Tobias Reed Production Knowledge Lead at 4OVER4.COM
Tobias is our voice for cutting, binding and large format, built from the knowledge of our production team, with over 20 years in printing.
Question
What is banding?
Answer
Banding is when a smooth gradient prints as visible steps or stripes instead of an even blend. It has several possible causes, and the source program is a common one.
- Many things can cause banding.
- It can be caused by the program the file is exported from, such as InDesign.
- Long, subtle gradients across large areas are the most prone to it.
- Exporting at full resolution and adding a touch of noise to gradients can help reduce it.
If a gradient looks stepped on your proof, revisiting how it was exported is a good first check.
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