What Is the Difference Between Contone and Halftone Drivers?
Applies to: Ergosoft RIP 17 and later · all printer drivers · Epson, Canon, HP and other manufacturers
Answer
The difference is who converts the image into ink dots. With a halftone driver, Ergosoft RIP does all processing steps, including the screening, and sends dot data to the printer. With a contone driver, Ergosoft RIP sends continuous-tone data, and the manufacturer's halftone module does the screening.
Details
| Halftone driver | Contone driver | |
|---|---|---|
| Who screens | Ergosoft RIP | Manufacturer halftone module (for example Epson Precision Dot) |
| Data sent to the printer | Halftone data, 1, 2 or 4 bit per ink channel | Contone data, 8, 12 or 16 bit per channel |
| Light inks, dot sizes, additional inks | Controlled in Ergosoft RIP | Controlled by the manufacturer module (fully or partly) |
| Calibration in Ergosoft RIP | All channels | Depends on the interface (CMYK, multi-color or RGB) |
| Best for | Full control of inks, dot sizes and ink consumption; special media and ink setups | Manufacturer print quality with easy calibration; RGB for photo printing with the manufacturer look |
Some printers, for example selected Epson, Canon and HP models, have both driver types. The driver name in the driver list often shows the type, for example "Contone CMYK" or "Halftone 7C".
For the three contone interfaces (CMYK, multi-color, RGB), the processing steps and the driver types by manufacturer, see the section Driver Types: Halftone and Contone in the User Guide Printer Drivers.
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References
- Changelog #11614 – Ergosoft RIP 17.1.2.8882: A new 16-bit base driver architecture for Contone printer interfaces has been added; upcoming Contone drivers benefit from 16-bit interfacing with the manufacturer screening library, if supported.
- Changelog #16039 – Ergosoft RIP 17.7.2.0465: Epson SureColor SC-F9500H (CMYK, Fluorescent Pink, Fluorescent Yellow): in addition to the 4C Epson Precision Dot (HTM2), a 4C halftone driver with device options for the fluorescent inks.