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Production (Prepress)

We have divided the services of Rudico Artwork Prepress into the groups Artwork and Production. The shape of the packaging and the positions of the logo, texts, photos and icons are stored in Artwork. The final product of Artwork is the starting point for Prepress, i.e. the Production phase.

Prepress

Prepress for Packaging is the technical translation of Artwork to an industrial semi-finished product. Printing plates made in the Prepress phase are the “mould” with which thousands or millions of packages are produced. During the production of valuable packaging, a mould that is almost right can mean that it is completely wrong. The importance of perfect Prepress can best be expressed in cost savings, timely introduction of products to the market and high quality and tasteful product presentations printed on packaging. All services on this webpage fall under “Prepress”. You are the one deciding at which phase of the process you want to enter and exit. What services can Rudico offer the most values with. That’s what it’s all about.

More than 4 colours | Lithography

During the design phase, it is often not yet clear which printing technique will be used. The design is developed in standard full colour. The technical possibilities and limitations of the selected printing technique and printer are concrete only in the Prepress phase. The customer’s marketing and purchasing requirements are translated within the technical framework in good consultation. The choice of more than 4 colours is sometimes necessary for Packaging. In other cases, the use of extra colours means embellishment and distinctive product presentations.

Lithography in Prepress for Packaging in short means that photographic images are adapted to the specifications of the printing technique and the printer. Processing of texts, logos, lines and colour areas also requires attention. Due to the fact that often many packages are printed simultaneously, differences in the matching of the colours during the print run must be avoided. We often create smart overlap between colours as soon as they touch each other. We call this trapping. Craftsmanship and experience in Packaging makes the difference between almost good and perfect.

Color Management

The colour space we perceive on a daily basis is larger than the colours in printed matter. Colour Management is a collection of activities and processes that allow us to utilize the largest colour space in print, while at the same time making it predictable. We use the possibilities within the applied printing technique and the type of ink. Restrictions are realistically reflected in a printed or on screen Colour Proof. No surprises. That’s our promise.

The limiting factor is often the packaging material where it is printed on. Is it really white? Maybe it is even printed on brown paper or cardboard. These are just some of the variables Rudico takes into account. We make Fingerprints in advance with the printers. These are almost literally fingerprints of the unique properties of the printer, printing press, ink and packaging material. With unique colour profiles as a result, we edit files and produce Colour Proofs. Rudico manages hundreds of colour profiles of many printers at home and abroad in one database. The customer assesses the final result before the actual printing. No delay in the supply chain. What You See Is What You Get (WYSIWYG).

Color Proof

We translate print files with the most advanced Software into a realistic display on screen or hard-copy, regardless of the number of print colours. For any printing technique. Printing specifications and simulation of (coloured) packaging material are essential for a predictable result. Differences in Print Sequence and Density (ink layer thickness) provide different perceptions of colour. Sometimes a coarse grid also give the perception of quality and detail. In those cases, we also show the grid points in the hard-copy proof. Would you like to know more about Proofing? Download our Proofing or OpenColour whitepaper from our Knowledge Base.

Assemblage, Mounting and Printing

Prepress for Packaging distinguishes itself from promotional printing because packaging is often produced in combination or with several copies at the same time. The printing plate is the mould for many thousands of prints and must meet detailed requirements. The printer has to be able to measure and adjust and needs printing auxiliary markers. Colour strips, all kinds of check boxes, tracking codes for unexpected recalls and so on. The printed matter as a semi-finished product is the input for the packer. The packer relies on the correct placement of reading blocks in the printed material of the filling machine.

So positioning and assembly of printing elements is not nothing. Before the costly printing process starts, it has to be carefully checked. The printing of the Flexo printing plate offers certainty. And that is exactly what Rudico delivers. Are you interested in more information about the possibilities? Then download the Round Mounting or Flat Mounting whitepaper from our Knowledgebase.

Flexo printing plates

There is no other technique besides the Flexo printing technique with so many different types of printing plates. Innovations in the composition of photopolymer are very actual. Just like renewed exposure techniques and alternative production processes. Rudico always strives for the highest achievable, reproducible quality in printing. Ambitious Sustainability objectives go hand in hand with it. We believe in replacing the existing production techniques of Flexo Printing Plates with Thermal and/or Water-washable alternatives in the very short term. Of course without taking away from the quality in durable usability. In our Knowledgebase, you will find several whitepapers on Flexo Printing Plates, classified based on applications and Innovations.

Questions? Do you want to investigate value creation? Please contact us