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Half Toned Artwork (One color): |
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Artwork
that looks to contain only one color often may contain gradients, or
shades of one color. To simulate these shades, the image is half
toned.
Half tones are everywhere. Look at any
newspaper. Newsprint (not color) is printed with one ink color,
Black. Using a series of black dots in various sizes and
density, they can simulate shades of black/grey. This is called
a half tone image. While the
results
vary, the effectiveness depends largely on how well the designer
understands where to use gradients & halftones.
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Put your cursor/mouse over the image to the left to see how it
appears when half-toned.
Fine detail:
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Although the effect of
halftones can be very effective, if not used properly from the
beginning of the design process, the results can be disappointing.
When
sending camera-ready artwork that includes halftone screens - screen
rulings suitable for offset (paper & magazine) printing are usually
unsuitable for screen-printing.
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Spot Color:
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Spot color is just that, a spot of color added to a
print. This color could be touching another color or another element
independent of the other.
Put your cursor/mouse over the image to see the
addition of a spot color!
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Spot Color
Overlapping:
© Katie Rowley |
Spot Color:
© Global Prints.com
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Multiple Colors: |
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Spot colors taken to the next level.
Use of several colors can greatly enhance your project. Here are a few
examples of different uses:
How colors interact
& how they are separated:
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Three (spot) color design. Black,
Orange and Green Ink printed on White Tee.
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At the right is detail of the carrot,
moving your mouse over the image illustrates how the colored ink is actually
extended under the black ink to create perfect registration.
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The extension of the orange & green inks is
minute, so that when the black ink is printed all three colors create a
seamless perfectly registered print. This technique is not possible in
other printing mediums. Next time you are reading a newspaper you will
undoubtedly notice the minute registration errors in newsprint! |
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The image to the left is made up of white,
orange, and a half-toned red. The use of a half-toned color in this
manner can prove to be very effective. |
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Process Color (full color simulations) |
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Process
color is the use of several colors that are each half toned & combined in such a
manner that the colors interact to create a simulation of full color.
Newsprint (color) is a four color process (CMYK) that combines Cyan, Magenta,
Yellow & Black. Take a close look at your newspaper!
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Process color print (6 colors) shown to
the left is actual photograph
of print on shirt. Keep in mind that detail can get lost due to the
porous surface/substrate of the shirt. Printing an under base or a
highlighted color can enhance the images.
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© The Skellig |
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Hemlock
Ink can handle your process color printing needs, please take into consideration
that process printing almost always requires more than four colors as unlike
newsprint unless you are printing on something white, you are more than likely
going to need a white background printed as well. More often than not an
additional white and an additional black are used to bring our details in the
work. What could have been conveyed in a two color spot design when
rendered/printed in full color/process may now be 6 or more colors! This
is usually only economically feasible in larger runs due to the large amount of
prepress work.
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