Custom Pouch

Printing a SPOT White layer on a metallic film

Incorporating a white ink layer when printing on metallic or clear substrates ensures that the printed result matches the design intent, improves color accuracy and vibrancy, enhances visibility and legibility, and enables the application of special effects.

1. Opacity: Metallic and clear substrates are transparent or semi-transparent, allowing light to pass through. Without a white ink layer underneath, the printed colors may appear dull or transparent due to the substrate showing through. Applying a white ink layer provides opacity and ensures that the colors appear vibrant and true to the design.

2. Color Accuracy: Certain colors, especially lighter shades, may not appear accurately on metallic or clear substrates without a white ink layer. The white layer acts as a base, allowing the colors to appear as intended by blocking the substrate's color from affecting the printed colors.

3. Contrast: White ink enhances the contrast of the printed design, making it more visible and legible, particularly on metallic substrates where the reflective surface can cause glare or reduce visibility.

4. Special Effects: White ink can be used creatively to create unique effects on metallic or clear substrates, such as creating highlights, adding texture, or simulating spot varnishes.

Setting up a SPOT white layer in Adobe Illustrator

To set up a SPOT White layer in Adobe Illustrator, follow these steps:

1. Open your document in Adobe Illustrator.
2. Select the object or area you want to apply the SPOT White layer to.
3. Go to the "Swatches" panel (Window > Swatches) and click on the Swatch Options menu icon (located at the top right corner of the panel).
4. Choose "New Swatch" from the dropdown menu.
5. In the New Swatch dialog box, select "Spot" as the Color Type.
6. Choose "White" as the color.
7. Optionally, you can give your new swatch a name for easy reference.
8. Click "OK" to create the SPOT White swatch.
9. Apply the SPOT White swatch to your selected object or area by clicking on it in the Swatches panel.

Ensure to communicate with your print provider about the use of SPOT White and its specifications for your project.

Turning your fonts to 'Outline' in Adobe Illustrator

To avoid errors in processing, please ensure all your fonts have been turned to outline before you upload your PDF in to the platform.

To turn fonts into outlines in Adobe Illustrator, follow these steps:

1. Select the text or texts you want to convert to outlines.
2. Go to the "Type" menu at the top.
3. Choose "Create Outlines" from the dropdown menu. Alternatively, you can use the shortcut Ctrl + Shift + O (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + O (Mac).
4. After selecting "Create Outlines," the text will now be converted into vector shapes, effectively turning the fonts into outlines.

Keep in mind that once you convert text to outlines, you can no longer edit it as text. Therefore, it's a good practice to make a copy of the text before converting it to outlines if you might need to edit it later.

Make sure your artwork has bleed applied

Ensuring your artwork has bleed is crucial for print projects. Bleed refers to the area beyond the edge of the final trimmed document where artwork extends. This ensures that when the document is trimmed, there are no white edges, and the design goes all the way to the edge of the page. Typically, a bleed area of 3mm (0.125 inches) is recommended.

To set up bleed in Adobe Illustrator:

1. Open your document in Adobe Illustrator.
2. Go to "File" > "Document Setup."
3. In the Document Setup dialog box, enter your desired bleed value (e.g., 3mm) in the "Bleed" input boxes.
4. Click "OK" to apply the bleed settings to your document.

When creating your artwork, extend any background colors, images, or design elements that touch the edge of the document beyond the bleed area. This ensures that there are no white borders when the document is trimmed.

Remember to communicate with your print provider about their specific bleed requirements and guidelines for your project.