In this article, you will learn
- which prerequisites are required for this Fixup, and
- how to apply this Fixup.
1. Introduction
The Fixup Create Ellipse/Rectangle as Technical Shape is available in the Workflow. The purpose of this Fixup is to create an ellipse or rectangle with a Technical Color.
2. General
The Fixup Create Ellipse/Rectangle as Technical Shape can be used to create a to create a rectangular or circular outline with a Technical Color, starting from the center of the Print Item.
You can find this Fixup on the tab Data Preparation of an Article, Order or Production Job by:
- entering the name of the Fixup in the area Filter,
- activating the option Object in the area Category,
- activating the option Create in the area Action,
- activating the option Dieline, Spot Color or Outline in the area Property.
3. Description
Use this Fixup to create a geometric shape at the specified position in the desired size. The outline of the geometric shape is provided with a system-wide defined Technical Color. For example, a circular overprinting Dieline or a rectangle of a certain size can be created from the center point.
3.1. Prerequisites and Functionality
For the Fixup to perform as intended, no special requirements must be met.
Figure 1: The tab Basic Settings and tab Advanced of the dialog Create Ellipse/Rectangle as Technical Shape
Choose from the following options to create a geometric shape:
Basic Settings
- Templates [1] – settings selected in the dialog can be saved as a template and applied to other Articles/Print Items, as well as used within Fixup Chains and in the Operations Apply Fixups and Check Print Item and Apply Fixups.
- Skip generation of the Dieline if a Dieline already exists [2] – by activating this option, no Dieline is created if there is already a Dieline with the same name in the Print Item that was selected in the selection menu of Technical Color [8].
- Geometric Shape [3] – select the geometric shape that should be created in the selection menu. The following options are available:
- Ellipse – an ellipse or circle is created starting from the center of the Print Item.
- Rectangle – a rectangle or square is created starting from the center of the Print Item.
- Variable Content [12] – for Variable Content [12], select the desired placeholder – Database Field or User-defined Field – from which the value for the geometric shape will be taken. The following values must be present in the selected field so that the shape is created:
RectangleCircle
Figure 2: Values in the selected field for the option Geometric Shape
- Width [4] – enter the width for the geometric shape to be created here. For Variable Content [5], select the desired placeholder – Database Field or User-defined Field – from which the value for the width should be retrieved.
- Height [13] – enter the height for the geometric shape to be created here. For Variable Content [14], select the desired placeholder – Database Field or User-defined Field – from which the value for the height should be retrieved.
- Offset X [6] – enter the offset for the offset of the center point on the x-axis here. "+" values move the shape to the right, "-" values to the left. For Variable Content [17], select the desired placeholder – Database Field or User-defined Field – from which the value for the X offset should be retrieved.
- Offset Y [15] – enter the offset for the offset of the center point on the x-axis here. "+" values move the shape to the top, "-" values to the bottom. For Variable Content [16], select the desired placeholder – Database Field or User-defined Field – from which the value for the X offset should be retrieved.
- Technical Color [8] – select the Technical Color that should be used for the outline from the selection menu. System-wide defined Technical Colors are available.
- Line Width [9] – enter the line width of the shape that should created here. For Variable Content [10], select the desired placeholder – Database Field or User-defined Field – from which the value for the line width should be retrieved.
- Line Shape [17] – select the desired line shape from the dropdown menu.
- Overprint State [11] – select the overprint state for the outline that should be created here. Choose between Overprint and Knockout.
Advanced
- Layer Name [18] – enter the name of the layer on which the geometric shape should be created. If you do not want to create your own layer, you have to remove the name from the input field. For Variable Content [20], select the desired placeholder – Database Field or User-defined field – from which the value for the layer name should be retrieved.
- Conformity of Processing Steps according to ISO 19593-1 [19] – a retrospectively inserted rectangle should be created by default according to ISO 19593-1 on the layer Structural in the group Structural of the type Cutting. Further information on the ISO standard can be found in the description Processing Steps ISO 15931-1.
3.2. Before/After
To experiment with this function, you can use the sample file "Sample_Rectangle/Ellipse.pdf". The wingspan of the eagle in the Print Item is about 280 mm.
Using the values shown in Figure 1, the file "Sample_Rectangle/Ellipse_End.pdf" is generated. In this file, a circular Dieline has been created around the eagle, ensuring that the entire wingspan lies within the cut area.
To ensure that the TrimBox lies on the Dieline after applying the Fixup, you still need to apply the Fixup "Set TrimBox to the Dieline".
Figure 3: Left: Initial file; Right: Edited file in which a Dieline was drawn around the Print Item
Article update: Workflow 1.20.0 – 03/2025