continuous tone


continuous tone

[kən¦tin·yə·wəs ′tōn] (graphic arts) An image which has not been screened and contains unbroken gradient tones from black to white, and may be either in negative or positive form.

continuous tone

A printing process that produces photographic-like output. In a continuous tone image, pixel patterns (individual dots) are either not visible or are barely visible under a magnifying glass. Various dye sublimation and laser technologies can provide up to 256 intensities of color and even blend the inks. See contone printer and dye sublimation printer.