CMYK SCREEN PRINTING FOR BEGINNERS!

Summary

This educational video offers a beginner's guide to CMYK screen printing, breaking the process into five simple steps. The host explains the basics of CMYK, uses CorelDraw for artwork preparation, and emphasizes the importance of using the right inks and screen settings. The video demonstrates the printing process, starting with the lightest color to avoid ink contamination, and concludes with tips on achieving quality prints and the limitations of the technique on light garments. The host invites viewers to share their favorite soccer player for a chance to win a shirt.

Takeaways

• 🎨 CMYK stands for Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black, which are the four colors used in screen printing to create full-color images.
• 🛠️ The video provides a step-by-step guide for beginners to understand the basics of CMYK screen printing.
• 💡 Learning CMYK printing can expand business opportunities and offer more options to customers.
• 🖌️ The software used in the video for artwork preparation is CorelDRAW, which is used to convert images into halftones with specific settings.
• 🔆 It's recommended to make the image lighter than the actual color before printing, as the colors tend to darken during the process.
• 🖥️ The video mentions the importance of using the correct transparency film and color settings for separating colors in the design.
• 🔥 The screen burning process involves adjustments in mesh count and temperature settings for optimal results.
• 🎨 Processed inks are recommended for CMYK printing due to their softness, compatibility, and concentration.
• 🔄 The order of printing is crucial, starting from the lightest color (yellow) to the darkest (black) to prevent ink contamination.
• 📈 High-resolution designs are essential for better print quality, as pixelation can affect the final outcome.
• 👕 CMYK printing is primarily suitable for light garments, with additional considerations needed for dark garments.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the video?

The main topic of the video is CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black) printing for beginners, focusing on screen printing full-color images.

Why is it important to learn CMYK printing according to the video?

Learning CMYK printing is important as it provides more options for the printer, customers, and the business, allowing for an expansion of services and skills in both screen printing and graphic designing.

What software does the video recommend for preparing artwork for screen printing?

The video recommends using CorelDRAW for preparing the artwork, converting it into bitmaps, and then into halftones.

What are the settings used for converting the image into halftones in the video?

The settings used are 15 for cyan, 75 for magenta, 90 for yellow, and 45 for black, with a max dot ratio of three.

Why should the image be made lighter before printing according to the video?

The image should be made lighter before printing because the colors tend to get darker during the screen printing process.

What adjustments did the video suggest for burning the screens?

The video suggests using a mesh of 305 and lowering the burning temperature and time. It also recommends curing the screen twice on the back and once on the front, followed by scraping for an even layer of emulsion.

Why are processed inks recommended for CMYK screen printing in the video?

Processed inks are recommended because they are soft for high mesh screens, mix well for accurate color matching, and are more concentrated, providing the exact colors needed for the print.

What is the recommended order for printing CMYK colors in the video?

The recommended order is to start with the lightest color, yellow, followed by magenta, then cyan, and finally black.

Why is it better to print from the lightest to the darkest color in CMYK printing?

Printing from the lightest to the darkest prevents the darker colors from seeping into the lighter ones' screens, which could alter the color and quality of the print.

What is the importance of design resolution in achieving high-quality prints according to the video?

High-resolution designs ensure better print quality as they provide clearer images and more accurate color representation, which is crucial for screen printing.

Can CMYK screen printing be used on dark garments according to the video?

Yes, CMYK screen printing can be used on dark garments, but it requires an underbase and some adjustments, which will be discussed in a separate video.

Outlines

00:00

🖨️ Introduction to CMYK Screen Printing Basics

The video introduces beginners to the basics of CMYK screen printing, outlining its importance in expanding screen printing capabilities. The speaker highlights five essential steps to help viewers understand the process. Emphasizing the educational purpose, the video delves into CMYK screen printing, which uses cyan, magenta, yellow, and black inks to create full-color images. The speaker shares personal experience, explaining how mastering CMYK printing can enhance both labor skills and graphic design knowledge.

