Exporting files for screen printing

[Shelly]

I am trying to send files to my screen printer who is about to take me out back and throw rocks at me.  I created the file in Affinity Photo - it is set as spot colors.  When I export to PDF, it converts everything to CMYK, even though the box is checked to honour spot colors.  I used Photo to add an eraser brush to give it the textured look.  I cannot do that in Designer - where the spot colors export fine.   I have tried to import my texture brushes into Designer....it says it has done that - cannot find them or I would use a mask in Designer.  

How do I get them a file they can open with their screen printing software.  I do a ton of apparel in my business.  You guys recommended Vector Magic which has been a life saver.

This particular distressed design is causing an issue.

29MP BACK REVISED.afphoto

[NotMyFault]

Not an expert, but I think spot colors work only for pure vector layers.

the bitmap masks lead to rasterizing at export, this removes spot colors and converts to cmyk.

[Shelly]

That makes sense - I have not had this issue with any other files and they were not distressed.  Screen printer is SOOOO MAD!

[thomaso]

To apply a spot colour to a Pixel layer you could use this workaround: 

1. rasterize the related group / layer(s)
2. convert the resulting "Pixel" layer into an "Image" layer (right-click on the item in the layout window)
3. turn the new image in the Resource Manager from "embedded" to "linked"
4. with the image layer selected click "Edit Image" in the Context Toolbar
5. switch the image's colour space into grayscale + save + close it
6. apply a spot fill colour to the image

For instance…