Resources

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)

FAQ/Tips and Tricks

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”

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

For 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

• 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)

• 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)

• 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

• 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

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

Spot Gloss on 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

Digital Metallic Ink Set Up

Instructions for Silk Paper

• Step 1: Create a new Spot Color Named “HP Metallic” – that’s HP (space) Metallic (space). You must name the spot color that exact name or it will not work. Pick any CMYK build for the spot color.
  
• Step 2: Any elements that will be printed with metallic ink should have a fill or stroke set to “HP Metallic”. These elements will print as silver metallic.
  
  Note: If you want to make a metallic color you will need to add metallic ink on top of the CMYK. Ultimately, the silver metallic will print under the CMYK to make a metallic CMYK color. Note – lighter colors work better. Dark colors will not look as metallic as lighter colors. See step 3.
• Step 3: Copy the design element and paste on top of the CMYK and set to the Metallic ink spot color.
  
  Note: In Illustrator or InDesign, we recommend creating 2 separate layers.
  • The first layer is your CMYK design.
  • The second layer goes above your CMYK layer. Name it “Metallic” – copy-paste-in-place all elements that should be printed in Metallic Ink on this layer.
• Step 4: Set all Metallic ink elements to ‘overprint fill’ and ‘overprint stroke’ accordingly (found in the attributes panel in InDesign / Illustrator).
  
• Step 5: Make sure all PMS and Spot colors are set to convert to CMYK except the HP Metallic Spot color.
• Step 6: Output PDF with Bleeds and Crops.

Instructions for Uncoated Paper

• Step 1: Create a new Spot Color Named “HP Metallic” – that’s HP (space) Metallic (space). You must name the spot color that exact name or it will not work. Pick a CMYK build for the spot color.
  
  
  Note: For uncoated stocks, metallic elements need an additional white ink layer beneath them. In your file you will need to add white ink ON TOP of the metallic.
• Step 2: 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. Pick a CMYK build for the spot color.
  
  
  Note: In Illustrator or InDesign, we recommend creating 3 separate layers.
  • The first layer is your CMYK design.
  • The second layer goes above your CMYK layer. Name it “Metallic” – copy-paste-in-place all elements that should be printed in Metallic Ink on this layer.
  • The third layer goes above your Metallic Ink layer. Name it “White” – copy-paste-in-place all elements that should be printed in white on this layer.
• Silver Metallic
  • Step 3: Set any elements desired to print as metallic ink to fill with “HP Metallic”. These elements will print as silver metallic.
  • Step 4: Copy the metallic ink design elements and copy-paste-in-place on top of the metallic ink design elements (on your white ink layer). Set these elements’ fills and/or strokes to HP White 1 spot color and set to overprint in the attributes window.
• Steps for Metallic CMYK
  • Step 5: Create your CMYK design elements
  • Step 6: Copy the CMYK design element and paste on top of the CMYK (in your metallic ink layer) and set to the Metallic Ink spot color and set to overprint in the attributes window.
    
    Note: Ultimately, the white ink and the metallic ink will print under the CMYK to make a metallic CMYK color. Lighter colors work better. Dark colors will not look as metallic as lighter colors.
  • Step 7: Copy the Metallic Ink design elements and copy-paste-in-place on top (in your White Ink layer). Set these elements’ fills and/or strokes to HP White 1 spot color. Set to overprint in the attributes window.
  • Step 8: Be sure to set all Metallic Ink and White Ink elements to ‘overprint fill’ and ‘overprint stroke’ accordingly (found in the attributes panel in InDesign / Illustrator).
    
  • Step 9: Make sure all PMS and Spot colors are set to convert to CMYK except the HP Metallic Spot color.
  • Step 10: Output PDF with Bleeds and Crops.

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

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