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rasterfähig


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18:18 Nov 23, 2011
German to English translations [PRO]
Tech/Engineering - Printing & Publishing
German term or phrase: rasterfähig
Bei nicht *rasterfähigen" Druckverfahren entfallen die Halbtöne.

This is part of a list of colors to be used in a Corporate Design concept. There is no relevant text preceding or coming after this. Not quite sure if there is a set term for this in English, because printing technology is not a topic I know much about, whereas marketing is, and this sentence comes up in a marketing context. "Rasterfähig" also didn't turn up in any of the online dictionaries I use.
I would appreciate suggestions that are not guesses. I can do that myself.

TIA
Woodstock
Germany
Local time: 18:34


Summary of answers provided
3halftone
de>en


Discussion entries: 2





  

Answers


7 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
halftone


Explanation:
I'll venture an answer which is off the beaten track, but has a certain logic to it:

"In non-halftone printing processes, halftones are not applicable."

Halftone is nowhere near being a literal translation for rasterfähig. However, as explained below, a literal translation in this context would a) be totally wrong, and b) sow confusion.

My first thought for the English equivalent of "rasterfähig" was "rasterizable". However, you can't rasterize a printing process.

My next thought was "raster-capable". This term does occur in English. However, it appears to be used strictly for making a distinction between printers which can print tiny dots at high resolution anywhere on the page, and more antique line printers which are only suitable for text (or ASCII art at best). Chances are slim that a corporate graphic designer would try sending a halftone image to the line printer in the payroll office.

What the source text is driving at, I think, is that it doesn't make sense to use halftones in an image that you will be sending through a continuous tone printing process. Halftones are only necessary when you're using a halftone printing process -- which typically occurs on a raster output device.

So what is this verb "entfallen"? It means "are to be omitted", "may be dispensed with", "are inapplicable", or words to that effect.

Hence:

"In non-halftone printing processes, halftones are not applicable."

Example sentence(s):
  • Two basic categories of printing processes are continuous tone printing, and halftone printing.
  • That fine art photograph will require continuous tone printing. Skip the halftones.

    Reference: http://books.google.com/books?id=-fNJZ0xmTFIC&pg=PA304&lpg=P...
de>en
Local time: 12:34
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thank you for explaining the process and how you arrived at your answer. At least I understand the context now, which is very helpful!

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