[aplusbowling]

So, I sort of understand when to use simulated process vs. CMYK process, but I just can't quite grasp how to choose the colors used in simulated process. Some of the research I've done has mentioned 9 + 2 white colors, and 5 + 2 white colors. How are the colors determined? I know there is software out there to do the separations, but I'm all about understanding the "why's and how's" as opposed to "just getting it done".

- Are there standard colors that are used (red, yellow, blue, etc.)?
- Are the whites for underbase and hilight?
- What order would you print the colors when separated?
- What about black? Is that one of the 9 or 5 colors?

Thanks for any and all guidance.

 

[sben763]

There are many separation techniques. If you really want to learn the how and why look up Mitch Different. He has a ebook and a set of exercises that will get you started. With his techniques you use RGB and CMYK.

There is also HSB. Hue, Saturation, brightness. Hue being 6 colors, Cyan, blue, magenta, red, green and yellow. Saturation your black and brightness you white. There is a program out there Simple Seps that uses it. If you look on Tom's YouTube page he has all kinds of tutorials. He even explains how to do HSB manually if the video is still there. I use HSB about 60-75% of the time.

 

[red514]

So, I sort of understand when to use simulated process vs. CMYK process, but I just can't quite grasp how to choose the colors used in simulated process. Some of the research I've done has mentioned 9 + 2 white colors, and 5 + 2 white colors. How are the colors determined? I know there is software out there to do the separations, but I'm all about understanding the "why's and how's" as opposed to "just getting it done".

- Are there standard colors that are used (red, yellow, blue, etc.)?
- Are the whites for underbase and hilight?
- What order would you print the colors when separated?
- What about black? Is that one of the 9 or 5 colors?

Thanks for any and all guidance.

the "9+2" or "5+2" ect... are most probably referring to automated separation routines or programs. That would use a preset color pallet, using the same colours/inks every time. the 9 (or 5) would include the black and the +2 is probably the underbase and the top white.

I have only tested several automated separation programs but have not gone to press with any, i'm guessing the sequence would always be the same.

the sequence for my manually separated simulated process jobs vary depending on a few factors but the general rule i use is:
on light ground, print light colours to dark
on dark ground, print dark to light but finish with the black.

 

[aplusbowling]

For 5 color, would it be red, yellow, blue, green, and black? And the +2 would be underbase white and hilight white? What other 4 colors would you add for the 9 color?

 

[sben763]

Could be a bunch of different depending artwork. Orange, gray, brown, flesh.

 

[aplusbowling]

So, do all the separation software out there analyze the image and choose which colors to use?

 

[JCS2013]

So, do all the separation software out there analyze the image and choose which colors to use?

The answer to your question is very simple. DO NOT worry about anything other than getting Ryonets Separation Studios software and ink package. Watch all of Ryonets youtube videos.

I started in my garage a year ago almost to the day and I now have a 2500 square foot facility two presses, lots of customers, money, and excellent prints.

I can do **** experienced screen printers can't. All because I bought that software and ink. Forget 4 color process unless its on white garments. Just do sim process for anything that needs to look like an image with halftones.

Done. Now go.

 

[sben763]

Most try to analyze the colors. Separation studio IMO is one of the worst separation programs. Have to use 9 inks for the software. It just can't produce some tones you can with other techniques.

I print for some very tough customers and the results are just too far off. The colors will not stay true to actual artwork due to the ink set you have to use. Not saying it doesn't do good work but IMO for excellent results there is no better way then manual separation. This way if a customer is specifying Pantone colors you can do work with it and see actual results on screen.

 

[20vK]

Yeah, sep studio had given me some really rough looking prints, even after tuning up the saturations and number of colours.

As I understand it, you can change the colours from the standard 8 ( or however many there are), but I've never seen a tutorial to show you how to do this and then manage how the colour change affects the others. Which is a MAJOR limitation, in my view. For example, the red is way off red - more peachy, from memory. If I want to use a scarlet instead, I've not seen a tutorial for this.

It has done a few nicely, though. But the colour palette has had to match for good results. Also it's a bit glitchy on my Mac.

 

[aplusbowling]

Thanks for the info guys, I really appreciate it. I'm a web developer/programmer by day and a typical weekend warrior screen printer. I've always wanted to up my game a little and start to do more process and simulated process printing, but the software is a little out of my budget for the time being. I've downloaded some of the trial version of separation software (plugins for Photoshop) and there's quite a few steps involved in separating an image (when looking at the Actions Panel). I figured a good little project for myself would be to try and create my own set of actions/scripts for Photoshop. I've created others before, so programming for Photoshop isn't that big of a deal. I just need to figure out how to group the colors. I really like the idea of trying to separate the colors based on the HSB(V) values.