|
|
General:
There are two basic types of graphics software that are commonly used with sublimation printing: Vector and Bitmap programs. Each program has its strengths and weaknesses and therefore you probably need to have one of each. Other types of programs that are often used with sublimation are plug-ins (often called Photoshop plug-ins) that add functionality to bitmap programs; scanning software; color correction programs like PowerDriver; monitor calibration software; clip-art software.
Color management is an essential part of any profitable sublimators operation. Each of the two major types of graphics programs utilizes a different method for achieving consistent color management.
|
 |
Vector Programs:
Vector programs deal with geometric shapes, type and fills. The two most popular vector based programs are CorelDraw and Adobe Illustrator. Because the shapes and type are described in mathmatical terms, any art created with a vector program can be enlarged to any amount without loss of resolution. Vector graphics are great for designing artwork that uses a lot of type or geometric shapes with graduated fills.
While a vector graphics program can import a photograph, manipulating the image, ie., color correction, resizing, improving contrast, etc., is better performed in a bitmap program.
|
Color management for Vector programs usually involves the use of spot color palettes. These palettes are printed out using sublimation inks and then imprinted onto the various types of sublimatable substrates, i.e., T-shirts, mouse pads, ceramics, metal. The spot colors in the palettes are then used to fill objects created in a vector program.
|
 |
Bitmap Programs:
Bitmap programs use pixels (dots) to represent and manipulate photographs and scanned images. They are far better than vector programs for enhancing photographs. There are several very popular bitmap programs including Adobe Photoshop, Elements, Corel PhotoPaint, Aperture and others. Unlike a vector artwork, the ability to effectively enlarge a photograph or bitmap image, is determined by its files size; the larger the file size the larger it can be enlarged.
|
|
Color management for bitmap programs is more complex than it is for vector programs. Monitors need to be calibrated as does the printer. The monitor can be calibrated using a free software that is available to anyone that has loaded an Adobe program called Adobe Gamma. It can be accessed by going to the Start Button > Control Panel>Adobe Gamma. If you don't have Adobe Gamma installed, other manufactures offer color calibration software/hardware: Colorvision, Monaco, and Xrite all offer great monitor calibration kits.
The printer should be set to utilize an ICC profile that was created for sublimation or if you are using SubliJet sublimation inks, you can utilize the ICC profiles that are built into the PowerDriver simply by printing with PowerDriver instead of the regular Epson print drivers. The advantage of using PowerDriver is that you don't need to know about ICC profiles in order to get good color rendition.
|
|
|
|
|
|
