Resources

TemplatesFAQsSwatch BookDie Cut & ScoreEnvelope SizesFluorescent Ink Set-upWhite Ink Set UpDigital Flat Foil Set UpSpot Color Set UpTurning on OverprintUpload

Templates

For your convenience, we have provided several small format packaging templates available for download and customization. (Although, for all you creative types, you are always welcome to send us your own designed piece for printing and finishing)

More Templates Available in our Catalog

tmplt-cardbox

Playing Card Box

2.5625″ wide
3.5625″ tall
.625″ deep

Download

tmplt-coinbox

Coin Box

3.125″ wide
5.625″ tall
2.125″ deep

Download

tmplt-pyramidbox

Pyramid Box

3.125″ wide
5.625″ tall
2.125″ deep

Download

tmplt-squarebox

Square Box

4″ wide
4″ tall
4″ deep

Download

tmplt-tabletent

Table Tent

8″ wide
3.5″ tall
5.75″ tall
(to top of circle)

Download

FAQ/Tips and Tricks



How do I request a price quote?
  • Go to the Get a Quote page.
  • Fill out the contact form, select your product and complete the form.
  • If your quote request does not fit the form, please send an e-mail with your specifications along with your contact information to: quote@indigoinkprint.com
How do I place an order?
  • e-mail your file and instructions along with your company/contact info and your P.O. (if required) to: order@indigoinkprint.com
  • You will receive a response that we received your e-mail. If you do not receive a response within 1 hour please call us to ensure that we received your e-mail.
  • If your file is over 10 mb, please upload the file to our FTP site.
    • Go to “Drop Files” link at the top right.
    • Click on the “Upload a file” button and follow the prompts.
    • An e-mail with the contact info that you entered will automatically be sent to us with your file. After you have uploaded your files please send an e-mail with instructions along with your company/contact info to order@indigoinkprint.com. Be sure to tell us that you uploaded your file.
What kind of bleed does my file need?
  • For most jobs we require at least .0625″ (1/16″) bleed.
  • For booklets we require at least .125″ (1/8″) bleed
How close to the edge can I set my text?
  • We suggest keeping text at least .125″ away from the edge.
Do I need to add crop marks?
  • Please include crop marks in your .pdf so we can accurately cut your job.
What is the difference between Black and Rich Black?
  • Rich black uses more colors to make the black look more solid and deep.
  • 100% black should be used for text, and finer line details. Rich black. should be used for things that need to pop, or has a decent size coverage. Avoid rich black for text due to registration issues.
  • Rich black values are as follows.
    • Cyan 60%
    • Magenta 40%
    • Yellow 40%
    • Black 100%
Can I set up my text as a Rich Black?
  • Set up text as 100% Black whenever possible. This will eliminate fuzzy, out of registration text. When black text is made with all 4 colors, it is difficult to perfectly register on such a small area, especially serif fonts with intricate details.
What is the preferred file format?
  • We suggest submitting .pdf files with outlined fonts. Add your crop marks and then flatten your file before submitting your order.
  • You can also send native file formats: .ai, .indd, .psd, .qxd, .eps
  • There are other options to send files but it may result in lower quality: .jpg, .jpeg, .tiff, & Microsoft Office files.
What .pdf settings should I use?
  • Save the .pdf as a Acrobat 4.0 (.pdf 1.3) compatible file.
  • Click this link to download our Acrobat Settings File.
  • Be sure to proof the .pdf that you create for errors. If you do find errors they must be corrected before submitting for printing.
How do I send native files properly?
  • Package files with all fonts, pictures, and links used in the file. We need ALL components used to create your file, so that we can open it correctly on our end.
Can I submit Microsoft Office files?
  • Yes, but we must make a .pdf and have you approve the file.
  • Beware of color shift. Colors tend to look more purple when printing from Microsoft products.
  • We prefer if you send us .pdf files.
Can I use transparency effects in my file?
  • Flatten ALL transparency to avoid problems.
  • Do not use transparency, blending modes, or effects with spot colors. Always convert your spot color to CMYK and flatten before submitting your order.
  • Try to avoid multiple transparencies, blending modes and effects in your document.
How can I keep my printed piece from looking purple when I want blue?
  • There should be at least a 30 point difference between cyan and magenta in the file, otherwise it may print purple.
  • Printing from Microsoft applications tend to make blues look more purple.
Should I set up my file as a RGB or CMYK file?
  • We print in CMYK. Set up every job in CMYK color mode. If you work in RGB, convert your file to CMYK before print, or you may experience a large color shift. Monitor display will not accurately predict how a printed CMYK document will look.
Will my printed job look like what I see on my monitor?
  • No, computer monitors display images in RGB, meaning that the colors are made from a combination of Red, Green, and Blue plus brightness (light and dark) and projected on your monitor. Print media is mostly composed up of CMYK values, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black. Therefore, your monitor will not give you a very accurate representation of what the print output will be. Color for print is produced by reflective color, meaning the color is produced by the light hitting and reflecting that color back. DO NOT rely on your computer monitor to match printed output. Since a monitor and print are very different, it is always wise to proof your project before a run, to assure color issues are taken care of before the job is completed.
  • Large differences in printer and monitor calibration also make it very difficult to accurately match color from a monitor to print.
    If your print job is color sensitive, request a proof first!
What resolution should my files be?
  • We suggest that your files be at least 300 dpi.
  • The Indigo can print at 812 DPI and our offset press prints at 2400 DPI.
How do I set up a White Ink file for the HP Indigo?
  • Step 1: Create a new Spot Color Named “HP White 1” – You must name the spot color that exact name or it will not work. Make the color of the spot color: CMYK = 5, 5, 5, 5 (this will allow it to display on screen as a gray tone so you can see it).
  • Step 2: Set any elements desired to print with white ink to fill with “HP White 1”.
  • Step 3: When putting white under an image or text, contract the white area by 2 pixels, otherwise registration may be off.
  • Step 4: Set all areas for white ink on TOP of all other elements (even though it will print underneath).
  • Step 5: Set all white ink elements to ‘overprint fill’ and ‘overprint stroke’ accordingly (this is done through the attributes panel in InDesign / Illustrator).
  • Step 6: Make sure all PMS and Spot colors are set to convert to CMYK except the HP White 1 Spot color.
  • Step 7: Output PDF with Bleeds and Crops.

