The Contract Proof - 2000

Polaroid's theory on color management is that "when you start out with the right color, color management becomes a whole lot easier." Therefore, logically, a trend to watch throughout 2000 in streamlining digital workflow is the integration of stochastic screening.

"A well-known printing company tested stochastic screening in a CTP workflow. The results reportedly claim that stochastic is easier to run than conventional screening—no moiré and higher quality reproduction of more detail in a wider latitude with a greater dynamic range," LaBaugh reports. "A big benefit is consistency. Stochastic screening was once thought of as difficult to reproduce, but now with the fine dot reproduction and minimal gain capabilities of CTP systems, stochastic has the potential to flourish by providing a defining competitive edge—stochastically screened digital proofs need not be a missing link in workflow."