WHITE INK

White ink can be applied in one of two ways:

FLOOD WHITE INK

FLOOD WHITE

  • This is a full coverage printing process where white ink is printed behind the entire graphic
  • No special steps need to be taken in order for a file to print Flood White
Flood White Ink Example

SPOT WHITE INK

SPOT WHITE

  • This is a full or partial coverage process, where white ink is used under specified areas of the graphic
  • The specified areas can be where only white ink prints or, where white ink is printed behind graphics on a clear substrate, making the graphic opaque and surrounding areas clear

In order to specify what areas of the print are to print with white ink, special steps will need to be taken (see below).

SETUP FOR SPOT WHITE

The following is an overview of the steps to take when specifying what areas on your final print that you would like white ink to print.

VECTOR BASED ART

  • When working with vector files, the easiest way to create a specified white ink area is to copy all the art that you want the white ink to print behind, paste that art directly over graphics and combine the art into one solid shape.
  • Create a new layer, name it “White_Ink” and move the combined white ink art onto that layer.
  • Finally, change the fill color of the combined art to solid magenta (0/100/0/0).

SPOT WHITE LAYERS EXAMPLE

Spot White Layer Setup Example

SPOT WHITE PRODUCT EXAMPLE

Graphic with Spot White Ink Underneath

SETUP FOR SPOT WHITE ONLY

  • If you are planning to print white only (not behind a graphic) simply put all this art on the “White_Ink” layer with a fill color of solid magenta.

SPOT WHITE ONLY EXAMPLE

Spot White Only Layer Setup Example

SPOT WHITE ONLY PRODUCT EXAMPLE

Spot White Ink Only Product Example

RASTER BASED ART

When working with raster files, (the following pertains to Adobe Photoshop only) the simplest way to create a specified white ink area is create a selection where white ink is to print behind and create a “Spot Channel” from the named “White_Ink”

ADVANCED SPOT WHITE TECHNIQUE

  • With a print that has a drop shadow, it is advised not to print white ink behind the drop shadow. The white ink distorts the drop shadow and gives it a white “glow” around the drop shadow.
  • When creating white ink art for a graphic that has a gradient that fades into nothing, it is advised that the white ink gradient fade out before the actual gradient it will print beneath. This is for the same reason as that of the drop shadow.
  • White ink can be printed in different percentages of opacity, but take not that the ink may print at a higher density than what you expect when creating your file.