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Step 6 - Special Use Layers

Simon Tranter
by Simon Tranter 4 years ago
 
How to set up special layers in your templates, such as Finishing layers and Information layers.

Setting Up Special Layers

Specifying Finishing Layers Specifying Finishing Layers

Specifiying Information Layers Specifiying Information Layers

Specifying Vector Layers Specifying Vector Layers

Step 6 - Special Use Layers

How to set up special layers in your templates, such as Finishing layers and Information layers.

Specifying Finishing Layers

Finishing Layers - x_layers

Die-cuts, Spot UV, Opuleaf and Embossini are supported for use in Templates. If your Template features any of these elements, follow these steps.

  • Put the Spot UV, Die-cut, Opuleaf or Embossini object on a new layer (observing the usual Designing for Production rules e.g. set to overprint, specify as a spot colour, DO NOT change the name of the swatch).
  • Name the layer with ‘x_’ prefix e.g. x_die-cut, x_spotUV, x_opuleaf or x_embossini
  • Make sure the layers are top-most, just as if you're supplying to production.
  • Don't group elements on x_layers.

When you upload your .indt file, the editor will hide any layers which begin x_ from the user. So the user won't see the green die-cut lines, yellow Spot-UV or Opuleaf/Embossini swatches.

When the PDF is made, these finishing layers will be present as the topmost layer.

InDesign Ink Manager

Adobe InDesign® has a print setting that forces all spot colours to be process, it is important that this setting is not active when you are saving your template files. Go to Window > Output > Separations Preview and then use the dropdown menu to select Ink Manager.

In the dialogue box that opens, ensure that All Spots To Process isn't ticked.

If the All Spots To Process is ticked, then your printing will come back with the 'finishing' objects printed in CMYK.

Specifiying Information Layers

Information Layers - i_ layers

An Info Layer appears in the template editor, but is stripped out from the final PDF file. It can be used to communicate information to the person editing the template, e.g to remind them to follow some business rules or to use their 'branch email' instead of their personal email. To add an Info Layer to your template, follow these steps:

  • Create a new layer in InDesign and name it with  ‘i_’ prefix e.g i_instructions.
  • Put ‘Information Only’ items on this layer. We only support solid objects on the Info Layer - solid lines (not lines styles) and text converted to paths. You can use solid colours too.
  • Don't group elements on x_layers.
  • When you upload your .indt file, the i_info layer will be visible in the editor.

Don't use s_ swatches in an Info layer

When setting up your Info layer, you need to use a colour that doesn't use the s_ from any of your editable text elements. If you colour an Info layer in s_red for example, all instances of s_red will be converted to RGB. We'd recommend creating a swatch called Info Layer Colour or something similar.

As well as instructions, you could use the Info layer to show where perforations, cut-out shapes, creases, folds, drill holes, round corners or Spot-UV objects will be.

When the final PDF is generated, anything on an Info layer will be removed.

Final Check: items not supported on an i_layer

  • Tint or gradient swatch feature;
  • Transparency settings;
  • Stroke effects;
  • Bitmap images;
  • Text not converted to outlines;
  • Colour swatches using s_ prefix;
  • Grouped elements.

Specifying Vector Layers

About Vector layers

A Vector layer can contain a non-editable vector element that can sit above or below other editable areas (editable images and editable text boxes). Vector layers can be used in a template to achieve a number of different effects.

How to add a new Vector layer to your template

  1. Create a new layer using the Layers palette.
  2. Put the vector shape onto this layer and name the layer starting ‘v_’ e.g. v_oval.
  3. Position the layer in the Layers palette according to the effect you want to achieve, e.g. above an editable image layer, or below an editable text layer.

Final Check: items not supported on a v_layer

The following elements are not supported on Vector layers (v_ layers)

  • Tint or gradient swatch feature;
  • Transparency settings;
  • Stroke effects;
  • Bitmap images;
  • .eps and .ai files;
  • Swatches starting in s_
  • Grouped elements.

Using vectors as masks

Vector layers can act as a mask to give the illusion of a shaped editable image. To achieve this, create a mask of the shape you want.

Here is a maroon rectangle that has been drawn in InDesign®, with a circle punched out of it using the Objects > Pathfinder > Subtract tool.

The rectangular image behind the mask remains editable, but appears to be circular in shape.

Using vectors to define areas

A Vector layer can also be used for picture captions, stars, shapes and corner flashes over the top of editable images. The example below has multiple v_ layers which have text frames positioned over them.

 
 

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Step 7 - Template Validation

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