Effects
Through the block effects, the printformer allows to vectorize any assest in real time, reduce colors or perform a color space conversion. The created vectors can also be saved in the asset manager.
The printformer contains four effects, each of which can be configured individually:
Embossing (Print finishing: die-stamping or varnish)
Vector (Vectorization and color reducing)
Color Space Conversion (CMYK, Greyscale, ICC-Profile)
Monochrome (one-color, without gradations)
Add Block-Effect
First, the desired Effect (Embossing, Vector, Color space conversion or Monochrome) is selected.
The general settings are same for all four effects:
Identifier (to be used in the block of IDML) and Label (name) must be given, as well as client assignment must be made. In addition, a description (to be displayed in the editor when editing the asset in the tracer) can be defined.
Settings Embossing
Minimum and maximum sizes for font and block can be specified for this effect, as well as the default vectorization settings (default value for noise reduction, corner smoothing and Bézier curve optimization). These can be overridden when using the block-effects-active block attribute in the editor.
Settings Vector
Here the maximum number of colors for the later vector graphic is defined as well as the default vectorization settings (default value for noise reduction, corner smoothing and Bézier curve optimization). These can be overridden when using the block-effects-active block attribute in the editor.
This effect can be applied only to image blocks.
Settings Color space conversion
Selection of the desired output color space (gray-scale or CMYK), if needed an ICC profile uploaded under Colors can be added. (Publish > Colors > ICC Profile).
Note: the CMYK conversion is only visible in the print PDF.
This effect can be applied only to image blocks.
Settings Monochrome
Currently, no adjustments can be made for this function. The effect creates a pure black and white conversion of the original motif.
This effect can be applied only to image blocks.
Block effect assignment
To use the effects in the editor, they must be assigned in the template configuration.
If only one effect is required in the template that is to be applied to blocks (texts or images), the label of the effect can be entered in the template editing in the Block effect assignment submenu via the plus symbol and the effect can thus be set as the default for newly inserted assets. In doing so, the Assigned automatically checkbox must be activated. (Note: the effect cannot be removed by the user).
If different effects are to be applied in the template or if the effect is to apply only to (a) specific block(s), these must be assigned accordingly in the IDML.
For this purpose, each block that should receive an effect is given the attribute block-effects-active (including the identifier defined in the effect):
(Note: the block must not contain a linked image and the effects specified via the attribute cannot be removed by the user in the editor).
Even if effects are already defined at the block in the IDML file, they must still be assigned additionally in the template configuration: in the Block effect assignment submenu, the label of the effect is entered via the plus symbol in each case (the Assigned automatically checkbox must remain deactivated).
If the effect blocks are located in an article template, the effects contained therein must be assigned to the master (container) template. (Assignment in the article template configuration is not possible).
Finishing the effect in the printformer editor
The particular effect is applied in the printformer editor directly as soon an asset is imported. For the embossing and vector effects, the settings mask opens automatically. Later, adjustments can be made again using the Trace/Change Color button. Via Save vector in Mediamanager the vectorized assets can be saved (also for other templates).
Notes
If the block-effects-active attribute is set in the image blocks or if the effect is assigned automatically for new blocks (via the template configuration), it cannot be removed by the user.
Currently, only one effect can be assigned to each block.
If the template is to contain several blocks with different effects, this is currently only possible via the block-effects-active attribute in the IDML. The image block must be empty (must not contain a default image).
Vectorized assets can be saved in the system media.
The conversion to CMYK is only visible after the print data has been created.
If the Emboss effect is applied, the object is always knocked out.