Note: If printing a full colored image on dark colored stocks it’s best to set a layer of white ink over the image area so that the image is printed on top of the white layer and it will show up better.


How do I set up a White Ink file for Envelope printing?
  • Set all items to print as 100% black
  • Let us know when you place the order that everything is to print 100% solid white


Paper Swatch Book

Need to see the selection of digital paper stocks for yourself? Click below to order a free Indigo Ink Digital Printing paper swatch book!

Get the Swatch Book

Digital Die Cut and Score Set Up

Indigo Ink can die cut and score digitally. We are even able to create short run small format packaging. We have a small selection of packages for download on the Templates section of this page.

  • The largest print area for die cutting is 16.4 x 11.5
  • Score Lines and Cut Lines should be .5 points thick
  • Artwork should be on its own layer
  • Score Lines 100% Cyan – Create a separate Layer for Score Lines
  • Cut Lines 100% Magenta – Create a separate Layer for Cut Lines
  • Space between die cuts should be .5”

Digital-Die-Cut-Set-Up

Envelope Size Chart

Download our Envelope Sizing Chart PDF

Envelopes-guide Download

Fluorescent Ink on white substrate

  1. Create a spot color named “FL Green” or “FL Pink”
    1. Set up Green as 100% Cyan and 100% Yellow.
    2. Set up Pink as 100% Magenta and 100% Yellow.
  2. Set up artwork using the spot color

Fluorescent Ink + CMYK on white substrate

  1. Create spot color named “FL Green” or “FL Pink”
    1. Set up Green as 100% Cyan and 100% Yellow.
    2. Set up Pink as 100% Magenta and 100% Yellow.
  2. Set up artwork using the spot color + CMYK

Fluorescent Ink on dark substrate

White ink will need to print under the fluorescent ink so it will show up on the dark substrate.

  1. Create spot color named “FL Green” or “FL Pink”
    1. Set up Green as 100% Cyan and 100% Yellow.
    2. Set up Pink as 100% Magenta and 100% Yellow.
  2. Set up artwork using the spot color
  3. Create another spot color named “HP White 1”
    1. Set up white as 100% Magenta
  4. Copy all art, paste on top of your fluorescent ink artwork, change spot color to “HP White 1” and set to overprint. Note: When putting white under an image or text, contract the white area by 2 pixels, otherwise registration may be off. How-to video for this step

Fluorescent Ink + white ink on dark substrate

White ink will need to print under the fluorescent ink so it will show up on the dark substrate.

  1. Create spot color named “FL Green” or “FL Pink”
    1. Set up Green as 100% Cyan and 100% Yellow.
    2. Set up Pink as 100% Magenta and 100% Yellow.
  2. Set up artwork using the spot color
  3. Create another spot color named “HP White 1”
    1. Set up white as 100% Magenta
  4. Copy all art, paste on top of your fluorescent artwork, change spot color to “HP White 1” and set to overprint. Note: When putting white under an image or text, contract the white area by 2 pixels, otherwise registration may be off. How-to video for this step
  5. Add other white elements using the spot color “HP White 1”

Fluorescent Ink + CMYK on dark substrate

White ink will need to print under the fluorescent + CMYK ink so it will show up on the dark substrate.

