Seperating for print.. Channels?!

For some reason unbeknown to us our printers have decided they 'can’t work with Photoshop layers or Illustrator files because you can’t output layers as films'... I’ve never come across this before, and everyone we’ve had work for us sends either .PSD’s or .ai’s. Does anyone else work on this basis, or know how you would separate out channels as opposed to layers (and colours I assume)?

I’ve always thought each layer was duplicated to a new document, made 100% black and then printed as a film. How would you separate channels? - Surely that limits you to 4 colours? I’ve read about making spot channels and removing the CYMK ones, but i’ve no idea how to tackle it. Any help, advice, or ways to tell my printers to stop being so unnecessarily awkward would be grand.

1. 

   jimiyo said 3 months ago

   is it flat color?

   if so, essentially, you take each of the layers into a new channel.

   then you give them a spot color. specify pms

   then you delete one of the cmyk or rgb channels. then delete the other remaining.

   then save the file as a EPS DCS 1.0

2. 

   Chris Martin said 3 months ago

   Or you can save the hassle and get in touch with Merchspin to get your stuff printed. We handle all of the seps included in the printing cost with no extra charges, and you don’t have to worry about anything except your product looking like the image you provided!

   Party!

3. 

   Dave!PTS said 3 months ago

   Thanks Jimiyo, you plethora of knowledge you! What difference does it actually make? Does doing it that way actually improve the print quality?

   Sorry Chris, the man (our distributor) has spoken! And they’ve decided to go with MerchDirect for printing in the U.S...I can only imagine that they won’t be dicking around with channel seps.. Thanks though man :)
   Seems our European printers are the only printers in the world who demand artwork this way.

4. 

   Reliique said 3 months ago

   Nice Chris.. but what is your minimum and do you ship internationally ? Sorry for off-topic.

   I’ll try what jimmy said, but i have a nasty feeling that without video tutorial i will make EPIC FAIL.

5. 

   Eternyl said 3 months ago

   jimiyo said: is it flat color? if so, essentially, you take each of the layers into a new channel. then you give them a spot color. specify pms then you delete one of the cmyk or rgb channels. then delete the other remaining. then save the file as a EPS DCS 1.0

   exactly this....I use DCS 2.0 tho and output through illustrator....don’t really know what the difference is.

   make sure your file is a multichannel.

   Jimiyo’s right - and this is pretty much the industry standard. DCS.EPS

   if this is your first try at sep’ing...I’d suggest making an all solif channel as a background to try and "proof" your sep first...

   Spot color Sepp’in is a very touchy talent/skill

6. 

   jimiyo said 3 months ago

   Dave!PTS said: Thanks Jimiyo, you plethora of knowledge you! What difference does it actually make? Does doing it that way actually improve the print quality?

   np.

   No quality differences, just the way the output machine handles it. It wouldnt take whoever seps it to just drop em in the channels, guess they just dont want to hassle. It would be extra 10 minutes of work I guess. Also it puts the ball in your court if the seps are done wrong.

   Surprised they dont take illustrator. Cause illustrator files are already practically sepped.

7. 

   Boycott Christian HC said 3 months ago

   How do you take a layer into a channel
   ?

8. 

   jimiyo said 3 months ago

   provided the layer has all the other layers cut out of it thats above it, merge it onto a white canvas, copy, paste into new channel.

9. 

   Boycott Christian HC said 3 months ago

   Thank you. Looks though this maneuver takes some practice, or...

   Reliique said: but i have a nasty feeling that without video tutorial i will make EPIC FAIL.

   :)

10. Log In
    back