Altone Gradar Screen

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

June 17, 2026

Quick Summary

The Altone Gradar Screen was a type of glass screen developed in Germany for photoengraving. It featured rulings filled with transparent magenta lacquer of two different optical densities. This design created elongated halftone dots, which improved the reproduction of intermediate gray tones, particularly on coarser papers like those used for newspapers. This innovation aimed to enhance tonal reproduction in printing processes.1

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

2 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

photoengraving
Basis for selection of screen ruling
…glass screens was the “Altone Gradar Screen,” manufactured in Germany. These are glass screens, ruled and etched in the usual manner, but with the rulings of the two glass elements filled with a transparent magenta lacquer of two different optical densities. When the screens are assembled, lines in one…
Read More
…glass screens was the “Altone Gradar Screen,” manufactured in Germany. These are glass screens, ruled and etched in the usual manner, but with the rulings of the two glass elements filled with a transparent magenta lacquer of two different optical densities. When the screens are assembled, lines in one…
Read More