In this article, you will learn
- which prerequisites are required for this Fixup, and
- how to apply this Fixup.
1. Introduction
The Fixup Derive a Dieline from Spot Color is available in the Workflow. The purpose of this Fixup is to create a Dieline by tracing Spot Color objects. This means that an existing Dieline can be offset or derived from one or more Spot Color objects.
2. General
The Fixup Derive a Dieline from Spot Color can be used to offset an existing Dieline on the one hand and to derive a Dieline from Spot Color objects on the other.
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 or Spot Color in the area Property.
3. Description
Use this Fixup, among other things, to derive a Dieline from a Spot Color object. Additionally, an existing Dieline can be offset, allowing a Dieline that was not originally created as a path to be converted into a path-based Dieline.
Use the Fixup to
- create a Dieline in the Print Item, deriving the shape from an existing Spot Color Separation.
- create a Dieline from a cutting area – the cutting area was created as a colored area in the Print Item.
- create a Dieline around Spot Color objects – texts or areas.
Spot Color Object is Deleted
Please note that the Spot Color object from which the Dieline that should be created is derived is deleted. If a Spot Color area is used for the derivation, this area is deleted when carrying out the Fixup. Only the Dieline remains!
3.1. Prerequisites and Functionality
For the Fixup to perform as intended, the following requirement must be met:
- The file contains Spot Color objects that are colored in the desired Spot Color.
Figure 1: The tab Basic Settings and the tab Advanced in the Fixup dialog Derive a Dieline from Spot Color
The following options are available so that a Dieline can be derived from a Spot Color object:
Basic Settings
- Skip generation of the Dieline if a Dieline already exists [1] – activating this option prevents the creation of a Dieline if a Dieline in the selected Spot Color of the Technical Color option already exists in the file.
- Current Spot Color [2] – in the selection menu, select the Spot Color from which the Dieline should be derived, e.g., edited. All Spot Colors in the print file are available.
- Reduce to Outer Border [3] – activating this option restricts the creation of a Dieline to the outer Outline of the Print Item. Example: For the letter "D", a Dieline would only be created for the outer edge of the letter, but not for the inner white space (punch).
- Technical Color [4] – select the Technical Color in the selection menu with for the creation of the Dieline. All Technical Colors that belong to the type Cut Contour are available.
- Offset [5] – enter the desired offset of the Dieline to the respective Spot Color object here. For Variable Content [8], select the desired placeholder – Database Field or User-defined Field – from which the value for the offset should be retrieved.
- Line Shape [6] – select the line shape for the Dieline from the selection menu.
- Overprint State [7] – select the overprint state for the Dieline here. Choose between Overprint and Knockout.
Advanced
- Layer Name [9] – enter the name of the layer on which the Dieline will be created here. If you do not want to add another layer, remove the name from the input field. For Variable Content [11], 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 [10] – all subsequently inserted Dielines should be created by default according to ISO 19593-1 on the layer Structural in the group Structural of the type Cutting. Find further information on the ISO standard in the description Processing Steps ISO 15931-1.
3.2. Before/After
To experiment with this function, refer to the sample file "Sample_Derive a Dieline from Spot Color.pdf". The Print Item consists of a rose with a background. The background already contains the Dieline "Cut". This Dieline should be dashed, moved inwards by 3 mm, and be renamed to "Dieline".
After applying the Fixup, the file "Sample_Derive a Dieline from Spot Color_End.pdf" is created. The Dieline "Cut" was created as a "Dieline", shifted inwards by 3 mm, and dashed. The values from Figure 1 were used, and the Dieline that was supposed to be replaced was of course deleted.
Figure 2: Left: Original file; Right: Edited file with a newly created Dieline
Article update: Workflow 1.20.1 – 04/2025