Handling « special » packaging stuff (alias « Max »)

Packaging Subcomittee Lieven Plettinck, Esko Toronto Oct 2013

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”.

Non print contours

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

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.

Non print contours

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

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?

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.

A Generic Mechanism? Processing Steps

Processing steps OCG • Processing Step OCG contains PDF objects used for a certain processing step (actual data or auxiliary data) OCG Processing Structural Processing that gives the product its 3D

shape (e.g. die cutting, folding, etc.. Braille Adding braille data to the product (printed

and non printed) Legend Auxiliary data for approval Dimensions Auxiliary data for QC Positions Auxiliary data for construction,

manufacturing and inspection White Application of a backing white on

transparent and metallic substrates Varnish Application of varnish …

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

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

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.

Additional separation metadata in OCG…

Add metadata to separations.

• Use the CxF mechanism

• SpotInkcharacterisation element in CustomResources already contains attribute @PrintProcess describing the technology to print the special objects

• Need to add an extra attribute @ProcessingStep with pre-defined values

• Printing

• White

• Varnish

• No need to add a value for braille printed with inkjet as this would already have @PrintProcess=“InkJet”

Additional…

OutputIntent

DestOutputProfile ICC Profile

MixingHints Solidities

PrintingOrder SpectralData

CxF/X-4 (ISO 17972-4)

PrintProcess= “Flexography”

ProcessingStep=“Varnish”

SpotInkName=“Vernis”

MeasurementSet

PDF 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 [0.25 0.0 0.0 0.0] ]

CxF/X-4 blob defines • Used printing process • ProcessingStep • Actual color and transparency

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