Print files

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Printing creates a surface appearance, which does not result from processing the surface, but from the application of or filling in with (hardening) paint. For this reason printing is largely exempt from the constraints accompanying metal processing, and can make use of the flexibility of digital printing.

WYSIWYG

"What You See Is What You Get" generally refers to the ability of an editor to be able to display a text during the design phase on the screen as it should later be printed e.g. by a printer.

In the same way, an image that is printed on a front panel should appear to be exactly the same color as its representation on the screen during the design phase. In order to come as close as possible to this goal, the following guidelines should be observed:

1.The monitor used for the design should be operated in standard mode (in particular without excessive brightness or exaggerated contrast).
2.We process images without embedded color profiles on the basis of the ECI-RGB profile.
3.For critical applications, you can order a "proof", which is a print on paper with broadly the same colors as the subsequent UV print.
Integration of print files into the FPD file

You can place any number of graphic files on a front panel, which are subsequently embedded in the FPD file. The FPD file contains all the information required for the production process including printing information. You can, for example, place logos, texts and graphics directly in FPD independently of each other.

Alternatively, there is also a procedure in which you create a template, which corresponds in size exactly to the front panel and can be edited in an editing program, such as e.g. Corel Draw or Inkscape. Tips and tricks for this can be found below.

Template for the print file

The printing of a front panel requires knowledge of the geometric relationship between the front panel on the one hand and the image to be transferred onto the front panel (vector or raster graphic in corresponding formats) on the other.

A corresponding file is automatically generated if you export the panel to be printed as a vector graphic (see next section). Both the outline of the front panel as well as the outlines of the inserted objects are transferred. You can then use the outline of the front panel to automatically adjust the page size. (Note: Set the line width of the outline of the front panel to the smallest possible value!) Individual objects can be used, for example, for positioning labels.

Of course, you can create the file independently of the front panel file by creating a document with the same geometric dimensions as the front panel to be printed.

Alternatively, you can send us the original image (in the graphic formats described) including the relevant geometric information. For the conversion of the original image into an accurately scaled printable print file, we charge an appropriate fee.

Step-by-step creation of a print file

The following procedure for creating your print file has proved its worth:

1.Export the relevant front panel with "Front Panel Designer" as a vector graphic (DXF or SVG). In an appropriate processing program (e.g. Corel Draw or Inkscape) a geometrically accurate template is available for you to import and position images.
2.Delete the front panel outline in particular only after you have adapted the document size to the content (Inkscape: File > Document Settings ... > Change paper size to content). At the same time check the stroke widths for the front panel outline as these can enlarge the surface area. In this way, the print image and front panel can be made congruent. (Note: Most programs treat the outlines of front panels and objects as a group, which can ultimately be deleted with a single keystroke.)
3.The completed file should only contain the objects to be printed, which are positioned in a document whose geometric dimensions match those of the front panel to be printed.
4.Save your completed file in PDF format and insert it as a graphic object in "Front Panel Designer".
Brief summary of the print file properties

In order to transfer a text, logo or image through digital printing to the front panel material, we require a file with the following properties:

Property

Description (Further notes available in the mini-glossary)

File Format / pixel-based

PDF, TIF, TIFF, JPG, PNG, BMP (at least 300 dpi, at least 600 dpi if fonts or graphics are included)

Output Size

minimum printable area

no lower limit

maximum printable area

1100 x 800 mm²

Color Profile

Color profiles embedded in graphic files are identified and taken into consideration.