Quick Start Guide

1 Open the Web App

In any modern browser, go to tonesmith.makerfoundryco.com.

Click Sign in at the top right (or Start your 7-day free trial if you haven't subscribed yet). The web app works on Mac, Windows, Linux, and even iPad — anywhere a recent Chrome, Safari, Firefox, or Edge runs.

2 Sign In or Create Your Account

Use the same email address you used at checkout. ToneSmith ties your subscription to that email automatically.

• Email + password: click Need an account? Sign up, fill in name, email, password.
• Google: click Continue with Google — fastest path, no password to remember.

If you signed up with email + password, check your inbox for a verification message titled "Verify your email for ToneSmith". Don't see it? Check spam, search for "ToneSmith," or wait two minutes — large inbox providers occasionally delay.

3 Open the Editor

Once verified, you land directly in the editor. Drop any artwork (PNG, JPG, or WEBP) onto the upload zone — or click it to browse. High-resolution source files give you cleaner halftones, but anything from a 1500×1500 PNG up to a 5000×7000 print master works.

You can also drop a previously-saved .tone project file here to pick up where you left off — see Step 6 below.

4 Set Up & Start ToneSmith

Two panels are unlocked before you start:

• Image Size — confirm dimensions at 300 DPI. Crop or resize directly on the canvas.
• Shirt Color — set the garment color and your knockout (the color in the artwork that should disappear behind the shirt). Use the eyedropper to pick straight from the canvas, or type a hex value. Toggle "Shirt Color Preview" to see how the design will sit on the shirt.

Hit Start ToneSmith at the bottom of the side panel. The remaining panels (Halftone, Levels, Cleanup, Underbase) unlock and the live preview kicks in.

5 Tune Live, Then Apply

Adjust any control and watch the canvas update in real time:

• Halftone — LPI 15–85, angle 0–45°, dot shape (round, ellipse, diamond, square, line).
• Levels — black point, white point, and gamma over a real histogram.
• Cleanup — removes orphan dots in shadows and stray micro-dots.
• Underbase — generate the white-base layer with a 0–5 px choke.

Use the preview tabs above the canvas (Original, Separation, Slider, Mask) to inspect each layer. When the preview looks right, click Apply ToneSmith Separations. The export options unlock.

6 Export — PNG & .tone Project File

Click Export to open the export dialog. Pick what you need:

• Separation PNG — the final color halftone, print-ready at 300 DPI.
• White Underbase PNG — the matching white-ink layer (only if Underbase is enabled).
• Halftone Mask — the binary halftone pattern alone.
• All Three — one click, every layer downloaded.

Below those, a separate Save as .tone Project button. This is unique to ToneSmith — and it's the difference between "redo every setting next time" and "just resume."

To save: click Save as .tone Project in the export dialog, or use the Save Project button in the editor header. You'll get a file like my-design.tone downloaded to your computer — and the project also appears in your Recent projects list on the editor's upload screen.

To resume: three ways, all valid.

• From the same browser → click the project's thumbnail in Recent projects. Loads instantly.
• Switching browsers or devices → drag the downloaded .tone file onto the upload zone.
• Working with a teammate → email or share the .tone file and they drop it on their upload zone.