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

Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2025 5:37 pm
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).

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

Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2025 4:12 pm
by thalo52
Also this is the first time I have printed films since I upgraded to Win 11 and is version 1.21.

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

Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2025 5:51 pm
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 4998 times

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

Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2025 11:16 am
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 4985 times

Here is how to configure PrintFab:

printfab-pre-halftoned-settings.png
printfab-pre-halftoned-settings.png (23 KiB) Viewed 4985 times

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

Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2025 5:59 pm
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.