Our artwork guide provides info on how to setup Pantones and embellishments for print
Download as a PDF here
A print-ready file (Adobe InDesign or Adobe Illustrator) with fonts outlined.
We will setup the artwork to our specifications, but we don’t make non-print ready files, print ready.
We generally recommend Adobe InDesign or Adobe Illustrator. Using vector-based artwork and programs, is best.
Setup the artboard at your desired finished size.
If any imagery or colour comes within 3mm of the artboard size, it needs to extend 3mm past the artboard. This is to allow for variation in print processes.
All important information should be at least 3mm away from the trim edge.
See our embellishment settings below.
First, set all swatches (fill and strokes) to overprint.
Second, name your swatches according to the following rules:
Emboss – Select any Pantone® swatch, and rename to EMBOSS.
Deboss – Select any Pantone® swatch, and rename to DEBOSS
Foil – Select any Pantone® swatch, and rename to FOIL – “INSERT FOIL NUMBER”. For example: FOIL – 6.
If you don’t have our foil swatch card from our Sample Pack, see a list of our foil colours under the Foil Swatch toggle on our Sample Pack page.
Diecut – Select any Pantone® swatch, and rename to DIECUT
Letterpress – Use desired Pantone® Uncoated colour and add LETTERPRESS to the end. For example: Pantone 200U – LETTERPRESS.
We recommend the below:
White foiling: be aware this is not as crisp as other foils. Thicker line weights tend to be better.
Embossing and debossing: The thicker the artwork, the greater the impact.
For debossing, we choose to press as heavy as our equipment will allow, which can result in show-through on the other side.
Alignment between different foils and embellishments can vary. Be mindful, it’s not an exact science and movement can occur. Avoid tight fits between embellishments.
Coloured paper will change the look of your desired Pantone® colour. We have some sample cards that showcase fluro ink on coloured paper and dark inks on dark paper. Check them out here.
All our Thick stocks can be embossed.
Currently, we don’t emboss anything above 400gsm, this includes our Thicker, Thickest and Mix & Match range.
No, you can’t.
Embossing before or after mounting yields unpredictable results.
No, we don’t.
As an offset ink, it’s too transparent to show up well on dark paper.
We recommend metallic inks, e.g. silver, or a white foil. See our recommendations on white foils above under “How can I get the best out of my embellishments?”.
Create a 10mm slug in your artwork at the bottom.
Add the words ‘EDGE’ and the Pantone® swatch to the slug. For example: EDGE – Pantone 200U.
Create a 10mm slug in your artwork at the bottom.
Add the words ‘EDGE’ and the foil swatch to the slug. For example: EDGE – Foil 6.
Create a 10mm slug in your artwork at the bottom.
Add paper details on each artboard/side.
For example:
Page 01 = 270gsm Colorplan Citrine
Page 02 = 270gsm Colorplan Imperial Blue.
HHHI Limited
© 2023
What we are pondering
“Learn the rules like a pro, so you can break them like an artist”
— Pablo Picasso