Q: What is the learning curve for this software ?
A: It takes only a few hours for most users to produce an excellent print.
We don't use channels, curves, masks and you don't have to invert anything.
The manual is complete with screen shots and easy to follow step by step instructions.
No more learning tedious manual manipulations in the dark.
Even if you do manual index separations this program will increase
your productivity and accuracy ten fold and let you in on some secret index color methods used by the top pros.
( In the last 10 years we have had only one customer who was unable to learn SPS = "Rene" from"Ground Zero" in Laurel MD. - she also hold's the rudest screenprinter of the decade award -imagine calling tech support - being rude - hanging up and then phoning back for more.)
Q: Can I use it if I only have a four or six color manual press ?
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A: Of course, we have many happy 4 and 6 color users.
Especially with the introduction of our new 6 color opaque process and our square dot true 4 color process.
Now you can print very colorful complex graphics and Photographs.
We can print 10,000 colors from just 6 inks.
If you print 4 to 6 spot colors now - imagine if you can blend those colors together to produce thousands of extra shades.
Just being able to print horizontal blends makes the price of SPS worth it.
Q: Isn't this the same thing as the stochastic screening that has been around for a while?
A: Although we use a random stochastic pattern for the square dots, this process is completely different, as it uses custom spot colors to render the image and covers 100% 0F THE IMAGE AREA.
This is the first separation system in the world to take advantage of wet on wet printing on textiles.
Q: Can I print my film out on the new large format high resolution ink jet printers like the Epson 3000?
A: All SPS 2000 files are true postscript and will print 1440 dpi film positives
on the new POSJET film positive material using the Epson stylus rip that comes with the Epson 3000.
This means you don't have to buy a separate computer to run the RIP.
Q:Can I print film positives on my desktop small format inkjet printer?
A:Yes you can print on any of the small printers that are supported by the Epson stylus color rip software.
See http://www.posjet for more on inkjet film positives.
Q: In the January 2000 issue of Impressions magazine Geoff Baxter states
" Standard separation techniques produce better results than stochastic technology when printing graphics with fine detail or subtle color variances"
This seems to contradict everything on your web site - what"s up with that?
A: After reviewing Mr. Baxter's column, it is plain to see that he is addressing issues related to FM screening of CMYK and seems blissfully unaware of stochastic custom color screening, which is what has made SPS 2000 so popular. SPS has only been around since 1995 - you can't expect the trade magazines to catch on to trends that fast.
SPS users have no trouble rendering subtle colors such as gray or pink - they just print the color.
The issue of resolution is some what humorous. We at Squaredot are undefeated when it comes to demonstrating the superior resolution of FM separations - anytime anyone wants proof, we are ready to enlighten them.
Q: Is there a demo version?
A: No, there has never been a demo of this system. The reason is that this system is part software and part method. You have to learn some techniques specific to screen printing and some computer secrets that you won't find in the Photoshop manual. We have done test separations for skeptical printers in the past, however the easiest way to try a separation is to download the sample on this site or e-mail us an image to have separated.
If after that, you have any doubts about it, you may want to take into account the fact that we are the only product on the market offering unlimited technical support and a money back guarantee.
We will work with you until you're happy on the software side and the printing side.
Our support is second to none, this is why we have thousands of loyal users throughout the industry.
Q: What is the difference between process color and spot color?
A: This may seem like an amusing question to veteran screen printers, however we get asked this one all the time. Spot color separations are very different, in that the image is printed and separated in the same colors that were originally in the image, this is why the highest quality images are always done in spot color. The downside for smaller press operations is that the physical reality of graphic reproduction in true spot color means 6 to 10 colors for most images and color matching is critical.
Process color is famous for dot gain and color shifts.
Process color separations are created using a set of fixed pre- determined colors that blend together to "simulate" the colors of a given image. The most common method uses 4 transparent inks that blend together by printing on top of each other to create many more colors than just the four inks by themselves. The downside to process color for screen printers is that it is very difficult to control the way these inks mix in the wet on wet printing environment. The standard CMYK separations produced by most popular graphic software will not work. Screen angles must be rotated and the separations must be adjusted for dot gain. Our new opaque process 6 color system makes printing in process much easier for screen printers. The inks are opaque and do not overlap. There are no screen angles to worry about and the separations are automatically adjusted for dot gain.
Q: How does this compare to the "how to" packages or "action palettes" sold by some companies
like "FAST FILMS" which claims " We do squaredots too" "Automatic Index Separations".
A: While we are flattered by the bandwagonesque attempts to duplicate our system, we feel very strongly that our product offers a competitive edge over all other products claiming to do the same thing.
Our package was developed over 9 years by screen printers to be the fastest trouble free method of printing index separations. We have invested a great deal of money in development of our plug-in.
