Flexo Screening Improves Quality To Match Offset

Esko has launched its Perfecthighlights screening technology for flexo printing.

Esko has launched its Perfecthighlights screening technology for flexo printing.

Perfecthighlights is claimed to provide tradeshops, flexible converters and label printers with new tools to apply Esko's flexo printing technology - as well as that of users - to the pre-production and platemaking process.

The company said that customers can create complete screening sets optimised for specific jobs using specific inks and substrates on specific presses, thereby increasing the value delivered to the packaging buyers and creating a stronger competitive differentiation.

Perfecthighlights is available as an extension to Esko's Flexrip, and comes together with an optional consulting service to assist in preparing and fine-tuning its implementation.

Esko customers involved in testing Perfecthighlights on packaging substrates have reported exceptional results with respect to superior highlight quality, smoother vignettes, noticeable colour gamut extension, and improved consistency between press runs, according to the company.

Canadian label printer Labelad was one of the beta sites.

Ken Norris, Labelad's customer service and graphics manager, commented: "The quality improvements we have seen from Perfecthighlights are very promising and exciting.

We have seen tremendous benefits in the reduction of the time spent colour correcting images and creating beautiful vignettes that fade off to zero, matching offset quality." He added: "The combination of the Esko screening technology, combined with the personalised screening approach are putting us in a quality league of our own, that we could not reach without the help of Esko." Perfecthighlights incorporates a number of methods to improve the printing of one to two per cent highlight dots, said Esko.

The result can be combined with the full range of Esko screening technologies optimised for midtone and shadow reproduction.

Using Esko's Screenmanager utility, a tradeshop or printer can create a sophisticated and customised screen set with specific characteristics for each tonal range, added the company.

Geert De Proost, Esko's solutions manager for flexible packaging and digital printing, said: "Esko has tremendous experience working closely with tradeshops and converters to develop optimal screening systems for all kinds of flexo printing.

We were the first to market in 1999 with Sambaflex hybrid screening, and received numerous industry awards for this innovative technology." He added: "The development of Perfecthighlights is based on feedback from our customers and on advanced research of highlight dot reproduction.

With Perfecthighlights, we raise the quality of flexo printing to even greater heights, offering Esko clients a major business advantage.".

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