Comparison of Print from Laser and Electromechanically Engraved Cylinder

Five different paper substrates were gravure printed using electromechanically and laser engraved image carrier using toluene based publication gravure inks. Printability results show that using laser engraved cylinder especially different dot gain maximum was achieved, shifting form 50% dot at electromechanically engraved to maximum at 30 % for laser engraved image. Print mottle was measured by Tobias Mottle Tester and by Verity software. Verity software is new mottle measurement tool, processing digital images. It is using new algorithms, which respond uniformly to all levels of visually apparent mottle. Mottle was significantly lower at yellow, magenta and black laser engraved images, while cyan print from laser engraved cylinder had higher mottle on some of the substrates. The mottle differences were most obvious when printing without electrostatic assist - laser engraved image did not create mottle, or ink release from laser engraved cylinder is more consistent with or without ESA assist.