How do I convert a flattened ESP or PSD file into spot color for screen printing?

Forum|Forum|6 years ago
May 29, 2019
6 replies
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Grant H

Community Expert

Your screenprinter will/should know how to work with that file (full colour print) they will separate and halftone accordingly. There are gradients etc in the artwork as well so... let the printer do it. But it most definitely can be done (screenprinted) without having to redesign.

Omar.Fathy

Community Expert

You have 2 choices:

1- Redesign it again in Illustrator.

2- Edit it in Photoshop to separate color using the Channels panel.

JonathanArias

Legend

they dont' have to redesign anything if they are doing a heat transfer.

a heat transfer on screen printing does not need a color separated file.

JonathanArias

Legend

what kind of screen printing are you doing?

there are two kinds.

the cheap method is via heat transfer, as in they can use a .jpg and hot press on to the shirt. that requires nothing but you submitting the file and its the best option for complex colors gradients, like photos.
the second kind requires you breaking you illustrator file into layers, each with a different color. so your yellow, reds and and blacks all need to be on their own layer. they will need to make a screen for each color ( the more colors the more expensive it gets)

in your case i think option 1 is the one you want.

ask about the prize difference and process so you know better for next time. Option 2 will last much longer after washing. option one will begin to crack and colors will call off fast.

J

jdanek

Inspiring

I just noticed the Brown eyebrows and the Red tongue. That makes 7 colors. How you proceed will definitely depend on the printer and their requirements. In order to print the halftones, they will need a very high mesh screen and a very good fabric.

J

jdanek

Inspiring

What you want to do is split the channels in Photoshop, then assign a plastisol ink to each channel on press. Looks like you have five spot colors ( Yellow, Orange, Gray, Black, and Blue ). You may not want to print the shirt using process color, although you could. Have you discussed the project with a screen printer yet? Are the shirts White? This is complicated, so you may want to ask your print vendor what they need or they might be able to do the separations for you.

K

kevinm37325215Author

Participating Frequently

Thank You, yes I'm not really sure how to split the channels in Photoshop, then assign a plastisol ink to each channel on press.I appreciate your help, but this may be above my level.

J

jdanek

Inspiring

I took your image into Photoshop > converted to CMYK > Channels...Split Channels > always create the split channels on a copy of the original, leaving it intact ( the original RGB or whatever ). Then, Channels > Duplicate Channel for each additional Channel you will need on press ( 3 additional dupes ). There will be some adjustments ( Levels ) to get 100% color on some of the separations. The entire prepress can be done this way, but yes it is complicated. On some of the separations you will delete some elements. You will also need to know screen angles and dot shape technologies. That is why I recommend talking with a screen printer to see the best way to proceed.