Halftone color separation.
Press-ready separations by people who've stood at the press: correct angles and frequencies, underbase, choke and spread, named channels — for spot and simulated process.
We deliver print-ready separations as named-channel AI + PDF: halftone angles and LPI set to your mesh count to avoid moiré, underbase generated for dark garments, choke and spread applied for trap, and each color on its own labeled separation. Spot, index and simulated-process — built for plastisol or water-based, on the substrate you tell us.
Spec sheet, by default.
Everything the press needs, named the way your operator reads it.
- File formats
- Named-channel
.ai+ separated.pdf. Press-ready film output settings included. - Halftone settings
- Angles and LPI tuned to your mesh count to prevent moiré. Tell us your mesh and we set dot shape, frequency and angle per channel.
- Underbase
- Generated for dark garments, with highlight white separated. Choke applied so it doesn't peek.
- Trap
- Choke and spread applied between colors for registration tolerance on multi-station presses.
- Color spec
- PMS-named channels, ink type (plastisol / water-based) noted, substrate accounted for in the build.
- Press notes
- Plain-text PDF: print order, flash points, mesh recommendations and any source we re-illustrated.
Separated here, pulled on the press.
Common questions, answered.
What halftone frequency and angle do you use?
We set LPI and angle to your mesh count to avoid moiré — typically 45–55 LPI for standard mesh, adjusted per channel. Tell us your mesh and press and we tune it; defaults are noted in the press sheet.
Do you generate the underbase?
Yes, for dark garments — with a choked underbase and separated highlight white so colors stay bright and the base doesn't show at the edges.
Spot, index or simulated process?
All three. Spot for flat-color jobs, simulated process for photographic art on darks, index when you want dither over halftone. We'll recommend the right approach when you order.
Can you separate from a low-res raster?
We can, and where the source is too rough we re-illustrate the elements first so the separation holds up on press rather than printing the artifacts.
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