Staccato Printing

Staccato Printing

I run Spencer Print, a UK based Print Agency, can provide the complete design, photography, print solution. One of my many print suppliers uses a process called Staccato.
Some images are particularly tough to reproduce, even with conventional and hybrid AM/FM screens.
When images contain complex skin tones, shadows or exceptionally fine details, they need special screening to improve fidelity, deepen colours, open shadows and accentuate details. Staccato has the screening technology to make images pop. The Staccato process applies advanced, second-order FM screening software at the pre-proof stage to deliver near-photographic fidelity to a broad range of applications.
Rich colours bring images to life With every print job, our goal is to produce high-impact images with pure and saturated colours, well-defined shadows, sharp texture and striking detail. Staccato half tone screening delivers these results through fine microdot structures that behave more like continuous ink film to deliver cleaner colours and distribute ink more evenly throughout the tonal range.
This innovative technique helps overcome variations in tone and colour caused by typical solid ink density and paper colour variations.
A new generation of screen technology delivers exceptionally clear, vibrant printed images. Screening has no frequency or angle; hence, it eliminates screening moiré,subject moiré and rosette patterns. The organization of dots eliminates shade stepping and abrupt tone changes in vignettes. It produces smoother tints with both PMS and process colours. The screening is twice the resolution of conventional litho printing.
Press Checks Are More Predictable
Print buyers appreciate Staccato printing most during press checks. It delivers unmatched quality from proof to plate,with proofs that better simulate the printed result. It ensures greater tonal stability,even throughout long print runs. The process has no impact on RIP or rendering time. Fine image detail is resolved in press work, making approvals quick and easy. Because the dots dry faster, there's less set off, and projects can move more quickly to the bindery.
Staccato screening produces regular patterns of consistent half tone structures, with a unique and repeatable pattern assigned to each colour process. These patterns reduce graininess, variability in dot gain and mid-tone plugging.
Conventional AM and Hybrid AM screens can cause subject moire, screening moire and unstable rosette structures. Fewer and larger minimum dot sizes can also reduce detail and increase graininess.
Smooth, even dot patterns create high-quality images Staccato printing produces unusually fine screens with dots clustered into orderly patterns. The pseudo random nature of the half tone patterns produces exceptional on-press stability. It is especially well suited for replacing spot colours with
process screen builds.
CONVENTIONAL OFFSET LITHOGRAPHY
What print applications are best suited to Staccato printing?
Staccato printing is used with great success in a wide range of print projects. It's well suited to close-up images of people, where flesh tones need to look pure and consistent. It's an excellent solution for food images, because it eliminates greyness and makes colours more vibrant. It reproduces fine type, reverse type and detailed line art in colours and shades. It's also effective when image content includes metal or fine-grained wood, because it produces smoother tints with both PMS and process colours.
It's also a good choice when printing on fine paper, uncoated stock or recycled paper, because it overcomes colour inconsistencies and contamination caused by the paper.
Does Staccato printing work for jobs with various numbers of colours?
Staccato printing produces outstanding colour on multicolour jobs. It greatly increases the number of spot colours that can be successfully reproduced in CMYK, providing the appearance of spot colour without the extra cost. The software is available in four independent screens for CMYK work, and six independent screens for low-resolution six colour proofing. Additional screen patterns are available for five, six and sevencolour printing support.
Screening is applied and calibrated during pre-press in the same manner as conventional half tone screens. It is easily controlled from desktop applications, where it can be assigned to PDF and EPS images, pages, forms and individual separations.