Spot Color Separation vs. Index Color Separation

Can someone help me understand?

i’ve found tutorials on spot color on youtube () and also index color, thanks to jimiyo,() and ()

but what is the main differences?

what do you guys use to separate your colors?

and help, links, etc. is very much appreciated.
thank you so much guys.

1. 

   Eternyl said 4 months ago

   Index is an old school method...I’d recommend staying away from it...mainly because of the issues it has with printing gradients....and the consistency of the print.

   You’ll have to sep you gradients the straight forward method...so I figure just keep the sep consistent, and do the whole thing manually.

   I sep using the Channel mixer, gradient map, color picker and preset curves...there are so many ways but the easiest is the channel mixer on individual design elements, on individual layers.

   the best way to sep well is practice practice practice....and create the art with seps in mind.

   I am in the process of getting a tutorial together, but time always seems to be tight.

2. 

   adamastephens said 4 months ago

   thanks a lot! sometimes i just hate practice and just want to be good at it. if only things were like that... haha thank you so much.

   and once you get that tutorial together, make sure to post it here!

3. 

   doublej said 4 months ago

   that first tut suuucks. ha that kid has no clue what he is doing. Its really simple. and he is missing about 5 important steps!

4. 

   Stephan.GFX said 4 months ago

   doublej said: that first tut suuucks. ha that kid has no clue what he is doing. Its really simple. and he is missing about 5 important steps!

   What is he missing?

5. 

   doublej said 4 months ago

   • naming the spot colors
   • proofing/preview
   • level adjustment
   • how to print

   ok 4 ha.

6. 

   sblake said 4 months ago

   Index uses tiny little square dots to make up the image. Index has it uses and shouldn’t be dismissed. However, simulated process has stepped up and pretty much taken over for index it’s made up of Tiny dots that blend togeather with dot gain to make your colour spectrum. Spot colour seps are the easiest.. That doesn’t really need to be explained I think.

7. 

   sblake said 4 months ago

   Maybe spot seps needs to be explained.. its ust large chunks of solid colour. . think white text across the front of a black t-shirt. Thats a spot colour print.

   I’ve been doing colour seps for screen printing for 10+ years and have worked with pretty much every major brand and band so if ya’ll have any questions I’d be more than happy to try and explain...

   However the best advise is to just dive in head first and start experimenting... channels will become your best friend.. you can "simulate" the printing process with channels and see how each colour lays down.

   Cheers..
   S.

8. 

   cajun metal said 4 months ago

   sblake said: Maybe spot seps needs to be explained.. its ust large chunks of solid colour. . think white text across the front of a black t-shirt. Thats a spot colour print. I’ve been doing colour seps for screen printing for 10+ years and have worked with pretty much every major brand and band so if ya’ll have any questions I’d be more than happy to try and explain... However the best advise is to just dive in head first and start experimenting... channels will become your best friend.. you can "simulate" the printing process with channels and see how each colour lays down. Cheers.. S.

   He’s right. You have to experiment. Everybody has their own method and you’ll eventually figure out what works best for you.

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