Skip to main content
T
testarosa
Inspiring
August 11, 2018
Answered

Printing layers on transparent paper

  • August 11, 2018
  • 2 replies
  • 4378 views

Hi all,

I am printing on transparent paper using hp laser printer.

Lets say I have in photoshop two layers.

bottom layer that has a circle of cyan

top layer that has a circle of magenta

they overlap some

choosing both layers and send them to the printer on the transparent sheet and looking on the other side of paper after it is printed to see that the circle of cyan does not print complete no matter what overlay choice I do to layers and whatever overlapped on it from the magenta is taking the overlapped chunk from it out.

is there any way to print those layers , keeping the full circle of cyan and full circle of magenta without having to run the paper twice through the printer?

    This topic has been closed for replies.
    Correct answer davescm

    When sending to an inkjet an alpha channel means nothing. Only RGB data is sent to the print driver, and the printer software converts that to CMYK (or CMYK + other colours depnding on the inks used by that printer) appropriate for each ink

    If the alpha is used for transparency - the driver will just send RGB all on i.e. white.

    You could convert an alpha channel to a grayscale image and send that to the the inkjet but it would be a separate pass.

    Just to be clear - you can send a colour that turns on both Cyan and Magenta inks in that single pixel spot - but it will look the same from both sides of the transparency sheet

    Dave

    2 replies

    davescm
    Community Expert
    davescmCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    August 12, 2018

    Hi

    The simple answer to your question is no.

    In photoshop your image is broken down to individual pixels. Each pixel has one colour which is arrived at as a result of all the layers and blending modes. Therefore for each pixel only one colour is sent to the printer (well actually a mix of channel colours to make up that one pixel colour). An inkjet can only print one colour at that pixel location in one pass.

    Therefore you cannot do one printing pass and have it look one way from one side of a transparent sheet and another way from another side of the same sheet. The only way to achieve that, using photoshop and an an inkjet printer is multiple passes.

    Dave

    T
    testarosaAuthor
    Inspiring
    August 12, 2018

    Thank you Dave,

    One follow up question and I will call it answered:

    Adding an alpha channel to RGB can it print one pass or always it has to be two passes one for RGB and one for alpha?

    davescm
    Community Expert
    davescmCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
    Community Expert
    August 12, 2018

    When sending to an inkjet an alpha channel means nothing. Only RGB data is sent to the print driver, and the printer software converts that to CMYK (or CMYK + other colours depnding on the inks used by that printer) appropriate for each ink

    If the alpha is used for transparency - the driver will just send RGB all on i.e. white.

    You could convert an alpha channel to a grayscale image and send that to the the inkjet but it would be a separate pass.

    Just to be clear - you can send a colour that turns on both Cyan and Magenta inks in that single pixel spot - but it will look the same from both sides of the transparency sheet

    Dave

      macpawel
      macpawel
      Participating Frequently
      August 11, 2018

      It's normal sytuation. You can try using blending Modes (for top layer) to simalate overprint effect. Or you can use third color to simmulate overprint effect

      pawel

      T
      testarosaAuthor
      Inspiring
      August 11, 2018

      I want to maintain the colors and shape, is there any way to do that?

      reason for that is am printing on transparent layer to press it on a tshirt

      I need the bottom layer on the transparent layer to be on top when laying it on t shirt

      so in my example the magenta will be on the shirt and on top of it the cyan.

      I have to find a way to not alter the cyan (if there is) without running the paper through the printer twice, once to print cyan circle and second pass to print the magenta circle on top of it.

      I hope there is a workaround because I could not have a remedy from the printer's driver and settings, it is set in stones there.

      T
      testarosaAuthor
      Inspiring
      August 11, 2018

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