HXM screens

Harlequin Cross Modulated screening is a hybrid AM/FM screening that allows higher screen rulings than provided by AM screens alone.

In conventional screening technologies, the level of detail that can be reproduced by a given system depends on the size of the smallest printable dot possible on paper. Higher screen rulings produce very small structures in the highlights and shadows. These are inclined to be lost, which results in loss of detail.

HXM screening combines the advantages of both AM and FM screening and is therefore able to limit the loss of small printed structures and detail at high line screen rulings by controlling the dot size in the highlight and shadow. It limits the smallest structure produced to be that which can reliably be printed on the target system. Once this point is reached within a given HXM screen, structures are removed completely rather than continuing to be reduced in size to create the required tonal range. Therefore, it does not disappear in the light areas or merge in the dark areas, which improves the print quality with smoother flesh tones, flat tints and gradient transitions.