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Art & separations · 5 of 6 · 1 min read

Film positives and RIP software

A film positive has one job: block UV light. What matters is UV blocking, not how dark the film looks. Solutions for Screen Printers calls waterproof inkjet film “critical,” and suggests that dye-ink film should look roughly like a 4.0 Dmax when held up to light.

A RIP controls ink density, builds halftones (LPI, angle, dot shape) and separates spot colors. It is often paired with an all-black ink setup in a desktop inkjet printer. AccuRIP and Fiery FilmMaker are two common examples.

Sources for this guide (13)
  1. ScreenPrinting.com, CMYK vs. spot vs. simulated process
  2. Scott Fresener, T-Biz Network, Index color separations
  3. Atlas Screen Supply, Mesh count chart
  4. PrintFilmReady, Mesh count to LPI chart
  5. ScreenPrinting.com, AccuRIP Emerald RIP software guide
  6. Solutions for Screen Printers, Halftone angles demystified
  7. BQ e-learning, Four-color process (CMYK) technical manual
  8. Screen Printing Magazine, Choosing a halftone dot shape
  9. Layersmith, White underbase for screen printing
  10. Scott Fresener, T-Biz Network, Choking, trapping and cleaning up type
  11. Impressions, The challenges of screen printing on caps
  12. Solutions for Screen Printers, Ink and film density
  13. Screen Printing Magazine, Stencilmaking in the age of CTS

Where sources disagree, the page says so.