How does dot gain affect print?

Here we help explain what dot gain is and how it affects your print

Dot gain occurs when halftone dots reproduce larger than they were intended to during the printing process. As the dots increase in size, more ink covers the paper, which can make printed images appear darker or heavier than expected. This is particularly noticeable in the midtones and can result in a loss of detail, reduced contrast and changes in colour appearance.

The amount of dot gain depends on several factors, including the printing process, paper, ink, screening method and press conditions. Different printing processes can therefore produce different levels of dot gain. Professional prepress and colour-management workflows take this into account when preparing images and colour separations for print.

Dot gain is a normal part of the printing process rather than necessarily a printing fault. Understanding and controlling it is important when accurate colour and tonal reproduction are required.

For a more detailed explanation, see our guide to [What is dot gain?]