• Why convert Bitmap logos to vector files?
• Why are graphics files so much larger than text files?
• Which usually has the smaller file size: a vector-based EPS or TIFF line-art graphic?
• When rotating a large (8"x10") scanned image, should the rotation take place in Quark or Photoshop? Why?
• When a graphic is scanned, which file format is it captured in?
• What's the difference between lossy and lossless compression schemes?
• What is FTP?
• What is a "parent" or "native" file? Why and when is it important for your customers to include them with a job?
• What can I do to prevent delays from having missing elements in a project, such as fonts, graphics or colors of ink?
• What are the commonly used graphics file formats?
• What does it mean to preflight a disk or file?
• What does it mean to "nest" a file?
• What does it mean to import a graphic?
• How should I respond if a customer asks which file format to use for line art?
• What's the difference between a 1 bit, 8 bit, and 24 bit graphic file?
• Are vector-based image, object-oriented art, and an outlined graphic all the same thing?
• What does it mean to compress a file?
  

Digital Imaging Fonts

• What can I do to prevent delays from having missing elements in a project, such as fonts, graphics or colors of ink?
• Why won't my "stylized" fonts image properly from my application?
• Should I ask my customers to provide me with the fonts used in their job?

• Why don't my graphics "fit" the layout?

• Why is calibration of desktop equipment an issue?
• What is Gamma and how do I adjust it?
• If your customers point to their monitor and ask if your company can print these PMS colors, what will you say?
• My client complains that the color proof does not appear as it did on their monitor?

• Why am I having problems with registration?

• Why are my hairline rules so fine that they nearly disappear?
• What would you tell a customer who provided you with a 200dpi TIFF line art graphic?

• When rotating a large (8"x10") scanned image, should the rotation take place in Quark or Photoshop? Why?
• When a graphic is scanned, which file format is it captured in?
• What size and type of artwork can scanners accept?
• What does it mean to scale an image?
• What are CCD's and PMT's in Scanners?
• What does it mean to "nest" a file?
• Does a scanner capture color images in CMYK or RGB color models?
• What do I tell the customer who wants to trap a complicated color file?
  

• What types of on-line / near-line storage are available?
• What types of off-line storage are available?
• What are CCD's and PMT's in Scanners?

• What's the difference between lossy and lossless compression schemes?
• What is TCP/IP?
• What is Gamma and how do I adjust it?
• What is FTP?
• How many kilobytes equal a megabyte?

• Why is my direct emulsion stencil breaking down on press?
• Why is my direct emulsion stencil washing completely away during washout?
• Why is my capillary stencil washing completely away during washout?
• Why am I having difficulty washing out my capillary stencil?
• Why am I having difficulty washing out my indirect stencil?
• What is the highest drying temperature for polyethylene, polypropylene, and PVC containers?
• What is the best way to dry screens?
• What is the best position to dry screens coated with direct emulsion?
• How do I test for cure on water base puff ink?
• How do I know when my screens are dry?

• How do I determine the proper distance for my exposure lamp?
• How do I determine correct exposure?
• How can I use gray scales in my screen exposure?
• How can I make my UV exposure lamps last longer?
• Does post-exposure of emulsions make them last longer?
• Do humidity and moisture affect exposure of diazo emulsion?
• Can your exposure equipment limit the screen quality?
• Can I still use our old carbon arc exposure system?
• Are fluorescent lights good for exposing screens?
• What exposure unit is best for four-color process?
• What are the symptoms of underexposure of a stencil?
• What are the advantages/disadvantages of capillary film?
• What are pinholes and what causes them?
• Under what light may I safely handle unexposed screens?
• How often should I use an exposure calculator?
• How do I prevent sawtoothing in my print?
• How do I judge emulsions that change color?
• How do I get the most value from my new UV exposure lamps?
• What is "sawtoothing"?
• What is the correct exposure time?
• What is the best way to dry screens?
• What is "scumming" and what causes it?
• What is optimum exposure?
• What is meant by a "point light" source?
• What is causing pinholes in my capillary stencil?
• What is an exposure calculator?
• What is a light integrator?
• What happens during exposure?
• Why should I replace my UV exposure lamps before they burn out?
• Why must sensitizer be added to diazo emulsion?
• Why is my direct emulsion stencil breaking down on press?
• Why is my direct emulsion stencil washing completely away during washout?
• Why is my capillary stencil washing completely away during washout?
• Why do I have scumming and haze on my capillary stencil?
• Why are my exposures taking longer than before?
• Why am I having difficulty washing out my capillary stencil?
• Why am I having difficulty washing out my indirect stencil?
• What's the rope for on my exposure frame?
• What types of exposure lamps are available?
• What should an exposure chart look like?
• What screen making variables are important?