05:01

🎨 Preparing Artwork for CMYK Printing

This section explains the first step: preparing the artwork for CMYK screen printing. The speaker uses CorelDRAW software to convert images into bitmaps and halftones, with specific settings for each color (cyan, magenta, yellow, black). The importance of slightly lightening the image to avoid dark prints is stressed. The video mentions separating each color for transparency film printing, setting the stage for the next steps in the process.

🔥 Screen Burning Adjustments and Techniques

In this part, the speaker discusses the adjustments made during the screen-burning process. They emphasize the importance of using a 305 mesh screen and share two key modifications: lowering the burning temperature and adjusting the coating process to ensure a flat and even layer of emulsion. These adjustments help in achieving better results, especially when washing halftones. The video suggests that these small tweaks can make a significant difference in the final print quality.

🎨 Choosing the Right Inks for CMYK Printing

The speaker discusses the selection of inks for CMYK printing, recommending process inks due to their softness, good color matching, and concentration. The inks are sourced from International Coatings, and the speaker shares personal experience with their effectiveness over the past two years. They express satisfaction with the inks' performance and invite viewers to suggest other good alternatives in the comments.

🔧 Aligning Screens and Printing Order for Best Results

This section covers the alignment of screens and the optimal order of printing colors in CMYK printing. The speaker prefers printing from the lightest color (yellow) to the darkest (black) to avoid color contamination and ensure better print results. The video explains the logic behind this order and provides practical tips for maintaining color accuracy during the printing process.

🖌️ Demonstration of the CMYK Printing Process

The video shifts to a live demonstration, showing the actual printing process. The speaker begins with yellow, followed by magenta, cyan, and finally black. Each color is applied with care, showcasing the step-by-step progression and the final result. The speaker highlights the importance of not overprinting to avoid darkening the image and expresses satisfaction with the outcome, encouraging viewers to appreciate the beauty of screen printing.

🖼️ Importance of High-Resolution Designs in CMYK Printing

The speaker reflects on the quality of prints, emphasizing that high-resolution designs yield the best results. They compare a low-resolution, pixelated print to a high-resolution one, illustrating the difference in print quality. The video reinforces the need for good design resolution in achieving professional-looking prints and hints at future content addressing printing on dark garments.

🎬 Final Thoughts and Viewer Engagement

In the closing segment, the speaker wraps up the tutorial, thanking viewers for their support and encouraging them to engage by sharing their favorite soccer player in the comments for a chance to win a printed shirt. The video ends on a positive note, with the speaker expressing a desire to continue learning and improving in screen printing while inviting viewers to join them in this journey.

Keywords

💡Screen Printing

Screen printing is a printing technique where a mesh is used to transfer ink onto a substrate, except in areas made impermeable to the ink by a blocking stencil. It is a popular method for T-shirt and poster printing. In the video, the host discusses the process of screen printing full-color images, emphasizing its importance for expanding business opportunities and offering more options to customers.

💡CMYK

CMYK stands for Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Key (black). It is a color model used in printing to create full-color images by combining these four colors. The video explains that CMYK printing is essential for screen printing as it allows for the creation of a wide range of colors, and the host discusses the process of combining these colors to achieve the desired full-color image.

💡CorelDraw

CorelDraw is a vector graphics editor used for creating illustrations, logos, and other graphics. In the context of the video, the host mentions using CorelDraw to convert an image into bitmaps and then into half-tones, which is a crucial step in preparing the artwork for screen printing.

💡Half-tones

Half-tones refer to the process of converting a continuous-tone image into a pattern of dots to simulate shades of gray or color. This is important in screen printing to ensure that the image can be accurately reproduced on the final product. The host describes using specific settings in CorelDraw to convert the image into half-tones for screen printing.

💡Transparency Film

Transparency film, also known as a film positive, is used in screen printing to create the stencil that will be used to apply ink to the substrate. The host mentions using transparency film to separate each color in the CMYK process, which is a key step in preparing the screens for printing.

💡Mesh

The mesh is the fabric part of the screen in screen printing that the ink passes through. The host discusses using a 305 mesh, which is a specific type of fabric with a certain thread count, to create the screens for the CMYK printing process.

