Nested Step And Repeat

With this node you can step and repeat packages based on a CAD file (CFF2 file) that contains repetition information.

It has the following configuration options:
  • Input file: here you can define the input file. Select the pencil to open Expression Builder.
  • Create an empty placeholder: if you select this checkbox, an empty placeholder will be created, that can later be replaced.

Plate

  • Width: here you can define a custom plate width.
  • Height: here you can define a custom plate height.

Paper

  • Width: here you can define a custom paper width.
  • Height: here you can define a custom paper height.
  • Reference Point: with the reference point you can define the position of the paper on the plate, taking the horizontal and/or vertical paper offset values into account. The horizontal and vertical paper offset values can be defined in the fields Horizontal Offset and Vertical Offset.
  • Horizontal Offset: here you can define the horizontal offset that is taken into account when selecting a reference point for placing the paper on the plate.
  • Vertical Offset: here you can define the vert ical offset that is taken into account when selecting a reference point for placing the paper on the plate.

Step And Repeat

  • Reference Point: with the reference point you can define the position of the complete repetition on the paper, taking the horizontal and/or vertical offset values into account. The horizontal and vertical paper offset values can be defined in the fields Horizontal Offset and Vertical Offset.
  • Horizontal Offset: here you can define the horizontal offset when defining a reference point for the repetition on the paper.
  • Vertical Offset: here you can define the vertical offset when defining a reference point for the repetition on the paper.

Select CAD file

  • CAD File: here you can select the CAD file that will be used to create the nested step and repeat.
  • Transform: here you can select the transform type. Options:
    • None: if you select this option, no transformation will take place.
    • Create Verso: if you select this option, a new document (filename_verso.pdf) will be created in which the repetition is horizontally mirrored. This is also called Turn. The stations of the step and repeat are all placeholders.
    • Create Tumble: if you select this option, a new document (filename_tumble.pdf) will be created in which the repetition is vertically mirrored. The stations of the step and repeat are all placeholders.
    • Create Rotated 180º: if you select this option, a new document (filename_Rotated 180.pdf) will be created in which the repetition is rotated 180º. The stations of the step and repeat are all placeholders.
  • Transparent Stations: here you can define the station transparency. Options:
    • From Station: if you select this option, the transparency is taken from the station.
    • Transparent: if you select this option, all the stations in the repetition are placed in darken mode, allowing bleed in overstepping blocks.
    • Knockout: if you select this option, a knockout object will be created underneath all the stations.
  • Import CFF2: if you select this checkbox, the CAD information is imported with the specified separation and stroke width. By default the first technical separation or black is selected. You can also specify a separation name. The system will look for the entered separation name in all color books and will use (and add) the color book separation. If there are more than two matches, then the first one found will be used. When entering a non-existent separation name in the drop- down field the separation will be created. If no stroke width is defined, the width from the CFF2 file is taken. The interpreted CAD information is converted to open paths with a stroke width, in the defined separation in overprint mode. They are imported in a new layer. This layer will have the name specified in the CFF2 file and will contain sub layers: Cut Lines, Crease Lines and other sub layers depending on the structure of the CF2-file.

    If you do not select this checkbox, the CFF2 file will be analyzed to create a trim path from the die information. Every subroutine in the CFF2 file will be analyzed only once. This will ensure that all the stations using the same subroutine are identical.

  • Use CFF2 Placeholder names: here you can select the placeholder names. Options:
    • Default: if you select this option, the placeholders will get a default name Placeholder XX, where XX is a consecutive number, unless you have specified a different name in the file config.txt. Only use the Default option for backwards compatibility.
    • Use CLOUDFLOW subroutines: if you select this option, the names of subroutines will be used as a placeholder name in the loaded Step and Repeat CF2 file.
    • Use Placeholder with order number: if you select this option, the placeholders will get a default name Placeholder XX, where XX is a consecutive number.
  • Plate/Drum from CFF2: here you can select the Line Types that set the Plate/Drum. Options
    • None: if you select this option, predefined Line Types will be used to set the Plate/Drum, not line types from CFF2.
    • LL-UR: if you select this option, the lower left (LL) and upper right (UR) defined in the CFF2 file sets the Plate/Drum of the repetition.

      When a line type is selected, CLOUDFLOW will calculate the bounding box of all the straight lines (excluding subroutines) and use the dimensions of that box as the Plate/Drum Size.

  • Printable Area from CFF2: here you can select the Line Types that set the Printable Area. Options:
    • None: if you select this option, predefined Line Types will be used to set the Printable Area, not line types from CFF2.
    • LL-UR: if you select this option, the lower left (LL) and upper right (UR) defined in the CFF2 file sets the Printable Area of the repetition.

      When a line type is selected, CLOUDFLOW will calculate the bounding box of all the straight lines (excluding subroutines) and use the dimensions of that box as the Printable Area.

Repetition

  • Placeholder Name: here you can select the placeholder in the step and repeat palette that will be replaced by a PDF document. See the PACKZ Reference Manual for more information on placeholders in a nested step and repeat palette.
  • Page Number: in case a multipage PDF is loaded as a station, by default the first page is selected. To change this, you can define a different page by entering a page number.
  • Reference: here you can define the reference area of the station that will be used to create the step and repeat.
  • Orientation: here you can define the orientation of the station (up, down, left, right).
  • Mirror: here you can define whether the station needs to be mirrored (horizontally or vertically).

Station numbers

  • Generate Station Numbers: if you select this checkbox, station numbers will be generated, which means that a unique number is placed on every station of a step and repeat block. This allows to easily recognize an error on a specific station of a printed step and repeat.
  • Prefix: here you can define a prefix to the station numbers.
  • Style: here you can define whether the station numbers should be written as numbers or letters.
  • Numbering Origin: here you can define where the numbering should start.
  • Flow: here you can define in which direction the numbering should go.
  • Bleed: here you can define the amount of bleed that should be added to the step and repeat.

Bleed

  • Get flap information from station: if you select this option, the Flaps setup as defined in the station PDF is taken.
  • Bleed: here you can define the bleed distance in the station file.
  • Get bleed distance from station: if you select this option, the bleed distance is taken from the bleed distance in the station file that is defined in PACKZ.
  • Left flap width, Right flap width, Top flap height, Bottom flap height input fields: here you can specify the length of the flaps at the left / right / top and bottom of unrotated stations.

  • 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.
Note: You can check the result of the nested step and repeat and change it if needed in PACKZ.

Create repetition from a JSON layout file

You can create a repetition from a JSON layout file. To do this, configure the Nested Step&Repeat node in the following way:
  1. Set all the parameters to the default value, except for these ones:
    • Input File: here you need to specify the PDF reference file which will be used for the output reference. You can point to the input JSON file.
    • Select CAD file > CAD File: here you need to specify the input JSON layout file.
    • Output: you need to customize this parameter, if not, your output PDF will have the extension .json.