Spot Color Printing Process
Spot color screen printing involves creating stencils for each color in a design and then using a squeegee to press ink through the stencils and onto the garment. This technique is ideal for printing solid colors and creating vibrant designs with precise color matching. It differs from CMYK printing, which uses a four-color process to create full-color designs by layering different shades of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black ink. Unlike CMYK printing, spot color printing uses pre-mixed inks to create specific colors, which can result in more accurate color reproduction.
Halftone Printing Process
Halftone screen printing is a technique used to create the illusion of shading and gradients in a design by using dots of varying sizes. This is achieved by breaking down the design into a series of dots, with the size and density of the dots varying to create different shades and tones. To create the halftone, a screen with a halftone stencil is used, and the ink is pushed through the stencil with a squeegee. The result is a print that appears as if it has been shaded with different tones, even though it is created with only one ink color. This technique can be used on a wide range of apparel items, from t-shirts to hoodies, and is ideal for creating intricate, detailed designs with shading and depth.
4-Color Printing Process
CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black) process screen printing is a technique used to create full-color designs by layering different shades of these four colors. Each color is printed using a separate stencil, with the ink pushed through the stencil and onto the garment using a squeegee. The layers of ink combine to create a full-color design. This technique is ideal for designs that require many colors and shades, and can be used on a wide range of apparel items. However, on darker apparel items, a base coat of white ink may need to be applied first to ensure that the colors stand out against the fabric. The base coat acts as a primer, allowing the colors to appear more vibrant and true to their original tone.