  1. Create spot color named “FL Green” or “FL Pink”
    1. Set up Green as 100% Cyan and 100% Yellow. Set up Pink as 100% Magenta and 100% Yellow.
  2. Set up artwork using the spot color + CMYK
  3. Create another spot color named “HP White 1”
    1. Set up white as 100% Magenta
  4. Copy all art, paste on top of your fluorescent artwork, change spot color to “HP White 1” and set to overprint. Note: When putting white under an image or text, contract the white area by 2 pixels, otherwise registration may be off. How-to video for this step

White Ink set up “how-to” Guide

  • Step 1: Create a new Spot Color Named “HP White 1” – that’s HP (space) White (space) 1. You must name the spot color that exact name or it will not work. Make the spot color 100% Magenta so it is easy to see.
  • Step 2: Set any elements desired to print with white ink to fill with “HP White 1”.
  • Step 3:When putting white under an image or text, contract the white area by 2 pixels, otherwise registration may be off.How-to video for this step:
  • Step 4: Set all areas for white ink on TOP of all other elements (even though it will print underneath).
  • Step 5: Set all white ink elements to ‘overprint fill’ and ‘overprint stroke’ accordingly (found in the attributes panel in InDesign / Illustrator).
  • Step 6: Make sure all PMS and Spot colors are set to convert to CMYK except the HP White 1 Spot color.
  • Step 7: Output PDF with Bleeds and Crops.

Note: If printing a full color image on dark stock it’s best to set a layer of white ink under the image area. The image will print on top of the white layer and will show up better. Set up is the same as above – white goes on top of the image in the file, set to overprint.

How to set up a White Ink file for the HP Indigo

“Advanced” White Ink Set Up

Print Collect - White InkFor most projects that use white ink the white is placed under a full color image and/or text to make that image or text pop on a dark stock. When that is done the white ink is set to 100% opacity.

As we print on our HP Indigo, we hit the white ink 4 times on the press to achieve a more opaque white. There are creative ways to use white ink to achieve varying levels of opacity. Say for instance you are designing an image with clouds. You can use up to 4 different white spot colors. HP White 1, HP White 2, HP White 3, HP White 4 to vary the opacity/depth of the white.

When designing you can stack the white spot colors on top of each other to achieve a more opaque white. HP White 1 can be set to a lower opacity and will hit one time on the press. Each other spot color labeled HP White 2, HP White 3, and HP White 4 will also hit once, but using this method will achieve varying levels of opacity which will show a level of depth to the printed image.

How to set up a White Ink file for Envelope printing

  • Set all items to print as 100% black
  • Let us know when you place the order that everything is to print 100% solid white

Digital Flat Foil

Digital Flat Foil Compatible Paper Stocks

  • Blazer Gloss and Silk Cover
  • Mohawk Everyday Digital Cover
  • Neenah Classic Crest 100% Recycled Cover
  • Neenah Classic Crest Natural White Smooth Cover
  • Neenah Dark Stocks 100# Cover – Epic Black, Patriot Blue, Red Pepper, Antique Grey
  • Neenah Environment Desert Storm 100# Cover
  • Digi Uncoated Label

Available Digital Flat Foil Colors

  • Clear
  • Gold
  • Silver
  • Copper
  • Blue
  • Red
  • Matte Gold
  • Matte Silver
  • Rainbow Silver

Limitations of Digital Flat Foil

In our extensive testing, we have found that some designs and applications work better than others. While we continue to experiment with ways to overcome these issues, in the meantime, this is the list of things to avoid.

  • Avoid thin lines. Lines should be at least 1pt thick.
  • Avoid thin, scripty, and small fonts
  • No tight registration for Foil(s) + CMYK. You must have at least 1/4” (.25”) distance between foil and CMYK elements.
  • We cannot digitally flat foil directly on top of full color print unless we laminate the sheet with a printable soft touch laminate (See instructions for set up in this guide).
  • We can print CMYK over top of the Silver foil only.
  • No more than one foil color per sheet, unless the second foil is clear gloss foil.
  • No mailing addresses in foil (due to USPS limitations)
  • We cannot foil on envelopes or large format posters.
  • We cannot foil on laminated perfect bound book covers
  • We can only foil on one side of a double side laminated piece. If you would like foil on both sides of a laminated piece, we would need to print and laminate two single sided sheets and duplex them together.
  • Due to the nature of the process, there is the possibility that the Digital Flat Foil may stick to random spots on the sheet, resulting in small foil specks where otherwise not intended.

