Esko DeskPack PowerLayout 16 Prepress Software User Manual

Dynamic Mark Properties

on page 71

• add a Standard Mark, by clicking the button or from the fly-out menu. See

Adding a

Standard Mark

on page 70

• remove the selected Mark, by clicking the button or from the fly-out menu.

Note:

Removing a Mark will remove the entry in the Mark Set as well as the actual object.

• expand a mark, by selecting the function in the fly-out menu. Expanding a mark replaces the

Dynamic Mark by a normal object.

• change the order of the Marks by clicking and dragging.

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• If the corresponding objects are in the same layer in the Layers menu, their order will be changed the same way.

• If you change the order in the Layers palette, the Marks in the Dynamic Marks palette will change accordingly

Note that the Marks list shows the topmost Mark at the bottom of the list, while the Layers palette works the other way around.

Note: Same as in Adobe Illustrator's Layer palette, there are two different types of selecting in the Dynamic Marks palette:

• If you click the name, the Mark is selected in a blue bar, but the actual art is not selected in

Adobe Illustrator. This selection is used for Dynamic Mark palette operations (zoom, trash, expand, remove).

• If you click at the right side of the row (or if you select the art using the Illustrator select tools), the Mark is showing a colored rectangle, indicating that the actual art is selected in

Adobe Illustrator. This selection is used for the Marks Properties.

4.2.1 Adding a Standard Mark

You can add one of the predefined Standard Marks to your Mark set:

1. Click the Add Standard Mark button or select Add Standard Mark from the fly-out menu

2. Select the Standard Mark you want to add.

3. Click Add

The Standard Mark will be added to the Mark Set, and in the current document. You can change its properties in the Dynamic Marks Properties palette. See

on page 71

The Standard Marks currently available are:

• Cut Mark

• Bearer Bars

• Gradation Strip

• Grid Marks

• Corner Marks

• Color Patches

• Image Mark

For more information on the properties for the Standard Marks, see

Specific Mark Properties

on page 75

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Note: It is not possible to apply scaling on standard marks. Every time the marks are updated, they will be regenerated at their original size.

4.2.2 Adding objects as Mark

You can add existing objects as a Mark to your set.

1. Select the object you want to use as a mark

2. Click the Add Selected Art as Mark button . or select Add Selected Art as Mark from the fly-out menu.

The new Mark will appear in the Dynamic Marks palette. You can change its properties in

the Dynamic Marks Properties palette. See

Dynamic Mark Properties

on page 71

Note: If you select multiple objects, these objects will be grouped and added as one single mark in your set.

4.3 Dynamic Mark Properties

You can open the Dynamic Mark Properties by choosing Window > Esko > Dynamic Marks >

Dynamic Mark Properties or by choosing Open Properties Palette from the flyout menu of

the Dynamic Marks palette.

4.3.1 Position

The position of a Mark is based on 3 settings:

Attach to

The position of the Mark can be based on

• Any page box: Media Box, Crop Box, Bleed Box, Trim Box or Art Box

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Note:

• a Page Box that is not defined in the file, will be greyed out

• If you load a Marks set that uses a page box not defined in the current file, the Trim Box is used instead, and a warning is shown

• You can't delete a Page Box if there 's a mark attached to it.

• another Dynamic Mark

• a PowerLayout Repetition, such as "PowerLayout Grid 1"

• Named Art

Named Art is any art in your Illustrator document, that you gave a name in the Layers palette: browse to the object you want to name in the Layers palette, double click the default name (eg.

<path>) and enter a name.

When selecting Named Art..., you get a separate dialog, in which you can either type the name of the Named Art you want to use, or select it from the dropdown at the right. Once Named Art has been used, it remains available in the Attach To dropdown.

Named Art is only possible on objects, not on groups. Named Art can't be hidden or locked.

Note: Standard Marks will be automatically attached to a currently selected PowerLayout

Standalone grid or another selected Dynamic Mark. If no grid or Dynamic Mark is selected, the

Standard Mark is attached to the Trim Box.