💡Ink

Ink is the substance used in printing to produce the image on the substrate. The video emphasizes the importance of using processed inks for screen printing, especially for halftone techniques, due to their softness, compatibility, and concentration, which are crucial for achieving the desired color and quality.

💡Registration

Registration in screen printing refers to the alignment of multiple screens to ensure that each color layer is printed in the correct position. The host briefly mentions registration, indicating that it is an important aspect of multi-color prints, and provides links to further videos for those interested in learning more.

💡Printing Order

The order in which colors are printed can affect the final result in CMYK printing. The host prefers to start with the lightest color and progress to the darkest to avoid ink contamination between colors, which is a technique to ensure the best possible print quality.

💡Resolution

Resolution refers to the clarity and sharpness of an image, measured in pixels or dots per inch (DPI). The host notes that the resolution of the design affects the quality of the screen print, with higher resolution designs producing better print results.

💡Underbase

An underbase is a layer of white ink used in screen printing on dark garments to ensure that the colors show up correctly. The host mentions that while the CMYK technique is primarily used on light garments, it can also be adapted for dark garments with the use of an underbase and some adjustments.

Highlights

Introduction to CMYK screen printing for beginners, breaking down the process into five steps for easier understanding.

Explanation of CMYK printing, using cyan, magenta, yellow, and black to create full-color images.

Importance of learning CMYK printing for expanding business opportunities and offering more options to customers.

Personal experience sharing on how learning CMYK printing expanded the presenter's screen printing capabilities.

Using CorelDraw software to create artwork and converting images into bitmaps for screen printing.

Halftone settings for different colors in the CMYK process and the importance of adjusting image brightness.

Technique for separating colors using transparency film and color settings in CorelDraw.

Screen preparation adjustments, including mesh selection and burning settings for halftone printing.

Recommendation of using processed inks for high mesh screens and their advantages in color accuracy and consistency.

International Coatings inks as a preferred choice for their performance in screen printing projects.

Screen lining and registration techniques for multi-color prints, with references to additional learning resources.

Printing order preference starting with the lightest color to avoid ink contamination in wet-on-wet printing.

Demonstration of the screen printing process, showing the application of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black inks.

Emphasis on the quality of the print and the impact of design resolution on the final print outcome.

Comparison of print quality between designs with high and low resolution, highlighting the importance of original artwork.

Mention of limitations of CMYK printing on dark garments and the need for underbase and adjustments.

Invitation for viewers to share their favorite soccer player for a giveaway promotion.

Closing remarks with thanks for support and an invitation to engage with the content.