Digital Flat Foil Set Up Instructions

Digital Flat Foil Only

Digital Flat Foil
  • Step 1: Set all foil elements to the spot color “HP Foil” and let us know what foil color you want.
  • Step 2: Convert all fonts to outlines

Digital Flat Foil + CMYK or Black (No tight registration or overlapping)

Copper Foil full color
  • Light Colored Papers:
    • Step 1: Set all foil elements to the spot color “HP Foil”
    • Step 2: Make sure all other color is set to CMYK
    • Step 3: Convert all fonts to outlines
  • Dark Colored Papers:
    • Step 1: All CMYK will need a layer of white ink under the CMYK so the ink can stand out against the dark paper. See our white ink instructions to learn how to set up white ink.
    • Step 2: Set all foil elements to the spot color “HP Foil”
    • Step 3: Make sure all other color is set to CMYK + White Ink per instructions
    • Step 4: Convert all fonts to outlines

Reminder – foil and CMYK should not touch or overlap. No close registration. Please allow time for a printed proof.

CMYK printed on Silver Digital Flat Foil (with or without Soft Touch lamination on top)

Printable Silver Foil
  • Step 1: Set all foil elements to the spot color “HP Foil” and set all foil elements to overprint over top of the CMYK layer
  • Step 2: Set all other color to CMYK
  • Step 3: Convert all fonts to outlines

Please allow time for a printed proof.

CMYK + Soft Touch lamination with Digital Flat Foil on top

Copper Foil Soft Touch Full Color
  • Step 1: Set up CMYK elements
  • Step 2: Set all foil elements to the spot color “HP Foil”
  • Step 3: Set all foil elements to overprint over top of the CMYK layer
  • Step 4: Convert all fonts to outlines

CMYK + Digital Flat Foil with Soft Touch Lamination on top (no tight registration)

  • Step 1: Set up CMYK elements
  • Step 2: Set all foil elements to the spot color “HP Foil”
  • Step 3: Convert all fonts to outlines

Digital Flat Foil + White Ink

  • Step 1: Set all foil elements to the spot color “HP Foil”
  • Step 2: Set all white elements to the spot color “HP White 1”
  • Step 3: Convert all fonts to outlines

Black Ink Spot Gloss

Spot Gloss Black on Black
  • Step 1: Set all foil elements to the spot color “HP Gloss”
  • Step 2: Convert all fonts to outlines

Spot Gloss on CMYK

Spot Gloss CMYK
  • Step 1: Set up CMYK elements
  • Step 2: Add a White Ink Layer set to spot color “HP White 1”
  • Step 3: Set HP White 1 elements to overprint over top of the CMYK layer
  • Step 4: Set all spot gloss elements to the spot color “HP Gloss”
  • Step 4: Convert all fonts to outlines

If you have elements that will not have spot gloss, then create an additional CMYK file. This option requires a printed proof due to the nature of the process.

Spot Gloss + White Ink

  • Step 1: Set all spot gloss elements to the spot color “HP Gloss” over top of the White Ink layer
  • Step 2: Set all white elements to the spot color “HP White 1”
  • Step 3: Convert all fonts to outlines

Spot Color Set up Instructions

InDesign or Illustrator

  • Step 1: Add a New Swatch to the Swatches window
  • Step 2: Change the Color Type to Spot Color
  • Step 3: Name the Spot Color
    • For Digital Flat Foil: “HP Foil” and set it to be 100% Cyan
    • For White Ink: “HP White 1” and set it to be 100% Magenta
    • For Digital Spot Gloss: “HP Gloss” and set it to be 100% Black
  • Step 4: Make sure all other spot colors in the file are converted to a Process Color

Photoshop

  • Step 1: Image > Mode > Grayscale
  • Step 2: Image > Mode > Duotone
  • Step 3: Change the Type to Monotone
  • Step 4: Name the custom Spot Color
    • For Digital Flat Foil: “HP Foil” and set it to be 100% Cyan
    • For White Ink: “HP White 1” and set it to be 100% Magenta
    • For Digital Spot Gloss: “HP Gloss” and set it to be 100% Black

How to turn on Overprint

Illustrator

  • Step 1: Select text or object that will be overprinting.
  • Step 2: Window > Output > Attributes
  • Step 3: Check the “Overprint Fill” box. If you have a stroke on your element, check the “Overprint Stroke” box as well
  • Step 4: Convert all fonts to outlines

InDesign

  • Step 1: Select text or object that will be overprinting
  • Step 2: Window > Attributes
  • Step 3: Check the “Overprint Fill” box. If you have a stroke on your element, check the “Overprint Stroke” box as well
  • Step 4: Convert all fonts to outlines

Photoshop

  • Save your Foil file separate from your CMYK file

Upload a File