User`s manual

131
Version 1.1 Revised February, 2009
Chapter 10 - Output Settings
ch o o s I n g ha l F t o n e se t t I n g s
Each CMYK color separation has is its
own halftone. As such, each separation
will have its own shadows, midtones,
and highlights according to the strength
of that color component in the original
image.
Each separation is like the dot pattern for
the given color channel. Combining the
separations reproduces the desired color
image.
During the final printing process, `
cyan ink is printed using the cyan separation, magenta is printed atop this
with the magenta separation, and so on.
Correct alignment of the separations is crucial to reproduce the original `
image.
Note: e actual order in which the colors are printed can vary. e general rule is that yellow is printed last to
avoid obscuring the yellow halftone dots.
Depending upon the application, there can be several methods of producing CMYK color sepa-
rations. When creating such separations, the halftone settings for each separation must be speci-
fied. e terminology can vary, but generally the halftone controls will be Dot Shape, Frequency,
and Angle.
dO t SH a p e
Depending on the software application, there are a wide variety of shapes to choose for your
halftone dots. e choice of shape depends on what you consider to produce good detail in your
prints. For example, round and elliptical shapes are common, though test prints can determine
whether other shapes are valid for a given artwork.
Fr e Q u e n C y
e halftone frequency is measured in Lines Per Inch (lpi), which indicates the resolution of the
dot shape.
ere is a ` Ratio between the frequency of your halftones, and the mesh
count used when printing.
As a rough guide for screen printing, this Ratio varies from 3 to 5, and it `
is used to avoid losing the highlight dots of the halftone. If unsure, then
use a ratio of 4.