The Next Generation in Screen Printing Software
Color Separations - Wasatch Exclusive Rosette Screens

Wasatch SoftRIP SP Precision Rosette Hybrid Screens

Why Wasatch SoftRIP SP?

Inkjet printers are revolutionizing the production of wide format color separation for screen and flexo printing. With Wasatch screen printing software, you can save time and money in addition to increasing your ability to respond to the needs of your customers.

How does Wasatch software help me save money?

Films printed with today's inkjet printers and produced with Wasatch screen printing software can achieve the high quality associated with traditional imagesetters at a fraction of the cost. Wasatch SoftRIP SP will return your invest with high quality results and better service than the money you'd be likely to pay an external fi;m service providers in just a few months.

How does Wasatch software help me save time?

While creating films through traditional imagesetting technology requires specific expertise and experience, SoftRIP SP is easy to learn and use. It enables beginners with minimal background experience in film production to produce quality results fast. Advanced users will find all the controls they need to seamlessly integrate their expertise with traditional technologies into a digital workflow as well.

How will Wasatch software increase my ability to respond to my customer's needs?

Removing service bureaus from your workflow reduces lead–times while increasing your flexibility to respond to customer needs and react to last minute changes. Screen printers around the world are using Wasatch screen printing software with inkjet printers to better serve their customers and beat the competition.

Only Wasatch has True Precision Rosettes

Other RIP companies make vague references to their rosette capabilities, but we have yet to see one that provides the quality output available with Wasatch Precision Rosettes Screens®. Only Wasatch SoftRIP SP gives you the tools you need to get imagesetter quality process color separations using inkjet technology.

Only Wasatch has True Precision Rosettes

An entirely new hybrid screening option that covers all the bases for the state-of-the-art halftoning. Wasatch's NEW Precision Rosette Hyrbid Screens combine the best of both AM halftones and FM stochastic halftones by merging them in the same image. In other words, this remarkable solution enables transition from AM to FM methods at a minimum dot size. At densities above or below these thresholds, dots are held to that minimum size, and density is reproduced by removing dots in an FM or "stochastic" pattern. This technique can be used to eliminate the "highlight break" which occurs in screen and flexo printing due to physical issues with small dots, and can also be used to eliminate "plugged holes' in the shadow areas of inkjet separations. To addres both issues independently, Wasatch SoftRIP allows for independent setting of the thresholds for highlights and shadows.

Do I really need WPRS?

Wasatch Precision Rosette Screens have revolutionized the production of high–end process color separations using standard inkjet printers instead of expensive image–setters. These moiré–free sets of halftone screens produce perfect center–filled rosettes using the full printing width available on wide format digital printers. As important as this capability is for high–end process color printing, not everybody needs it. For example, it isn't really needed at all for spot color. Even for process color, some "lower end" printing may not be sensitive to the moiré problems that these screens solve.

Click here for a larger preview. CMK Rosette     Click here for a larger preview. Failed CMK Rosette

This simple test is a good way to judge whether you need Wasatch Precision Rosette Screens or whether your needs can be met with the PostScript screens included with the basic Wasatch SoftRIP package. The "Failed CMK Rosette" shown above illustrates the problem that arises when process separations are slightly out of register. This problem nearly always occurs with digital halftones of less quality than Wasatch Precision Rosette Screens.

One way to test is by making separation films of a test image that really shows the problem. A good choice is an image that prints a large area of a solid light gray using all four inks. We commonly use a test pattern consisting of a 10X10 inch square with 15% each of C, M, Y, and K.

How do I perform this test?

Download this test pattern here. Turn off all linearizations and color configurations in your RIP Print a set of four films from t his file Tape the CMK films onto a light box Look for the failure of the CMK rosette (use a screen of 55 lpi or 65 lpi to make it easy to see.) Note that this isn't just a problem with high lpi files--the moiré generated by a CMK rosette failure at low lpis is just as obvious. With Wasatch Precision Rosette Screens and accurately registered films, you'll see no failure at all. Instead, you'll see something resembling the 'CMK Rosette' illustration shown above. With any lesser screening method, such as the PostScript Screens in Wasatch SoftRIP, you'll nearly always see the kind of problem illustrated in the 'Failed CMK Rosette' example.

How do I learn more about moiré?

Click here to learn more about moiré and rosette patterns.

What if I don't use large-format printers?

Wasatch SoftRIP is also available in special, small-format editions for desktop and inkjet printers. These special editions include almost every feature in the Large-Format version of SoftRIP and differ mainly in the size of printers they support. The low cost of smaller format printers has made the relative cost of sophisticated RIP software too high. Wasatch has created special products for smaller format printing to give the owners of these printers a superior RIP solution at a price that is more consistent with their hardware outlay. Only a full-featured RIP like Wasatch SoftRIP will support the highly technical operations required for processes such as screen printing, proofing, or photo output. SoftRIP has a complete suite of color features that make achieving your color goals easy and intuitive.