Industrial Printing Process Queries, ZQA

Dot Gain Compensation: Avoiding Economic Loss

What is the Ink Transfer Curve's goal regarding Dot Gain, and what economic risk comes from not using this data?

Dot Gain is an unavoidable physical phenomenon in printing, and the Ink Transfer Curve’s goal is not its complete elimination. Instead, the curve aims to help the print shop identify the standard and predictable amount of dot gain for each machine and substrate. Relying on this curve allows the lithography team to counteract the effect of dot gain by applying a Compensation Curve (DGC) during the prepress stage. Failure to utilize this data, relying instead on guesswork, leads to excessive color deviation between initial and subsequent prints, resulting in serious economic loss. Controlling the ink curve is part of the advanced frameworks for creating color profiles and Color Management.

Aligned with: ISO 12647 / G7 / Color Management Workflows