| Extreme care and effort is given to achieve the results you are looking for. However, most times design adjustments are necessary to accommodate the limitations of Flexographic plates and presses. Common areas of concern are trapping, halftone screens, small type or reversed type, UPC bar codes, and bleeds. Process Printing can be achieved but is very involved and very costly. If your budget is limited we strongly suggest spot colors and simple line art. |
| |
UPCs (Universal Price Codes Bar Codes)
|
|
UPCs or Bar codes can be a tricky prospect. There are literally hundreds of bar code types that can be chosen. Those codes can run the gambit of number of digits needed, types of characters allowed, and so on. This pdf document, that can be downloaded here, shows all the different types of bar codes that we have at our disposal to be created.
|
| |
Custom Art (Flexography) Limitations
|
|
Custom Printed bags and film are printed through a process called flexography. There are several limitations to "flexo" printing in comparison to offset printing, which is seen in magazines, catalogs, and basically anywhere full-color pictures are printed on a flat "paper" surface. The quality of flexo printing, while good, is not going to match the standard of what is seen in offset printing.
Flexo printing uses a smaller line screen, which means color gradations can appear choppy. As well, flexo printing does not hold registration nearly as tight as offset printing, this is due to the nature of printing on poly, stretching and tension. |
| |
|
|
 |
| |
- The difference between 4-color process (CMYK) and spot colors
- Registration of inks
- White block for writing area on bag
- UPC (Universal Price Code) - what works and what doesn't
- Ink printing off of a side of a bag - or often referred to as a bleed
|
|
| |
| Film Colors - We have many different film colors that are available. Here are a few standard stock film colors that we offer. Depending on dimensions, quantity, and thickness of bag or film, custom film can be made / extruded to a customer's need. |
| |
| Trapping - When preparing artwork for trapping of colors (overlap colors require registration), there must be no less than a 1/16” trap. Create trap at 1/16” or with a 3 to 4 pt. stroke rule. Caution should be taken when trapping certain ink colors which may create another undesired color when printed. |
| |
|
Printable image - area is generally 1” from sides of the bag and 1” from the bottom of the bag. The image is positioned 4” from the top on Patch Handle bags to avoid the handle and seal area, and generally 2 1/2” down for all other types of bags. ie: a 12"(W) x 15"(L) bag would have an image area of 10"(W) X 10"(L). CLICK HERE FOR EXAMPLE
|
| |
| Bleeds off the edges of the bag require 3/4” bleed off both sides, as well as the top and bottom. |
| |
| Eye-spots - Some bags will be printed with a small, solid, rectangular box in the lower corner of both sides of the bag. This box, or eye-spot, helps assure the accuracy of bag size during manufacturing. |
| |
| Copy or ink changes - The following changes made during the printing of bags require a minimum of 3000 pieces per change: |
- Ink Color Change @ $150.00 (G) per change.
- Full Printing Plate Change (for print image larger than 2”x 3”) @ $150.00 (G) per change.
- Slug Printing Plate Change (for print image 2”x 3” or smaller) @ $80.00 (G) per change.
|
