Is it possible to print halftones from a spot color gradient in Illustrator?

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thalo52
Posts: 20
Joined: Wed Jan 13, 2021 3:55 pm

Is it possible to print halftones from a spot color gradient in Illustrator?

Post by thalo52 »

I have an Illustrator file that has color gradients, from color to transparent. The color in the gradient is a spot color, with opacity from 100% to 0%. When I go to print, and in the Illustrator print dialog box, selecting the Output section shows the spot color and process colors selected to print. When I click print and the PrintFab print preview screen opens the spot color page shows a gradient and not halftone.

I do have single black selected, and all other colors except black turned off.

Is it possible to do what I am trying? I know there are some issues with normal printing gradients with spot colors with normal printing pricesses (not halftone screenprinting films).
thalo52
Posts: 20
Joined: Wed Jan 13, 2021 3:55 pm

Re: Is it possible to print halftones from a spot color gradient in Illustrator?

Post by thalo52 »

Also this is the first time I have printed films since I upgraded to Win 11 and is version 1.21.
thalo52
Posts: 20
Joined: Wed Jan 13, 2021 3:55 pm

Re: Is it possible to print halftones from a spot color gradient in Illustrator?

Post by thalo52 »

I have updated to V 1.23b.

I created a test file of 6 squares of a spot color. Each is a different percentage of opacity from 0% to 100%. Test printing there is still no change in achieving halftone.
halftoneTest.png
halftoneTest.png (19.93 KiB) Viewed 4997 times
zedonet
Site Admin
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Joined: Fri Oct 06, 2006 8:02 am

Re: Is it possible to print halftones from a spot color gradient in Illustrator?

Post by zedonet »

Hello, the PrintFab Preview application doesn't show halftones, you have to actually print it to see the halftone.
The settings made in Illustrator should be respected:

illustrator-printfab-spotcolor-halftone-settings.png
illustrator-printfab-spotcolor-halftone-settings.png (64.55 KiB) Viewed 4984 times

Here is how to configure PrintFab:

printfab-pre-halftoned-settings.png
printfab-pre-halftoned-settings.png (23 KiB) Viewed 4984 times
thalo52
Posts: 20
Joined: Wed Jan 13, 2021 3:55 pm

Re: Is it possible to print halftones from a spot color gradient in Illustrator?

Post by thalo52 »

Thanks for the response.

For some reason I thought the preview showed the halftones before printing. I will test to make sure it works as I need.
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