A PowerLayout Standalone grid is a Step and Repeat of a single file or object(s), generated by the PowerLayout Standalone plug-in. If such a grid is available in the document, you can select its name in the dropdown. For more information, see the PowerLayout Standalone documentation.

Positioning

The way the Mark is attached, can be chosen by clicking and dragging the blue square

(representing the Mark) to the desired position on the grey square (representing the

Attach To

reference). Each square has 9 reference points (top left center and right, middle left center and right, and bottom left center and right), so you have 81 different ways of positioning the mark.

This setting is not available for Bearer Bars and for Cut Marks.

In the example underneath, the top center of the (bounding box of the) mark will be placed on the left bottom corner of the (bounding box) of the reference defined in the Attach to field.

Note: If you create a Mark from an existing object, the Positioning settings (the blue rectangle) will be automatically set, using the smallest offset possible while keeping the object at the same location.

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Offset

In the offset fields, you can move the mark based on the defined position. The direction of the offset (up, down, left or right) depends on the positioning, and is shown by the

4 arrows.

Note: You can also manually move Marks. In that case, the offset will automatically adjust to the new location. The other settings (Attach To and Positioning) will NOT change.

Repeat

For custom marks, you can use the Repeat buttons, to choose if the mark should be repeated or not.

From left to right:

• No repeat

• Repeat on all 4 sides. The positions of the marks are rotated 90º around the center of the

Attach To object. Examples:

• Repeated horizontally. The positions of the marks are mirrored over the vertical center line.

Examples:

• Repeated vertically. The positions of the marks are mirrored over the horizontal center line.

Examples:

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Note: For vertical and horizontal repeat, the position of the marks is mirrored, but the actual marks are rotated 180 degrees.

4.3.2 Color

The color of a mark can be one of these settings:

Registration

The mark will be colored with 100% of every ink used in the document. If you change the tint to e.g. 42%, the mark will get 42% of every ink used in the document.

Changing the inks in the document can change the color of the mark. Technical inks are not used in the mark.

Note: If you manually change the color of a mark set to Registration, its color setting will change to "Static" (see below), using the newly set color.

Static

If color is set to "Static", the current color is stored, based on the actual inks. The color of the mark will not change if the order of the ink list is changed.

Note:

When placed on an existing document, "Static" marks are the only marks that affect the ink list: the inks used in the mark will be added if necessary.

Dynamic

If color is set to "Dynamic", the current color is stored, but based on the ink positions in the Ink

Manager, and not the actual inks.

For example, if the first ink is Cyan, a 100% cyan mark is stored as "100% of the first ink". If the first ink is different (by changing the ink order, or by placing the mark on a different file), the mark will become 100% of the first ink.

Note: If the ink list in the document changes after adding the marks, you must click Update

Ink List in the Ink Manager for the marks to adjust to the updated ink list.

Darkest

The mark will be colored with 100% of the darkest ink used in the document. You can't change the percentage for "Darkest" ink, it will always be 100%.

Changing the inks in the document can change the color of the mark. Technical inks are not used in the mark.

Note: If you manually change the color of a mark set to Darkest, the color will change back to the darkest ink at the next mark update.

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Fill / Stroke

For custom marks and for Color Patch marks, you can define both the Fill and the Stroke Color.

For Stroke, you have an extra option

Same as fill

Defaults

Every Dynamic Mark has a default color attribute:

Mark Type

Custom mark (plain object)

Cut Mark

Text

Image Mark

Dynamic Objects (Barcode,

Panel, Table)

Bearer Bar

Gradation Strip

Grid Marks

Corner Marks

Color Patch

Available Color Options

all*

Registration, Darkest, Static all

Static, Dynamic** all

Default

Dynamic

Darkest

Dynamic

Static

Static all

No Color Options

Registration, Darkest, Static

Registration not applicable

Registration

Registration only applicable for stroke: all same as fill

(*): A Custom mark created from a mesh or gradient object will always have color attribute

"Static". This can't be changed.

(**): EPS image marks can only be Static.

Note: A Gradation Strip doesn't allow setting Color options. A Gradation Strip always uses every ink, except for technical inks.

Inks

When using Dynamic color, you can choose what inks to include: All inks, only technical inks or only printing inks.