• What are the advantages and disadvantages of aluminum frames?
• What are rigid frames?
• Is it possible to do high quality printing with wood frames?
• How is the correct frame size determined for any given image size?
• How is the correct frame profile determined?
• How is an aluminum frame prepared before stretching mesh on it?
• Do I need retensionable frames for all of my work?
• Why do my wood frames warp after reclaiming?
• What types of frames are used in screen printing?
• What types of frame adhesives are available?
• What screen making variables are important?
• What materials are screen frames available in?
• What is a frame profile?
• What can be done about frame warpage?
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of wooden frames?

• How do I determine the proper cure rate for my UV ink?
• How do I decide what equipment to buy?
• How can I prevent polyester substrate shrinkage with UV inks during the curing process?
• Why does my mixed metallic ink fail to adhere well, and appear chalky after printing?
• What kinds of inks are available in screen printing?
• What is the difference between chemical and mechanical bonding of inks to a plastic surface?
• What is the best way to mix metallic powders in inks?
• What is cermet ink?
• What are SWOP standards?
• What are spot colors?
• How do I print special colors in a four-color process design?
• How can I use ink deposit estimates?
• How can I estimate the ink deposit from a mesh?

• Can I modify my textile process inks?
• Why do some printers put a clear coat over their textile four-color process prints?
• Why can't I just print textile process inks on a white plate on darks?
• When should I do substrate/ink testing when using plastisol ink?
• What mesh do I use for the various types of plastisol ink?
• What is plastisol ink?
• What is a discharge underbase?
• What ink is best for printing nylon?
• What are some puff printing basics?
• Is discharge textile ink safe to use?
• How do I use concentrated process plastisols for textile process printing?
• How do I print a white highlight in my textile four-color process printing?
• How are textile process plastisols different?
• Can I print textile four-color process with waterbase ink?

• What does a nitrogen environment do for UV cure?

• When should I do substrate/ink testing while using textile waterbased ink?
• What mesh do I use for textile waterbase ink?
• How do I prepare a water resistant stencil properly?
• Can I print textile four-color process with waterbase ink?

• How do I decide what equipment to buy?

• How do I measure Rz value?
• How do I determine the printable area of a container?
• How do I correctly measure stencil thickness with electronic thickness gauges?
• How do I correctly measure fabric thickness with electronic thickness gauges?
• How do I calculate the amount of ink I need for a job?
• How to Get Ink Unit Weight?
• How can I lower the Rz value on my stencil?
• How big is a micron? [MT]
• Can I use electronic thickness gauges to measure fabric thickness and stencil thickness on stainless steel?
• Can I re-calibrate my tension meter myself?
• What is a T-Ref?
• What does Newtons/cm mean?
• What do I use to measure screen tension?
• What can I use a transmission densitometer for?
• What are the recommended stencil thicknesses for different graphic ink systems and images?
• What are Electronic Thickness Gauges?
• Is there a recommended procedure for measuring screen tension?
• How reliable are Tension meters?
• How do I use electronic thickness gauges to measure dry ink deposit?
• Why should I measure the Rz of my stencil?
• Why should I measure fabric thickness?
• When should I measure mesh count?
• What Rz value should my stencil have?
• What relationship do Rz value and stencil thickness have?
• What is the difference between a magnetic induction gauge and an eddy current electronic thickness gauge?
• What is the basic measurement procedure to follow with electronic thickness gauges?
• What is the basic measurement procedure to follow with electronic thickness gauges?
• What is Rz value?
• What is a transmission densitometer?

• Why is it so much harder to print four-color process on fabric?
• What is conventional halftone screening?
• What is a halftone line count?
• What is a Duotone?
• What do "lpi", "dpi", and "ppi" stand for?
• What are the types of dot gain?
• In a Halftone Screen, what is a three-quarter tone?
• How do I prevent Moiré?
• Does angling of the artwork help to prevent sawtooth?

• What is meant by transmitted or additive color?
• What is meant by absorptive or subtractive color?
• What are hue error and grayness?

• What is a transmission densitometer?
• What is a T-Ref?
• What is a reflection densitometer?
• What is a quartertone?
• What is a midtone?
• What is a density?
• What important measurement and maintenance points should I observe with a densitometer?
• What can I use a transmission densitometer for?
• What can I use a reflection densitometer for?
• What are the different features found on a densitometer?
• In Process Printing, what density values can I use as a starting point?
• How do I care for my tension meter?
• How closely should a density value match the target value?
• Can I use a densitometer to measure color?
• Can I use a densitometer on garments?
• Are there a set of standard density values for process inks?

