Export Gravure

With this node you can output PDF step and repeat files as 8-bit TIFF files for Gravure Printing.

It has the following configuration options:

  • Input File: here you can define the input file. Select the pencil to open Expression Builder.
  • Mode: here you can define the output mode. Options:
    • Separated: if you select this option, the output will be separated TIFF files.
    • Composite: if you select this option, the output will be a composite TIFF file.
    • OHIO separated: if you select this option, the output will be a multipage PostScript file (one page per separation) to be used on OHIO Collage systems. The file will be flattened first and then does a limited PostScript export, exporting only flat paints and images. Everything is vectorized and all other paints are converted to images.
  • Oversampling: here you can select the oversampling ratio. For example, if the resolution is set to 300 ppi and the oversampling ratio to 2, the images will be converted at 600 ppi and downsampled to 300 ppi.

    • Oversampling All: if you select this checkbox, the complete document will be oversampled, including marks. If you leave this checkbox unselected, only the step and repeat stations will be oversampled.

  • Set Page Curve: here you can enter the name of a curve that will be applied to the page during RIP phase.
    • Apply Curve: when you select this checkbox, the curve defined in the field Set Page Curve will be applied to the artwork objects on the design to make it visible.
      Note: If you cmd+alt+click the checkbox, you can use Expression Builder to specify the name of a screening from the saved screening list in the shared folder.
  • Resolution: here you can define the resolution of the TIFF files.
  • Noise for Shadings: here you can define how much noise should be applied in the shadings to prevent them from banding. The higher the value, the more noise is added.
  • Pagebox: here you can define the page box that will define the dimensions of the TIFF files.
  • Rotation: here you can select the rotation of the TIFF files. The files can be rotated 180º, 90º CW or 90º CCW.
  • Compression: here you can select the compression of the output file.
    • Fast Forward Data: if you select this checkbox, an extra SVS file with the same name as the tiff name will be output. This option is available for both composite and separated output.

Separations

  • All: if you select this checkbox, all the separations of the PDF will be output as a separate TIFF file. If you select/deselect the checkboxes per separation, you can select which separations should (not) be output as TIFF.
  • Process and Spot Separations: if you select/deselect this checkbox, the process and spot separations will be selected/deselected.
  • Technical Separations: if you select/deselect this checkbox, the technical separations will be selected/deselected.
  • Varnish Separations: if you select/deselect this checkbox, the varnish separations will be selected/deselected.
  • Include separations: here you can enter the separations that will be exported. You can use a comma separated list. If you leave this field empty, all separations will be exported.
  • Mirror all: when you select this checkbox, the TIFF file(s) will be mirrored vertically.
    Note: Mirror is applied after rotation when selected.
  • Mirror Separations: here you can enter the separations that need to be mirrored.
  • Distort Separations: here you can enter the separations that need to be distorted.
  • File Naming: here you can select the naming method. Options:
    • Separation Name: if you select this option, the output TIFF files will contain the PDF filename followed by an underscore (_) and the separation name.
    • Separation Index: if you select this option, the output TIFF files will contain the PDF filename followed by a hash tag (#) and the index number of the separation.

Distortion

  • Horizontal Distortion: here you can define a horizontal distortion. Options:
    • None: if you select this option, no distortion will be applied.
    • Percentage: if you select this option, the horizontal distortion is taken from a percentage.
    • Horizontal Distortion: Percentage: here you can enter the percentage of the horizontal distortion.
    • From Page: if you select this option, the distortion value as set in the Assets: Output palette will be taken over.
    • K Factor: of you select this option, the horizontal distortion is taken from the K Factor.
    • Horizontal Distortion: K Factor: here you can enter a K-Factor (thicK-Factor) which defines the thickness of the plate and the mounting tape. This can be a positive or a negative number. A positive number indicates horizontal dimension increase, a negative number indicates a horizontal dimension decrease.
  • Vertical Distortion: here you can define a vertical distortion. Options:
    • None: if you select this option, no distortion will be applied.
    • Percentage: if you select this option, the vertical distortion is taken from a percentage.
    • Horizontal Distortion: Percentage: here you can enter the percentage of the vertical distortion.
    • From Page: if you select this option, the distortion value as set in the Assets: Output palette will be taken over.
    • K Factor: of you select this option, the vertical distortion is taken from the K Factor.
    • Vertical Distortion: K Factor: here you can enter a K-Factor (thicK-Factor) which defines the thickness of the plate and the mounting tape. This can be a positive or a negative number. A positive number indicates vertical dimension increase, a negative number indicates a vertical dimension decrease.

      Example

      If the job has a vertical dimension of 120.000 mm and the vertical distortion based on the K Factor is -1.000 mm, the resulting tiff will have a vertical dimension of 119.000 mm.

Note: Distortion is always applied after rotation.
  • Output: here you can select the output type. Options:
    • Postfix: if you select this option, you can define a postfix that will be added to the newly generated file. The new file will be placed on the same location as the original file.
    • Custom: if you select this option, you can specify a path where the new file will be placed and a postfix that will be added to the new file. Select the pencil to open Expression Builder.