Creating Grayscale Film Positives for Screen Printing - PHOTOSHOP CS 3

Preparing Your File for Printing

• Open your file in Photoshop -- you should have one layer for each color of ink you want to screenprint.
  
  
  
  
  
• Select Image > Mode > Grayscale, then select Don't Merge. When prompted regarding color information, click "Discard."
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  You now have a desaturated version of your original file.
  
  
• You may adjust the intensity of each layer by making a Level Adjustment ( Select desired layer and hit CTRL - L); the darker the image on your monitor, the more ink will come through that area of the screen.
  
  
  
  
  
  * * * * * Return to this step to continue with next layer/ink color * * * * *
  
• Select Image > Mode > Bitmap. Click "OK" when it asks you to discard hidden layers and flatten the visible ones.
  
  
  
  
  
• Choose 150 pixels/inch as the Output resolution, Diffusion Dither as method
  
  
  
  
  
  
• It will look awful viewed on screen at anything above 25%, but never fear -- You’re ready to print!

Printing Onto Film (Epson 7800)

• Choose File > Print (CTRL-P); you are presented with the CS3 Print Dialog Box:
  
  
  
  
  Select the printer (Epson 7800), and ensure that your print size is correct. The Color Handling box should say "No Color Management."
  
  
• Click “Page Setup” located in the center of the dialog box, you will be presented with the Epson Print Dialog box:
  
  
  
  
  
  • Media Type- Photo Glossy Paper
    
  • Ink - Black ink
    
  • Mode - Custom, then click "Advanced"
    
    
• The Advanced dialog box appears. Choose
  
  
  • Print Quality - Fine 720 dpi
    
  • Gamma 2.2
    
  • Leave "High Speed" checked -- Epson has gotten better about handling film properly.
    
    

    


Click OK.



• Back on the Epson Printer Dialog, select the Paper tab. Choose the size of sheet film you are using or, for Roll Film, set a custom paper size.|
  
  
• Click OK to exit the Epson Printer Dialog.
  
  
• Ensure your film is loaded properly in the Epson 7800 -- if you need help, please ask!
  
  
• Back on the Photoshop CS3 Print Dialog, click Print
  
  
• Click OK/Print through the remaining dialog boxes
  
  
  
  
  Watch the printer for any problems as it begins printing; if the print head begins hitting the film please press the Pause button (II) and ask for help.
  
  Now, you can step back in the history of your document to just before the "Bitmap" state, and repeat from the * * * * * section of this document.
  
  
  Allow film to dry at least 10 minutes before using it.