Adobe Illustrator CS3 - Manual (Page 421)

ILLUSTRATOR CS3
User Guide
415
• Use lighter colors, or make dark blends short. Banding is most likely to occur between very dark colors and white.
• Use an appropriate line screen that retains 256 levels of gray.
• If you create a gradient between two or more spot colors, assign different screen angles to the spot colors when
you create color separations. If you’re not sure what the angles should be, consult your print shop.
• Print to an output device that supports PostScript® Language Level 3 whenever possible.
• If you have to print to an output device that supports Postscript Language Level 2, or when printing meshes that
include transparency, you can choose to rasterize gradients and meshes during printing. As a result, Illustrator
converts gradients and meshes from vector objects to JPEG images.
Rasterize gradients and meshes during printing
1 Choose File > Print.
2 Select Graphics on the left side of the Print dialog box, and select Compatible Gradient And Gradient Mesh
Printing.
Important: The Compatible Gradient And Gradient Mesh Printing option can slow printing on printers that don’t have
problems with gradients, so only select this option if you experience printing problems.
Setting the proper screen frequency for printing gradients, meshes, and blends
When printing your file, you may find that the resolution of your printer, when combined with the chosen screen
frequency, allows fewer than 256 levels of gray. A higher screen frequency decreases the levels of gray available to the
printer. For example, if you are printing at a resolution of 2400 dpi, using a line screen higher than 150 results in fewer
than 256 levels of gray. The following table lists the maximum line-screen setting you can use with printers to
maintain all 256 levels of gray:
Final Imagesetter Resolution Maximum Line Screen
to Use
300 19
400 25
600 38
900 56
1000 63
1270 79
1446 90
1524 95
1693 106
2000 125
2400 150
2540 159
3000 188