About surface processes and production layers

Surface processes

Surface processes are visual effects related to the printing process. In designs, they are applied to the surface of materials, either to specific locations — for example, the rear or the front side, texts or images — or, in the case of lamination or backing, to the entire surface of designs.

The program supports the following surface processes (in brackets the identifiers are shown that appear in the Name column of the Layers section of the tabular area):

• Backing (BKG) (applied to the entire surface of the material) A process in which two sheets of paper — backing paper and printing paper — are glued together to ensure that the packaging is solid enough and that the printing is of the required quality. The resultant material combines the properties of its components. Backing is used when packaging is produced that will hold heavier goods.
• Color Print (CPR) Printing of text or image in colors other than black and white. When images are applied, they go automatically into this layer.
• Monochrome Print (MPR) Printing of text or image in black and white.
• Partial foil stamping (PFS) The application of colored or metallic substances onto a solid surface (paper) as part of the printing process. The pattern of the applied substances is printed on the paper.
• Special ink print (SIPR) Any method of applying ink on the media that differs from standard spraying of the ink onto a surface. These include, for example, the application of thermochromic, metallic and alcohol-resistant inks, or inks applied on nonporous surfaces.
• Varnishing (VSH) The application of film-forming substances onto surfaces for the purposes of protection of the surface or for aesthetic effects.
• Lamination (LMN) (applied to the entire surface of the material) The addition to paper of coating substances that give it extra physical strength and smooth surface.
• Braille (BRL) The layer contains all Braille text placed in the project. When applied, the text goes automatically into this layer.
• Imprint (embossing and debossing) (EMB) The creation on a surface of raised (embossed) or recessed (debossed) relief effects.
• Structural Design (SD) This layer contains all objects in the project except sheet, dieboard, Braille, and images. All objects apart from those mentioned go there when they are created.
• Sheet (SH) This layer contains all objects related to a sheet /layout. When a sheet is added, it goes automatically into this layer. NOTE: Appears in the sheet drawing table, not in the 1up drawing.
• Dieboard (DB) This layer contains all objects related to a dieboard. When a dieboard is added, it goes automatically into this layer. NOTE: Appears in the drawing table, not in the 1up drawing.
• Auxlliary This layer contains objects that, due to their functions, cannot be attributed to any other layer. Examples are annotations,

Surface processes are applied onto objects by means of process layers, which define the appearance of the surface processes.

Types of layers

Package & Display Designer works with three types of layers:

• Structural These are layers that carry processes related to die-cutting — cutting, creasing, plotting, cut-creasing, perforating. In a design, the structural layer is generated automatically and is an integral component of the design. The default structural layer cannot be deleted. Some designs can have more than one structural layer — for example, one for the rear side with its objects.
• Process layers User-defined layers that set the printing and finishing processes. Process layers carry the data about the appearance of the visual effect — for example, its color, opacity, bump height (in imprint effects), lighting. NOTE: For a surface effect to be applied onto an object, a process layer has to be defined for the effect; after that the object is assigned to the layer.
• Special layers These are structural layers generated automatically in the layout and dieboard drawings, as well as a layer (auxiliary) that contains objects not related to the printing process. In these drawings, the Layers & Objects tab (in the tabular area) displays read-only information about the special processes.

• NOTE: When these drawings are deleted, the layers Sheet and Dieboard are deleted automatically.