

Good color separation software can also help you reduce the number of screens you need per image. As part of the color separation process, these programs can figure out which colors to layer to create other colors. For multi-ink processes like index or spot color, this can save you even more time, energy, and supplies. Using color separation software will expand your screen printing options. Without it, you’ll either have limited printing abilities or have to spend hours preparing every print.

Best Free Color Separation SoftwareĬolor separation software doesn’t have to be a major expense. However, free color separation is limited in what is available and what it can do.įree color separation software can do a lot for you, especially if you’re printing for personal use rather than commercial. Many paid software options have a free trial available so you can find the one you like best before committing to it.

If you want to use a truly free color separation software, the best choices are below. Ink Seps is a good program when you’re new to screen printing. Their free color separation app is available now, and their browser version is coming soon. The website also offers video tutorials and training articles that will help you learn how to use the tool most effectively.

The biggest advantage of this software is that despite being free, it takes time to help you understand the process. Not only do the tutorials teach you about how to use the app, but they also teach about color theory and screen printing in general. Even if you don’t love the software, the resources are a great place to start. T-Shirt Factory offers a free CMYK Color Separation tool. There are a few caveats with this software. SEPARATION STUDIO 4 MANUAL LICENSEįirst, it is a Photoshop Action, so you’ll need to own an Adobe Photoshop license to use it. You’ll also need to know how to use Adobe Photoshop. Second, it only works for four-color processing. CMYK stands for cyan, magenta, yellow, and black ( black is represented by the K). Four-color processing is a very effective screen printing method, as these four colors can combine into an almost infinite range of colors. However, if you aren’t using four-color processing, the T-Shirt Factory tool will not work for you. So, this is only a good option if you already have Photoshop and only use one four-color processing. GIMP is an open-source program for image editing. Because it’s open-source, the whole thing is free. They have color separation plug-ins that are also free. Open-source also means that there are plenty of third-party applications and plug-ins you can use with the program for free.
