It’s May and the Eugene community is already rumbling with anticipation of summer’s Oregon Country Fair. One of the most anticipated events of the season is the grand reveal of the new OCF Commemorative Poster design. This year’s artist is Jill Carter. Jill’s work “celebrates collaboration, imagination, and the quiet wonder hidden in plain sight—inviting viewers to pause, smile, and glimpse new whimsical worlds.”
Threadbare has the honor of printing the OCF poster design apparel, and we knew instantly that simulated process printing was going to be the perfect route to give this incredibly detailed, vibrant, and almost photo-realistic print its due respect.
But what exactly is simulated process printing? And how do you know if it’s the right choice for your project? Instead of using just a few spot colors, simulated process combines multiple carefully layered inks to create smooth gradients, shadows, highlights, texture, and depth.
What Makes It Different From Standard Screen Printing?
Traditional screen printing works best when artwork uses a limited number of solid colors, i.e. a one-color logo, simple text graphics, and minimal illustrations
Simulated process printing is different because it can reproduce fine details including blended colors, and more photographic effects without the print feeling heavy or overly thick. That’s why it’s become the go-to method for more detailed artwork, allowing the designs to really stand out. It also works beautifully on dark garments, preserving bright highlights in the art.
Despite the amount of detail, simulated process prints can still feel surprisingly soft. That’s because the inks are strategically layered instead of covering the entire garment with blocks of color.
Customers love the combination of high detail, vibrant color, and comfortable feel. Mountain Rose Herbs came to us with these beautiful and detailed artworks, and it was obvious we would be using the simulated process to make them shine, as well.
Not every project needs simulated process printing — send us a sample of your artwork and our expert printmakers will let you know if simulated process might be the right printing method for your next project. Because at the end of the day, the right printing method can elevate a good design to incredible.