Troubleshooting guide

4-8 Computerized Controls
Halftone (coarse)
This is the same as Halftone (fine) except that the black and white bitmap that is produced has
a lower numbered lines per inch screen. Lower numbers will produce less black dots and the
size of the black dots will be larger. This is in comparison with the higher numbered lines per
inch screen pattern of the Halftone (fine) selection.
RESOLUTION ANGLE SHAPE LINES PER INCH
1000 45 DEGREES ROUND 90
500 45 DEGREES ROUND 45
333 45 DEGREES ROUND 30
250 45 DEGREES ROUND 22
200 45 DEGREES ROUND 18
Error Diffusion
Scatters the pixels in a random pattern to represent shading. This randomized dither pattern is
unlike the fixed pattern of a “Halftone” screen and can be adjusted. Error Diffusion represents
the grayscale bitmapped image by adjusting the number of black dots as opposed to the size of
the black dots. The pattern created will be dependent on the Resolution (DPI) setting that you
choose in the driver with the exception that there is no chart to reference. Higher resolutions
such as 1000 DPI will produce a more densely packed, higher dot quantity pattern whereas
lower resolution setting such as 250 DPI will produce a loosely packed, lower quantity dot
pattern.
Helpful Tip
Engraving grayscale bitmaps with a laser system requires some practice and a bit of trial and
error to achieve perfection. It also requires some knowledge of bitmap editing software. These
images will visually appear different on one material as opposed to another material even if you
use the same driver settings. As a rule of thumb, use the Halftone (fine) or Diffusion pattern on
harder materials such as marble, anodized aluminum, microsurfaced engraving plastic, or
coated metals. Use the Halftone (coarse) pattern for softer materials such as wood or materials
that you intend on engraving very deeply. Refer to the Special Applications Guide for a more
thorough description of how to use, manipulate, and engrave these types of images.
?
This selection, located in each tab, accesses the driver’s help screens.
Tuning Tab
As part of normal maintenance, the laser system must be periodically adjusted in order to obtain
the highest quality laser cutting and engraving. The settings in this tab allow several different
types of tuning adjustments. There are separate adjustments for Raster engraving, Vector
Scaling, Rotary Rotation, and restoring driver defaults.