth flat tints, but is also easy to use and very stable on press. As a direct result of this, they now use DMS Auraia-II screening on just about every job, whatever it contains in terms of images, flat tints or content. The result is consistent perfect print production time after time. The screening has also shown to be robust enough to handle long print runs, whilst using up to 20% less ink (depending on job).

"As an experienced user of Auraia-II from its early development, I really feel it's one of the industry's most productive advancements to be released in the CtP market," comments Brian Parkes, Parkes Print & Design MD. "We still use exactly the same plates, low-chem plate processor, press inks and blankets and the press minder loves it. In fact, it simply makes quality print easier and flat tints amazingly smooth" (unheard of for FM screens) "and press productivity is improved as a result."

Brian goes on to say, "to date we have tested Auraia-II across a broad range of papers, both coated and uncoated, and the results are excellent, in fact on uncoated paper you could say stunning, as rosettes, dots or dot patterns are simply not discernible with the naked eye."

Patent Pending Technology

Following a substantial amount of research and development, including a significant amount of plate and press testing, Hamillroad Software has filed a number of patents on the core technology. As well as filing these patents worldwide, Hamillroad is also filing a number of additional patents in the US to cover the many breakthroughs in Digitally Modulated screening that Auraia-II contains.

Availability

The DMS Auraia-II screening module is available immediately through HighWater Products for Fuji Pro V low chemistry plates. For other plate types, please contact us to discuss.