Design and Colour Separation

Do you want to elevate your pattern designs to the next level with design and colour separation? I can help with gaining full colour control of your designs, giving you the ability to create new colour ways from existing designs, and offer industry standard design files for bespoke wallpaper and fabric.

Design and colour separation will give old designs a new life, enable total colour management while supplying print ready files for leading manufacturers. All decorative print designs benefit from this process. Design and colour separation forms a part of the wallpaper design process, a wallpaper design requires separation to ensure the best possible control over the design.

What is Design Separation?

Design separation is the industry standard for decorative print. Using specialist software separates the colours of a flat design to create a layered, colourable file. Each colour in the design has it’s own layer, allowing for individual colouring to generate limitless colour variations of one design.

A fully separated design additionally provides complete control over the colours being printed by the manufacturer. If one layered colour doesn’t quite singing with the others, separated files enable you to tweak that individual colour without affecting the rest of the design.

Design separation files can be provided as both AVA files and as colourable Photoshop files. Design separation empowers you to recolour your original designs, creating a new look and mood.

A short video showing the design separation process in action using one of my original paintings.

An example showing how separating a flat image allows us to completely re-vamp the colours of an existing design.

Colour Separation for Design

Colour separation for design is used across the decorative print industry. This specialist process is used for wallpaper, fabrics, and flooring. However, designs can re-imagine any flat image using colour separation. Introducing new colours to existing best-selling products can offer a fresh perspective on a classic.

A short video showing the build up of watercolour separations created for Elizabeth Ockford Ltd.

A short video detailing the build up of Elizabeth Ockford’s Bahama design.

Colour Management Through Separation

Effective colour management is crucial for commercial design. Utilising a separated design for production allows for individual colour adjustments without impacting the rest of the design’s colours. Fully separated designs can be colour matched to most printers, ensuring comprehensive colour control regardless of the manufacturer you choose.

Due to the nature of production, and batch-to-batch differences, print surfaces may vary in colour. A separated design allows the manufacturer to anticipate this variability before printing and adjust the colours of the design to closely match the original approved colouring.

Creating Colourings with Separations

Creating colourings with separations offers endless possibilities. You can colour a fully separated design in any mood, theme, or style you desire. From dusty pinks to electric blues, the options are infinite. A separated design can be supplied as either an AVA file, or a colourable Photoshop file allowing you to colour your design however you wish.

Feeling daunted by the idea of creating colourings without limitations? I can help. With extensive industry knowledge, and a keen eye for the current interior trends, I can work with you to create a range of colourings that suit you and your brand. 

Elizabeth Ockford Cleo Wallpaper
Elizabeth Ockford Cleo Wallpaper
Elizabeth Ockford Cleo Wallpaper
Ready to start your project? Get in touch today

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