Handling «special» packaging stuff

Transcription

1 Handling «special» packaging stuff (alias «Max») Packaging Subcomittee Lieven Plettinck, Esko Toronto Oct 2013

2 Non print contours PDF paths and text objects representing structural data, braille (embossed), legends, positions, Not used for final printing separations Omitted in final output, usually printed on proofs Version 1 spec published June 2011 Redrawn in June 2013 to extend it towards spot white, printed varnish, printed braille, the so called special objects.

3 Non print contours Hierarchy of OCGs. OCGs contain GTS_Metadata dictionary with key-value pairs identifying the group and type of non print contour

4 Non print contours Non print contours are colored with a spot color. Non print contours do not interact with printing separations (no knock-out, no transparency blending, etc ) Printing separations are not affected by switching on or off non print contour OCGs. A viewing or proofing application keeps the non print contours OCGs on to see the PDF in context. An application producing final output switches off OCGs with special contours to produce printing plates (or print digitally). Note: A legacy application can also switch off separations. A finishing application can extract objects from the non print OCGs to drive finishing processes.

5 Non print contours Printing separations are not affected by switching on or off non print contour OCGs.

6 Requested Extensions PDF objects (Text, path, image,...) Used to define final printing separations that are special. Usually omitted on proofs Common practice in packaging, labels, sign and display (technical separations)..not exclusive to packaging?

7 Example Special Purpose Objects Spot White on transparent foils or metallic substrates Printed braille Printed varnish They are colorwise invisible on the final product, but get a false color to make them visible in the PDF.

8 A Generic Mechanism? Processing Steps

9 Processing steps OCG Processing Step OCG contains PDF objects used for a certain processing step (actual data or auxiliary data) OCG Structural Braille Legend Dimensions Positions White Varnish Processing Processing that gives the product its 3D shape (e.g. die cutting, folding, etc.. Adding braille data to the product (printed and non printed) Auxiliary data for approval Auxiliary data for QC Auxiliary data for construction, manufacturing and inspection Application of a backing white on transparent and metallic substrates Application of varnish

10 Processing steps OCG The rule of non-interaction Processing Steps OCGs Objects in a processing step are colored with a spot color Objects in Processing Step OCG do not interact with objects in other OCGs (no knock-out, no blending) Proverbial exception: legend Can be colored using all colorants Is positioned in off-bleed area

11 The rule of non interaction imposes restrictions on the way designs are made. Extra work is needed to make White and Varnish OCGs independent as often elements from the design are used to make holes etc White OCG

12 Processing steps OCG The rule of non-interaction A viewing or proofing application can decide what processing step OCGs to switch on to see the PDF in context. An application producing final print switches off Processing Steps OCGs to produce printing plates (or print digitally). Note: A legacy application can also switch off separations. A finishing application can extract objects from the Processing Steps OCGs to drive finishing processes.

13 Additional separation metadata in OCG Add metadata to separations. Use the CxF mechanism SpotInkcharacterisation element in CustomResources already contains describing the technology to print the special objects Need to add an extra with pre-defined values Printing White Varnish No need to add a value for braille printed with inkjet as this would already InkJet

14 PDF Additional Objects are colored with a spot color with some false color to make it visible on standard PDF view And proof applications [/Separation /Vernis /DeviceCMYK [ ] ] OutputIntent DestOutputProfile MixingHints SpectralData ICC Profile Solidities PrintingOrder CxF/X-4 (ISO ) CxF/X-4 blob defines Used printing process ProcessingStep Actual color and transparency SpotInkName= Vernis PrintProcess= Flexography ProcessingStep= Varnish MeasurementSet

15 Additional Applications can make use of separation metadata to handle rendering intelligently. E.g. Use the false color as defined in spot color alternate colorspace in content soft proof mode Use the spectral data to simulate printing white and varnish etc in hardcopy contract proof