jonc

WOW!
thanks you guys for all the suggestions!

the Keeper was absolutely right! it had been so long since i did halftone that i COMPLEATLY forgot that it needed to be high resolution! not to mention that i needed to avoid certain angles (45, 90, 180,0).

thank all of you for helping to relieve my brain ache!
and for all the cool new knowledge!

HAPPY! HAPPY! HAPPY!

Bacardi

The main reason why the four channels are at angles is that they are transferred to offset plates. When the paper goes through the press four times (or through four heads of the press in sequence), there is a risk of moir? patterns.

Apart from that, it's visually more pleasing.

Apart from all that, I never tried what you came to show here, and it is a very good idea indeed. I'll try it out, and it will be useful some day!

Rantin Al

I might be wrong, but surely if you try silkscreening a halftoned image you will end up with Moire patterns all over the shop???

What is required is a greyscale separation per spot colour.
This would then be used to create the exposure area, usually onto film.
When this is processed onto the screen it allows the screen material to
pass the graduations needed for the ink. As in offset printing where the plates are created from a laser print.

Certainly you will get a halftoned effect by applying the PS Halftone filter and then printing out on an inkjet printer.

Wish I'd learned more about what was actually involved in screen processing at a previous job I had.
Artwork was made into separations but without the use of PS Halftone Filter. The black art of the printer worked that little bit of magic.

If I am totally wrong, you may cover me in honey and stake me out on the nearest ant hill. |

Cheers, Al.

jonc

daaaaannggg!
so much great info out there. you all have been so helpful.

i was just looking to silkscreen black&white, but it looks like i will have to try some other stuff!

i found some cool links on this stuff if anyone else is interested...

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&i...y+%2B+halftone

http://www.designer-info.com/Photo/h...halftoning.htm

this moir? stuff is really interesting!

yippie!

Rantin Al

Yup, a plethora of smartie pants are we. :B

A couple of points about your original post Jon. (After reading the fine print.)

The reason you were getting 'square pixels' is the conversion to Bitmap.
You only have black or white pixels so you dont get the apparent soft edges of which you have with Greyscale.
Try painting a big splodge with a large soft edged brush and then convert it to bitmap to see what I'm jabbering about.

The other speckled effect you have is an early Photoshop dithering pattern.

Finally, you will need to watch this un-natural affinity to Moire Patterns you seem to be developing.
Yes they can be hypnotic but should be avoided at all costs.
The only sure cure is to post on this forum more often.

We will save you. :B
Won't we kiddies? \:]

Al.

MsOz

Don't you listen to Al! The moir? patterns are good, good I say! [stuned] Just read the definition over at
Artlex.

Listen to the moir?...the moir? is your friend...

The only sure cure is to post on this forum more often.

Rantin Al

[saywhat] [confused] }P 8))

Ye--ssss master, I must post more often.......
I must post more often.......
I must post more often.......
I must post more often.......

[bustagut] Al.

jonc

one last thing...

a bit unrelated, but it may be worth while to someone out there...

if any of you are using the waterbased Speedball method of silkscreening (i have recently started up again, duh...)

i was cleaning a week old screen with photo emulsion on it, and it came clean! the directions tell you to wash it out in a timely manner to avoid permanence, so i was sort of suprised... and then i tried a screen that was exposed about two YEARS ago, and it came clean!!!! skip the Mr. Clean that is the recommended product and jump right to the Clorox cleanser!

my wrists will be so happy with fewer screens to re-stretch (pain in the butt!) horah!

that's all. thanks again!