Controlling dot gain

[smescarzaga]

What are some of the methods you guys use to control dot gain when printing half tones?

thanks

[Josh Rickun]

i put as much pressure on the squeegee as I can, so much so that it bends down til the whole blade is almost touching the screen. and i make sure to get the angle of the squeegee as low as i can, almost flat - so if you're doing it right, it's like you're slapping the screen with a long steak and dragging it down to the bottom

[crosshair]

Screen must be TIGHT, so it releases cleanly from the substrate with minimal off-contact.
Squeegee must be SHARP.

...and a hundred other factors. But those are two big ones.

[smescarzaga]

What about ink formulation?

[Andymac]

well, process/halftone inks work about 100% better than regular inks.

[squeegeethree]

Tight screen, hard squeegee, thick stencil, thickish ink, thin flood, light pressure, fast stroke, good off contact, absorbent stock

[RichieGoodtimes]

Compensate for gain in the file before printing the films.

[RichieGoodtimes]

I'm in El Paso, by the way, so for beer, I'll come by and tell you what you're doing wrong and where you went wrong in your life.

[smescarzaga]

Thank you much guys! Also richie, hit me up 915-740-5398 I'll be here all day. Got pretty pie-eyed last night but could stand to drink a few today.

[Fools Gold]

Compensate for gain in the file before printing the films.

How much do you decrease your shadows and increase your highlights? I'm in a testing phase right now and am curious what you recommend.