Crystal screens are Esko's latest screening technology, developed exclusively for use with the CDI Crystal imager series and the XPS Crystal exposure unit series, for a high quality flexo printing workflow.
You can create Crystal screens using the Print Control Wizard application, that will guide you in creating custom screens and curves for your specific printing setup, to ensure better quality control.
For more information about creating a custom Crystal screen, see the Print Control Wizard documentation.
Screen Characteristics
Crystal screens use multiple Esko screening technologies:
- Pixel+ technology, where each dot is made of individual pixels, that are
"boosted" on the CDI to make printable dots,
- a transition from solid dots in the highlights to pixel+ dots in the rest of the tone range,
- FM screening in the highlights (used in your custom screen when it benefits your specific printing setup),
- support dots at single or double ruling (used in your custom screen when it benefits your specific printing setup).
When using Crystal screens, you don't need to use object-based screening (different screens for individual objects in your file), as they give good results in all areas:
- They provide a smooth transition from the solids into the shadows and mid-tones, with
reduced dot bridging.
dot bridging with a circular dot no dot bridging with a crystal screen - They produce stable highlights that fade out to zero more smoothly than with other screening technologies.