Artwork Guidelines

ClearView Packaging Co. Pre-Press can accept just about any file format created with Macintosh or Windows software. However, in order to provide the most cost-effective service, we prefer all artwork to be submitted in Adobe PDF or Adobe Illustrator format.  ***If files cannot be submitted with the below info send art to us and we will advise if artwork is usable OR a provide a fee to make it usable if not usable***

Flexographic Artwork Guidelines

The following general flexographic artwork specifications are based on the capabilities of digital photopolymer printing plates. Each printing press has unique print characteristics.

Text Minimums

• Positive type: 4 point regular/ 5 point bold
• Reversed-out type: 6 point regular / 7 point bold

Example of Text Minimums 

Trademarks / Register ® / Circle ©

• Minimum positive type / 10 point regular
• Minimum reverse type / 10 point bold

Example of a Register Mark

 

Line Weight Minimums (non-trapping)

• Positive rule .25 point
• Reverse rule .5 point

Line Weight Minimums (trapping)

• Positive rule 1point

Trap Settings:

• Minimum = .015”
• Preferred = .030

Example of trapping

Barcodes

• Color: Darkest color in art file OR black if black in file (Black preferred)
• Print Direction: Parallel to web
• Standard Size: 100% (most printers will not guarantee scanability under 100%)
• Dead Zone: 1/8″ clear area in scan direction. Also need ½” of no print from each side of barcode if possible.

Example of a side-weld bar code 

Example of a bottom seal bar code

Eyespots

• Color: Darkest color in art file
• Position from web: Usually ¹⁄8″ from edge
• Position from cutoff: Usually 1/8” from the cutoff
• Size: Varies, typically .25″ x .75″ with rollstock
• Channel Width: Same as width of eyespot
• Channel Restrictions: Channel to be free and clear of all graphics and text 

Example of an eye-spot channel 

Plate Breaks (plate breaks are required for all flexographic flat plates)  

• Standard Size : 1/8”
• Incorporate a clear space at the top and bottom of package no less than 1/16″ to accommodate  plate break 

General Artwork Guidelines

Inks/Colors

• Limit inks/colors to (1 to 8).
• Clearly identify all spot inks from colors made up of process inks. Art itself has to be the same as the colors listed
• When white ink is required, be sure to use a separate layer labeled “Opaque White” and define a spot ink call “white”. This layer should be used to represent all areas that print white.
• Inks are translucent is nature and need white behind to show a more opaque appearance. 
• Spot color gradients should have a 2% minimum dot (for flexo) and must not have multiple inks defined within the gradient slider. ** Gradients that must contain multiple spot colors should be created as separate overprinting objects.

Example of  white back up vs. no white back up  (The white back up is to the left, the non white back up is on the right)

Layers

• Maintain separate layers for the dieline, substrate, artwork, and white ink. Define unprinted areas.

Linked/Embedded Images

• Supply all images as layered Photoshop files in CMYK color space with any necessary spot color channels.
• Scale all images in Photoshop and place at 100%.
• Set minimum dot to 2% (for flexo—any areas set below 2% may not print cleanly)
• Image resolution should be 2 to 2.5 times greater than the line screen it will be reproduced at. For example, a 300 dpi image can be reproduced up to 150 line screen.

Artwork Submission

Type of Files:
Adobe PDF (High Resolution Vector Format preferred)
Adobe Illustrator, current or earlier versions
No “Password” Protection       

• Include all placed and embedded images and graphics with native files. Art to be correct size or a fee may apply to correct size to fit bag size.
• Include all fonts (even those contained within placed graphics or images) or converted to Outlines (Vector). Please include all PMS colors , print orientation and print locations.
• When submitting artwork in PDF format, be sure to use Adobe’s High Quality Print (or similar) Acrobat Distiller setting to preserve all ink information and image quality.
• Provide a hard-copy proof of artwork when possible, or a PDF with embedded fonts can be used as a substitute.
• Provide a color target for artwork with critical color.
• Artwork can be sent to us via dropbox or transferred electronically via email to sherris@clearviewbag.com
• Larger files can be submitted via FTP. For more details, Contact us at 518-458-7153 or email sherris@clearviewbag.com.