For any other color option, you can't change the drop down: for Static color and Registration it is fixed at "All", while for "Darkest" it is fixed at "Only Printing".

4.3.3 Specific Mark Properties

Standard Marks have, beside Position and Color, some specific properties.

Also Text Marks have specific properties, allowing to create dynamic Text Marks.

Cut Mark Properties

Cut Marks are created from a symbol named "CutMark", and are by default 0,1mm wide and

10mm long.

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Position: Cut Marks will be automatically attached to a currently selected PowerLayout

Standalone grid or another selected Dynamic Mark. If no grid or Dynamic Mark is selected, the

Cut Mark is attached to the Trim Box.

Color: Cut Marks are by default in "Darkest" color.

Offset: allows to define the offset for the Cut Marks. A positive offset will move the Cut Marks to the outside.

Symbol: allows to change the symbol used for the Cut Mark. See

Changing the Symbol of a

Standard Mark

on page 96,

Bearer Bars Properties

Adding a Bearer Bars mark will create two bars, one on each side, left and right (default) or top and bottom. The bars will automatically take the size (vertical or horizontal) of the "Attach" selection.

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Position: Bearer Bars will be automatically attached to a currently selected PowerLayout

Standalone grid or another selected Dynamic Mark. If no grid or Dynamic Mark is selected, the

Bearer Bars are attached to the Trim Box.

If the Show on Both Sides option is selected, you will get a Bearer Bar on both sides (top and bottom, or left and right).

By positioning the blue rectangles, you can choose between a vertical or horizontal orientation.

Color: Bearer Bars are by default in Registration color.

Width: The width of the Bearer Bar.

Extend: allows to extend the Bearer Bar on both size. Entering e.g. +5mm will extend the

Bearer Bar by 5 mm on both ends.

Offset defines the distance between the Attach to object and the Bearer Bars.

Gradation Strip Properties

Gradation Strips are created from a symbol named "GradationStrip", and are by default 3 rectangles of 5 x 5mm, horizontally, colored 40%, 80% and 100%, one strip per ink.

Position: Gradation Strips will be automatically attached to a currently selected PowerLayout

Standalone grid or another selected Dynamic Mark. If no grid or Dynamic Mark is selected, the

Gradation Strip is attached to the Trim Box.

If you change the Positioning setting (the blue rectangle), the gradation strip will rotate automatically based on the position of the blue rectangle.

Width: The width can be set to "One Strip per Ink" or to "Repeat to Fit".

Symbol: allows to change the symbol used for the Gradation Strip Mark. See

on page 96,

You can use any type of art in the symbol, but only paths and compound paths will be colored.

If you will use any text in your Gradation Strip symbol, it will be automatically colored with darkest ink.

If you change the default Gradation Strip symbol, the default position will be based on the size of the symbol. If the width of the symbol is bigger than its height, the Gradation Strip will be created horizontally by default. If the height is bigger, the Gradation Strip will be created vertically by default.

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Flip: when set to "Normal", the gradation is built from left to right, when set to "Reverted", the gradation strip is built from right to left.

Grid Mark Properties

Grid Marks are created from a symbol named "GridMark", and are by default a rectangle of 5 x

5mm, in Registration color.

Position: Grid Marks will be automatically attached to a currently selected PowerLayout

Standalone grid. If no grid is selected, you will get an error message.

Mark Positions & Copies:

Using the Where buttons, you can define where you want the Grid Marks:

• on the left side of the Repeat

• on the right side of the Repeat

• on top of the Repeat

• below the Repeat

• in between the columns

• in between the rows.

Note: The "in between" options can not be used in combination with stagger. If you enable stagger while grid marks are set to "in between", or if you load a mark set containing such a mark, the grid marks will be placed at the side, and a warning will be given.

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For the Mark Position, you can (besides the normal Position settings) set the Reference. The

Reference defines what cell or column to use as a reference:. You can set the Reference to

Outer Left Cell or Outer Right Cell, or to Outer Left Column or Outer Right Column.

If the Grid Marks are placed on the top or bottom of the repeat, the options become top/ bottom instead of left/right, and Row instead of Column.

