die-cut lines in quark

[SKEW FM]

How is this done properly?

2 pt line on a separate EPS file. Throw the file on as a second layer in Quark?

Notify the printer?

I am kind of confused. I haven't ever been able to do this properly. Either the pre-press department takes over with the headache, or I do something wrong.

any help is appreciated!!

[PrintDriver]

I don't do die-cutting like a press shop but when we cut to contour on an image we ask for one of two things.

In Quark we ask for a separate layer (in the versions that support it) with a path on it that we can export as eps to our CNC. If we have to go to the photoshop file for the clipping path, then we do. It isn't usually an extra charge unless the path is AFU.

In Illustrator you can use the image mask you make and designate it as your cut path, or you can copy paste it to a new layer.

You don't really want to stroke the path unless you specify that you do not want the thickness of the stroke of the path incorporated into the shape. ie do we cut to the inside, middle or outside of the stroke thickness.

All you have to do is explain clearly what path you want to contour cut.

For us, the path can't have any looped bezier handles and must be a contiguous and closed path. No stop and starts, no crossing lines. More than a minimum of file prep costs you money. Don't know if it's the same for a die fabricator but it is getting to be if you use one of those new hard substrate printers to output directly onto board. They're cutting plotters are just like mine.

Specialization is for insects...

R.H.

[Mickey]

I would talk to your printer and ask how they prefer them, everybody has different ways of doning it. Some printers will come up with die lines for you to drop into your document.

http://home.wi.rr.com/mygraphics/konceptcreative.jpg

[icetea1980]

What I do is make a spot-colour named 'die-cut'
Make sure you check over-print stroke fuction.

Works in Quark and Illustrator.

As a result, the people at pre-press can selectionly output film with or without the die-line.

[DeleteYourself]

In Quark I simply add an independent stroked box as my outline for the die-cut, then clearly denote that I do not want the border printed. But asking your printer is the way to go.

http://www.dafenix.org/todd/dy.gif
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[X]

I Create a .5 pt rule in Quark colorized as a spot color called 'Die' that I created

I first put guides down 1st to where the folds and the cuts are going to be - -adjust my work to these areas. Then either useing layers or not I will build the die on top of my work. The same can be done in Indesign.

I know alot of designers will create a die in Illus. and placee it in Quark - -but I find that even though in the preview the die looks like it's dead on, when I rip the job the die not quite in the correct position. I find the Quark or Indesign dies rip dead on. I only use Illus. for creazy die pieces that I can't create in Quark.

BodesMan

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