Re: Halftones in PDF files

[Michael Cudmore <mcudmore@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Thanks for the comments, Dov. I have interspersed a few notes below.

> (1) In general, in current publishing workflows, and especially PDF-based
> workflows, the industry has moved away from the setting of screening values
> in the image data itself

Yes, I understand the idea behind this approach, and in general I like
it. But I don't want to set screening values in all PS or PDF files,
just for the one set of documents with specific needs described below.

> As I recall, the original thread was trying to use
> screening as a form of copy protection. Per above, given that many printers
> ignore the embedded screening settings, this will work globally. Personally,
> I am underwhelmed by someone sending/licensing/selling me crippled content
> that has the underlying assumption of lack of any trust.

The use of screening is not to enforce copy protection but just the
opposite, to allow good quality copying to take place. The documents in
question are sold to schools as paper booklets with a licence for the
school to photocopy for distribution to students. Our printer prints
from PDF files to their Docutech to make up the paper booklets for
distribution to customers. If they use the default halftone screen, we
end up with paper booklets with smooth halftones (about 85 lpi on a 600
dpi Docutech 6180, I suppose) that look super, but then when our
customers go to photocopy the documents they end up with banding and
fade out of halftones. If I could give them a paper copy printed with 60
lpi halftones, well sure, the resolution of images might be lower, but
first- and second-generation photocopies would be a lot clearer. We need
to accommodate customers with photocopiers varying from low-end personal
copiers to docutech and similar machines at larger institutions, hence
the decision to trade off some printed resolution for improved clarity
of end copies for all customers.

Distributing the PDF files to our customers is not an option at this
point, which is why I seek a paper-based solution. 

--
Michael Cudmore
Project Development Manager
National Educational Advancement Programs (NEAP) Pty Ltd
58 Pelham St  Carlton  Vic  3053   AUSTRALIA
Tel:    +61 3 9663 2523    Fax:  +61 3 9663 7182
e-mail: mcudmore@neap.com.au

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