Achieve More “Color” While Saving Money with Spot Screens

Are you looking to have a dynamic job without the cost of additional ink? Then maybe a screen is for you!  A screen is a process for creating a range of tints using the same spot color. This phenomenon is achieved through an optical illusion. What appears to be a solid mass of color is really a collection of dots. The distance between, the size, and the shape of the dots all affect how the eye perceives the color. If you have a collection of black dots that are small and spaced farther apart, your eye will perceive gray instead of black. However, if you have a collection of larger black dots that are closer together, your eye will see a solid black.

The same spot ink is used to produce the range of tints you can achieve with screens — what changes is the pattern of the dots on the plate. Each spot color requires its own plate. Different screens of the same spot color can use the same plate. The screen only changes the pattern of dots used to create the image.

Using several different ink colors sometimes can make a piece look busy or disjointed. Knowing how to use color effectively is important. (See “Design” article in this newsletter.) Utilizing the screen technique can create a vibrant, harmonious look without the cost of additional plates and ink.

For more on this process and other printing facts and tips, please contact us.

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