Dictionary of Marketing Terms: line screen
line screen
degree of resolution of a halftone image based on the number of lines-per-inch (lpi) used to create the halftone. Although most halftone images are now produced electronically, they used to be created by photographing through a grid painted on glass. Two glass plates with inked lines were placed perpendicular to each other to create the grid. A line screen of 60-100 lpi is used to make halftones for newspapers; 120-150 lpi for magazines and commercial printing; and 150-600 lpi for high-quality color printing. The line screen at which an image is to be printed determines the dpi at which the image should be scanned. Generally, twice the line screen equals the optimal scanning dpi.
