System and method for print screen tonal control and compensation

A method of calibrating a printing press, the method comprising:

• generating a test screening pattern having a plurality of predetermined screening densities including a maximum density;
• creating a printing plate to cause the printing press to print the generated test screening pattern;
• printing the generated test screening pattern on the printing press;
• measuring an ink density of at least a portion of the printed test screening pattern using a densitometric meter;
• determining the measured ink density of the printed test screening pattern at which the printed test screening pattern reaches a plugging point representative of a solid screening;
• creating a density curve for each of the screening densities of the printed test screening pattern above the determined ink density that reaches the plugging point, wherein the density curve represents a screening value sufficiently reduced to cause the printing press to print the test screening pattern without reaching the plugging point;
• and
• creating a production printing plate to cause the printing press to print the generated test screening pattern in combination with the density curve.

A method of calibrating a printing press, the method comprising:

• (a) generating a test screening pattern having a plurality of predetermined screening densities including a maximum density representing a solid screening;
• (b) creating a printing plate to cause the printing press to print the generated test screening pattern;
• (c) printing the generated test screening pattern on the printing press;
• (d) measuring an ink density of at least a portion of the printed test screening pattern using a densitometric meter;
• (e) determining the measured density of the printed test screening pattern at which the printed test screening pattern reaches a plugging point representative of a solid screening;
• (f) creating a density curve for each of the screening densities of the printed test screening pattern above the determined density at which the printed test screening pattern reaches the plugging point, wherein the density curve represents a screening value sufficiently reduced to cause the printing press to print the test screening pattern without reaching the plugging point prior to the maximum density;
• (g) adjusting the printing press in accordance with the density curve;
• and
• (h) repeating steps (b) through (g) if the determined density at which the printed test screening pattern reaches the plugging point is greater than the maximum density.

A print screen tonal control and compensation system comprising:

• a printing press adapted to print a screening pattern;
• a densitometric meter adapted to determine an ink density of at least a portion of the screening pattern;
• and
• a controller operatively coupled to the printing press and the densitometric meter, the controller comprising a processor and a memory operatively coupled to the processor,
• the controller being programmed to generate a test screening pattern having a plurality of screening densities including a maximum screening density representing a solid screening,
• the controller being programmed to cause the test screening pattern to be printed by the printing press,
• the controller being programmed to cause the densitometric meter to determine a maximum ink density of the printed test screening pattern,
• the controller being programmed to determine whether the maximum ink density of the printed test screening is a solid screening,
• the controller being programmed compare the determined maximum ink density of the printed test screening with the maximum screening density representing a solid screening to determine a plugging point indication,
• the controller being programmed to create a density curve for each screening density not less than the plugging point indication, and
• the controller being programmed to apply the density curve to the test screening pattern.