T-Shirt Forums banner

4-Color Process Printing HELP!!

1822 Views 11 Replies 5 Participants Last post by  InkedApparel
I have a hot pink t-shirt im trying to print using CMYK process, my screen angles are C-55 M-22 Y-5 K-80, Im using 305 mesh screens, with a 110 mesh for the white underbase (solid), my order of printing is White underbase then flash, then print CMYK in that order no flash between colors (wet application), my image ends up too dark, im using 61 lpi which i got from dividing 305 from 5, I've tried the lock screen method and different angles and still the same result, what in the world am I doing wrong PLEASE HELP im running outta time here.....

Actually i haven't tried the method stated about that is what Im actually about to do, but the past few times ive done the job its been at 55lpi, with the same screen angles, white underbase and wet application, once with same screen angles and a couple of time with different angles........Suggestions Please
1 - 12 of 12 Posts
You need a halftone base to help mix the colors on press, and help to lower the saturation of the other colors. Print wet on wet and maybe your white after your colors. Use the B channel of a LAB color space and invert it for your white base. don't forget to cut it back a bit. Or buy a color separation application.
what should my white halftone base be, I mean what angle (am i asking this right) still new to this stuff
what should my white halftone base be, I mean what angle (am i asking this right) still new to this stuff
Also I checkin on the Lab mode in Photoshop and tried the invert but got nothing that looked promising or something im able to use
your angle could be 22.5 or 56.

I don't know what your file looks like so I can't tell you what is wrong with generating your white base.

Could you upload it, so I can see.
your angle could be 22.5 or 56.

I don't know what your file looks like so I can't tell you what is wrong with generating your white base.

Could you upload it, so I can see.
What you really need is an icc profile for your press, that relates the colours that you have in your image to the colours that your press prints.
where would i go about getting one and how would i use it.........sorry for buggin just trying to get this stuff right so i dont have to ask more questions ya know
Creating a white plate with this image isn't going to be easy! those transparent shadows on the bottom pose the biggest problem. Everything needs to be on a transparent background, including those transparent looking shadows. Try to isolite the object in the top to preserve the white with in them, then select the white background and delete it. Play around with the tolerernce setting when you select the white background. You will need to do some photoshop work with the white in the shadows. Once you get to where you think you should be, save your work as a new file. Then do the lab thing, select the B channel, then invert. The light areas should now be dark areas, and the dark areas should be light areas, and the background should still be transparent. This should be your white base. You may still need to change the curves a little to lighten things just enough, so the white isn't so strong, but that a judgment call based on your experience. Again how you deal with the shadows will be the biggest challange. Removing them is the easiest. Then re create them so they are transparent, and place them back in the file.
Oh yea... have both files open at the same time, and select the new base channel, and drag it to the full color channels pallet. Label it base.
Good luck.
See less See more
  • Like
Reactions: 1
I'd suggest you go to QuikSeps.com and download their trial version.
That will also create your halftone underbase.
Use 305 screens for your colors with 22.5 degrees at 60 lpi

156-230 mesh for your underbase white screen.
Elliptical for all screens.


Quikseps will also create highlight whites for you.
  • Like
Reactions: 1
what you are experiencing is called dot gain....this is what happens when the ink soaks into the garment...it spreads ...kinda like what happens when you soak up a drop of water with a paper towel. what you need to do is adjust for dot gain in the curves dialog in Photoshop or your separation software...usually I adjust for 20 - 30 percent dot gain on t-shirts and ...5- 10 on paper....good luck

Inked
  • Like
Reactions: 1
1 - 12 of 12 Posts
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top