A hand-screenprint feel with digital technology

June 15, 2009 5:02 PM

I am looking to get a screenprint look on my graphic design work. What are some techniques or some filters I could use to enhance my Adobe Design Suite environment?

I want to produce some projects that look something like these by artist Andy Smith. My work just looks too perfect, the edges and colors too precise. Not to mention my typography doesn't have that custom fit. I know that some of that is only achieved by actually doing it by hand but I doubt that Mr. Smith is making these stickers with a silk screen. Specifically I would like to:

1. Get that transparent, yet vibrant, colors that overlay each other from a screenprinting process.

2. Get system fonts to look a little more hand-lettered. I currently am doing this by laying them down on a slightly crooked path and mixing up angles and sizes a bit.

3. Get my "ink" to fade out and splotch like silk screening. Perhaps there is a quality filter? I am not opposed to laborious processes as long as it works.

Being a self-taught graphic designer that never has any contact with other graphic designers, I have no one to bounce ideas off of or help me mess with techniques. This is an issue that has been bugging me for a long time.

posted by Foam Pants to media & arts (2 comments total)

On (3), I just draw over it by hand, change the setting to Multiply or whatever, and half-ass the drawing. It takes a lot more work to do things imperfectly.
posted by Optimus Chyme at 5:31 PM on June 15, 2009

Several tricks come to mind:

1) Find textures that are organic (like here) and use them to "distress" various elements.

2) Find some funky brushes and use them on a mask layer (similar to 1, but with more control).

(here are some tutorials that are along these lines: 1 2)

3) Deliberately misregister separate color layers, set them to multiply so colors blend in spots.

4) Print something out on a laser printer. Crumple it a bunch, scan it back in.

5) Run something through a copier, then copy that copy, and so on. If you don't have access to a free/cheap copier, it might work to print something really tiny on an inkjet, scan it and blow it up.

6) If you have money to blow, buy some Mister Retro filters.

7) Get some fonts that are different from your overused system fonts. If you want to sell a vintage look most of the basic stuff in your font menu won't work. Here are some freebies that might work for you. I personally wouldn't do funky paths or sizes because that would look odd/sloppy. To get a more antiqued look you want to treat the edges and texture of your type as a whole. I also believe you should hand-letter something if you want it to look hand-lettered. You can certainly trace an existing font if you don't feel like totally winging it.

Other must-read tutorials:
That wicked worn look
The worn/weathered/stamp look

One last thing - don't do everything here at once. That'll be nuts. You'll have to play around and see what works.
posted by O9scar at 10:43 PM on June 15, 2009 [2 favorites]