How to simulate partial transparency for screen printing

[laughingpalm]

Hi, folks!

I'm hoping I can get a hint as to how I can simulate a windshield (which should appear partially transparent) when creating an image for screen printing. I tried messing with the "Hatch Effects", and sort of got what I wanted, but not to the degree that I needed. I suspect that I want to end up with a sort of "mesh screen" looking series of white (or gray?) dots (or dashes?) that give the overall look of a windshield without totally blocking out the elements behind the "glass".

Any hints on how this should be done? :confused:

By the way, the element in question is only going to end up being about half an inch square. :eek:

Thanks in advance for your help! :o

- Jim

[TORCH511]

Hard to do on such a small area. Kind of depends on the rest of the image, how many colors and what the order of the colors is going to be. Remember, every color costs extra $$$ in set up fees, and on a surface print, like a T-shirt you typically go light to dark. Plus, because of opacity issues, it may be very difficult to print out, especially that small.

To be honest, if I were prepressing this, NOT having seen your artwork, I would probably opt to go with a solid light color (possibly a very cool white/light cyan), that is mixed with some clear to reduce the opaqueness of the ink to let the back come through. I don't think I would try and do this half tone.

Not all things can be handled in illustrator. I would just make your winshield a spot color with the transparencey turned down so the overall effect can be demonstrated to the printer, and have the printer give you options on what they think would be best.

[laughingpalm]

This is going to be a 4-color process print, and since this is going on several different medium to dark colored shirts, I'd like to preserve the partial visibility of the elements "behind" parts of the "glass", not to mention the shirt colors. I guess what I really want to create is a series of small light dots, but can't seem to find the right combination to make it happen. Everything comes out too widely spaced when I try using the hatch effect command.

[TORCH511]

Since you are printing on a medium/dark color then you can print white behind and then use half tone black to shade the winshield, or since you are going to have to print white in there somewhere (C+M+Y+K does not equal white) depending on the design you can possibly give a reflective winshild look with a white halftone. And I would say possibly. The other option is a 6th color (you already have to have 5 unless there are no lighter colors than pure process in the design).

All this hatch stuff you are messing with, and trying halftones is a waste of your time. When the films are made to generate the screens, the halftones will be added. I do this for a living and if you were to give me any such art, I will tell you to redo it, or bill you $125/hour for me to redo it for you. Seriously.

Draw the design how you want it to look, then take it to a printer and discuss with them HOW to make it that way.

[laughingpalm]

Yes, white is going to be printed/added, and so far, I made the glass white with a 20% transparency - which is the effect I want on screen - but can't seem to figure out how to do it for the printing process. (Which is why I'm posting this in the Beginner section!) Normally, I would have an artist do this for me, but I wanted to give it a shot to see if I could manage it...guess not! :o

How do I create a white halftone? Never done that...

[TORCH511]

In the old days you used a halftone screen when making the films, these days it is done at the time of Imaging through the RIP station/software or when Printing to a file from illustrator. Most pre-pressers will opt to have it controlled by the rip if possible since there are typically more options. Many graphics programs do contain the effects, they are more for building a half tone effect into a graphic, and not actually producting half tone shapes.

It is controlled that way because the printer need to control the halftones according to their printing processes. The Ink, Mesh Count, Mesh Diameter, Squeegee shape/duro/angle, Press as well as dot gain, film emulsions... all effect how a half tone print, and their resulting values. Not to mention that, for example, I have a choice of 11 different halftones, some with multiple shapes, and I can customize line width, minimum and maximum dot sizes, line angles, pattern bias...

So doing what you did, a 20% white value is fine. The printer will probably make a recommendation as to how he thinks it should be printed to get the results he wants. ASK him if necessary. Ask him how you should set it up to make his job easier. In the end, you build a relationship with your printer, and you get better results.

[laughingpalm]

Okay...sounds like I need to just sent the file to the printer and let him decide what to do with it. Too many variables that are not in my realm of control or education! :p

Thanks for your insight!! :D

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