Wise image processing software that can use "metal inks"

Publishers of products such as brochures, product catalogs, and product marketing instructions are increasingly using “metallic luster” printed materials to make the product more attractive to readers. Andy Becedek is making this specialization, Metallic ink image processing software can be used to achieve a product with a special visual effect.

This software, called Wise, integrates the visual effects produced by metallic inks into conventional four-color printing to make the product more impressive and unforgettable. However, due to the special nature of "metal" inks, the effect and value of this "super four-color" ink is still not recognized by those who are biased.

What is the Wise system? It is to use the conventional 4-color printing color separation system by adding gold ink or silver ink, or a combination thereof, to become a 5-color or 6-color printing system to increase the visual appeal of the image. This Wise system does not need to use random screen technology like the Pantone 6 color system. Since the metallic ink is one of the components of the image rendering (the color CMYK channel of the primary color needs to be corrected and one or two channels are added), the effect of the synthesis is more varied and is different from the appearance of only the metallic ink as an additional color. Image effect.

What effect does the image processed by this software system have? First make artificial settings. From the fine area to the large area, the image to be emphasized can be divided into 5 levels. In this way, the metalized image can be faithfully reproduced, and the warm and hot parts of the image and the finely radiant part of the image exhibit warmth and depth. In addition, if the image is viewed from different angles, a holographic visual effect can be obtained as the image is emphasized to a different extent. Furthermore, areas that are not emphasized by the metallization effect in the image appear unusual due to the contrast with the metallized image part, and also become more attractive for visual perception. This magical effect can only be experienced by seeing it with your own eyes.

However, this does not mean that all images can achieve this special effect through the Wise system software. There is no doubt that only some images are more suitable in this way. In determining the suitability of the image for processing with this set of software, some experimentation must be done and the number of gradation changes used should be determined to avoid excessive loss of detail in the emphasized image area.

For help, get guidance from Wolstenholme's Designer's Guide. For example, there are three images, one with “gold” emphasis, one with “silver” emphasis, and one with “silver and silver mixed” emphasis. In the “Designer's Guide”, the number of adjustments can be found. It is 5 levels. In fact, anyone who wants to use this software must have a "Designer Guide" manual.

As for the result of the print produced by this set of software - whether or not people are accepting it - it is entirely artificially set. Its special visual effects may not be appreciated by people, but it is indeed very eye-catching. In many cases, attention is more important than anything else. Therefore, Wise software system is especially suitable for special customers such as brochures, catalogues, advertisements, sales of product display, packaging and posters, etc.

As for the core part of the production software, the Wise system also integrates the color properties of metal inks into the CMYK four-color process, which relies entirely on image processing using Photoshop software. The difference from Photoshop is that most of the software's operations on images are automatic and do some special processing. For example, if you call a UCR function, when the software executes the command, UCR processing, grouping, and other operations will be performed on the image step by step.

The Wise system is actually composed of two or two sets of functional operations added to the function menu of Photoshop software. One of the functions is the "metallization" emphasis on the entire image, and the second is the "metallization" emphasis on the selected area only. Each function operation is divided into three cases: gold, silver, and gold and silver. In each case, the degree of “metallization” is divided into 5 levels, and its basic level is -10%. 10%, 0+20%, +30%.

The next question is: how to operate? In the first step, select the appropriate image for "metallization" emphasis. The entire image of the image should be free of tones of gold or silver achromatic color, and the majority of the image is not "good enough" for the "metalized" emphasis (unless you want to get dazzling color blocks or vulgar effects) when When the images used are more appropriate, in the viewer's eyes, the small part of the image's emphasis produces a compelling effect that is no longer disregarded.

After selecting the image and ink, determine the emphasized image area and the degree of emphasis (level). Image processing can be performed in Photoshop. As a result, the image has one or two additional channels in addition to the CMYK four-color channel. The new image needs to be stored in Photoshop's DCS 2.0 format and use a new file name to avoid overwriting the original file.

The printing sequence is: gold ink/silver ink, blue, yellow, black, and black. This color sequence is for reference only, not necessarily so. The added metal ink printing can also be printed on a monochrome machine and does not require random screening. If the final printing process can be further tested, it may be better for the print.

As for inks, highly viscous metallic inks facilitate fast fixing and single pass printing. Wolstenholmes naturally recommends using the company's inks, but it emphasizes that the software system does not only use the company's inks. Pantoe Gold 873 and Silver 877 are also suitable, but the metal effect achieved by other manufacturers' inks may be different.

At this point, you have some understanding of the Wise software system of Wolstenholmes. If you are interested in the cost and operating functions of the system, you can download the latest version for free. Or you can get CD-Rom from Wolstenholmes. This operating function is provided free of charge. The cost of plate making will not be higher than the conventional CMYK four-color version plus one or two spot color versions, and the cost of the ink depends on the market price.

Once the designer has the idea to decorate the image, there is no doubt that using this software can achieve results. However, because the printing process is to superimpose various colors of ink, and the ink amount will change, the metal ink is no longer a four-color standard, and the spot color ink outside the ink is integrated into a part of the color rendering components in the image, and Changes in tone. All of this is in a relatively easy way to achieve different visual effects.

It is recommended that you ask for a "Designer's Guide" from Wolstenholmes, because the image sample is very effective and worth a thousand words, and, happily, it is free.