Expert: Tom Rouze - 5/18/2006

Question
I have recently taken a position with a screen printing company. I am using Illustrator CS I have run into many files with gradients. How do I adjust the lines per inch (i think thats what needs to be changed) to obtain a usable screen. Or how do I output a file with a gradient.
So far when I print the film I get a screen but the dots are small close together and the gradient is banding. Right now it is at 80ppi and 45degrees

What is the proceedure for out puting 4 color process from Photoshop 6?

Can you help me with either of these questions

Answer
Hi Brooke,

There are a couple different reasons for banding. Let me ask this first question.  What are you outputting to?  Usually  setting the screen angle and output line screen can be set in the output device PPD (the screen that comes up when you select print).
Banding can be a result of the output device itself.  Another cause is too many steps in the gradient.  The less amount of steps the smoother the gradient.  In many cases Photoshop is a better choice for making gradients.  
As for the 4 color process procedure I'm not sure what you mean.  Are asking about separations?  Or preparing the file for output?

Thank you,

Tom