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Resources -
Artwork and Design
Please refer to
this section for educational and tutorial information but please
note that we are a company that specializes in CD replication
manufacturing, duplication and printing, so we might not possess
the technical expertise you require in fields outside our area of
expertise.
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Silkscreen Print Colour Separations
This is a brief
tutorial to help you get started with your design for
Silkscreen Printing your CD or DVD discs.
The information provided here is based an assumption that you have
a reasonable working knowledge of Adobe Illustrator or similar
professional graphic design programs - the principles are
generally the same.
The most important thing about designing for Silkscreen Printing
is “colour separations”. In
other words, you must be able to separate and isolate each
individual colour from every other colour in the design. The
easiest way to do this is to design each colour on its own design
layer.
Looking at the ‘layer menu’ in the sample design shown below
(you can click on the image to view it full-size), you will
see that the design is based on three colours (109C Yellow, 072C
Blue, and White) with each individual colour being isolated on its
own design layer.
Even though there are seven horizontal yellow stripes in the
sample design, if they are all the same colour (in this case they
are all Pantone 109C) they all must go on the same design layer.
If one of the yellow stripes was a different shade than the rest
(for example, if one of the stripes was Pantone 102C) it would
have to go on a design layer of its own, and the design would then
be comprised of four separate colours (109C, 102C, 072C, and
White) instead of three.You will also note that the design layers
are positioned below the template layer - which is exactly how it
should be done.
Remember:
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There are a maximum of six colours that
can be Silkscreen Printed on your disc (including white). At
CDwest.ca our quotations normally include up to five colours in
the price (including white).
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Your design colours must always be
specified as Pantone “Solid Coated” colours. The correct
designation for Solid Coated colours is “C” - for example
“Pantone 109C”.
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Unless you are experienced with Silkscreen
Printing design you should not design using transparencies or
other effects that use less than 100% solid colour; such as drop
shadows, gradients, and half-tones. Even though these effects
look smooth and solid when viewed on your computer monitor, they
actually print as a dot pattern and are very difficult to work
with.
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