• What are the halftone dot diameters for various line counts and tonal values?
• What are the advantages/disadvantages of stochastic screening?
• In a Halftone Screen, what is a three-quarter tone?
• How do I select a mesh to effectively print a particular halftone linecount?
• How do I minimize dot gain?
• How do I develop a tonal compression range for my shop?
• Does angling of the artwork help to prevent sawtooth?
• Can T-shirt and sweats be run together with the same set of separations?
• Can I use my local separator for my textile four-color process separations?
• What is a halftone line count?
• What is a gray balance?
• What is a Duotone?
• What does my separator need to know?
• What do "lpi", "dpi", and "ppi" stand for?
• What density should my positives be for proper stencil exposure?
• What art can be used for four-color process separations?
• What are the types of dot gain?
• Why do I get moiré sometimes and with some colors but not always?
• Why am I having difficulty washing out my capillary stencil?
• Why am I having difficulty washing out my indirect stencil?
• What is tonal compression?
• What is the dot size equivalent in lines per inch for stochastic screening?
• What is stochastic or FM screening?
• What is "Pseudo-process" printing?
• What is moiré?
• What is meant by film orientation?
• What is GCR and UCR?
• What is conventional halftone screening?
• What is an index separation?
• What is a quartertone?
• What is a midtone?

• Why is it so much harder to print four-color process on fabric?
• Why do I get moiré sometimes and with some colors but not always?
• Which line count or frequency is best for four-color process on textiles?
• Which garments are best for four-color process printing?
• What variables influence dot gain?
• What screens do I use for automatic 4-color process textile printing?
• What order should I print the colors in a four-color process job?
• What off-contact setting is best for textile four-color process printing?
• What mesh do I use for manual 4-color process textile printing?
• What line counts should I use with what viewing distance?
• What is the best stencil system for printing halftones?
• What is the best stencil system for printing halftones and four-color process?
• What is stochastic or FM screening?
• What is "Pseudo-process" printing?
• What is halftone dot gain and loss?
• What is GCR and UCR?
• What is four-color process?
• What is an index separation?
• What is a Rosette pattern?
• What is a "highlight" white in textile four-color process printing?
• What is a halftone?
• What is a gray balance?
• What is a color Gamut?
• What halftone screen angles should I use for four-color process screen printing?
• What halftone dot shape is best for screen printing?
• What colors are difficult to reproduce in four-color process?
• What are the types of dot gain?
• What are the important press features for good process printing?
• What are progressive prints?
• What are important characteristics when evaluating film quality?
• What are hue error and grayness?
• What are highlight dots?
• How do I print special colors in a four-color process design?
• How do I go about documenting my four-color process jobs?
• Do I need retensionable frames for textile four-color process printing?
• Do I need a flash for textile four-color process printing?
• Can I print textile four-color process prints with a manual press?
• Can I print four-color process on dark shirts?

• Why should I sharpen my squeegees?
• Why should I sharpen a new squeegee?
• Why is my direct emulsion stencil breaking down on press?
• Why is my capillary stencil breaking down on press?
• Why is it important to control my floodbar pressure?
• Why does my stencil break down more in the summer than in the winter?
• Why can't I reproduce the same print quality on a reorder of a four color process job?
• Why can't I just print textile process inks on a white plate on darks?
• When would I use nylon printing mesh?
• What variables influence dot gain?
• What tension should I use to print four-color process?
• What screens do I use for automatic 4-color process textile printing?
• What mesh do I use for textile waterbase ink?
• What is tonal compression?
• What is the free mesh area of a screen?
• What is "Pseudo-process" printing?
• What is important when choosing a squeegee for my application?
• What is important to know about off-contact on textiles?
• What is a discharge underbase?
• What exposure unit is best for four-color process?
• What does off-contact distance affect during printing?
• What dictates the off-contact distance needed?
• What can I do to get rid of dust in my print?
• What are the types of dot gain?
• What are the important press features for good process printing?
• What are some warning signs that my press needs to be fine-tuned?
• What are some puff printing basics?
• My print is too red, what do I need to adjust?
• My print is too blue, what do I need to adjust?
• Is there an advantage to using plain weave mesh for four-color process printing?
• Is it possible to do high quality printing with wood frames?
• Is it better to print in the warp or weft direction?
• How large of an image can I put on my screen?
• How does off-contact affect print quality?
• How does off-contact affect registration?
• How do you screen print removable tattoos?
• How do I set-up my floodbar pressure properly?
• How do I select a stencil?
• How do I print baseball (front button) shirts?
• How do I print a white highlight in my textile four-color process printing?
• How do I minimize dot gain?
• How do I measure off-contact distance?
• How do I fine tune my press?
• How do I develop a tonal compression range for my shop?
• How do I determine the printable area of a container?
• How do I decide what equipment to buy?
• How do I check my press bed/platen for flatness?
• How do I care for my squeegees?
• How do I align my multi-head textile printing press?
• How do I adjust off-contact distance?
• How can I control off-contact?
• Do I need retensionable frames for all of my work?
• Can I print textile four-color process with waterbase ink?

