What is "contone"

a. (context printing English) Having a continuous range of tones from white to black, rather than an approximation such as stipple.

Contone is a former municipality in the district of Locarno in the canton of Ticino in Switzerland.

On 25 April 2010, the former municipalities of Caviano, Contone, Gerra Gambarogno, Indemini, Magadino, Piazzogna, San Nazzaro, Sant'Abbondio and Vira Gambarogno merged in the new municipality of Gambarogno.

Contone is a printing method for improving the output quality of printing, usually from laser printers. Most printing techniques apply ink or toner on to the printing surface, usually paper, in a pattern of dots to maximize the range of possible colors. Contone varies the dot size to achieve a simulation of continuous tone.