SIMULATED Spot PROCESS Color Separation Color Separation

WHAT IS IT?

In Simulated Process color separation, intricate artwork is divided into different spot color layers that function collectively to produce images with the effect of color by using halftone dots. Unlike regular color printing, this technique incorporates opaque inks that create deeper and brighter colors for fabrics. It is commonly used for printing photographic images, intricate illustrations, raster artwork, and designs with numerous colors that are hard to reproduce by using regular vector separations. Due to its flexibility and color accuracy, Simulated Process color separation has emerged as one of the most popular printing techniques in the garment industry since the 1990s, as it guarantees stability in production results, eliminating any chances of misprints and allowing for high-quality prints on both light and dark garments.

PROS
  • Excellent for high detail and intricate artwork
  • Retains fine details and gradations of tone
  • May be printed on light or dark garments with a white base
  • Vibrant color reproduction and wide tonal scale
  • Compatible with plastisol, water-based, discharge, and special effect inks
  • Expands the type of artwork that printers can produce for their clients
  • Soft print texture when applied correctly
CONS
  • Requires knowledge of color separation and halftones
  • More complex than spot color separations, file preparation
  • Not recommended for fine text, simple vector images, as spot color separations are better suited
SUGGESTED TOOLS

Raster image editing software such as Adobe Photoshop, etc.

Portrait of a man in vector art Simulated process screen printing on a t-shirt