Posts Tagged ‘Custom Metal Die’

Getting your Art Ready for a Custom Metal Die

Monday, January 30th, 2012

For nearly 2 decades, we have been making custom books with an organization’s logo or emblem on the cover – no better way to have your book look like it was hand-crafted for your business!   This is a quick guide to help get your art ready to have a metal die created for hot stamping.  Once your file is ready, please email it to service@blueskypapers.com

The file requirements for the die-maker are:

  • high resolution VECTOR file (min 300 dpi)
  • outlined text
  • file saved for Illustrator CS5 (or the option for any version of Illustrator)
    • alternatively, a .pdf file will work, as long as it is saved from a vector program
  • 100% black and white art (no colors/shades of gray) – what is black is what is embossed on your book with a single color or no color (blind embossing)

Die-Requirements

And the result is great!

ivory-3-ring-cust-logo-new

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Need more specifics, here is a guide we found that is pretty self-explanatory.  To see it, click here.

 

Need more assistance?  We may be able to help.

A.  Saving file for CS5

 

B.  CONVERTING a color vector file to black & white:

We can convert some color VECTOR files to black & white at no additional cost.  Here is an example:

– File we received.

File sent over

–  We received the file as a hi res vector file that was not in 100% black and white, so we made a quick correction that is no cost to the customer.  We converted the file to 100% black and white.  Because the file was vector, we were able to “highlight” the design, then select it to be in all black.

Art Conversion

– This is an example of a logo die-ready.  The art is 100% black and white.

Logo - die-ready art

C.   Converting font to outlines

In Illustrator, Select the Text > Right Click and then Select Create Outlines.

 

D.  Non-Vector Art:

When a file is not in vector, we cannot change the color.  See how the design elements cannot be “highlighted” in blue like the previous example – only the full design could be highlighted.  This is because the file has been flattened/saved as a non-editable file and it cannot be edited.

Non-Vector Art

In this case, we simply need a vector, hi res file and we can convert it to 100% black and white for you for free (as long as it it not too complicated).  The file your graphic designer created is most likely what we need.  They should retain a vector version of the art so please ask for that.

 

E.  Challenges with Specific Art Styles:  Some designs pose challenging for embossing and the final result may be less than perfect.

1) Hand-drawn Art:

Samplehanddrawn

Art that is hand-drawn with a lot of detail can be challenging to emboss.  The lines won’t be as sharp and some faint lines may not appear at all.

SOLUTION:  Before we emboss with this kind of art, an understanding that subtleties in the final result is a necessity.  Or, you can have a designer clean up the art, removing some shading or texture.

 

2)  Art with thin lines:

Custom Metal Die Example of Thin Lines

Art with really thin lines, especially amongst art that is thicker elsewhere, will be difficult to see or will appear out of place embossed on a book.  For example, the banner lines and date will be faint to where it can almost not be seen on a book.

SOLUTION:  Make the thinner lines thicker, more closer to the thicknesses of the rest.

 

3)  Art that is too thick with black:

example-black

Art that is primarily black with white detail may not be possible to emboss.  Since the black is where the hot stamping/color will go, the small spaces of white (no color or negative space) may not appear clearly.  Given this art needs more pressure to be filled with the foil, the white areas may bleed.  Moreover, the thickness of the black may not stamp consistently – the foil that creates the color may not stamp consistently throughout the space.

Die-Requirements-Negative

SOLUTION:  It is recommended that a negative of the art is made, so that what you see here in black becomes white (and white becomes black) so that the embossing is high quality.

 

 

4) Art with small text:

Metal Die for Debossing - Custom Books

Art that has small text can be illegible or too small that it bleeds.

SOLUTION:  Make that text bigger. OR, go without that line.  Alternatively, understand and accept this limitation.

 

 

5) Art with small white details:

Custom Metal Die for Stamping Logo on a Book

Art that has small or close details can “bleed.”  If your art has narrow white space or has items close together such as multiple lines, the white/negative space may be blurry or not apparent at all.  Since the stamping can only be made so large, the smaller the logo is, the smaller the white spaces are and the less likely they are to show consistently.  The smaller the logo, it is more likely that the lines will blend together.

SOLUTION:  Make the white spaces larger on your file.  Alternatively, you can accept that the detail will be partially lost or inconsistent, while the overall quality will still be good.

 

NOTE:  By accepting your proof, you are acknowledging and accepting these potential limitations with your stamping.

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