Resolution of your files to print films.

[NeroInferno]

Hello,
do you follow a fixed rule to give a X dpi of resolution to a file to obtain a good positive or what?

I've heard printing more than 720dpi is a lost of money, because smaller dots can be carried onto the emulsions.

Thanks,
Fabio

[lil_tuffy]

I have never worked above 300dpi for anything. 720 is more than double what you need for anything screen-printed. Maybe if you're printing circuit boards or something.

[lil_tuffy]

I have never worked above 300dpi for anything. 720 is more than double what you need for anything screen-printed. Maybe if you're printing circuit boards or something.

[slakow]

If you are talking abaut positives,films
than you should use LPI (lines per inche)
That means the size of your dots.
Max. for screenprinting is abaut 80 LPI

[thejuice]

Yes I would say LPI as well. I would say that 85-100 low I would go more of a medium 133-150 LPI. Then High would be 150-300 LPI. Never really heard of anyone doing 720?

[the hipoisie]

If I'm printing films from bitmap files, I do the bitmaps at 600dpi.
I think without anti-aliasing you can see some jagginess at 300dpi... maybe it would go away when screened, but I'd rather not worry about it.

[ferg2001]

anti-aliasing doesnt really apply to screenprinting

[andydiesel]

anti-aliasing doesnt really apply to screenprinting

so true.

Anti aliasing on any tool in psd will make what you are printing look way crappier and harder to separate. I run into this every day with sticker designs people turn in.

NEVER USE ANTI ALIAS WHEN SETTING UP FOR A SCREEN PRINTED DESIGN.

I CAN NEVER SAY IT ENOUGH.

[the hipoisie]

ha, yeah, that was my point. Bitmap = only black and white. 300dpi bitmaps don't look great to me. So I use 600dpi.

[James flames]

so true.

Anti aliasing on any tool in psd will make what you are printing look way crappier and harder to separate. I run into this every day with sticker designs people turn in.

NEVER USE ANTI ALIAS WHEN SETTING UP FOR A SCREEN PRINTED DESIGN.

I CAN NEVER SAY IT ENOUGH.

that's good to know. i'm assuming you say that beacuse it's harder to make two color align if they're anti-aliased, cuz of that 'fuz' it creates around the edges. i always default to anti-aliasing cuz it looks better on the screen, but if you say it's better for screen printing i believe you. i actually just sent you some files for stickers a week or so ago. i'm positive those were anti-alias'd. wish i had known.

so i have a question - if you need an image or illustration to work for both screenprinting AND to look good on a computer screen (for the internets and stuff), how do you do it? do you scan them twice, once anti-alias'd, once without? or do you scan it without A-A, set it up for screen printing, then somehow apply it later for the web-image?