Now you are going to print a white image on a black T-shirt with GT-381/GT-361. How do you make it? Our unique user-friendly printer driver interface defines RGB=254 (R=254, G=254, B=254) as "print white" and RGB=255 as "paper white". Nothing else is necessary. No RIP software, no additional layer. Fill the area with RGB=254 white, open the print menu, select the ink combination and print. That's GT-3 magic!!
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"Two whites" in image data |
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Generally speaking, when you print a document on white paper with your office printer, with no white ink installed, you understand that a printer prints some ink on any place except white (RGB=255 white) part of the print area. You can express white without printing ink because the paper is white. In this case "paper white" RGB=255 is called transparent, a color with no ink printed.
But with white ink we need to define another white: white to print white. This is another function of white. Now we call it "print white".
Our idea is to keep paper white "RGB=255 white" transparent, because customers can make print data without thinking of an additional operation. Another idea is to define print white as "RGB=254 white" to print white.
So "fill the area with RGB=254 white when you print white" means "to distinguish print white from paper white".
 Some RIP software requests users to make a transparent layer or one named "white" to distinguish from others. This is another way to distinguish paper white and print white.
What do you think if the color is R=255, G=254, B=254 or R=254, G=255, B=254? The answer is that the former color is very pale red and the latter one is very pale green. So you can see lots of white ink with just a little CMY ink on it.
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GT Separate PNG  |
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If the original image is formatted in PNG and it has a transparent layer (white/gray checkered) then you can use this tool. GT-3 Printer Driver cannot manage at one time, because our Printer Driver can receive RGB values from the application software (e.g. Photoshop). But GT-3 series can manage the transparent
information as 0-255 grayscale. Divide one PNG file into RGB-info and Transparent-info PNGs (GT Separate PNG tool), make ARTR file out of Transparent-info PNG and combine with RGB-info PNG, then the Printer Driver will make one ar3 file for you. Click here for further information.
In your instruction manual you can see many steps to do the same thing without GT Separate PNG tool, but with Photoshop and Paint (XP and Vista only).
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Transparent Color |
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If the original image is flat and the background is white or other colors (e.g. black), then you will use this menu. The "transparent color" is a color with no ink printed. Our printer driver allows you to select another transparent color. What does this mean? For example, you can select either with or without black ink on a black T-shirt, can make a natural gradation from one color to the T-shirt color, etc. There would be lots of hints for a better print.
Enjoy white with GT-381/GT-361!
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