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Impose, mark & cut

1-bit TIFFs for your platesetter, checked dot by dot

Screen imposed sheets or single files to one 1-bit TIFF per separation. Choose AM dot shapes or FM, set the ruling and angle for every process and spot plate and apply your plate curves — then inspect the actual plate pixels, the rosette and the traps under misregistration before anything goes to plate.

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From Shop

Screened 1-bit pixels of a cyan plate, magnified 1-bit · 2,400 dpi

Output · 1-bit TIFF

Inspect individual dots in a screened jar label at platesetter resolution.

Today, and with AutomatePrint

Today: Plates come from a RIP licensed per device.

With AutomatePrint: 1-bit TIFFs from the same platform as the layout, at a flat price.

Today: Curves live in a spreadsheet.

With AutomatePrint: Plate curves from your measurements, versioned and frozen per job.

Today: Moiré or a trap gap shows up on the press.

With AutomatePrint: Moiré, misregistration and gaps are checked in the plate viewer first.

In numbers

output resolution
600–5,080 dpi
Set per job, for your platesetter
dot shapes
6 + FM
Round, Euclidean, Elliptical, Square, Line and Diamond, or FM
built-in profiles
7
Offset, newspaper and flexo starting points
ink zones at most
128
Coverage per zone, for ink-key presetting

How it works

  1. Pick the pages

    Upload a PDF, choose one from Files, or pick an imposition layout and its sheets.

  2. Choose the screens

    Start from a profile, then set the resolution and each plate's dot, ruling, angle and curve.

  3. Inspect, then download

    Check the plates in the viewer, then download one 1-bit TIFF per separation, named for your TIFF catcher.

The plate viewer

Fit the sheet or zoom to single device pixels: a loupe with the pixel grid, a densitometer, a ruler that snaps to device pixels, and a moiré check on the true composite.

The plate viewer: a loupe with the pixel grid over the screened label, the moiré check on

Traps that survive misregistration

Shift every plate in a star pattern and the viewer marks each gap in red. Screen the same carton with the 1-up editor's trap layer switched off, then printed, and compare.

The same shift with the traps printed: no gaps left
Trap layer off Traps printed

  • The screen analyser: intended and measured ruling and angle for each plate

    Intended and measured

    The screen analyser measures each plate's ruling and angle against what you set.

  • A cyan plate curve built from pasted measurements, with a bump held for flexo

    Plate curves from your measurements

    Paste or import measurements, set a minimum dot, and hold a bump for flexo.

  • Ink-zone coverage over a screened press sheet, zone by zone

    Ink zones for presetting

    Coverage zone by zone across the sheet, for the press's ink keys.

  • Film view: every plate shown in black

    Film view

    The plates shown in black, as they would be on film.

Ready for the TIFF catcher

File names built for your TIFF catcher or hot folder, G4 or LZW compression, plate labels and registration marks, mirror and negative.

A screening job's Output settings: resolution, file names, compression, labels and marks

What's in it

  • AM and FM, with each plate's ruling, angle and dot
  • Flexo angle sets, bump curves and a minimum dot
  • Curves from CSV, TSV or CGATS.17 measurements
  • Curves frozen per job
  • Ink-zone report
  • Plate labels and registration marks
  • Screen from Files or an imposition layout

Specs

Resolution
600 to 5,080 dpi
Screens
AM (Round, Euclidean, Elliptical, Square, Line, Diamond), FM and solid
Curves
Measurements as CSV, TSV or CGATS.17, a minimum dot, a bump hold, versions
Output
One 1-bit TIFF per separation; G4, LZW, PackBits or none; a file-name template; mirror; negative
Viewer
Loupe, densitometer, ruler, screen analyser, misregistration, moiré, ink zones, film view

What we don't do

  • Sheets only (not rolls yet), up to 10 spot colors per page, fronts only. Keep your RIP for anything it does that we don't; many shops run both.

Works with

Read the docs: How screening worksThe plate viewerPlate curves

On which plan

Compare every plan
Capability FreeShopProductionPlant
Screening & 1-bit TIFF output with plate curves Not included Add-on $149 Included Included

Included in Production and Plant; a flat $149 a month on Shop — no per-plate, per-m² or per-device charges.

FAQ

Questions, answered

Anything else? Email hello@automateprint.com and a person who knows print will answer.

Can it replace our RIP for plates?

Screening writes one 1-bit TIFF per separation with AM or FM screens, per-plate angles and curves — the format TIFF catchers and platesetters accept. Keep your RIP for anything it does that we don't; many shops run both.

Which platesetters?

Any that takes 1-bit TIFFs through a TIFF catcher or hot folder, with file names you template.

Can I import curves?

Yes: CSV, TSV or CGATS.17 measurements.

How long does screening take?

It depends on the sheet and the resolution: a label is quicker than a full press sheet at platesetter resolution. Jobs run in the background, so you can close the page and come back.

Is there a limit?

Screening is flat: no per-plate, per-m² or per-device charges. Fair-use guides aren't hard stops, and we'll talk to you before anything changes.

Put every job on one platform

Start free, with 14 days of every Production feature. No card, and your customers review for free.

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