Printing VERY small Text

[AP90]

Hey guys, I didn't know if I should put this in the prepress forum or Digital forum as I'm using a 1000i to produce this. I had a person wanting some samples of text that goes all the way down to 1.2 font. It is ridiculously small, but they need it legible with a magnifying glass. I believe I have a pretty good sample with 110# cardstock, but was wondering if any of you had some tips for how to clean up the text some. All I was given was the PDF files, and Im not wanting to alter them so I can produce a true sample for what they need. I've messed around with the settings on the press too, just didn't know if there was something I might be missing or not thinking of when printing this to get the best image possible. Thanks guys!

 

[old guy]

A company called Printware LLC in MN advertised their small format poly ctp system by printing out an 8 1/2 x 11 page with the entire new testament on it. I believe it was all 1 pt. So it can be done offset.

 

[Craig]

Xerox use to have a Micro Print add on that will do just that. I believe you need to purchase the license or some BS to get it to work.

 

[mwc]

This all depends on the resolution of your output device (Digital, CTP, Film) 4000dpi vs 600/1200/2400 dpi
Lower resolution devices or settings will not hold 1 point type...as one laser dot on your imager might be larger than the character...
By 'cleaning up', are you referring to toner 'scatter' that is making the type fuzzy, or just blocky,jaggedness due to the resolution?
Another question, is the black only type, 4c, or reversed?
Check the resolution on your RIP (Fiery?) there is usually a setting in the image tab for resolution and other type reproduction option...

 

[Green Printer]

A company called Printware LLC in MN advertised their small format poly ctp system by printing out an 8 1/2 x 11 page with the entire new testament on it. I believe it was all 1 pt. So it can be done offset.

I seen the plates. You would have an extremely difficult time printing them. I talked to our Printware rep and they did not now of anyone who could print it.

We have done .5pt type on metal plates with over 6 million digits of pi on a sheet 18 x 24. It also had a pi logo in the background made of dots that were smaller the than the holes in the 8's,9's, 6's, 4's and 0's. The dots had to be smaller than the holes so you could still read the numbers.

 

[Stephen Marsh]

AP90, is the element in the PDF truly “text” or is it vector paths or is it a raster image? True editable text should provide the best result due to font hinting. Is this a solid single toner, a reverse from a single solid or a process build using more than one toner?

As others have stated, this is also routinely performed in traditional printing – even flexo! Kodak have demonstrated micro text printing using their Flexcel NX plates, with capabilities to have 0.5pt legible microtext. I don’t have a print sample in front of me as I write this, however If I remember correctly the folding carton flexo sample was 1pt type.


Stephen Marsh

 

[old guy]

1 pt type. took pic with my phone thru a loupe. 60lb offset presstek 34DI.

 

[AP90]

1 pt type. took pic with my phone thru a loupe. 60lb offset presstek 34DI.

Wow that's a pretty good sample. I'm not getting anything that clear on my 1000i but it is clearly ledgible. If it was a limitation of the machine I could accept that, but I feel I'm getting something wrong to not produce it better. It could very well be the file they sent me, so I'm going to recreate one and test myself. Id really like to get this customer, so outsourcing to offset might be my only option if it's the machine. But it's only the 1.4 and 1.5 fonts that are questionable. 1.6 is good. So I'm a little stumped. Especially when you can use micro text for security reasons.

 

[Craig]

No Title

This is off our 1000 with an efi rip.

 

[AP90]

This is off our 1000 with an efi rip.

Craig, that looks exactly like what I'm getting. Legible, but could be better I feel. Thanks for running that

 

[Craig]

I didn't play around, but I wonder what changing line screens would do, if anything?

 

[old guy]

mine was at 175 i can go 300

 

[Stephen Marsh]

Attached is the Kodak Flexcel NX MicroText sample on folding carton, I have included a guage in 1mm increments for scale.

The focus is a little off on the micro-text, however it is very legible when correctly viewed.


Stephen Marsh