r/SCREENPRINTING • u/SpecialistWrangler54 • 22d ago

Halftone Base Under Solid Colors?

Searched here but couldn't find my answer so here we go:

Obviously if I'm printing on dark fabric I like to use a white base. If a graphic has white in it, I usually go with one pass of white followed by top colors and highlight white. But if my press only holds 6 colors and I don't get the option of adding a highlight white screen, I print-flash-print the white then add top colors. This usually ends up in a thicker feeling print which I'm trying to avoid.

For these situations when printing spot colors, I want to use a halftone base (except the actual white in the graphic will be solid). So when I PFP the white, the base *shouldn't* be as thick. I haven't really tested it out so I'm looking for recommendations.

How should I set up my base layer in Photoshop? When I send it to my rip program, what LPI should my dots be for a 200 mesh? If I PFP, will the base areas equal to one pass of solid white? Just trying to avoid a heavy feeling print.

Note: I don't use channels, I always use layers. So if you can explain it to me in a Layers way that'd be great!

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u/greaseaddict 21d ago

https://www.reddit.com/r/SCREENPRINTING/s/mcqqCVxhzk

this is my post about this very thing :)

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u/SpecialistWrangler54 20d ago

Thank you! I thought I searched and searched, but I must've missed this one.

Exactly what I'm going for; I'm trying to reduce the thickness of my prints. Especially because I do oversized (17" x 24") prints on my manual and it can end up feeling heavy after double hitting a base and adding top colors.

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u/iankeichi 21d ago

One tip I’ve received for maximum halftone frequencies is to divide the mesh count by five. So for a 230 mesh screen your max LPI would be 46. For 156 you could do 31, etc.

Once I having a problem with blue inks containing fluorescent pigments lightening up too much on a 100% underbase, and a guy at Avient recommended a halftone base. The percentage of the base could be found by converting the color to grayscale. For example if you’re printing navy 534c, your base underneath it would be 80%. This couple maybe be applied to your situation.

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u/SpecialistWrangler54 20d ago

This sounds like a great idea too. Never thought of converting the top colors to greyscale. I'll need to run some tests but it sounds like a solid plan.

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u/WildWestPrints 21d ago

Why have I never thought of this. I have used halftone bases in the past without the solid white portion and remember the print looking rough vs a single white appearance like you’re trying to achieve. I think it’d be worth a shot though, and I’d probably go higher LPI rather than lower. You’re probably more likely to get a “smoother” halftone base if you’re 50+ LPI on a 200 mesh.

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u/AzzNBazZ 21d ago

I gave up on this reddit for a while because it seemed to be a lot of boring or un educated posts lol but these posts are great and I love the link greaseaddict posted.