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T
thegoframe
Inspiring
August 21, 2017
Question

Create a pattern in place of gradient? Halftone clipping

  • August 21, 2017
  • 4 replies
  • 2947 views

I'm running into an issue where this halftone spot color is clipping at approx 1-2% on press.  The path shown represents this approx area.  Rather than clip and have that show up as a hard break, I need to soften it.  I can't feather it as it just moves the area being clipped to another location.  Wondering if there is a way to create a softening effect without changing the % of color.  An example that came to mind that I don't know how to put into practice is essentially creating a random-ish pattern at a low %  that isn't clipping that gives the effect of soft edges.  Ideas?

This is a screenshot of the sample - think smoke.  The red is printing white ink.

Thanks

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    4 replies

    T
    thegoframeAuthor
    Inspiring
    August 23, 2017

    There's been some developments in the file.  What was initially unknown (thanks to project managers) was that the final output was much much larger than the sample I was producing (thought at time to be full size).  The clipping was a result of trying to fit, for example 20", of a reducing halftone within an area of about .25" - which met the mechanical limits of the press.  At full size, the clipping issue is disappearing.  So remember that when communicating to your printers - scale is absolutely critical.  Thanks for the resources, I think this is resolved for the moment.

    T

    c.pfaffenbichler
    Community Expert
    c.pfaffenbichlerCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    August 22, 2017

    Wait a sec. – if it’s the white that prints the issue marked in the original screenshot would not be the 1% but the 99%, wouldn’t it?

    @mj
    Community Expert
    @mjCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    August 22, 2017

    Agree with excellent suggestion from c.pfaffenbichle on the 1% tone.

    Depending on your printing process, you could introduce UCA. Under color addition to compensate for the dot loss.

    More info here: The Hidden Power of Photoshop CS: Chapter 2: Color Separations. Pt. 2. By Sybex | 6 | WebReference

    HTH

    c.pfaffenbichler
    Community Expert
    c.pfaffenbichlerCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    August 22, 2017
    I'm running into an issue where this halftone spot color is clipping at approx 1-2% on press.

    So you may want to keep a 1% tone throughout the whole image.

    You could also Add Noise – ideally in a separate layered File so you can add the noise on a 50% grey Layer and use Blend Modes and if necessary Blend Modes.

    T
    thegoframeAuthor
    Inspiring
    August 22, 2017

    File is running in three layers.  A top layer we'll call "Smoke" - white ink.  A middle layer with noise in 4CP.  And a bottom layer in white ink that is 1% with full coverage (like 3 plates).  Press is clipping the 1 to 2 % white in both layers.  Not presently concerned with losing the bottom layer.

    File (Pshop images linked into Illustrator) does have transparency reducing the original percentages.  So a 1% in original is a fraction in print file.  This is certainly causing the clipping but has to be this way to produce the desired effect in other areas.  Wanting now to smooth the transition of what is and isn't printed.  Right now a hard break.  Won't be able to smooth with transition halftones.  Won't be able to introduce a full coverage "1%" as that changes the total look.  Want to transition with what I can only think of as a fixed dot blend - where the percentage doesn't change but the distance between dots does giving the effect of a blend.

    c.pfaffenbichler
    Community Expert
    c.pfaffenbichlerCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    August 22, 2017
    A top layer we'll call "Smoke" - white ink.  A middle layer with noise in 4CP.  And a bottom layer in white ink that is 1% with full coverage (like 3 plates).

    That seems confusing, Layers are not Spot Colors and Spot Colors are not Layers so what are you actually printing?

    File (Pshop images linked into Illustrator) does have transparency reducing the original percentages.  So a 1% in original is a fraction in print file.  This is certainly causing the clipping but has to be this way to produce the desired effect in other areas.

    If the print process has the first printing dot at 2% then it is irrelevant how your layout combines elements, 1% will just not print.

    Which print process is it?

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