RIP software makes the process much more efficient and consistent. With RIP, all you have to do is import your art, play around with the halftone settings, and it’s ready. If you have never created halftones and color separations in Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator, then you should know it’s quite a process (just watch the video above to get an idea). There are two ways to create halftones that will allow you to burn and screen print them properly: use RIP software or do it manually. You don’t always need to use a RIP when printing halftones though. That process, a “RIP,” is accomplished with Raster Image Processing (RIP) software.

But halftones also require that you make a few digital adjustments to your design before taking it to the press. Halftones will help to enhance your design’s detail and depth. However, if you have a detailed design with shading or realistic looking effects, then you will probably have to use halftones to achieve the look you want. A large flat area of one color printed the same way across. In other words, they are created without shading or tonality.

Maybe the first question that comes to your mind is, “What’s a RIP?” Most screen print designs are one or two colors, or a spot color. So why do you need it? What is rip software? Let’s dive in. It’s a separation software that works with any printer and can streamline your design process. You’ve probably heard about ImagePrint R.E.D.

Rip software free for t shirt design