i have an image that is need to prepare for a silkscreen print process. it consist of 3 colors. what do i do?

Question

i have a company overseas that is going to print my product for me. i need to send them the proper format so that me product can be reproduced. i sent a jpeg file but, it was not sufficent. i think i need to have the image broken down in each color and sent to them but i don't know where to begin.

Answer 1

1st. Find out what format they want. IE: jpg, gif, etc.

Then put together a picture in that format in all 3 colors and 3 copies with only 1 of the 3 colors on each. Make sure they are an exact match as far as location on the picture so that if you put all 4 pictures over each other, they would align exactly.

The easiest way to do this is to start with a copy of the 3 color picture. Open it in a graphics program and make sure the background is white. (If your graphic program does transparent, ask the silk screener if they prefer that rather than white.)

Next step is to change one of your 3 colors to white. Now change another to white. What's left is a single color aligned with your 3 color master. (You can then change all of the white areas to transparent.)

Repeat 2 more times with additional copies of the master, each time leaving a different color.

Answer 2

You will need to use some program (such as Photoshop) to edit the image. Place marks, such as x's in each corner of the image. Save the image 3 times as another image. In the first image that you saved, erase all but that which will be color number one. In the second image erase all but color number two. In the third image erase all but color number three.

Save the three images you have edited as black and white images. Add the name of the color each represents to the edge of the image, out of the area to be printed.

Send the three images you have edited, and the original (for reference) to the printer. A competent printer should have no problem working with these files.

You may contact me with further questions of you do not fully understand.