Artwork Instructions

READY TO SEE YOUR CAN DIGITALLY PRINTED?

Download the appropriate template and follow these instructions to create an approved PDF.

Our design team will work with you to get it right! Please keep in mindthat your order will not be placed in the queue until it meets our designrequirements.

PREPARE YOUR ARTWORK

  • DO NOT alter the size of the artboard. Place all artwork on the‘Your Artwork Layer

  • Must outline all text. You can do this by selecting the text with theSelection Tool > Right Click and then Select Create Outlines

  • Embed ALL images and links

  • Ensure everything is vector based, not pixel

  • Make sure to export the PDF as an editable PDF in Illustrator so that the layer structure stays in-tact. No crop marks or bleeds applied at all.

DOCUMENT COLOR MODE

  • Files MUST be CMYK, do not use RGB

THE WARP ZONE

Our digital printers use inkjet technology. Since the neck of thecan is further from the inkjet nozzle, the definition in the neckwill be less pronounced.

  • Recommended: avoid intricate designsand small characters in the neck area for an optimum print

SELECTIVE METALLIC / WHITE

When a can is meant to show no metallic elements, the entire surface of a Brite can is covered with a percentage of white. This emulates a traditional white basecoated can.

For metallic features, use selective white to allow the Brite can to show through, giving any range of metallic colors or even a full metallic knockout (leaving the can fully exposed in a given area).

To achieve any metallic element, we use a selective white swatch, (similar to our selective gloss process) to indicate where the white ink should, or shouldn’t be.

  • Duplicate elements that are to be selectively white, all other elements will be metallic by default

  • Convert copied elements to our “WHT” spotcolor swatch (blue) from the template as a mask to indicate any elements where white should be laid down, hiding the metallic can.

  • Turn on “Overprint Fill” from the Attributes panel(Window > Attributes) for the WHT swatch

  • Verify that all spot varnished elements are onthe “SpotWhite” layer.

  • If you desire a pure knockout, with no ink, ensure there is nothing underneath those elements except the artboard.

Our printers print exactly what they see in this template, so it’s essentialthat your artwork extends past the dimensions of theartboard and that the Spot White Layer is visible (nothidden) and that Overprint Fill is turned on.

Example of elements (in this case lettering and other features) needing to be metallic, every other area should be added as a mask the Spot White Layer (blue). The blue area will be printed witha white basecoat, while everything else will be a metallic finish. DOWNLOAD EXAMPLE

Need assistance?

Reach out to our pre-press team

Texas Office - Bill Bennett
Email: bill@canworksprinting.com

California Office - James Jolliff
Email: james@canworksprinting.com