Designs that are too difficult to separate in a vector program, raster images, photographs, complex tonal illustrations - all doable with Simulated Process. Essentially, it's a way of taking an image that historically would have been printed via CMYK, but instead uses more opaque ink to create a more stable color and production friendly ink that can print almost any design for any garment. It does so by overlapping and blending colors in a method similar to CMYK through using halftones and spot colors and/or PMS colors. Simulated Process is a method used to reproduce almost any image on the market. Vector graphic programs like Illustrator.Manual user file preparation (under-basing, choking, spreading).Spot color does not reproduce every kind of print for example, it doesn't work for photographic designs. Traditionally limited to solid color with some halftones and vector illustrations.RELATED: WHY PRINTERS NEED TO MASTER ADOBE ILLUSTRATOR FOR SCREEN PRINTING Spot colors (such as Pantone or custom mixed) can be printed as solid shapes at 100% tint or halftones by changing their tint value away from 100%. There are many programs that can create spot colors. Spot color designs are usually created through the use of vector graphics programs such as Adobe Illustrator. Logos, text, cartoons, line art, and more are all styles spot colors excel at reproducing. Knowledge of creating, applying and handling spot colors is essential to any screen printer. Spot color is the most common print technique in the industry, and has sometimes been called the screen printer's best friend. The Color Profile for inks you're using.If a printer needs a vibrant red, they'll need a bump screen to print that color. Limited color spectrum - printers will not be able to reproduce certain colors.Requires a deeper understanding of mesh selection and reproduction of halftone values.Limited garment color selection (white or light-colored garments).Need to be knowledgeable on how to properly separate colors in the correct software programs.Can be printed with plastisol or water-based inks.CMYK is implemented less because simulated printing is more dominant. For users skilled in CMYK file preparation, Photoshop, and screen creation, this is still a viable print process for light-colored garments. can print designs on white or light-colored garments using cyan, magenta, and yellow. Okay, so you’ve heard their names - CMYK, Spot Color, and Simulated Process - but what are they? What sets them apart from one another? What is the best use for each technique? Let’s go through them, one by one.ĬMYK PROCESS (CYAN, MAGENTA, YELLOW, BLACK) WHAT IS IT?ĬMYK is the oldest color reproduction print method.

Spot process separation studio 4