• How do I interpret data from electronic thickness gauges?
• How do I go about documenting my four-color process jobs?
• How can I reduce my mesh inventory?

• Why do my wood frames warp after reclaiming?
• Why am I having difficulty reclaiming my direct emulsion stencil?
• What screen making variables are important?
• What are the advantages in solvent recovery?
• How do I reclaim a screen?
• How will I save money using solvent recovery?

• How do I prevent Moiré?
• How do I prepare my mesh for capillary film?
• How do I mechanically abrade or roughen my mesh?
• How do I degrease metal fabric (wire cloth)?
• How do I conserve screen mesh?
• How can I reduce my mesh inventory?
• Does Rapid Tensioning increase mesh opening distortion?
• Can I print waterproofed nylon?
• Are mesh count specifications accurate?
• What is meant by screen distortion?
• What is LE mesh?
• What is corner softening?
• What happens to mesh dimensions during tensioning?
• Is there an advantage to using plain weave mesh for four-color process printing?
• How reliable are Tension meters?
• How is mesh specified?
• How do I soften the corners before stretching a screen?
• How do I select a mesh to effectively print a particular halftone linecount?
• How do I read the information printed on the edge of my fabric bolt?
• What screen making variables are important?
• What mesh do I use for textile waterbase ink?
• What kind of abrading or roughening products are available?
• What is the "Specific Cross Section" of a mesh?
• What is the mesh stall point?
• What is Organdy?
• What is mesh tensile strength?
• What is meant by screen deflection?
• Why is my screen breaking after it is stretched?
• Why does my stapled fabric loosen after use?
• Why does my capillary stencil have poor definition / sawtoothing?
• Can I output textile four-color process positives on my laser printer?
• Why do I need to degrease my mesh?
• When should stainless steel mesh be used?
• When should I measure mesh count?
• What types of mesh are available?
• What screens do I use for automatic 4-color process textile printing?
• Why should I use dyed fabric for making my screens?
• Why is thread diameter important?
• Why should I measure mesh count?

• Why should I sharpen my squeegees?
• Why should I sharpen a new squeegee?
• Why is squeegee pressure important?
• Which squeegees should I use for my textile four-color process printing?
• What is important when choosing a squeegee for my application?
• What are dual durometer squeegees?
• How do I care for my squeegees?

• How can I lower the Rz value on my stencil?
• How can I avoid drips and runs in my emulsion coating on very low mesh counts?
• Does the coating trough (scoop coater) determine direct emulsion stencil thickness?
• Does post-exposure of emulsions make them last longer?
• Does high humidity affect stencils?
• Does angling of the artwork help to prevent sawtooth?
• Can you give me any tips on mixing direct emulsion?
• Can direct emulsion be too thin for proper coating?
• Are there any substitutes for the developer used to process indirect stencils?
• How do I prevent sawtoothing in my print?
• How do I prepare my mesh for direct emulsion?
• How do I prepare my mesh for indirect film?
• How do I prepare my mesh for capillary film?
• How do I prepare a water resistant stencil properly?
• How do I know when my screens are dry?
• How do I judge emulsions that change color?
• How do I coat direct emulsion on a screen?
• How can I make a test screen to determine what coating technique is best for my application?
• What are Electronic Thickness Gauges?
• What are dual cure emulsions?
• What are diazo emulsions?
• What are bichromates?
• Under what light may I safely handle unexposed screens?
• How important is it to make sure my stencil is dry?
• How do the various stencil systems compare regarding longevity?
• How do I select a stencil?
• How do I select a direct emulsion?
• What causes the foam that appears when developing a direct emulsion stencil?
• What are the recommended stencil thicknesses for different graphic ink systems and images?
• What are the pros/cons of diazo, dual-cure, and one-part photopolymer emulsions?
• What are the different methods for making a stencil?
• What are the benefits of automatic coating machines?
• What are the advantages/disadvantages of indirect stencils?
• What are the advantages/disadvantages of direct/indirect stencils?
• What are some general stencil selection guidelines?
• What are some basic stencil troubleshooting tips?
• What are pinholes and what causes them?
• What are knife-cut stencils?
• What is Peeling?</