AboutKevin Stohlmeyer Expertise I am an Adobe Certified Instructor. I can answer all your questions about Adobe Illustrator version 8 through the new Adobe CS4 version.
Experience I am an Adobe Certified Instructor for Adobe Illustrator and have been teaching this application to college students for the past 6 years. I now teach this as a corporate instructor.
Organizations Milwaukee Adobe Users Group
National Association of Photoshop Professionals
C2 Graphics Productivity Solutions
Education/Credentials BA - Graphic Design
Adobe Certified Instructor - Illustrator
Question QUESTION: (Mac/AI CS3/PS CS) Hi. I need to create a solid black "mask" in the shape of a 4/c image I want to print. (This is so a solid "flood coat" of white ink will print underneath the shapes on the CMYK layers) Is there any easier/better way in AI or PS then opening image, turning to Bitmap, then filling in all the open areas with black? I appreciate any suggestions.
ANSWER: Hi Marianne,
Im confused as to why you need to fill the areas in with black. Are you really printing 4 color plus a custom white ink on this?
If so, you can just create the shape you need and fill it with a new spot color swatch called "white" (it can be any color). When you go to output make sure it prints separations with Spot Colors and you will also have a "White" plate come out with it.
Thanks
Kevin
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Thanks, Kevin. Yes, I'm printing a 100% solid white 1st, then the CMYK passes (screen printing). The image is Captain America with shades of red, blue, flesh tone, and white printing in CMYK. I need to create a solid shape of this figure so I can use this image to print a solid white underneath all the CMYK on top. I was supplied a .psd of this image with the red, blue, flesh, white and black on separate layers. Should I just isolate the black layer and fill in the open areas to create a solid shape for the white?
Marianne
Answer Ok, this is a little more complicated if the only image you have is bitmap and you are on the right track. You can definitely separate out the White layer and make it a channel that you can separate out when you print. Then you may have to change your image to a multichannel doc in order to separate out the 5th color, otherwise you will have a CMYK print.
