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Color Separation For Screen Printing

This document provides a beginner's guide to color separation for screen printing using Photoshop. It outlines key steps: 1) Check file resolution and size, 2) Select shapes using the Magic Wand tool, 3) Create a new spot channel for each color area, 4) Repeat step 3 for all colors, 5) Save the file in DCS 2.0 format to preserve spot channels. The guide separates a sample design into 5 spot channels to create separations for different colored screens needed to print the design. Color separation takes experience to master complex images, but this provides a basic process for simple, clearly defined color designs.

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Jaime Chao
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985 views11 pages

Color Separation For Screen Printing

This document provides a beginner's guide to color separation for screen printing using Photoshop. It outlines key steps: 1) Check file resolution and size, 2) Select shapes using the Magic Wand tool, 3) Create a new spot channel for each color area, 4) Repeat step 3 for all colors, 5) Save the file in DCS 2.0 format to preserve spot channels. The guide separates a sample design into 5 spot channels to create separations for different colored screens needed to print the design. Color separation takes experience to master complex images, but this provides a basic process for simple, clearly defined color designs.

Uploaded by

Jaime Chao
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 11

Introduction................................................

1. Check File Size .....................................4

2. Magically Group Shapes.......................5

3. Create A Spot Channel..........................6

4. Repeat Step Three................................9

5. Save Your Seps...................................10

Conclusion...............................................11

Color Separation For Screen Printing: A Beginners Guide 2


Color separation is an art. By definition, color separation is just as it sounds -
separating out the colors in a design in to make individual screens for printing.

Many designs are simple enough to be separated easily if you have Photoshop
software. This guide has been developed to show you the basic steps of
separating a simple spot color Photoshop design into the channels needed to
produce the film positives for screen printing. Simple, in terms of separation,
means clearly defined color areas at a good resolution. Any number of colors will
work using this type of separation, as long as the press has enough heads to
accommodate. Colors in the design must be clearly defined with clean, distinct
edges.

Deconstructing a design and recreating it using a finite number of colors is a


skill that takes many years of experience, press work, and talent to master.
Separating photorealistic images using varying halftone percentages to create
screen printed blends is exemplary of the craft. This guide does not cover the
separation process for highly complex designs. High end color separation is an
entirely different process.

Creating spot channels in Photoshop and saving in an appropriate file format


is a key part of the separation process. Depending on your level of Photoshop
savvy, you may find it easier to create selections in any number of different ways.
Photoshop has the ability to accomplish the same objective in many different
ways. This guide demonstrates one method.

For the purposes of this guide, let’s separate the design on the t-shirt below.

Color Separation For Screen Printing: A Beginners Guide 3


Open your file and check the
resolution by clicking on Image
(top menu bar) then Image Size
(from the drop down).

In the Image Size dialogue box, we can see this file is 12” x 7.973” at 150 ppi.
Photoshop files for screen printing should be created at a minimum of 150 ppi
or dpi at the final print size. If we view this file at 100% the lines look clean, so
we know the file is good for color separation.

Images created at a lower resolution


than 150 ppi will look pixelated or jagged.
These images are not good for color
separation. Most images retrieved from
the web are 72 dpi and are not useable for
screen printing.

Color Separation For Screen Printing: A Beginners Guide 4


Each color in your design will need it’s own screen for
printing. The next step is to select each shape area that
will be printed in the same color.

Click on the Magic Wand tool to select it. The Magic


Wand tool can be found in the toolbar defaulting on the
left facing side of your Photoshop desktop.

Click on an area filled with color in you design. In this example, we have
clicked on the blue area in the “b.” You will notice that a dotted blinking line
shows the selected area.

Hold down the shift key and click on multiple areas to select more than one
shape. If you have selected an area by mistake, simply click on it again to
deselect.

Color Separation For Screen Printing: A Beginners Guide 5


If your Channels window is not visible, click on Window (top menu bar) and make sure
Channels has a check mark next to it.

Then, click and hold the menu icon


in the upper right corner to release
the Channels drop down menu.

Next, select New Channel...


from the Channels drop
down menu.

A New Spot Channel dialogue box will open with default information or with information from
the last channel that was created.

Color Separation For Screen Printing: A Beginners Guide 6


You will notice that the area you selected with the Magic Wand tool changes to the color
designated in the New Spot Channel dialogue box. In this example, the “b” has changed
from blue to orange. You can assign any color you like for your New Spot Channel and it will
not affect your end print. The end print depends on the ink color in the screen. This feature
is used to help you view the area you have selected. If you assign a color to match the print
color, you can better visualize what the print will look like.

Assign a color name. It’s helpful


to use a specific Pantone color
if you have one.

Then, click on the color box to


select a representative color for
the New Spot Channel.

Once the color name and preview color are updated, click OK.

Color Separation For Screen Printing: A Beginners Guide 7


The spot channel you created is now
visible in the Channels window.

You can turn off the CMYK channels by clicking the eye to the left of each channel. If you
leave the eye on your newly created spot channel and turn the others off, you can see what
the film positive will look like when the separations are printed on film.

If you are designing or separating art


files for screen print, a Pantone fanbook
is worth the investment. Pantone makes
a great set for those just starting out.
There are some online guides, however,
this is not an accurate way to select
Pantone colors as computer monitors
preview differently.

5 Steps for Simple Spot Color Seps 8


You need a unique spot channel for each color that will be printed in your design. Create
New Spot Channels as you did in step three until you have a channel for each print color.

Before you begin selecting areas


using the Magic Wand tool, be
sure the main CMYK channel at
the top of your Channels window
is selected. If you are working in
RGB, you will select the main RGB
channel.

In this example, we have made a total of 5 spot channels.

Color Separation For Screen Printing: A Beginners Guide 9


Now that all channels are created, you will save the file in a format that is compatible with
channel information. Do this by clicking on File (top menu bar) and selecting Save As from
the drop down menu. A good format to use is Photoshop DCS 2.0. This is a unique EPS
format, and the file extension will read “.eps” (not DCS). It is helpful to include the actual
text “DCS” in the file name to help differentiate it as the final separation file from any other
working files.

The DCS 2.0 Format settings affect the preview, size, and compatibility of the art file with
printers, RIPs, and other design software. Below are some recommended settings for small
file size and universal use.

Color Separation For Screen Printing: A Beginners Guide 10


There you have it! You can now separate a simple spot color design in Photoshop!

Separating the art file is only part of preparing the design for screen printing. As a
designer or separator, you may be making decisions on what size the design will
print and which ink colors to use. We’ve developed a number of guides on these
topics and more available for free download online. Enjoy!

T-shirt Design Sizing Guide


Mock up your design across multiple sizes
of guys and girls fashion t-shirts.

Pantone & Textile Screen Printing


This guide covers how to select Pantone
colors to make sure your end product prints
the way you intend it to.

Color Separation For Screen Printing: A Beginners Guide 11

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