Skip to main content
A
Anonymous
February 21, 2017
Answered

Trying to Print 100% Opaque CMYK Inkjet Film Positives from Illustrator

  • February 21, 2017
  • 2 replies
  • 5720 views

I'm using Illustrator to create 100% black opaque film positives for screen printing using Illustrator to print the artwork out on clear inkjet film with solid opaque 100% CMYK black (where the whole design is printed with all CMYK colors overlapping at 100%). On my Illustrator's the Color Management's print profiles of the printer, I only see RGB settings even though I have an Epson 1430 printer which has CcMmYK ink. I think this maybe the issue I have but I'm not sure if I can add a CMYK printer profile and if not what settings will allow me to use all CMYK colors in the way I want them to be used. The artwork's color is set at C=100% M=100% Y=100% and K=100% and the printer is set to print all of those tones in composite mode, but it's still not printing the artwork as dark as I'm hoping for. (It looks to be only printing a lack layer) If anyone knows how to achieve a full opaque black 100% CMYK print I'd really appreciate if you could let me know how to. Thank you.

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer Test Screen Name

Only PostScript printers allow direct CMYK printing, or multichannel. Otherwise the printer WILL do conversion to its profile and you can only start in good RGB for best results. CMYK will limit your gamut.

2 replies

Ton Frederiks
Community Expert
Ton FrederiksCommunity Expert
Community Expert
February 21, 2017

That seems to be a photo printer with extra colors.

Printing from a CMYK document will convert it to RGB and the printer driver will separate it into these inks.

What happens if you print from an RGB document with RGB blacks?

And have a look at printer color handling settings like "Let Illustrator manage color" or "Let the printer manage color"

A
Anonymous
February 22, 2017

Ton Frederiks​ I tried the RGB settings with the RGB settings as black as possible and with the printer profile set at Ultra Premium Glossy and it turned out to give me a layer of black in that was thinner than in the CMYK setting. My settings say "let illustrator determine the colors", the only other option is un-clickable and says "let postscript printer determine colors."

T
Test Screen NameCorrect answer
Legend
February 22, 2017

Only PostScript printers allow direct CMYK printing, or multichannel. Otherwise the printer WILL do conversion to its profile and you can only start in good RGB for best results. CMYK will limit your gamut.

Om Nath Jha
Om Nath Jha
Legend
February 21, 2017

Hi there,

Are you using the "Separations" mode during printing, as shown below?

Regards,

Om

A
Anonymous
February 22, 2017

ohmnath My Epson only allows me to print in composite mode. It also says "let illustrator determine the colors", the only other option is un-clickable and says "let postscript printer determine colors." Currently my printer profile is set as "Artisan 1430 SP 1430 Ultra Premium Glossy" because I'm trying to print out using a lot of ink to cover the area to make it as opaque as possible.

Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement
Using the community Terms of use Privacy Cookie preferences Do not sell or share my personal information ad choicesAdChoices