Here's a picture a customer sent me and wants it screen printed on a heather gray shirt. I tried to explain that if I use a 2-color, black and red, with gradients, it won't look exactly like the picture, but will be similar. Even if I added a 3rd gray color, I'm not sure how to do the separation since I don't have any of the expensive separation software. I have Photoshop and Illustrator. What would you suggest? Just using red and gradients of black?
a 3 color like you suggested would be best yet halfotnes on the black will work. I would print a gray as well. Separatig in Photoshop would be fairly easy. Check out the articles section here -> U.S. Screen Print and Inkjet Technology I beleive Scott has a short tut on sepping spot colors in PS.
I was thinking about it, and since it's on a heather gray shirt, is the gray print really going to be accomplishing anything? When you said spot colors, were you suggesting just print the gray as a spot color and the black as a gradient? I know how to separate spot colors. But not sure how when it gets into 2 colors involving mixed gradients.
Just a gray, red & black. This is spot color printing. The ash shirt will not achieve the proper look and I personally hate printing halftones "to save money". I think it looks like the client was trying to save money.
Red, Solid gray than black with some halftones for the darker tones in the gray. print wet on wet
How Would You Suggest Printing This? 
Re: How Would You Suggest Printing This? 
