The Pros and Cons of Screenless Printing

Screenless printing is both praised and condemned by photolithographers. The process can print high-fidelity images, but it is difficult to control and requires care and precision. Screenless printing is a good alternative to halftone printing when maximum definition and color fidelity are required. Screenless printing continues to be developmental; even with the improved consistency of the plates and chemicals, many difficulties remain to be overcome before the process can be a practical procedure for the average lithographer. The U.S. Geological Survey is reproducing selected image maps by screenless lithography and is closely monitoring the procedures to determine if the improved quality justifies the additional effort and cost.