While they show themselves differently in print, these problems remain the fraternal twin products of our stencil when it is not optimized for four-color printing. As the halftone line ruling increases, the sum of the perimeter of all the dots also increases, which translates to more gain. The movement to higher line count screen-printed process color has exacerbated a problem that always existed, and the potential for PITS is now greater than ever. When compared to other printing processes, screen printing's ability to produce a consistent and repeatable thick ink film is both its strength and weakness. Screen printing allows for full opacity and unparalleled lightfast properties, and it enables printers to meter their ink deposit for a wide variety of purposes, such as ensuring the functionality of electrical traces on printed and flexible circuitry.
Screen printing offers superior chemical and mechanical resistance, as well.
The effects of thick ink layers interacting and skewing tonal information is relatively uncharted and perilous territory, and it is fraught with hidden demons. Our process strength has become our process weakness. Subscribe online to Screen Printing, the only magazine covering the entire field of screen printing.