Fast Films claims to do a whole bunch of different types of separations. This may sound great, however any veteran screen printer will tell you that simplicity and repeatability are the keys to success.
The big difference is that with SPS the user creates an image and once completed, it is already separated!
All other plug-ins are merely separation utilities, they don't offer any tools for the design of printed graphics.
Screenprint Separator will create or separate any image for any press over and over again without the complex interface used by Fast Films. Our system is easier to learn. You don't have to invert base plates, pull curves, use channels or masks. Even a novice can use SPS.
Our manual is the single largest document ever produced about the subject and contains a great deal of
information not found in the "how to" kits or Videos.
We promote the idea of getting the computer to do the work, freeing the artist to spend more time on creative activities. Our process is many times faster than Fast Films and uses much smaller files.
SPS uses the same procedure over and over making for very consistent separations proofs and prints.
You don't have to clean up or throw away unnecessary plates.
The Industry Awards and the samples that we take to trade shows speak for themselves.
Because the process eliminates human error and speeds Index separation by 10 times, it more than pays for itself.
After buying these "how to" kits many users will either give up or end up buying Screenprint Separator.
Photoshop actions can do some cool things but they can not do automatic Index separations.
Just because you output squaredots does not mean you have created an index separation.
Q: How do the results of SPS compare to "simulated process" separations made with Spot process, Color Crunch or the newest entry Fast Films.
A: Well of course every manufacturer of Separation software claims to be the "best" and being the first company to market a plug-in for textile printing we find our system compared on a regular basis, however even though all of them are an improvement over using conventional software, SPS will always give you the best set of seps for your particular press. Spot process claims that INDEX separations are posterized and need too many colors. We find this amusing because our users consistently produce superb separations with as few as 6 colors that have no banding or posterization. In the end, instead of being overwhelmed by all the hype, it has been relatively easy to prove which system produces superior separations, and that is of course to take an identical file and separate and print it using all the available systems. We have done this numerous times in independent tests and every time SPS has come out on top. For the last 4 years we have had an open challenge to all the others who claim to have superior systems -the results to be published in the trade magazines, however we are still waiting for a response. The reason we have become number one is simple, we have the most flexible system combined with 25 years of design and production experience. When you print an image in colors that were never in the image in the first place you can not expect a better print than an image printed with colors matched directly from the original.
This is why we can afford to offer a money back guarantee - our users love us!
Q: How long has this been around?
A: Screenprint Separator has been on the market for almost 5 years now and is in use in 68 countries.
SPS has been used to win a prize in every major T-shirt competition over the last four years and is the most widely used spot color software for textiles in the world.
Q: Does it work with Corel Draw?
A: Yes, it works with Corel Draw 7 and 8
* These separations can be used with Corel Draw 8.0
The plates will appear on their own individual layers in Corel
however each plate will have to be converted to spot color manually.
Corel is unable to draw the color bars automatically.
Corel draw is infamous for postscript errors and will often fail to print the files perfectly.
Illustrator will print perfectly every time.
(See the requirements page for upgrades to Illustrator 9)
Q: Do I need to have Illustrator to use this or can I print from Photoshop?
To get the most out of the system, you must use a program that has a state of the art postscript
print engine. You can use Quark, Adobe In Design, Pagemaker or Illustrator.
This is not unusual, most high end Graphic houses never print anything direct from Photoshop.
If you are hell bent on printing from Photoshop we show you how to spend the extra effort to do this,
however few users ever do.
Illustrator is easier to use than any other vector program, and makes it very simple to add type and draw borders and frames in the same spot colors that each plate will be printed in.
Sps Automatically draws the color matching bar and allows you to save the separations in PDF format for cross platform compatibility.
The interface of Illustrator looks just like Photoshop and the layer features work the same way.
If you know Photoshop, then Illustrator is very easy to get a handle on.
Q: Whose products are made with this method?
A: Screenprint Separator tm.
Has been used by print shops around the world to produce superb prints for
Disney, MCA, M&R
Lucas films, Guess Jeans, Microsoft, Starbucks, Amblin Entertainment, Warner Bros.
Miller beer, MGM, Boeing Aerospace, Nasa, Lon Chaney Jr., Peterbuilt Trucks, Quicksilver,
Kiss, Madonna, Intrawest, Westcoast Energy,
Pokemon,Harley Davidson, Levi's, Nintendo, MHM, Sony Signatures, Robert Bateman, Corona beer,
Creation Entertainment, Winterland, Helly-hansen, Adobe Systems, The National Gallery of Canada,
Vancouver Canucks, Labatt's, Alien Skin software,
Brian Adams, Bare wet suits, Russell, and many more.
Follow this link to download pdf brochures.
Copyright Screenprint Separator 2003