This separation technique automatically separates flat artwork to manually created 1 bit layers but adds dither. It is fantastic for quickly separating tonal designs, and allowing users to make rapid colourways. 

 Instructions

1. Open a design and make the image visible in the Layers Palette.
   
2. Select the Pipette Tool from the Tools Palette.
3. Click on each colour in the design with the Pipette Tool and add a spot layer for each colour you wish to separate by clicking on the Layer buttons in the Layers Palette.
   

4. Make the image visible but not active and the layers you are separating to active.
5. Separate Menu : Automatic. Make sure that Add Dither is ticked and the Error Diffusion Percentage is around 80%. 
6. Open a split view to compare your separation to the original if you wish. 
   

Adding the separation method to a Palette

You can add this separation method to make an automatic separation button simply by dragging the Palette Handler into a new or existing Palette.

The Movie

 

Available now in AVA 5.9

The speed of Automatic separations with Dither have now been improved drastically in AVA 5.9. This means you can complete even the most tonal separations quickly and efficiently. 

Auto with Create + Dither

In AVA 5.9 you can now use Auto with Create and include a dither percentage. 

Comprised of four methods, Auto with Create enables flat designs to be quickly separated to automatically created layers. It works in a similar way to the Automatic separation function, where layers will butt-fit to each other and there is no overprint, but this separation is even more simpler to use as the software creates the layers for you.

Auto with Create works by looking for the most common colours in the design. If the design is dirty or has significant tonal variation, this method will not work successfully. Very flat designs work best. This method is ideal for separating flat, computer generated artwork. More complicated designs would be better separated using either Automatic separation or Automatic Tonal separation.

Instructions

1. Open a  design
2. Go to Separate Menu > Auto with Create. A sheet will open where you can specify the number of layers to add and the separation mode you want to use.
3. Tick Add Dither and choose your dither percentage as above. 
4. Enter the number of colours in the design and choose a separation mode. AVA will scan through the image locating the number of colours you have specified. It will then create these layers and separate the design to them.

What do the different Auto with Create modes do?

• For flat artwork - designed for use with flat artwork, this method efficiently separates files for a quick and easy impact
• Optimal palette - this method will produce better results on slightly tonal designs, such as scanned artwork
• Photo perception - aims to mimic the way the human eye perceives colours, and gives the best approximation it can find
• Photo advanced - designed with detail in mind, this method aims to hold onto as much detail of the original image as possible, pushing the boundaries of flat separations.