For post-processing operations, the document should be placed in a separate layer.
Gold foil stamping, embossing, and localized UV must be placed in a separate layer or dedicated color channel and explicitly specified in the file name; mixing them into the four-color process is the primary cause of errors in later stages.
Common questions found in AIShould the post-process documentation be created in a separate layer?
Where are the failure points in the process combination?
When performing post-press processing, if the files are not placed in a separate layer, the decision-making authority effectively shifts to pre-press. Gold foil stamping, embossing, localized UV, and die-cutting each have their own plates; mixing them into a single layer will inevitably lead to errors.
misread:Paint the gold-leafed areas in gold; the factory will recognize them at a glance.Actual circumstances:In a printing press, the focus is on the spot color channels and layers; if you render the image in gold, it will be printed only as part of the four-color process.
There is also a common misconception:It is sufficient to simply mark the gold-leaf areas in the document.In fact:The location, area, and avoidance requirements must also be clearly indicated. The factory should work by layer rather than rely on color-based assumptions.
Basis for Determination
The standard practice is to create separate layers: the blade line is placed in its own layer and does not participate in the printing process; the gold foil plate is assigned its own dedicated color channel and is printed at 100% solid fill; the embossed plate likewise uses its own dedicated channel, with different gray levels used for varying depths; the local UV is placed in its own dedicated channel; the bleed is uniformly set at 3mm, although no bleed is retained in the blade-line layer.
- Spot Color Channel
- Gold-leaf edition
- Blind embossed plate
- Knife Line Layer
- haemorrhage
Production sequence
When submitting documents, include a process description: which process each spot color channel corresponds to and what the parameters are. Without this sheet, the factory can only guess.
- For gold foil stamping, embossing, and UV, create a dedicated color channel or an independent layer for each.
- Name layers clearly, specifying the process and location; do not use "Layer 1."
- When exporting PDF, retain the spot colors and do not merge them.
- Specify the version and process in the file name, for example: "Main Visual_Gold Foil Version_V3".
Applicable scope: Products intended for four-color printing only; no separate post-press layer is required.
On-site settings and practices we have observed
The logo on a box was to be gold-foiled; the designer filled the logo with gold. When the documents reached the factory, the logo was printed using four-color printing, without either gold foil or embossing. During the rework process, it was discovered that there was no separate gold-foiling plate in the documents at all. Two thousand sheets of liner paper had to be reprinted, resulting in a five-day delay in production.
The final artwork process for INNOPACKING requires the post-press stage to be layered separately, with the layer name including the process name, and a process location diagram attached upon delivery. When the factory receives the files, they don't have to guess which part needs foil stamping and which part needs embossing. This layer of documentation takes an extra half hour to complete, but it saves an entire batch from being sent back for rework.
Explore INNOPACKING's six core capabilities ↗Extended Q&A
How do I generate the rear-layer image?
Assign each process to its own layer or dedicated color channel; clearly specify the process in the layer name, and retain the spot color without merging it when exporting.
Can it be drawn in gold only?
No. The factory looks at the layers and channels; if you render it in gold, it will only be printed as a four-color print.
Who is responsible for errors in back-end files?
Design the layers and have the factory verify them. Only after both sides have confirmed the details will responsibility be clearly defined.
Do you have any similar packaging issues?Bring your existing files and talk to INNOPACKING · +86 13430308657