The ability to create a spot color from transparency is available since PrimeCenter V3.1.
Creating a controlled underbase is essential for Direct-to-Film (DTF) and Direct-to-Garment (DTG) applications, particularly for artworks containing only white and transparency.
When preparing your files in PrimeCenter, you can apply to your input files the preflight profile named “Create spot color from page content” to generate a white underbase based on their transparency.
This profile will automatically detect the transparency in your PNG or PDF files and determine the best approach to create the white underbase.
- If the file contains an image with a transparency layer, the profile will render the white underbase directly from the transparency or fill the entire page as needed.
- For hybrid files that combine images with vector elements, the profile will render non-inked areas and create transparency from these regions.
Recommendation
The resulting files are PDFs, which need to be viewed with a PDF viewer to see the layers.
Prerequisites
- Understanding check/fix profiles and how to use them
- Managing check/fix profiles
- How to apply a check/fix profile to a file?
To see the complete list of check/fix profiles: List of check/list profiles included in PrimeCenter.
Process
To create a white underbase, apply to your input files the profile named "Create spot color from page content" included in the list of ready-to-use preflight profiles of PrimeCenter. We will detail the process using an automatic profile application, but it can also be done in manual mode.
- Go to the Input check/fix profile module
.
- From the list of preflight profiles, search for "Create spot color from page content".
- Configure the Source to "From transparency".
- Adjust the other parameters to your needs.
- Go to the Files tab, and open the Import settings section.
- Under Tools, click to open the tool list.
- Select Input check/fix profile to apply profiles automatically during file import.
- From the list of preflight profiles, search for "Create spot color from page content".
- Configure the Source to "From transparency".
- Adjust the other parameters to your needs.
Settings
The "Create spot color from page content" preflight profile includes the following parameters:
Input
Choose the Source for creating the underbase layer:
- From page content: Uses the visible elements on the page to create the underbase.
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From transparency: Used the transparency information of the file to create the underbase.
Info
This option is available since PrimeCenter V3.1.
Mode & Strategy
From transparency
Rendering resolution
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Invert spot layer
Enable this option to invert the spot layer if it’s not in the correct order (from top to bottom or from bottom to top), depending on your configuration needs.
Color
Select the desired color for your underbase layer. While typically white, you can choose any color and set it as a spot color, including defining a transparency percentage.
Good to know
If a spot color with the same name as the one configured in the profile is already present in the file, it will be recognized and honored.
If you choose to create the underbase From page content, here is an overview of the available modes and settings:
Mode
- Smart: Automatically selects the best approach to create the underbase.
- Visible content excluding white areas: Creates the underbase based on visible content while ignoring white areas.
- Visible content including white areas: Includes all visible content, even white areas.
- All vectorial objects: Uses all vector elements to generate the underbase.
Rendering resolution
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Lightness tolerance
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Exclude spot from page content
Specify spot colors to exclude from the underbase. Enter the name of any spot color you don't want included, such as cut contours or specific colors.
Adjust
To prevent issues like bleeding or absorption resulting in lines around the printed area or less saturated edges, adjust the ink generation by spreading or choking it by a few millimeters.
Create only on most external elements
Enable this option to exclude internal elements, such as loops in lettering, from the underbase layer.
Color
Select the desired color for your underbase layer. While typically white, you can choose any color and set it as a spot color, including defining a transparency percentage.
Example
In this example, we have a file that includes various elements with transparency and gradients, both in raster and vector formats.
File with various elements
You can download this file to test it with the "Create spot color from page content" profile: GalactikDrinks_WhiteUnderbase.pdf
After applying the profile to create a spot color from transparency, we can see that an underbase has been generated, considering the transparent elements.
Tips & tricks
To appreciate the generated underbase, open the generated PDF file with a PDF viewer. For instance, use the Output preview feature of Adobe Acrobat to clearly see the underbase.
Generated underbase