If a Column is used, a single Grid Mark is placed, using the column as reference.

In case you use a Cell as Reference, you can choose to Repeat the grid mark every Row (or

Column), every 2 rows, ect...

The examples underneath shows a 5 by 5 repeat with staggering. The Position is always centered at the left side.

Outer Left Column:

Outer Right Column:

Outer Left Cell, no repeat:

Outer Right Cell, no repeat:

Outer Left Cell, repeat every 1 rows:

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Outer Left Cell, repeat every 2 rows:

Symbol: allows to change the symbol used for the Gradation Strip Mark. See

White Underprint: see

on page 96.

Set Symbol: allows to change the symbol used for the Gradation Strip Mark. See

on page 95

Corner Mark Properties

Corner Marks are created from a symbol named "CornerMark".

Bounding Box Corners or Repetition Corners:

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Using the buttons, you can define if you want corner marks on the bounding box of the selected Attach To area, or on the corners of every one-up. This option is only available if you attached the corner mark to a Repeat Grid.

Set Symbol: allows to change the symbol used for the Color Patch Mark. See

on page 96.

Offset allows to define the offset between the corner and the corner mark. If the lock is enabled, vertical and horizontal offset are kept the same. If the lock is disabled, you can enter different values for vertical and horizontal offset.

If an offset of 0mm is used (in the image underneath on the left), the bounding box of the corner mark is placed on the outside of the selected page box. The page box is shown in red, the corner mark in black and the bounding box in blue.

In the image on the right, the default offset of -8mm is used. You can see the Corner Mark being moved 8 mm to the inside, based on the original position. Since the default symbol is

10 mm by 10mm, this default setting places the corner mark at 2 mm to the outside of the selected page box.

Color Patch Properties

Color Patch marks are created from a symbol named "ColorPatch".

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on page 96.

A Color Patch mark is dynamically colored in one ink. The Index defines the ink to use, based on the ink position in the Ink Manager.

You can however define a different color for the text and for the stroke.

The number of text fields depends on the number of text fields in the symbol. When using the default symbol, a Color Patch contains 3 text fields, set to the short ink name, the ruling and angle, and the index.

Note: When you create a symbol for Color Patch using exact the same variable names (case sensitive), Dynamic Marks will automatically use these variables. This way, you can quickly create a Color Patch symbol with working variable text fields.

Text Mark properties

A Text Mark is a Custom Mark created from a text object. Text Marks can consist of static and dynamic text.

1. Create a text object, using the font and text settings you want to use, and add it as a Custom

Mark.

For more info on adding obejcts as Mark, see

White Underprint allows to add White Underprint to your Mark. See

on page 71

2. Open the Dynamic Mark Properties palette, by choosing Window > Esko > Dynamic Marks

Dynamic Mark Properties

The existing text is static, which means it won't change when you use the Mark into another document, or if the document changes.

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You can make all or part of the text dynamic, to have it change with every document you use your mark into.

Note: If you want to have some static text, just leave that part of the text as it is (or type in new text) in the Text area.

3. To get dynamic text, you need to insert dynamic fields.

Place your cursor where you want the field to be, or select the text to replace with a field, and click the Insert / Modify ... button.

4. In the Insert Field dialog that opens, choose the fields to insert: a) Select Local Variables to select variables from the local file, or Server Variables to use

SmartNames from the Automation Engine server. In that case, all Database queries defined on the server will be available, as well as all job and product parameters.

b) choose a field Category, for example Barcodes, Date & Time...

c) in that Category, choose the Field you want to use (see

Categories and Types

on page

84 for a list of available categories and fields), d) if applicable, choose the Format to use for your chosen Field (see

Formatting Dynamic

Fields

on page 88 for details),

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Note: The Preview line shows how the field will be resolved in the current document.

e) when you are satisfied with how your field will look like, click OK.

