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Spot Color to Cut Contour

Manual Spot Color to Cut Tools mapping

  1. Concept

 

The Map Spot Color functionality is used to map a spot color to a cut layer to be used by the cutter as cut information. How this can be done is present in the following pages.

  1. Example

This functionality is available from the Editor and can be used as follows:

  • Open the Editor application.

  • Load the desired file.

    The Spot Color(s) is/are already defined in the document

 

  • Open the Layers panel from the menu Windows > Layers.

  • Open the drop down menu and create a new layer

  • Click on the print icon of the new layer and select a tool if a cutter is already selected in the Quick Production Bar or select the Default tool. Please note that the color of the layer is dependent on the tool. For the Default tool the color is black for the rest the color depends on the tool.
    You should have something like in the following picture.

 

  • Next open the Output Channels palette, if not already opened.

 

  • Select the first spot color to map and click the Map Spot Color button. This will open the Map Spot Color dialog.

  • Select the desired layer to map to, from the Output Channel dropdown and click OK.  This will remove the mapped color from the Output Channels list.

  • Repeat the process with the rest of the layer and color.

  • Next sent the job to Layout and then RIP. Depending on the job the results can be viewed in RIP at the cutter using the Output Inspector.

 

    Spot Color(s) is/are not defined in the document

 

  • Open the Color List panel if not visible from the menu Windows > Color List.
  • Select a Color Book and then drag and drop one of it’s color to the Output Channels palette.
  • Draw the cut path on the print Layer.
  • Also drag & drop the color onto the stroke from the Color palette.
  • Next follow the steps from Spot Color(s) is/are already defined in the document.
 
 

Automatic Spot Colors to Cut Tools mapping

 
  1. Concept

The Map Spot Colors to Cut Tools functionality is used to automate the procedure of mapping a Spot Color to a single or multiple cut tools, which will be used by the cutter as cut information.

The mapping is applied only to paths (with or without Fill) and Spot Color as Stroke.

  1. How the UI works

This functionality is available in Editor in the following window: Extra > Map Spot Colors to Cut Tools. Mappings can be seen in File > Preferences > Contours.

A Spot Color can be mapped to a Default Tool if no Cutter is selected, or to a specific Cut Tool when a Cutter is defined.

Please note that the color of the layer is dependent of the tool. For the Default tool the color is black, for the rest the color depends on the tool.

When a mapping is applied, a new Cut Layer will be created in the Layers window.

The Spot to Cut Tool mapping functionality has a few advantages, including:

  • A Spot Color can be assigned to multiple Cut Tools.

  • A wildcard can be used (*) under Spot Color field. This way, multiple Spot Colors can be mapped at the same time to a cut contour.

  • All defined mappings can be applied at the same time by clicking on the ‘Apply All’ button.

  • All mappings are saved in the Preferences > Contours window. Also, they can be used when opening a new document in Editor.

  1. Example

This functionality can be used as follows:

  • Open the Editor application.
  • Create a shape (E.G. with the Rectangle tool).
  • Select a Spot Color in the Color List window (Window > Color List).
  • Drag and drop the selected Spot Color to the Stroke in Color window.

        

  • Navigate to Extra > Map Spot Colors to Cut Tools.

  • Click on the Plus button.

  • Here you can add the Spot Color defined and assign a Cut Tool for it.

NOTE: In the Spot Color text field, you can add wildcards (E.G. 3630*).

        

  • Clicking OK adds the Spot Color to Cut Tool list.

        

  • Now you can select the mapped Spot Color and click Apply. You can also click Apply All, which will apply the settings to all Spot Colors added in this list.

  • You can view all the defined Spot Colors to Cut Contours in the Preferences > Contours window. Further, you can apply these settings when opening a new job in Editor: Never, Always or Ask.

        

  • When Ask option is selected, a pop-up will appear next time a job is opened via Editor asking you if you want to Map spots for cutting.

Updated on May 19, 2022

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