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tics. However, if it is saved out of a pro-
gram like Photoshop, it will be saved as
a raster image.
The following file types can all be
used to save raster artwork: psd
(Photoshop), jpg (Joint Photographic
Experts Group), tif (Tagged Image File
Format), and png (Portable Network
Graphics). They can all be saved out of
both vector and raster software pro-
grams, but will always be saved as a
raster image regardless of what type of
program it was saved from. For example,
if a black-line vector image is created in
Illustrator and exported as one of these
file formats, it will lose its vector charac-
teristics and become a raster image,
even though it looks like a vector image;
individual shapes within the image can
no longer be selected.
The jpg format has been around for a
long time, used primarily by digital cam-
eras because of its small file size.
However, this particular file is a “lossy”
compression format, meaning that each
time it is opened and closed it loses
some quality. For this reason, a jpg is
not recommended as your final file for-
mat when saving art. Also, a jpg is a
common format used by the web. Too
often people will pull a logo or an image
from a website and think they can just
use it as is. These web images are usually
low-res jpg files with a 72-dpi resolution,
making them useless for printing. Almost
always the artwork would have to be
recreated either in vector or raster for-
mat using the jpg as reference only.
Zip files are compressed versions of
multiple files that can be transported via
email or through downloads. A single
zipped file can be sent to a printer, for
instance, who can then “unzip,” or
decompress, the file and gain access to
all the individual files.
One final format to consider is DCS
2.0 (Desktop Color Separation), an eps-
based format used by screen printers.
When an image is separated into its
individual colors for printing, it can be
saved as a single file with all the sepa-
rations together. This file is then placed
in a vector program so the screen print-
er can print the individual spot color
separations.
When creating artwork, always check
with the printer to see which file format
they accept for a particular decoration
process and for the production equip-
ment they will be using.
Ink Colors
Depending on the decorating process,
it’s important to know how to approach
the aspect of color in a design. Spot
color refers to actual individual colors. If
a screen-printed design is created using
one to three colors, each color is consid-
ered a spot color. While screen-printed
designs can be reproduced using other
color methods, using spot colors is the
most common. Even full-color designs,
once they are separated, can be printed
using specified spot colors.
When it comes to full-color images,
RGB (red, green, blue) and CMYK (cyan,
magenta, yellow and black) are the most
common color modes used. RGB uses a
wider spectrum of color while CMYK,
also known as process color, uses a nar-
rower spectrum. While digital printers
use CMYK inks or CMYK plus additional
ink colors to reproduce full color images,
most require an RGB image to print.
When a design is printed, the printer will
interpret the RGB information and then
print it out using the CMYK inks. It’s
always best to see which mode your
printer requires to produce a design.
Working in RGB mode before saving a
final file in CMYK can be done, but some
colors may be lost in the transition;
therefore, adjustments may be needed
to boost color for the final image.
If a specific color match is needed,
Pantone
®
colors can be specified. While
there are many color systems available,
Pantone is an internationally-recognized
system used by printers and designers.
Be aware that choosing a Pantone color
that is not one of the standard colors
and needs to be mixed may result in an
additional fee. When it comes to full-
color digital printing, it can be a little
more difficult to achieve a specific color
using CMYK inks. However, by at least
giving a Pantone color as a reference
point, the printer will have something to
attempt to match.
CMYK
RGB
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THE ABCs OF GARMENT DECORATING