My Expertise
With 19 years in the screen printing industry and being a graphic designer, I was always interested in producing the high detailed print/photographic print, usually printed onto a t-shirt.
After trying out many different kinds of sofware tailored specifically for the separation process and travelling to Miami, USA for a short workshop, I found the best method was to produce it manually in Adobe Photoshop.
I feel that I have perfected the method and currently colour separate for some of South Africa's leading clothing/surfing brands.
Below is an example:
Customer: Billabong SA
Print Name: Billabong WCT Pro 2010
The original image separated
Colour 1/First screen : The Base
The base screen will be used on dark fabrics as an under-base.
Mostly white (whitedown) is used which provides a background base onto which each colour will be applied on top.
Colour 2 : Black
Colour 3 : Dark Brown
Colour 4 : Mid Brown
Colour 5 : Cream
Colour 6 :Sand
Colour 7 :Grey
Colour 8 : White
This is one of two white screens.
This white is separated from the finer detailed Hilite white as a different screen count will be used.
This solid white print will be applied with a more open mesh screen, for more of a solid application of ink, while the hilite white (colour 9) would be applied with a much finer mesh screen.
Colour 9 : Hilite White
Notes:
Normally your white base would be printed first, then dried with a Flash station. The rest of your colours will follow printing wet on wet.
Colours are generally printed from dark to light.
The sequence of your colours determines a good, clear print, changing the sequence of screens/colours will have a dramatic effect on the print appearance.
Colours are normally quoted with a Pantone colour reference number for accurate colour matching.
Leading textile ink suppliers (Pantone approved) have recipe formulas for mixing and matching specific Pantone colours.
