[TableSyrup]

Right place for this post? I hope so.

I want to run my Studio/Label logo.
Don't really know the best approach.

I want to print this on light to dark colors and black (100% Cotton)
Size on shirt to 12" wide if the size effects how it should be done

I also do not have a good enough setup for the film I don't think...
I have an Epson R2200 - but no RIP, and NOT all black
So being I probably can't print my own films for this, and I'll have to pay for them to be done, I'd like to get it right the first time.

(I have a good commercial Fluor unit with vacuum lid, being it's not single point I figure that may limit me too?)

Any pointers on the art/positive and printing method would be great.
Also pointers on what inks (colors, brand, additives) would be good too.

So far I have only done a 2 color at most, no halftone stuff - no cmyk or sim or anything

Direction advice would be a good start for me


I have a 6/6 with micro's (Customized Antec Tracer)
I have a radiant flash, and a conveyor dryer

I don't like white shirts, so I figure it's gonna end up as a white base + 5 colors ??

Here's the logo

 

[lben]

Where are you getting white + 5 colors? I see: white, black, brown, green, blue, red, yellow, orange and tons of half tones. Good thing you have a 6 color press, but you need a few more screen stations or you need less colors in your design. Do you use illustrator or coreldraw? If it's corel go to advancedtshirts.com and get simple seps.

 

[TableSyrup]

I get 6 cause I have a 6 color press hahaha. (Laughing at me)
I want to do my logo for personal/promo use as a learning experience

I have Wilflex Easy Art set up in Actions in Photoshop...
The freebie.... but haven't used it.
I wasn't sure it would be suitable for this or not.
I have Adobe Web Suite Premium CS4, so I have Illustrator too.
This logo was made in Photoshop

Gives me 25-65 LPI Halftones, but really can't tell ya much more than that
The dots are choppier than stuff I've seen from other software screen shots
I also don't get any settings for angle or anything.

Seems like I could maybe even do better straight out of photoshops filters?

Any way to get this down to less???
I know I will lose quality and resolution.

Think LEARNING

 

[lben]

I get 6 cause I have a 6 color press hahaha. (Laughing at me)

haha too funny. I have a 4 color press so I have to weed it down even further!

Had you done it in corel you could get the simple seps software that works as a plug in to corel and you could pare those colors down to 5 or 6. I don't know how to do that with a raster file. Oh who's kidding who? I'm still watching the tutorials to do it in corel... so I couldn't do it either just yet. But maybe in a year or two...

I do think for making the screens it should be broken down into colors. Each color has to have it's own screen (unless you do halftones).

 

[TableSyrup]

That's why I'm here. I'm looking for advice from those who do multicolor stuff like this.

I can knock it down to less colors in the design if needed.

Wasn't sure how SEPs or RIPs handle stuff
I don't know how they work cause I haven't used em yet.

I can make halftones out of photoshop, with stuff that comes with photoshop, but pretty sure they are not correct or ideal for screen printing... If they were... people with photoshop probably wouldn't bother with SEP softwares

 

[InkedApparel]

I have Steve Yates seperation plugin for Photoshop..havent used it much so im not sure if it will do what you want....but Im willing to run the plugin on your logo and send you the file.....up to you

the plugin will run and seperate 12 colors...then I can run it again with 4 colors plus base and highlight white.

Inked

 

[TableSyrup]

I have Steve Yates seperation plugin for Photoshop..havent used it much so im not sure if it will do what you want....but Im willing to run the plugin on your logo and send you the file.....up to you

the plugin will run and seperate 12 colors...then I can run it again with 4 colors plus base and highlight white.

Inked

Inked, That would be killer!

Worth a shot with my printer. Would let me know if it is sufficient for the task!

Thanx!

Message me with an email address and I will link you to download a high resolution image file.

 

[sben763]

I can also sep it for you and halftone. The other thing I can do is make it print from all channels so you will get the darkest films possible. I have Steve Yates also but the last 2 simulated I just did manually. In order to halftone it I would need to know what screen for the LPI for halftones. Pm if you like.

 

[TableSyrup]

Thanx Inked! Got it. Now I just need to try to halftone with these Wilflex EasyArt actions in photoshop (which are choppy) - or just use the Photoshop features to try it.... ... ...

Anyone have pointers on halftone-ing with photoshop - without additional plugs ??????
I'm assuming it just doesn't work.... maybe I shouldn't waste my time.

I'll at least give EasyArt a go and maybe see how it comes out with that.

@InkedApparel , any particular color inks you'd recommend for your sep? Or will any work....
Again, my first venture down this path, so I don't know what I should use.
I have white, yellow, red, blue, and black.... but not sure if they would be 'correct' for this
(I'll have to check specifically what they are tonight)

 

[InkedApparel]

I would use sim process(which is the way I sepped your file.....

Inked

 

[WHCustomRainMan]

u should use DTG...especially if u have only done 2 & 3 color stuff before. the ink might cost more to print the Ts but it will actually save u a LOT of time and money (and hassle trust me)...think about art seperation time...test prints...redo artwork and another test print (most likely before u get it right)...goin thru all those screens...burning, coating, reclaiming, cleaning, registering...ur best bet is to print them digitally. if u dont have a dtg printer then just take the shirts to someone who does...it usually costs like between $1.50 and $3 per print depending on how big...then just make sure u charge the customer enough that u dont lose money and talk them into something better next time

 

[TableSyrup]

Thanx, but the whole point of this is to learn printing with halftones.
Also, as far as I know, the screen printing is FAR more durable.

I have the equipment, and I can't imagine having it and not learning how to fully utilize it.

I've watched enough vids, and seen enough screen printed shirts, to know that amazing prints can be made by screen printing.

I've only been at this since late January.... so I have a lot of learning to do, but I am definitely ready to start learning the more complicated aspects of this.

I figure, one of my logos is a great place to start

Big thanks to @InkedApparel and @sben763 for all the help so far

 

[gapipkin]

I'm going to quit my job to travel the countryside preaching the importance of having a 1 color logo. This is the exact reason why. Its ok to have a multi-color logo but only if you have a 1 color first.