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thelazerviking · June 5th, 2009

hey guys! first post

in adavance...sorry for my bad english

my problem is the following:

i start with a new design (first time in illustrator)
i made up my line art and than i start coloring on a new layer (which lays UNDER the line art)
the color of this layer is green.

but... the color does of course not flush with the lines of the line art... so that is overlapp with the lineart / there is green color UNDER the lines...

i have to say that i did the coloring with the paint-brush tool and not with the pen-tool as a vector but i converted it to a vector later.

here a small preview of my problem

Imageshack - someinich.jpg

i hope so you understand what i say

i was searching the last 3 days for a solution but i cant find one...

or is it not needed that there is no "overlappings" for screen-printing?

greetz from germany

Johnny

PositiveDave · June 5th, 2009

I think your overlappings are what we call trapping.
If you have an object in AI and want to overlap/trap it against another colour then the easiest way is to give it a stroke and (right-clicking on the object) set the property to 'Overprint Stroke'.
The size of the stroke gives you your trap.
Does that make sense?

miktoxic · June 5th, 2009

i'm ignorant to output for screen printing (as of yet, i.e. trapping/chokes) so i'll ask maybe a dumb question:

is there a reason you did not paint on the same layer as the line art? or use live paint to paint?

thelazerviking · June 5th, 2009

i think i need one layer for every color? or do in not?
thats the reason why i dont paint on the same layer... but maybe my thinking is wrong

hmm... i still cant handle the problem... but i export it to photoshop and there i subtract every layer (lines and colors) from eachother... now i have my result... but i want to do the same effect in illustrator :-/

ProSeparatorNJ · June 5th, 2009

The greater your skill level, the more you are able to handle art regardless of how it's layered. However, the layers can certainly serve you well. They are not necessary for separations, but can make life easier for you. Generally, if I do separations work on existing art, all of the art stays one 1 layer, but something like an underbase will have it's own layer. Illustrator makes it easy to handle any amount of art on a single layer. If I create art myself, I will put text on separate layers and place parts of art on different layers as I see fit. I often end up with a lot of layers because I tend to keep unmodified parts, or live text on hidden and non-printing layers in case I need to make use of them again. This is all true for when I work in Illustrator. In other applications I try to work the same way if I can.

AV1611 · June 5th, 2009

If you are not wanting the green to over lap the black, would want to have the green flush up against the black, you'll want to use the pathfinder tools.

If my understanding is right I can do a step by step for you.

But if you are screen printing you can always print the black last and it should go over the green without showing through. IE trapping / overprint.

thelazerviking · June 6th, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by AV1611


	If you are not wanting the green to over lap the black, would want to have the green flush up against the black, you'll want to use the pathfinder tools. If my understanding is right I can do a step by step for you. But if you are screen printing you can always print the black last and it should go over the green without showing through. IE trapping / overprint.

this was one of the answers i need! next time i can avoid the trouble! THANKS!

but now i have a solution for the problem...my thinking about the layersystem was wrong... now its done with the pathfinder tool!

but there is maybe a new problem.
between some colors are now little "gaps" where i can see the background color / white...

see here:

thanks to all of you for the help!

AV1611 · June 6th, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by thelazerviking


	this was one of the answers i need! next time i can avoid the trouble! THANKS! but now i have a solution for the problem...my thinking about the layersystem was wrong... now its done with the pathfinder tool! but there is maybe a new problem. between some colors are now little "gaps" where i can see the background color / white... see here: thanks to all of you for the help!

My suspicion is that it's because you are zoomed in. If you double click the magnify glass tool and don't see it you'll be fine. I know sometimes with colors but up against each other will show a tiny white line if you are zoomed in to close.

So I personally think you are fine and the colors are actually but up against each other. I doubt painting with the brush would do this either.

Glad you learned the awesomeness of the pathfinder lol.

thelazerviking · June 6th, 2009

hmm...i see the gaps independent from zoom :-/ i did save the file as a PDF and the gaps are still there between every color

AV1611 · June 6th, 2009

If you want, you can send me the file and I'll take a look at it. I think my email or AIM info is on my profile. You could test it by printing each color in a plain piece of paper and hold all the papers together to the light and see if you notice a gap.

thelazerviking · June 6th, 2009

ok i will try it with the print and if it does not work i contact you again!
thank you! =)

PositiveDave · June 6th, 2009

Do this:
Create a blue square.
Put a red square in front of it with a 20pt stroke. (on same layer).
Print to separations a. (Postscript printer)
Right click on the red square and choose overprint stroke.
Print to separations b.
Compare a & b.
That's a basic trapping exercise. You can set 'overprint black' in your print dialogue box. That's for keylines etc. where the colours but-fit and the black covers the gaps.
Your design is more complicated but should be approached in the same way.
If you can't print to a RIP/Postscript printer, it's more difficult.

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[Illustrator] - coloring problem (overlapping colors?)