Software & Controls Transformative flexo screening software
H
amillroad Software launched its Digitally Modulated Screening (DMS) solution, Bellissima DMS, for flexographic printing at
Labelexpo Europe 2017, earlier this year. Bellissima’s patented technology has been fully optimised to work at 4,000 dpi on industry standard equipment allowing printers to achieve a high level of detail and quality of print, similar to that normally associated with gravure and offset — typically 300-450 lpi. “Bellissima DMS is transformative technology,”
says Andy Cave, CEO of Hamillroad. “Bellissima eliminates moiré, the highlight dots are down to one per cent and the shadow dots are up to 99.5 per cent meaning beautifully smooth vignettes that fade to zero are now a reality.” Bellissima Digitally Modulated Screening
utilises technology that is a fusion of the best characteristics of AM, FM, XM, GS and CS screening, while avoiding their limitations and problems. It dramatically enhances the quality and stability of flexo presswork. DM screening digitally modulates every pixel it
produces thereby precisely controlling the dots in each separation while its stochastic rosette interleaves the screens in the separations to eliminate noise and moiré. In addition, the stochastic rosette maximises the ink-on-paper area and minimises the amount of ink-on-ink to expand the available colour gamut while eliminating colour shifts due to misregistration. The screening analyses each pixel to ensure
26 November 2017
that no dot is too small to plate or print, but is also not large enough to be visible. Dots are created in a carefully controlled manner to ensure detail is placed exactly where it is needed, vignettes are smooth and flat tints are flat. The result is a quality of print, particularly on flexible substrates, that was previously unobtainable. Using Bellissima’s patented dots, common
printing problems including bounce, barring, and slur are significantly reduced and, in some instances, completely eliminated. Cave says, “During research and development
we worked closely with flexographic printers and observed many common flexo printing press problems. Because of this research, we could develop Bellissima in such a way that we significantly reduce machine problems including bounce, barring, and slur, meaning a printer can breathe new life into their existing printing press.” Parkside Flexibles, one of Hamillroad’s two UK
printer development partners, has been instrumental in the refinement of Bellissima DMS, now in use on its wide web flexibles press. Paul Horton, graphic services manager,
Parkside, says, “Parkside is an established printer within the packaging industry and whilst the APEX innovation team is driving a raft of innovative pack designs, whether it be a home compostable pack or the introduction of a laser opening to improve ease of opening, the quality of print achieved must complement these developments. ‘AFLEX’ print, which is powered by
Hamillroad’s Bellissima DM screening, will allow us to further improve the quality and stability of our print. We are now pushing the boundaries in terms of what is currently possible in flexo.” Nick Smith, managing director of Parkside,
agrees: “With ever shorter run lengths, the ability to match and even exceed the print quality of gravure will allow us in the flexo printing industry to meet the ever-increasing demands of brand owners for higher quality print at an economic cost.” Cave, concludes, “Based on years of research and experience, Bellissima Digitally Modulated Screening technology represents a fundamental change in the expectation a flexo printer should have about the quality of print that is achievable. No longer are printers restricted by historic flexo plate and press problems but are free to do what they do best — print beautiful products.”
BELLISSIMA DMS HIGHLIGHTS • High-quality prints equivalent to 350–450 lpi • Moiré free — both screening and subject • Highlight dots down to one per cent • Shadow dots up to 99.5 per cent • Vignettes that fade smoothly (no hard breaks) • Smooth flat tints for four-colour process printing • Solid object protection • High solid ink densities via 100 per cent solid surface patterning options • No colour shifts with misregistration • Retains input image detail of 450–600 dpi
www.hamillroad.com
www.convertermag.co.uk
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