Stochastic Screening & 500 Series - are Dots Accurate?

FM screening (Stochastic) while composed of smaller dots, does not affect the accuracy of the instrument in reading dot values throughout the range of printed tones. It must be understood that densitometers don't truly 'see' or measure dots anyway. Rather they simply measure the percentage of light that has been absorbed by the ink film (relative to paper & solid). As the micro-dots grow in number and grow closer in proximity, more light is absorbed. The instrument thus calculates a larger dot area (or gain). The effect visually is no different than observed via conventional screening; the image appears darker.