[nadinedealmeida]

Hi!
I have been going through lots of old threads on this topic but am still confused. I would love to do some screen prints using sketches that I have hand drawn on paper, how would I go about it? I attached an image that I found online as an example of the effect I want to achieve, is this possible???

 

[cyclesurgeon]

Hi!
I have been going through lots of old threads on this topic but am still confused. I would love to do some screen prints using sketches that I have hand drawn on paper, how would I go about it? I attached an image that I found online as an example of the effect I want to achieve, is this possible???

To screen print this image and maintain the shading you would have to scan this image into an image editor/graphics program and then create a halftone image. There are different techniques to do this depending on the program that you use.

 

[nadinedealmeida]

Can I use gimp?

 

[red514]

i have not used Gimp before, i know it's a great bitmap editor and can do the job you need to get the design ready. the only thing i'm not sure of is if Gimp has the filter/option to do the bitmap halftones, it should but i'm not positive. you could always clean and edit the design using Gimp and then have someone with AdobePhotoshop do the bitmap conversion for you (i'd be happy to help with that if needed)

when you scan, you will want a high resolution image, bigger is better but i wouldn't recommend lower then 300ppi. Ideally you will want your final design to be 300ppi at actual print size without resampling it. better to start off larger then needed.

 

[nadinedealmeida]

Ok gotcha! Unfortunately I've only got photoshop elements (super old) it does have a halftone filter but it doesn't come out as detailed as I hoped, not sure if I'm doing something wrong (I can't find anything online about making an image into halftones using elements). Thanks for the advice!

 

[jgabby]

I use a digital camera on a tripod and even light.

Then start the separation in photoshop, surely possible with gimp !
on the example you show that would be some image cleaning, black extracting, compensation for dot gain

I love screenprint sketch, learn to control dot gain this is really important for that kind of design

 

[joeshaul]

For shorter runs you can see if someone local can utilize direct to garment printing to see how it fares. Screen printing will be fairly costly to set up to "test the waters"

One of the main problems you'll run across is getting it print ready. It looks good on paper, but when you scan it in you immediately get discoloration and a "rectangle" type shape that becomes very apparent and unwanted.

It's been at least a decade since I used GIMP, but you'll basically need to start turning your paper/background white, while maintaining the shading of your design.

You can convert it to grayscale to lose some of that red/brown that's in the image right now, but when you discard some of that color you also limit your options when messing with hue/saturation. I've attached a brief example showing what kind of has to happen, I believe Gimp has a magic wand that you can use around the sides of the design to delete/make transparent.

 

[nadinedealmeida]

I think I'm getting even more confused!!! Thanks for the advice everyone. I've been messing around with a sketch I did a while ago that I just happen to have a picture of. Would something like this work to screen print with one color?

 

[red514]

Ok gotcha! Unfortunately I've only got photoshop elements (super old) it does have a halftone filter but it doesn't come out as detailed as I hoped, not sure if I'm doing something wrong (I can't find anything online about making an image into halftones using elements). Thanks for the advice!

just want to mention, it's not the 'halftone filter' you want to use. it's actually converting to bitmap and using a halftone pattern. i have no used elements but in photoshop you would go
image>mode>bitmap and then input the halftone settings you need (this depends on the image resolution and what mesh count you plan on using when screen printing).

 

[sben763]

As red mentioned its possible. I actually like doing these prints. We get sketches all the time. I have a really nice professional scanner. They have come down in price but should be able to use any decent scanner. When I scan a sketch I crank it up to the highest setting. We usually don't get sketches the size needed. I think its like 2400 DPI. red might be able to tell use the difference between PPI (pixels per inch) which usually used in index printing and DPI (dots per inch). It may just be the shape. After I scan i resize as needed. Remove the background. Halftone the image, print the film at the LPI (depends on mesh) and angle (22.5) needed.

 

[wrkalot]

I'm going this with 2 photos at the moment and can certainly be done with a scan of your drawing.

As mentioned by red514, Scan the image in at 300dpi. Use levels, curves, etc (if needed) to adjust the image to your liking. My photos are a tad dark so I am trying to open up some of the areas where ink isn't required etc... Then convert to bitmap. Use 300dpi, Halftone, Line screen depending on your mesh, 22.5 angle and the dot type you want.

 

[red514]

red might be able to tell use the difference between PPI (pixels per inch) which usually used in index printing and DPI (dots per inch). It may just be the shape.

PPI is the resolution of a raster image. when doing an Index separation, the PPI dictates the size of your dot (it's actually a square)

i'm still half asleep so i'm just going o post the wiki articles describing each one ;P

dpi: Dots per inch - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

ppi: Pixel density - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

lpi: Lines per inch - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[sben763]

I don't do index so have never used PPI. I always use DPI while designing, scanning, or otherwise. And LPI while printing films. I might try index one of these days but only have 6 color press and everytime I get something I'd like to try index it ends up being 7 or 8 colors.

 

[red514]

I don't do index so have never used PPI. I always use DPI while designing, scanning, or otherwise. And LPI while printing films. I might try index one of these days but only have 6 color press and everytime I get something I'd like to try index it ends up being 7 or 8 colors.

if you give index another go and need a hand, feel free to message me.

i believe when you are designing, you are actually using PPI in a raster editor, i don't think DPI is used. DPI and PPI is a bit confusing even after reading the wiki articles, they are both very similar and DPI is mentioned in regards to monitors :/
I haven't scanned an image in a while, but i do think when scanning it's in DPI and then changed to PPI when opened in a raster editor, not sure tho .

 

[sben763]

Well actually not only does my scanner allow both so does photoshop. I think your right as switching in photoshop does nothing on the display but I'm sure when it prints is where the difference be.i know photoshop is all pixels when designing due to the shape when zooming. Makes for some interesting thought. I would definitely take you up on the offer if run into issues as I'm thinking of doing some designs to run on the old auto I just got.