Transcripts

seeing YK printing for beginners and in

this video I'm going to show you the

basic things you need to know when it

comes to screen printing full color

images and I broke it down into five

different steps to make it easier for

you guys to understand what I'm trying

to say and just know that everything

that you're going to see in this video

is for educational purpose only now

let's get to work

but before we start what CMYK so there's

many different types of techniques when

it comes to screen printing

spot color printing halftone printing

grayscale printing simulated process

printing CMYK Printing and a couple more

now same YK printing is created by four

different colors cyan magenta yellow and

black and when you combine all those

colors together it gives you a full

color image just like those small little

printers that you have in your house

almost the same thing as the screen

printer I feel like it's essential for

you to learn seeing YK printing because

it's going to give you more options it's

going to give your customer more options

it's going to give your business an

opportunity to expand me when I started

screen printing I only had that four

color press and I was very limited now

with that extra skill I was able to take

out different orders plus my knowledge

in screen printing grew not just when it

came to the labor but also in the

graphic designing Department all right

we're going to start with the artwork

and we're not gonna go so into depth

with this step we need to keep

everything very simple now the software

that I use is called coreldraw first

I'll grab my image and I'll convert it

into bitmaps after that it gets

converted into half tones and these are

the settings that I use 15 for cyan 75

for magenta 90 for yellow and 45 for

blacks and the max dot ratio is three

now that everything's converted into

half tones try to make that image a

little bit lighter than the actual color

because when you start printing over

here things tend to get a little darker

now when it comes to printing my

transparency film I just go to my color

settings and I'll put separation and

it's going to separate each color and

that's pretty much it step number two

and I didn't record none of this because

I already have a video explaining how to

burn your screen but if you guys really

do want to see the whole process let me

know in the comments but I did do two

small adjustments now the mesh that I

use is 305 and one of the adjustments

that I did I lowered the temperature on

my burning settings usually I burn my

screens at two minutes now I burn them

at a minute and a half and the second

adjustment that I did I quitted my

screen two times in the back and one

time in the front then I went back to

the back and I scraped and it's great

and I did the same thing for the front

and I scraped a little bit more than

usual so I can have a nice even flat

layer of emotion on both sides of the

screen and this is something extra that

I did because when it comes to washing

on halftones it could be a small hassle

especially if you don't have the right

equipment now when it comes to using the

right types of inks for this type of

technique I would recommend to get

processed inks first because we're using

High mesh screens and these inks right

here are very very soft second

they mix and match very well so they

give you the exact colors that you're

looking for and third I feel like

they're more concentrated that's why you

get exactly the color that you're

looking for but you might have to quote

me on that because I'm not a thousand

percent shirt but look just look look at

this smoothness of this now you can find

these types of inks at International

Coatings I've been working with these

type of inks for the last two years for

my singing with K projects and I haven't

changed their look for any other inks

because they have done the job but if

you do know of other inks that work

great as well let me know in the

comments so my screens are already lined

up and ready to go but I'm not gonna go

so into depth with this step because I

already did a couple videos on how to

register multi-color Prints but if you

do want to learn I am going to attach

two videos at the end of this video just

in case you want to learn now what's the

best order to print now I see a lot of

people that like to print CMYK but me

personally I like to start with from the

lightest color all the way to the

darkest I start with yellow second

magenta third cyan and the last one

black and in case you're wondering why

do you start from the lightest to the

darkest well since this technique is wet

and wet and let's say I print magenta

first and then yellow eventually that

magenta is gonna get inside of the

screen of the yellow and it's going to

throw away my ink it's going to change

the color of my but vice versa if I

start with the yellow and then the

magenta and a little bit of the yellow

goes inside of the screen of the magenta

it won't be a big difference you won't

notice it because the yellow is really

light if that makes any type of sense I

feel like I've been talking for too long

now it's time to get to work and I'm

gonna edit this part or slow it down or

cut it or anything I'm going to show you

the exact moment so you can see the

beauty of screen printing let's get to

work let me lower this down right here

let me get you closer right here I'm

gonna start with the yellow here we go

here we go let me move you here all

right let's get to work

if we start with the yellow

I'm gonna give you two passes

look at that yellow beautiful now we're

going to start with the magenta no

I mean now the second is midgets

look at that

beautiful

then come designer

science

look at it sheesh and the black

the black gives it like the the outline

and I'm only gonna hit it once because

it'll make it too dark if I hit it twice

oh look at it look at that beauty

I mean Focus

what do you think pretty beautiful huh

now we're gonna talk about the quality

of the print but I'm no expert I still

have a lot to learn but I've been using

this technique for the past two years

and I can tell you this that each design

has a different challenge but that's

good because each design always brings

something new for you to learn but this

is something that I found out if you

want to have the best prints you're

gonna have to have the best designs

because the best designs have the best

resolution and that's what's going to

determine how well the print is going to

look here on the Press now I'm going to

give you an example this print that I

just did didn't have the best resolution

it was a big pixelated because it wasn't

an original picture from me it was a

copy and paste so whenever I printed it

it didn't give me the best results now

compare this print to the other one this

design is actually mine so it had the

best resolution can you notice the

difference

and I almost forgot to tell you guys

that this type of technique you could

only use it on light garments you could

use it on dark garments but it's going

to need an underbase and a small little

changes now I'm gonna talk about this

topic in another video because I feel

like I missed so many things but I'm

gonna bring an extra so they could help

us grow they could teach us and they can

explain things a bit better than I can

hopefully this video helped in any way

thank you guys so much for the love and

the support have a beautiful day and God

bless you all

[Music]

foreign

[Music]

and whoever watched the video all the

way to the end drop your favorite soccer

player in the comments because I'm gonna

give that shirt away now let's go play

some soccer

hey