Inspiring

Question

Artwork not lining up when printing separations.

Forum|Forum|3 years ago
June 28, 2022
3 replies
734 views

I work as a graphic designer in a screen printing shop, and one of my tasks is to print artwork to transparencies so the production team can burn it to screens.

However, lately the artwork hasn't been lining up exactly as it should when I print each color as its own separation. I've made sure to copy and paste into place on a new artboard just to make sure, and everything lines up on-screen.

How do I fix this?

Print and publish

This topic has been closed for replies.

Anna Lander

Inspiring

Why do you have to create separate docs for each plate? Do you need to print the usual CMYK separations? Does your printer allow you to print the plates separately? If you need to print the final colors (e.g. red, violet, etc.), did you try to set each color as Spot (e.g. Pantone Solid Coated)? These colors create their own plates and you can just print each plate separately, not create the new doc for each color.

And yes, the last 10 feet of the roll may be phisically stretched during printing (and paper also but paper sheets are generally not so big and we don't notice the deformation).

Skazma JerryAuthor

Inspiring

Nowhere did I say I am creating separate documents for each separation. It is all on the same artboard, and they are all Pantones. Under the Output section in the Print dialog, it allows me to print each pantone as its own separation.

However, I found out that it is the last 10 feet of the transparency rolls I am using. Unfortunately that is a material issue and nothing to do with the software. I am going to email the manufacturer of the roll to see if they have any suggestions.

Thanks for your input.

Mike_Gondek10189183

Community Expert

Do you have manual register marks on your page? Are you printing one document as separations, or multiple documents with a single color on each page? We need more to go by. If you do not know how or what info to provide in such a question, do a screenshot, and we will get you to a soluiton quicker.

Skazma JerryAuthor

Inspiring

I have a template of registration marks that is always the same. I am printing one document as separations, NOT multiple documents with a single color on each page.

I figured it out though. Turns out the last 10 feet of my 100 foot transparency rolls gets stretched. Unfortunately that's a material issue, not a software issue.

Thanks for your help.

Monika Gause

Community Expert

So it's OK on screen, but not after printing? You mean the objects move around when printing?

Skazma JerryAuthor

Inspiring

Correct. And I think I've just learned it's not Adobe Illustrator. My printer prints on rolls of transparency, and it seems the last 10 or so feet of the roll physically stretches the print. Makes no sense.

Met1

Legend

If you'd been wrapped around a tube with under 100lb of material on you, you be stretched. Unfortunately the material closest to the tube, especially if it's attached with tape, takes a lot of torque stress when being moved, and yours probably came from China, so it's seen a few fork lift operators. Put a brand new roll on and test it.

Sign up

To post, reply, or follow discussions, please sign in with your Adobe ID.

Sign in to Adobe Community

To post, reply, or follow discussions, please sign in with your Adobe ID.

Scanning file for viruses.

This file cannot be downloaded