The dynamic parts of a text object will appear between square brackets.

on page

Categories and Types

Local Variables

Barcodes

Date & Time

• Number of Barcodes

• Barcode Type

• Barcode Code

• Bar Width Reduction

• Barcode Magnification

• Barcode Device Compensation

• Barcode Narrow Bar

• Date

• Time

• Date and Time

Document

File Info (XMP)

Inks

Links

System

Server Variables

File Info

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• File Name

• Fonts

• Layer Names

• CMYK Profile

• RGB Profile

• Color Mode

• Trim Box

• Crop Box

• Bleed Box

• Media Box

• Art Box

• Description

• Author

• Document Title

• Author Title

• Number of Inks

• Number of Technical Inks

• Ink Names

• Technical Ink Names

• Short Ink Names

• Abbreviated Ink Names

• Ink Types

• Ink Dotshapes

• Ink Angles

• Ink Rulings

• Printing Method

• Placed Files

• XML Content Files

• Structural Design File

• Illustrator Version

• Creative Suite Version

• OS Type

• OS Version

• Short User Name

• Full User Name

• Extension of File

• File

• File Type

• First Folder of File

• Folder of File

Job Info

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• Folder of Input

• Job Name

• Order ID

• Sub Order ID

• Description

• Due Date

• Project ID

• Last Actor

• Job URL

• Category

• Category2

• Category3

• Category4

• Category5

• Category6

• Category7

• Customer Ref

• CSR

• CSR Email

• Customer ID

• Customer Name

• Customer Description

• Due Day

• Due Time

• Job Container Name

• Job Container URL

• Job CT URL

• Job ID

• Name of Folder of Job

• JI Legacy Job (JDF)

• JI Originator (JDF)

• PS Printer Name

• PS Printer Name (JDF)

• Job Parameters

• Number of Barcodes

• Barcode Type

• Barcode Code

• Bar Width Reduction

• Barcode Magnification

• Barcode Device Compensation

• Barcode Narrow Bar

• Number of Inks

• Number of Technical Inks

• Ink Names

• Technical Ink Names

• Short Ink Names

• Ink Types

Global

Misc

Path Info

Product Info

Job Barcodes

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• Ink Dotshapes

• Ink Angles

• Ink Rulings

• Ink Printing Methods

• Server

• File URL

• Job Temp URL

• URL Folder of Input

• URL of Input

• Customer's Product Reference

• Product Amount

• Product Custom Field 1

• Product Custom Field 2

• Product Custom Field 3

• Product Customer Description

• Product Customer ID

• Product Customer Name

• Product Description

• Product ID

• Product Name

• Product Part Custom Field 1

• Product Part Custom Field 2

• Product Part Custom Field 3

• Product Part Datazone

• Product Part Name

• Product Part Status

• 2of5

• Bobst

• CLF8

• Codabar

• Code 39

• Code 128

• Code 39 Extended

• Data Matrix ECC 200

• EAN 8

• EAN 13

• GS1 128

• GS1 Databar Omnidirectional

• GS1 Databar Expanded

• GS1 Databar Expanded Stacked

• GS1 Databar Limited

• GS1 Databar Stacked

• GS1 Databar Stacked Omnidirectional

• GS1 Databar Truncated

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• GS1 Datamatrix

• GS1 US Coupon Interim

• HIBC-39

• HIBC-128

• ITF-14

• ITF-16

• Int. 2of5

• Kurandt

• Laetus Pharma

• MS7

• MSI

• Marks and Spencer

• NDC-HRI

• PDF417

• MicroPDF417

• Plessey

• PZN

• PZN8

• Paraf Italy

• QR

• MicroQR

• UPC-A

• UPC-E

• UPC-SCS

Formatting Dynamic Fields

You can format certain fields so they look a certain way (for example, have the date in

European or American format).

You can use predefined formats or create custom formats. You can also choose to use a different format for each field, or the same format for all fields.

Using an Existing Format

• You can choose an existing format to apply to your field in the Format list.

For example, use [name][ext] to display the file name and extension when using the File

Name field.

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Tip: Hover over to get more information about the different formats.

Defining a Custom Format

To define your own field format:

1. Choose Custom in the format list.

2. Define your format in the box below (using the predefined formats and the information

under for help).

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Note:

• The items in square brackets, like

[major], are dynamic, the rest of the text is static.

• Use the Enter key to get a new line.

