Halftone Gravure: An Operational Perspective

The challenge for the rotogravure industry in the '80s is to preserve press advantages of the gravure process, and integrate prepress advantages from offset. There has been no other process as readily accepted in rotogravure as has been the conversion to halftone gravure. GTA has established procedures and guidelines for acceptance of films, production of progressive proofs, and for engraving printing cylinders. A history of halftone gravure is briefly sketched, including notes on the experiences of film separators and printers. The main advantage of halftone gravure use is that the films used to produce the prepress proof or offset press printing plates are the same films used to contact onto bromide material for engraving. Halftone gravure has provided rotogravure printers with a way of becoming competitive with other printing processes. proof or offset press printing plates are the same films used to contact onto bromide material for engraving. Halftone gravure has provided rotogravure printers with a way of becoming competitive with other printing processes.