If you don’t live and breathe printing, as we do over here at Asset Print, you’d be forgiven for assuming that every project that crosses our desks and reception counters in the course of a day is given the exact same treatment. However, we are happy to report that a fair amount of thought goes into the printing processes we employ, and when we choose to use which.
Case in point – stochastic printing VS conventional printing. There is a distinct difference between the two, which makes these processes suitable for different applications. Here’s a quick look at when you should be using which, and what makes stochastic printing so special.
Stochastic printing, also called FM screening or frequency modulation screening, is a technique for printing halftones based on computer-to-place technology. Conventional screening, on the other hand, is known as AM screening or amplitude modulation screening.
When AM screening is used, lighter and darker areas are created by separating the image into evenly spaced dots using a grid-like screen. The dots are larger in darker areas and smaller in the lighter ones. When the four-colour process is used, separate screens of this kind are used for black, cyan, magenta and yellow.
Stochastic printing, on the other hand, is not quite as neatly ordered and offers a more organic approach to creating halftones. In this case, the dots are spread randomly throughout the image area and vary in amount according to the tonal hue that is required – i.e. there are more dots in the darker areas and fewer dots in the lighter ones.
So, that’s the main difference between the two techniques in a nutshell. Now, let’s take a quick look at the benefits of each.
The benefits of stochastic printing include:
- More detail
- Less ink on the sheet
- No moiré pattern
- Increased tonal values
- Crisper fine lines and small type
- Cleaner reverses
The benefits of conventional FM screening include:
- More scope to change colour density on the press
- More forgiving halftones
- Better printing of large amounts of ink on paper
- Better production of one- and two-colour printing
There you have it – the gist of the difference between stochastic VS conventional printing. Check back soon for more expert printing insights, and remember to contact us if you want to know more about Asset Print processes and services. We’re here to ensure that you match your project with the perfect printing technique for optimal results every time.
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