Trap

With this node you can automatically create trapping between abutting colored objects within a document.

It has the following configuration options:
  • Input File: here you can define the input file. Select the pencil to open Expression Builder.
  • Trap On Selection Only: if you select this checkbox, only the selected objects will be trapped.

Distance

  • Default: here you can define the default trapping distance that is used to create a trap.
  • Into Black: here you can define the distance for trapping between any paint and black. This trap distance is typically used for linework using black keyline contours, like in comics. When the trap distance is bigger than the black keyline contour, then the trap will be centered under the keyline.
  • Into Spot: here you can define the distance for trapping between any paint and spot colors.
  • Into Opaque: here you can define the distance for trapping between any paint and opaque colors.
  • Into Image: here you can define the distance for trapping between any paint and images.
  • Overlap: here you can define the trapping overlap, which allows a slight spread in the direction opposite to the trap direction so that small gaps are eliminated. This can be useful since a trap is per definition a spread object that follows the contour of the object on which it is applied. This is done with specific precision and may cause extreme small gaps. Those artifacts may become visible on high-resolution image setters and may cause a visual artifact on the printed result.
  • Intensity: here you can define the intensity of the trap object. The trap object is a new object containing the paint of the trapped object with a Blend Mode Darken applied. The default intensity used is 100%. However, an intensity of 100% can result in visible traps when the color difference between the two touching objects is too high. Reducing the intensity of the trap object will solve the problem.
  • Reverse Trapping: if you select this checkbox, reverse trapping will be applied. Reverse trapping is used in the metal printing industry or in Dry Offset where fluid inks are used and cause a natural trap when the inks coalesce. By generating a white trap, an overlap of opaque inks can be prevented.
  • Corners: here you can select the corner of the trapping.
    • Beveled corner
    • Rounded corner
    • Mitered corner
    • Square corner

Pull Backs

  • Type: here you can specify the pull back behavior. Options:
    • All: if you select this option, the lightest separation will be pulled back from the edge of a rich black or rich color.
    • Only Black: if you select this option, the lightest separation will be pulled back from the edge of a rich black
    • Only Flats: if you select this option, a pull back is performed only when the resulting trap would have a flat paint.
    • None: if you select this option, no pull back will be performed.
  • Pull Back Type: here you can select the pull back type. Options:
    • Single: if you select this option, pull backs are only allowed in case only one single separation is pulled back.
    • All But One: if you select this option, pull backs are only allowed in case only all but one separation is pulled back.
    • Both: if you select this option, pull backs are always allowed.
  • Distance: here you can select the distance for pulling back the lightest separation from the edge of a rich black or rich color.
  • Maximum Color Difference: here you can define the maximum color difference for between the two touching objects.

Trap Direction

  • Minimum Ink Difference: here you can define the minimum ink difference.
  • Maximum Luminosity Difference: here you can define the maximum luminosity difference.
  • Image Trapping: here you can define the trap direction for any paint to images. Options:
    • Automatic: if you select this option, the trapper calculates the trap direction automatically and can spread or choke the image.
    • Always Towards: if you select this option, a trap towards the image is applied.
    • Always Away: if you select this option, a trap away from the image is applied.
    Note: Always Towards or Always Away from image allows applying a trap that is going in the same direction no matter which paint it is touching. When choosing one of these options, the trapper will ignore equal paints on top.
  • Shading Trapping: here you can define the trap direction for any paint to shadings. Options:
    • Automatic: if you select this option, the trapper calculates the trap direction automatically and can spread or choke the shading.
    • Always Towards: if you select this option, a trap towards the shading is applied.
    • Always Away: if you select this option, a trap away from the shading is applied.
    Note: Always Towards or Always Away from shading allows applying a trap that is going in the same direction no matter which paint it is touching. When choosing one of these options, the trapper will ignore equal paints on top.
  • Towards Opaque Separations: if you select this checkbox, a spread towards opaque inks will always be generated.

Processing

  • Ignore gaps smaller than: here you can define the maximum size that small gap between touching objects can contain to be ignored by the trapper.

Vectorizing

  • Vectorize Bitmaps: if you select this checkbox, bitmap images will be converted to outline information, where a path will be created on the edge between the white and the black area.
  • Vectorize Images: if you select this checkbox, images will be vectorized.
  • Vectorize Opacity: if you select this checkbox, a path based on the Minimum Opacity and Maximum Opacity value sets will be created.
  • Minimum Opacity: here you can define the minimum opacity that will be taken into account when vectorizing opacity.
  • Maximum Opacity: here you can define the maximum opacity that will be taken into account when vectorizing opacity.
  • Smoothen: here you can enable smoothening in order to create a smoother path during vectorization of the opacities and/or images. Options:
    • Disabled: if you select this option, no smoothening will be performed.
    • Average: if you select this option, the path will be created as accurate as possible in between the points.
    • Inside: if you select this option, the path will be smoothened to the inside.
    • Outside: if you select this option, the path will be smoothened to the outside.
  • Smoothen Tolerance: here you can specify the maximum divergence from the original path.

Existing Traps

  • Existing Traps: here you can select what to do when traps are present in the design that were made with PACKZ, and new traps are automatically added to a selection or the entire job. Options:
    • Keep: if you select this option, existing traps are not replaced.
    • Replace: if you select this option, existing traps are replaced
  • Unknown Traps: here you can select what to do with incorrect or irrelevant traps that may have been applied on transformed or removed objects. Options:
    • Ignore: if you select this option, the trap stays unmodified.
    • Remove: if you select this option, the trap is removed or recalculated.

Clip Trap Images

  • Clip Trap Images: if you select this checkbox, the image paints to the bounding box of the traps are clipped after trapping. This is done to handle problems on RIPs that load the entire image for every reference to the same image.
  • 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: PACKZ can be used to manually alter the traps.