3. Check how your format resolves for the current file in the Preview line.

4. Click OK when you are satisfied.

Repeating the Format for All Items

If the field you want to use can have several values (e.g. Fonts, Ink Names, Placed Files...), you can put them all in one dynamic object.

You can also set the same format for all those values at once.

After choosing an existing format or defining a custom one:

1. Select Repeat format for all items.

2. Choose the Separator you want to use between the values (Comma, Space...).

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Note: You can also specify your own separator by typing it directly in the Separator list.

3. When you are satisfied with what you see in the Preview, click OK.

Reflow text

If you create a custom mark based on text in a text frame, resizing using standard transform tools will resize the text "as is" instead of reflowing the text inside the resized text box.

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If the

Reflow Text option is enabled, resizing using standard transform tools will resize the text box, and the text will reflow inside the resized text box.

Barcode Mark properties

A Barcode Mark is a Custom Mark created from a Barcode object. For more information on creating barcodes, please refer to the Dynamic Barcodes documentation.

1. Create a barcode, using the barcode type and settings you want to use, and add it as a

Custom Mark.

For more info on adding obejcts as Mark, see

White Underprint allows to add White Underprint to your Mark. See

on page 71

2. Open the Dynamic Mark Properties palette, by choosing Window > Esko > Dynamic Marks

Dynamic Mark Properties

The existing Barcode is static, which means it won't change when you use the Mark into another document, or if the document changes.

You can make all or part of the code dynamic, to have it change with every document you use your mark into.

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3. To get a dynamic barcode, you need to insert dynamic fields.

Place your cursor where you want the field to be, or select the text to replace with a field, and click the Insert / Modify ... button.

4. In the Insert Field dialog that opens, choose the fields to insert: a) choose a field Category, for example Barcodes, Date & Time...

b) in that Category, choose the Field you want to use (see

Categories and Types

on page

84 for a list of available categories and fields), c) if applicable, choose the Format to use for your chosen Field (see

Formatting Dynamic

Fields

on page 88 for details),

Note: The Preview line shows how the field will be resolved in the current document.

d) when you are satisfied with how your field will look like, click OK.

The dynamic parts of a barcode will appear between square brackets.

Note: Only the barcode's code can be changed after making. You can not change the barcode type or other settings after creating a Mark from a bar code. To change these settings, you have to delete the Mark and create a new one.

it as a Custom Mark. For more info on adding obejcts as Mark, see

on page

Image Mark properties

An image Mark is a mark created from a linked image

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1. There are two ways to create an Image Mark

• Click the Add Standard Mark button or select Add Standard Mark from the fly-out menu, and choose Image Mark as type.

• Place an image (supported file formats are JPG, PDF, TIFF, EPS and PSD) as a link, and add

more information on dynamic text, see

on page 71

2. Open the Dynamic Mark Properties palette, by choosing Window > Esko > Dynamic Marks

Dynamic Mark Properties

If the Image Mark was created from an existing image, the Dynamic Mark Properties will reflect the properties of this image: its position attached to the top left corner of the trim box, and the path of the linked file.

3. Set the Scaling

• When set to Numeric, you can enter the scaling in %.

• Scale to Fit will scale the image proportionally to fit the object defined in the "Attach to" field. You can use this for example to fit the image inside a named object. The % field will reflect the current scale factor.

• Downscale to Fit is the same as "Scale to Fit", but the image will only be downscaled (if necessary), not upscaled. The % field will reflect the current scale factor.

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4. Set the Rotation for the image using the buttons

5. Use the File field to set the path for the linked image. If the path is valid, the image will be shown in the document. Otherwise, a placeholder is shown.

If you used a placed image to create the Image Mark, its file path will be entered automatically.

You can enter the path manually, or use the Browse button.

You can use dynamic text in the path, e.g. the Job Folder. Use the Insert/Modify button. For

Text Mark properties

on page 82

6. Color can be set to Static or Dynamic. For an EPS image, only Static is allowed.

Note: If you switch from Dynamic to Static, the colors from the original file are used. If there is a difference in the number of channels between two real images, the mark will switch back to static.

7. White Underprint allows to add White Underprint to your Mark. See