Multiple Option Color Separation Service

We're now offering four types of color separation services, basic spot color, basic+ half tones,  complex and complex+. What's the difference?

Basic Spot Color $20:

• 1-6 colors, no halftones.
• Raster or Vector art accepted
• We'll separate the file, build the underbase, and call out suggested sequence and pantone colors.
• We'll return the file as either a channel separated Photoshop file, TIF files as each color or Illustrator file with spot colors*

Basic Spot Color with Halftones $35:

• 1-6 colors, with up to 2 colors with halftones
  
• Raster or Vector art accepted
• We'll separate the file, build the underbase, and call out suggested sequence and pantone colors.
• We'll return the file as either a channel separated Photoshop file, TIF files as each color or Illustrator file with spot colors*. If you don't have a rip software we'll bitmap the files so you can print them directly to your printer (Raster files only)
  

Complex $55:

• 1-6 colors, with up to 6 colors with halftones
  
• Raster or Vector art accepted
• We'll separate the file as either True 4 Color Process, Simulated Process, or Index
• We'll separate the file to your specs, build the underbase, and call out suggested sequence and pantone colors.
• We'll return the file as either a channel separated Photoshop file, TIF files as each color or Illustrator file with spot colors*. If you don't have a rip software we'll bitmap the files so you can print them directly to your printer (Raster files only)

Complex+ $85:

• 7-10 colors, with up to 10 colors with halftones
  
• Raster or Vector art accepted
• We'll separate the file as either True 4 Color Process, Simulated Process, or Index
• We'll separate the file to your specs, build the underbase, and call out suggested sequence and pantone colors.
• We'll return the file as either a channel separated Photoshop file, TIF files as each color or Illustrator file with spot colors*. If you don't have a rip software we'll bitmap the files so you can print them directly to your printer (Raster files only)

* Illustrator files with spot colors will require you to have a rip software for output.

Our color separation service includes separation of your file. This includes separating the colors to your specifications and building an underbase if necessary. We can do simulated process; true 4 color process (not recommended for dark shirts), regular spot color or an index separation. Most of the separations we do will be done in Photoshop. If your design incorporates vector and/or raster images it will most likely be rasterized in photoshop. The file will be returned as a Photoshop .psd file with each color as it's own channel.  Alternatively we can split the channels and bitmap each color for easy output even without a RIP software. If the file is submitted as a vector design, we will do our best to keep it vector. However some designs will need to be rasterized in photoshop to separate.

We can use the following file formats :

• Adobe Illustrator (ai, eps or pdf)
• Adobe Photoshop (psd, dcs 2.0, tif) at 200dpi or higher at size
• Wecan work with compressed format such as jpeg or gif files however we don't recommend them
  
• We don't work in Corel Draw, so files will need to be converted to any of the above options
• Please upload the image at the time of the order to the image up-loader on this page.
• Most files are completed and returned within 1 business day of placing the order barring any issues with the art.

About the different type of separations:

Spot Color Separations: Spot color separations are just your basic solid color separation. 

Spot Colors Plus Halftones: This is a file that combines solid colors with gradients or fades. Any design that has a gradation between two or more colors is going to require halftones to capture that effect in the screen.

Complex:

• Simulated Process: This technique is useful for photo realistic art on dark garments. It uses a predetermined set of colors that will blend to create a multitude of gradients. Works well with flesh color images on dark substrates. Typically it takes 6 to 10 colors to accurately reproduce a photo realistic design. You won't need any special inks, but you will need to mix particular ink colors.
• True 4 Color Process: This technique works well with photo realistic art on white or light colored garments. It separates a file into it's 3 primary colors and black.  We can separate true color designs for dark substrates however because the inks are translucent they can be difficult to print. You'll need to have process plastisol inks for this type of separation.
• Index Separation: This separation technique  isn't used as often as it usually requires 8+ colors to really but can create a cool effect.

Not sure if your file will work or what is the best method for separation? E-mail it to us at info@filmdirectonline.com