What program do you suggest for Seperations?

[Appstro]

I know how to separate colors in illustrator and photoshop, but my understanding is that there are some softwares out there that do separations and trap and also do white base coloring etc… If those are available, which ones do you suggest? Just getting started here

[Frog]

No recommendation per se, but two prominent Sep programs are long running sponsors of this forum
Both offer free trials.

Scott Fresener's T-Seps

and Ultraseps

[Appstro]

Can you use any graphics program with these?

[Frog]

Those work with Photoshop.

[Appstro]

Wow, expeeeeeeeennnnnssssiiiivvvee! Anything less expensive??? $1000.00 for rip software and separations software is out of this world for me:(

[Frog]

Well, the free Ghost RIP should knock down the total a bit.
Some sepping can also be done manually in Photoshop, (or less commonly, in Photopaint)
For that matter, most agree that most "auto" sep programs still benefit from some manual tweaking.

You can also think about sending some stuff out to professional services and pass along the expense to the client.

[Appstro]

OK thanks. I downloaded Ghost Rip Redmon and GS view. Any recommendations?

[screenxpress]

I saw a recent ad for Ultraseps at 399.  A far cry from 1000.  Well, okay, little less than half, lol.

[tpitman]

Ultraseps was $299 through the end of last year. I upgraded. It might be worth contacting Steve to see if it might have been extended since the ad is still running.

[Frog]

Ultraseps was $299 through the end of last year. I upgraded. It might be worth contacting Steve to see if it might have been extended since the ad is still running.

According to his rotating banner ad here, the sale price is still good

[mk162]

You can try simple seps raster for corel...it's cheaper and so is corel.  They are releasing a PS version as well.

monochrome bitmaps in corel are the jam.

[Appstro]

Thank you, I may try the ultra seps. I absolutely despise Corel though. I worked in prepress commercial printing for years and never liked that program Seems pretty popular with screen printing though. :O

[Mark @ Hurricane Printing]

Dot Tone Dan

[mk162]

Well, to each his own.  Corel's pricetag is a ton better than Adobe.  Draw is great, but the raster side of it needs some more help for sure.

[Appstro]

i just watched the ultra seps video. Looks like he has actually made a "no rip" halftone function in the software and he claims that if you dont have a rip his halftone generator will allow you to output may different line screens right out of photoshop to your inkjet. Anybody try this yet? Seems too good to be true? What would I need a rip for then if this actually works well?? I am really impressed with all the functions he's built into the software. I do wish that you could output vector though….