WHY SEPARATING COLOR BLENDS IS CRUCIAL
When customers send over their artwork, it's often in CMYK mode, which looks great on a monitor but can be a challenge for screen printers. Once you convert those blends to spot colors, you might notice a hazy midpoint where two colors meet—this can lead to dull, unsaturated prints with unwanted background color showing through. We don’t want that, and neither does your client!
This tutorial will show you how to fix that by adjusting blend modes in Illustrator, so your design prints clean, crisp, and vibrant.
STEP 1: PREPPING THE DESIGN IN ILLUSTRATOR
- Duplicate Your Art: Always duplicate your design layer and label it “original.” This is your safety net in case you need to go back and tweak something later.
- Conversion: Convert the CMYK colors to Spot Colors.
- Duplicate the Blend: This will allow you to isolate each color in the blend.
- Separate the Colors: To isolate your blends, set one of the colors to white and drop the opacity to zero. This gives you a clear look at each blend on its own, which helps when adjusting.
RELATED: CMYK VS. SPOT COLOR VS. SIMULATED PROCESS
STEP 2: SHIFTING THE MIDPOINT FOR BETTER BLENDS
- Slide the Midpoint: By moving the blend’s midpoint from 50% to about 25% or 75%, you can create richer saturation where the colors overlap. This trick is key for making your blend pop on the final print.
- Use Multiply Mode: Multiply mode gives us two benefits: First, it’s a screen printer’s best friend as it mimics the effect of printing wet-on-wet, giving you a preview of how the colors will interact once they hit the press. Second, it allows the RIP software to see each color without the color on top, knocking out the color below. It allows each color to print its full tonal range.
STEP 3: DIALING IT IN ON PRESS
- Choose the Right Inks: For this project, Colin swapped out the bright Illustrator colors for Wilflex's Rio RFU Scarlet and Light Gold inks. These softer shades blend well and give you that smooth gradient we’re after.
- To Flash or Not to Flash Between Colors: To avoid unwanted color contamination (aka ink transfer), consider flashing your print between layers. Or, if you’re feeling bold, print wet-on-wet to enhance blending, just be mindful of dot gain, where the ink can spread and affect your design.
RELATED: WHY PRINTERS NEED TO MASTER ADOBE ILLUSTRATOR FOR SCREEN PRINTING
STEP 4: TROUBLESHOOTING TIPS
Fine-Tune Your Midpoint: If your blend isn’t looking quite right, in this case we definitely got the saturation we wanted! Revisit your midpoint adjustments in Illustrator. Small tweaks can make a big difference in how your print turns out. In this case, Colin would take the design back to the art room and adjust the red slider down to allow for more of the Light Gold to show through.
WRAPPING IT UP
Whether you’re flashing or printing wet-on-wet, the choice is yours. Each method has its own advantages, so find what works best for your shop and your clients. Remember, every print job is a learning opportunity—don’t be afraid to experiment and fine-tune until you get it just right.
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