|
|
|
We are the "Customize a Bag" Experts!
We have a skilled in-house Creative & Graphic Art department that is ready to customise your packaging products to meet the need and look you want.
|
|
| Art Department |
| International Plastics maintains the latest in graphic design software and equipment to help our customers with all facets of plastic package design. Our experienced artists can develop your concepts to final proof within hours of your request. If you already have acceptable electronic files of what you want, then we will prepare them for final proofs and plate making. |
|
| Personnel / Experience |
- Three Graphic Artists with over 30 years of collective experience in plastic packaging design.
- Multiple Collegiate Degrees in all aspects of Art and Marketing.
- Extended Training in Art, Design and the Packaging Industry.
|
|
| 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. |
|
| 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, 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. |
|
| We will be happy to work with you in any capacity of design or prepress to help you achieve the printed bag or film you are looking for. |
|
Ask about how your job can have 2 hours of free art time (a $150 value!).
|
|
Acceptable File Formats and Software
|
| We are currently able to accept art in the following Macintosh format of these versions or lower. Please supply EPS vector artwork. We create spot color separations. |
Adobe Illustrator CS 3 (Preferred)
Adobe Freehand MX
Adobe InDesign CS 3
.eps files if they are editable |
Adobe Acrobat (.pdf)
If they are embedded and non secured with the original editable file.
|
| Please do not send files that have a .sit suffix. Our spam filter will not allow them to come through. |
| |
| Acceptable Disk/Media |
Art may be supplied on disk prepared for Macintosh format.
email (We can handle files up to 10 megabytes. Anything over that should be uploaded through Custom Art upload area)
CD / DVD
Io-mega zip 100mb or 250mb
3.5 Floppy Disk drive
All Flash Media Cards
Upload through our Custom Art upload area
We offer FTP downloading only.
Camera ready art (must be color separated to exact size, and have sharp, contrasting print.) |
|
| Not Acceptable Disk/Media |
| Photocopies, faxes and business cards are not camera ready and will require artist services for additional touch up, stats and trapping. |
|
| Art requirements |
| |
 |
Raster vs. Vector, what's the difference?
Please open the .pdf file to the left for a very good explination between Vector (Spot) and 4 color process ("Picture) printing.
|
| Fonts - When fonts are used, you must include the screen and printer fonts used for the job on the disk OR create outlines for all type in Illustrator. |
| |
Ink Colors - Please refer to this handy PMS color chart to be able to make a more accurate decision when choosing spot ink colors. Please note that due to variations in computer monitors, that this is not exact color representation, but rather, a "go-by". Please refer to a professional printers PMS coated spot color swatch book to have a more accurate understanding.
|
|
|
Screens / Tints - All screens printing with solids will print at a 55 line (a very "Rough" look compared to offset printing) up to a maximum of 65 lines. We cannot blend screens of spot colors to achieve graduated blends of color. When 2 or more colors are blended together the job becomes a 4 color process job. The percentage of tints or screen should be no lower than 15% and no higher than 80%. Any lower and the screen will more than likely not show up, any higher than 80% and the screen fills in and might as well have been 100%.
|
|
|
Any work required to bring artwork up to camera ready quality will be billed at $75.00 per hour.
|
|
| Printing Capabilities - We are capable of printing up to 8 colors on both sides of a bag, and up to 100% of the bag can be imprinted, except where noted otherwise. Process printing is available with a 25M piece minimum, and requires prior approval of artwork and a special quotation. |
| |
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.
|
|
|
Plate charge estimator - The following price chart should be used to calculate estimated plate charges for straight line art copy, when the SAME copy is printing on BOTH sides of the bag. Please note: When printing screens, half tones, 4 color process, bags less than 12" wide, over-sized copy (20"+), 1 side print or different copy each side, you must contact us for a quotation.
|
|
| Calculate Estimated Printing Plate Costs As Follows:
1- For each color, measure the farthest dimension of print copy for width and height and add 2 inches to each dimension.
2- Multiply width by height to get total square inches per color.
3- Use the chart below to calculate the plate charge.
This calculation must be done for each color to be printed, and covers printing plates for BOTH sides of the bag.
(assuming same copy on each side) Any copy measuring over 20" require special details.
|
| |
|
|
|
| (This chart does not pertain to 4 color process, screens, or halftone plates.) |
|
| 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).
|
 |
|
| 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.
|
|
Technical Hardware
|
| Pre-Press Equipment |
|
|
State-of-the-Art Mac OS X Workstations
|
2 - Mac Pros - each built with 2.66 GHz Dual-Core Intel Xeon Processors, 7 GB of ram,
(2) 250 GB hard drives and CD/DVD Super drives
1 - G5 Power PC – Dual 2.7 GHz, 4 gb of ram, 2- 250 GB hard drives, CD/DVD Super Drive
1 - G5 Power PC – Dual 2 GHz, 3 gb of ram, 2- 250 GB hard drives, CD/DVD Super Drive
|
|
| Mobile Computers |
1 – Mac Book Pro 15” Laptop
1 – Mac Book Pro 17” Laptop
1 - Sony VAIO Laptop Windows - XP
|
|
| Graphic Displays |
2 – 30-inch Apple Cinema Displays
1 – 23-inch Apple Cinema Display
2 – 21” Samsung Sync-Master 213T Displays in dual configuration
|
|
| Scanners |
1 - HP Scan Jet 4670 (Letter size bed)
1 – Epson Perfection 1200 (Letter size bed)
|
|
| Proofing Devices |
IKON CPP 500 Color Laser Printer / Copier with Creo RIP - up to 13” x 19”
Ricoh Aficio 6513Color Laser Printer / Copier with EFI Firey RIP - up to 12 x 18
|
|
| Customer Art Storage Servers |
| 250 Gig with daily backups |
|
| Color Reference |
|
PMS ink Swatch Books
PMS ink Process to Spot identifier book
Pantone® Spyder 2 Pro Calibration system |
|
| Full Photography Studio |
Digital SLR Canon EOS Rebel with multiple lenses
|
|
| Studio Equipment |
Multiple halogen box lights
Multiple backgrounds
|
