By Cassandra Balentine
Part two of two
Print providers benefit from the latest advancements in packaging layout software. These tools help them sell and market solutions and more effectively produce packaging applications.
Packaging software vendors target the digital space with added capabilities for creating and viewing visual mock-ups prior to an order placement, as well as touting features that streamline the production process.
Abel Baez, software specialist, Digital Graphic Systems Inc. (DGS), says clients typically care about three major factors when producing a design—how much is it going to cost, when it can be ready, and how they’ll see the design once it’s in place.
Michael Bialko, technical product manager, Unified Workflow Solutions, Kodak, says the most significant recent enhancements for creating production layouts are the development of automation technology to build layouts. “Production layout planning is a procedural-driven activity with placement of each element on a sheet predetermined by specifications, which lends itself to a part of the packaging prepress workflow that can be automated,” he offers.
On the Market
Packaging automation software and 3D visualization tools are designed to streamline the design, proofing, prepress, and manufacturing process. Here, we provide highlights from select solutions on the market.
DGS distributes KASEMAKE packaging software, which allows users to create custom-sized 2D package designs in a matter of seconds, ready to export to a traditional die maker, artwork system, or for prototyping/production on a digital cutter.
Baez explains that a typical workflow is to make structural designs in KASEMAKE, then output a life-sized cutter guide to create a prototype and for a print studio to add the artwork. Then, users can reimport the finished artwork to KASEMAKE to show the print on the structural design and fold it up into a 3D view in seconds, providing a life-like representation of the printed package. “This can be great as a sales presentation tool to help your customers visualize the final product, but it is also an excellent way of spotting expensive printing errors—such as getting the text upside down on a particular panel on a complex design. The final 3D design can be output as a live 3D PDF file for easy and interactive 3D viewing by customers,” he says.
KASEMAKE also provides a full animation module to create a virtual environment where the package or point or purchase (POP) display will go. “It’s a great tool for project/sales presentations. It is widely used for the creation of folding cartons, transit boxes, corrugated packaging, and even honeycomb board displays and trade show booths,” says Baez.
KASEMAKE is sold as a complete, integrated package with all the features including a library of “parametrics,” containing more than 700 easily modifiable designs for under $10,000.
According to Baez, KASEMAKE is a leading software solution for package and POP design. The design tools are similar to existing tools on the market, making the learning curve conquerable. “The design process is really fast. In a matter of minutes you can have a complex design ready for production. KASEMAKE offers a 3D workspace to visualize the product in place, leaving the guesswork or hard-to-grasp explanation a thing of the past. At the end it is a visual business,” he says.
Esko provides a range of software tools for packaging. For companies that prefer to design with Adobe Illustrator, the company provides Esko DeskPack, which features a range of pre-media plug-ins to aid in the design and separation of designs and layouts for packaging. For example, one of the modules, BoostX, provides a number of drawing, editing, and ink control tools permitting faster and more precise product design.
PackEdge is a full-featured packaging preproduction editor offering unique technologies and dedicated tools focused on major prepress pain points.
Artios CAD is a structural design software featuring dedicated tools designed for packaging professionals for structural design, product development, virtual prototyping, and manufacturing. With it, designs are created in seconds from scratch by using an extensive library of folding carton and corrugated styles. 3D tools enable quick folding of the final design for even complex designs with curved creases.
Esko currently provides the front ends for many digital press providers. Larry Moore, VP, partner programs, North America, Esko, says the company is also concerned with color and offers solutions that ensure analog matches digital output. “While analog is still preferred for long runs, short runs are sometimes better served with digital, and it’s an area that Esko will continue to give attention to,” he attests.
“Today there are more effective user-friendly design and layout tools that allow for use directly inside of Adobe Illustrator. Even stand-alone applications, like Esko PackEdge and ArtPro, behave much more like Illustrator than in years past,” says Moore. “This makes it easier for designers to pick up how to use the software with a familiar interface that mirrors an industry standard. Most of these applications also allow a designer to view digital or virtual 3D proofing within the application. No print provider wants to output proofs on large digital presses. They are expensive to operate and this takes away from valuable production time—and might not be loaded with the correct substrate or colors, anyway.”
Moore says one of the newest advancements from Esko is the ArtiosCAD Canvas File new master design template feature. He explains that designers like to create all parts on a single document so they can see how each piece will interact and fit with each other. The new Canvas File in ArtiosCAD is a master design template. From the one canvas, they are able to redirect components that need graphics, separate the components based on how they are manufactured, and identify each part for reports, database searching, or integrating with a business system. Additionally, parts made on mixed substrates can be designed and viewed together.
Esko offers its Studio set of tools for 3D packaging design, specifically made for packaging artwork professionals. For both designers trying out different ideas or prepress operators checking a back match, Studio lets people virtually hold a package in their hands.
The company also provides WebCenter, a Web-based platform that manages packaging pre-production specification, approval, and project lifecycle. It takes these image files and makes the communication across states and continents easier for brand owners and print providers, rather than analog methods to approve designs.
Kodak provides solutions to the packaging market for imaging of film and plates, proofing, and workflow. “Packaging is a large, complex, and diverse industry with many production challenges,” says Bialko. He says Kodak strives to help its customers overcome barriers to success by offering tools and support to enable efficiency.
Kodak provides both its Pandora Step-and-Repeat Software and Kodak’s Prinergy Workflow Packaging Layout Automation software. These tools simplify packaging layouts by reducing the time and effort needed to create step-and-repeat layouts, automate layout creation, increase efficiency, and improve accuracy with intelligent marks that position and size on a layout, and enable seamless integration with Kodak Unified Workflow solutions and third-party workflow systems.
“Packaging Layout Automation is a powerful option that automates the time-consuming task of press sheet layout, eliminating manual steps and reducing errors,” says Bialko. He says it performs packaging-specific layouts by leveraging Prinergy rules-based automation software that is especially valuable when dealing with complex layouts, such as multiple jobs combined on a single press sheet. Packaging Layout Automation can be driven by the user’s MIS system with industry standard XML data to provide end-to-end automation.
These products are designed for printers/converters that provide boxes, folding cartons, bags, and labels.
TurnAvisual Aps offers an online 3D visualization tool, which allows users to check packaging graphic designs in 3D. “First of all, we create a 3D model and a special template where a customer can place a design. The template with the design on it should be saved in a PDF format and uploaded into the system. No software download or additional skills are required,” explains Svend Aage Kirk, CEO, TurnAvisual Aps.
In a few minutes customers receive an email with a link to a revolving 3D DPF, where they can view the 3D packaging model featuring the design. Kirk says there is an option to check the final result on a mobile device, and augmented reality is compatible.
The 3D visualization tool can be used by anyone involved in the graphic design process for a packaging, whether it is the designer, brand owner, or packaging manufacturer.
Zund provides a plug-in for Adobe Illustrator with Zünd Design Center (ZDC), enabling users to create three-dimensional designs for packaging and displays made from folding carton, corrugated cardboard, and sandwich board material.
The core of ZDC is a comprehensive library of parametric design standards that allows users to select a suitable design from the library and apply the desired measurements. Logos, patterns, and other elements can be added to complete the design. With 3D preview, users verify designs at any time. The 3D PDF export function is ideal for presentations and proposals and can also be used for generating .PNG files. Designs are prepared for seamless import into Zünd Cut Center.
Packaging Software Tools
For print providers looking to add packaging applications for the first time, and traditional packaging converters adding digital, specific considerations must be addressed to ensure error-free design for cost-effective, high-quality results. dps
Read part one, A Digital Impression
Mar2016, DPS Magazine
