screen printing > Separations

1st time doing Index Seps...please take it easy on me!!! lol

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JasonMoore:
Hi everyone,

Ok...I've been in the screenprinting biz for close to 20 years as an artist and have always done straight vector artwork. The shop I work at isn't really interested in doing the higher end type of stuff...they just want straight vector spot colors with minimal halftones.....

Well, this has always just put me in the mindset of....why even try it if we'll never actually print them....I know that sounds bad, but I've just been discouraged from getting into the whole process and learning it. I always figured you'd need to actually see the final printed product to learn what you did right or wrong and what to adjust or work on from there on the next project.

A few weeks ago, one of the printers at the shop was contacted by a local Haunted House company that wanted to get shirts done and they provided a high res PSD file of the artwork they wanted on the shirts. I looked at it and said 'sorry, that type of art can't be done in vector' and he said well do what ever you have to do to sep it because they want a ton of shirts. SOOOOO, I decided to take the plunge and try my hand at my first Index Seps.

I tried to learn as much as I could from the forums, tutorials online and videos on Youtube concerning the process.

I'm attaching all of my files in the hopes that the peeps here with tons of knowledge might take a few minutes to look over what I did and give any pointers to me. I know we are all very busy but I'd like you to know that any info / tips on how I can improve on what I did with this design (I can still improve and redo the seps as we've only done a few samples and not the whole order yet) is going to be highly valued and appreciated.

Info:
Black - Best T 50/50 T-shirts

White Underbase - 200 Mesh
PMS Red 485 - 305 Mesh
PMS Brown 483 - 305 Mesh
PMS Orange 185 - 305 Mesh
PMS Yellow 123 - 305 Mesh
White Highlight - 200 Mesh

So, with that being said, here's links to the actual files....

1.) This is the original PSD file that the customer gave me to work from, created by them.
http://www.inkmachine.com/feargrounds/Tshirt_8_9_11.psd

2.) This is the file AFTER I made what I thought were the adjustments needed for the design to have brighter colors and better light and dark contrasts.
http://www.inkmachine.com/feargrounds/dave_haunted_house.psd

3.) This is the file after I did the Index Seps on it and what we used to print the final sample shirt
http://www.inkmachine.com/feargrounds/dave_haunted_house_revised.psd

Here's a link to photos I've taken of the final printed T-shirt for you to see how it turned out....they are all of the JPG files in this directory.
I apologize for some of them being ever so slightly blurry.
4.) http://www.inkmachine.com/feargrounds/

Thanks any of you who would take the time to look at these and help me learn. =)

I was very happy with the results with it being my very first time, but I do know there were things done wrong and things I can definitely improve upon with it.

THANKS A LOT!!! =)

Jason
Ink Machine Productions

Dottonedan:
I will point out some of the most important key factors in doing Index.

1, The resolution of the file (the size of each pixel) is all the same size, (being 150). So, for starters, all of your mesh (even the base) should all be the same --- Unless, you have a resolution that is low enough to work on the 230...and then the 300's are just for a thinner layer of ink. Since indexing prints the dots side by side, that layering it thin plays a negative affect.

2,  The resolution is actually too low for that art in my opinion. It's been my experience that 220-235 resolutions can be used on 305 mesh screen. This produces a more photo quality print.

3, This soft whispy airbrush work is not the best type of art for indexing (especially at low color counts). It leaves it very blotchy.

4, when indexing, you want to use as many colors as possible to produce more accurate results. you are using 4 actual colors.  I suggest to get the most out of indexing, that you use at least 8 colors + the whites at a minimum (for optimum results). That is not to say that you can't get good results out of less colors.  Each job is different. This art would do much better at 6-7actual colors + the two whites.

Thanks for the examples.

Colin:
Yea, considering it is your Very first attempt, you did a good job.

If you get a chance, follow Dan's points and resep the file at a higher resolution.  Then print another sample to see how it differs.  You will see a BIG difference.

Conversely, I would strongly recomend that, If you have a chance to play with Sim-Process on this one, you do it.

It will sep well into 4 screens.

1) base white - 230 mesh
2) Red of choice.  A more muted red like pms 186 or 032 would be a better choice than an off the shelf bright red for this design - 305 mesh
3) Yellow of choice - 305 mesh
4) Highlite white - 305 mesh

You will acheive all your oranges and browns using the above print sequence.

Oh, and talk them into 100% cotton next time ;)

JasonMoore:
Heya Guys,

Thanks for the tips and info! It's greatly appreciated =)

I had to keep the designs colors to a minimum from what I was told, so I tried to do the seps with the amount I thought would still give a good print.

I read somewhere that when doing index seps that a lower resolution was better and to actually never go above 150dpi on the resolution of the original artwork. I thought that was odd, but I did these based on that tutorial. Now I know better =)

I'm also interested in getting to learn Sim-Process as well and how it differs from Index Seps. Any time I bring up the word 'Process' at the shop, everyone cringes and runs away and says no way...even though I try to tell them it's not cmyk but SPOT COLORS LOL

I am going to play with this  some more before we do the final shirts and see if I am able to improve on it with your help and tips =)

Thanks again!! =)
Jason

Dottonedan:
I also forgot yo say, yes, for your first time, I agree. You did a good job. I'm sure mine was very similar.

I don't know where you got that information on indexing, but it might have come from someone who was not that good at it themselves. You see alot of that type of information over at Teeshirtforums. I'm not knocking that place. Hes got a good site. It's just that type of members for the most part.

I am doing a stochastic job with Pierre. It's not indexing. Stochastic is similar but no pattern and is mixed into other colors like sim process is. I will admit, we are pushing it to the max, by using 277 resolution on this job. Pierre is a bit nervous on this one, but I have faith in him.  You will see examples and details once we can.

Indexing puts dots side by side and technically does not blend well. It relies on high resolution and multiple colors to get photo quality. It's best used on art with slot of fine detail abd textures like a watercolor painting.

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