Emma Davis Print Production Specialist at 4OVER4.COM
Emma is our prepress and print production voice, built from the knowledge of our production team, with over 20 years in printing.
Question
What is dot gain?
Answer
Dot gain is the natural tendency for halftone dots to print slightly larger than intended as ink spreads into the paper. The result is that images can look darker or muddier than they did on screen, so presses compensate for it in their profiles.
- Caused by ink spreading as it absorbs into the sheet.
- Makes midtones and shadows appear darker than expected.
- Uncoated and porous stocks show more dot gain than smooth coated ones.
- Print profiles adjust the file automatically so results stay predictable.
| Stock type | Relative dot gain |
|---|---|
| Coated (gloss or matte) | Lower |
| Uncoated | Higher |
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