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46 Posts
Hey Everyone,
I have some quick questions that I need answered before I can feel comfortable taking on custom print jobs for other people. I am printing everything on a 6 color manual screen printing press.
Color Separations
Is there any trick to color separations other than just selecting each color, putting each color on its own layer and printing them all with the registration marks in the corners (same place on each layer so they line up). I have heard also that if there are parts where the colors touch that I should add a little bit extra on the edges of the underlaying color to make sure the colors overlay completely (I have heard this term called choke).
Half Tones and Gradients.
I have been doing some research and trying to figure out the trick to doing gradients. I have heard you just do them in half tones, but how to do you go about that. Is it necessary to buy expensive software that will make the half tones or can I make them myself in photoshop or illustrator? What is the best way to create gradient designs without spending a lot of money on software?
Printing Out the Design on a Tranparency
What is the best kind of printer to use to print out the positives on transparencies, should I use an inkjet printer or a laserjet or something else? Do I need to buy an expensive printer or buy expensive software that will lay down extra ink and print half tones or is the a way I can be cheap and save some money and use any printer? Is there a certain type of transparency film I should be buying?
What should I charge for printing serveices?
I was thinking about charging $20 for screen setup (per color) and $40 an hour for artwork charges. Then I was thinking about charging $4.00 for printing each shirt plus the cost of the shirt and I do mean the actual cost I pay for the shirts. I was also thinking about doing a minimum of 12 shirts. Do these prices seem fair?
If you guys could help me with these questions I would really appreciate it. I have a large organization that wants shirts printed within 2 weeks and then they want more stuff printed a couple of weeks later. I am so close to being able to run a decent shop, but I just need help with these questions. Thanks guys for your time!
I have some quick questions that I need answered before I can feel comfortable taking on custom print jobs for other people. I am printing everything on a 6 color manual screen printing press.
Color Separations
Is there any trick to color separations other than just selecting each color, putting each color on its own layer and printing them all with the registration marks in the corners (same place on each layer so they line up). I have heard also that if there are parts where the colors touch that I should add a little bit extra on the edges of the underlaying color to make sure the colors overlay completely (I have heard this term called choke).
Half Tones and Gradients.
I have been doing some research and trying to figure out the trick to doing gradients. I have heard you just do them in half tones, but how to do you go about that. Is it necessary to buy expensive software that will make the half tones or can I make them myself in photoshop or illustrator? What is the best way to create gradient designs without spending a lot of money on software?
Printing Out the Design on a Tranparency
What is the best kind of printer to use to print out the positives on transparencies, should I use an inkjet printer or a laserjet or something else? Do I need to buy an expensive printer or buy expensive software that will lay down extra ink and print half tones or is the a way I can be cheap and save some money and use any printer? Is there a certain type of transparency film I should be buying?
What should I charge for printing serveices?
I was thinking about charging $20 for screen setup (per color) and $40 an hour for artwork charges. Then I was thinking about charging $4.00 for printing each shirt plus the cost of the shirt and I do mean the actual cost I pay for the shirts. I was also thinking about doing a minimum of 12 shirts. Do these prices seem fair?
If you guys could help me with these questions I would really appreciate it. I have a large organization that wants shirts printed within 2 weeks and then they want more stuff printed a couple of weeks later. I am so close to being able to run a decent shop, but I just need help with these questions. Thanks guys for your time!