Global Graphics Software
Smart software components for Print OEMs and ISVs

News Release

11 June 2015

New Harlequin flexo screens give premium print quality

A new set of hybrid screens that improve print quality significantly for flexo work are launched today by Global Graphics Software.

The flexo screens address the issues of how to achieve high-quality in the highlight areas of images, such as tones close to white or skin tones, and how to print these areas with smooth gradations.

It’s a technical challenge that the Harlequin product team has solved using its Harlequin Cross Modulated™ screens as the basis for development.

“It’s about giving the pre-press operator the choice of the right tools for the job in hand” says Martin Bailey, CTO Global Graphics. “To achieve premium quality you need to be able to select from a wide choice of screen resolutions, rulings and dot sizes so that different graphical objects can be produced as well as possible.

“So we’ve expanded the number of screens available with Harlequin and included a mechanism to auto select the calibration that goes with a particular screen.  Pre-press operators also now have the ability to bump up curves at the highlight end to compensate for flexo not being able to produce tones close to white clearly.  The result is that you can achieve smooth gradations even in high-key images.”

The Harlequin RIP® has been used in the flexo market for many years by Global Graphics OEM partners. “We’ve become increasingly involved in the conversation about how to achieve high-quality at the premium end of the market”, continues Bailey, “and due to our extensive partner network we’ve been able to take input from a variety of vendors to fine tune our plans."
 
Harlequin Cross Modulated Flexo (HXMFlexo) works with the latest editions of the Harlequin RIP®.  Cross modulated screens give smooth, noise-free flat tints while retaining fine detail in highlights and shadows. They allow you to print screens at a higher line ruling than would normally be considered reliable, produce pin-sharp images and help overcome common printing imperfections like visible rosettes and moiré.

Last year Global Graphics and ThermoFlexX® announced joint development work on hybrid screens for ThermoFlexX imagers.

Editors notes

About Global Graphics
Global Graphics (http://www.globalgraphics.com) develops the technology behind the perfect printed and digital page. It is a leading developer of RIPs, color management and screening technology. Customers include HP, Corel, Quark, Kodak and Agfa. The roots of the company go back to 1986 and to the iconic university town of Cambridge where, today, the majority of the R&D team is still based. There are also offices near Boston, Massachusetts, Tokyo.

ThermoFlexX is a registered trademark of Xeikon International BV.  Harlequin and the Harlequin RIP are trademarks of Global Graphics Software Ltd. that may be registered in certain jurisdictions.

Contact

Jill Taylor/Global Graphics

+44 1223 926489
Jill.Taylor@globalgraphics.com

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