SPIR@L™ – The new quality standard in heatset printing

With its new print screening technology, Agfa takes its ECO³ solutions to the next level. The concept is straightforward but all the more innovative: we replace the traditional ink dot used in offset printing with other more efficient shapes such as spirals. This has a positive impact on print quality and results in a crystal-clear image every time without effort.

SPIR@L is Agfa’s latest screening technology. Based on the fundaments of Sublima screening, it lets you hold a 1-99% dot, guaranteeing vibrant colors and reducing image slur. What’s more, it requires no expensive upgrades for your CTP or printing press.

Calculate Your Savings

SPIR@L is a crucial element of our ECO³ program: by enabling you to reduce your ink consumption, we put our commitment to sustainable innovation into practice. As we design and create solutions based on hardware, software and consumables, we focus on achieving three success factors: ecology, economy and extra convenience (ECO³). The aim is to make your prepress and printing operations cleaner, more cost-effective and easier to manage and maintain. Our ultimate goal? To generate more value for your entire business!

Benefits

Achieve picture-perfect detail at any size
Eliminate imperfections such as image slur
Save on ink in midtones and shadows

Increased printing speed on heatset and coldset presses
Pure color reproduction in the blue color range
Get started easily with no extra investment required

Features

Picture-perfect print quality

Never compromise on quality again. SPIR@L guarantees high-quality images in the finest detail and brightest colors.

Eliminates imperfections

No image slur: with SPIR@L, you get crystal-clear image rendering every time. No more costly reprints required!

All the advantages of a thinner ink layer

Thanks to the unique SPIR@L dot shape, less ink is required to fill in the exact same area. Next to saving ink, this speeds up drying and reduces see-through when printing on thin paper. As an added bonus, faster drying also reduces the occurrence of web breaks on web offset presses.

Improved production speed

With SPIR@L, presses can run faster without spraying the ink. This improves speed and productivity while significantly reducing your energy consumption and overall costs.

Compatible with InkTune

SPIR@L is compatible with Agfa’s InkTune, PressTune and SolidTune software – which all result in significant ink reduction – and delivers an additional saving leading to a better margin. However, all you need to get access to the benefits of SPIR@L is Apogee Prepress.

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“It’s a great technology. We see a big difference in quality, particularly in highlights and shadows. I didn’t think we could lean on our calibration anymore because we are as lean as can be, but SPIR@L delivered.”
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Kurt Moody, Press Operations Manager
Sun Sentinel - USA

“We see a 10 to 20 percent reduction in ink which is substantial over the course of a year. The SPIR@L screening allows us to get the same vibrancy, richness, overall look and feel with substantially less ink.”
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David Dey, VP of Manufacturing
ColorDynamics - USA

“Agfa products and professional services have been exceptional. The Agfa team has played an invaluable role in supporting the New York Daily News’ efforts to achieve superior print quality.”
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John Frahm, Senior Director of Manufacturing
New York Daily News - USA

“This new screening technology impacted our daily production directly. It not only lived up to its promise to lower our overall ink consumption, we also experienced better image quality with improved detail reproduction and better sharpness.”
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Lucas Hilgert da Silva, Production Supervisor
Grupo Sinos - Brazil

How it works

The new SPIR@L technology begins the printing process by placing a modified minimum ink dot, created in a varying shape, such as a spiral. Thanks to the solution’s smooth transition from positive to negative spirals and minimum white gap, the result is always a high-quality image in vibrant colors. You can set up SPIR@L according to your preferences: different curves and groove area thicknesses can be selected depending on the press and paper used to achieve high quality print at the lowest possible cost.

See the difference SPIR@L makes

By replacing conventional dots with spiral shapes, the thickness of the ink layer is reduced. This leads to lower ink consumption and faster drying.