Pick printed objects onto Spot UV and Foil layers as vector spot-ink copies, and save the file.
For a customer file that arrives with no finish layers. Open the PDF and click the type, shapes, logos and pictures that should be coated or foiled: a copy of each goes onto a Spot UV or Foil layer, as the object itself, in a spot ink. Where Maskwork builds plates — including finish that is not on the artwork, like patterns and frames — Spot Layers only ever copies what is printed, and keeps it as vectors.
The two buttons in the header choose the layer a click puts objects on (keys 1 and 2). Hovering shows the object under the pointer and what it is.
| Do this | To |
|---|---|
| Click | Put the object on the active layer; click it again to take it off. |
| Double-click text | Take its whole line — some programs set every letter as an object of its own. |
| Drag a box | Add every object wholly inside it. Alt-drag takes them off instead. |
| Alt-click | Reach the object underneath; Alt-click again on the same spot to go deeper. |
| All text / All pictures | Put every text run or picture on the page on that layer. |
An object can be on both layers — foil with a raised varnish over it. Each layer's list in the side panel shows what is on it for the page, with × to take one off. Undo and Redo (Ctrl+Z, Ctrl+Y) step through every change.
An object is one painting operation in the PDF: a text run, a filled or stroked shape, a picture, a placed graphic or a gradient. Its copy is drawn exactly where the original is, under the same clipping, at 100% of a SpotUV or Foil spot ink, set to overprint so the print underneath is not knocked out.
The customer's artwork is not changed: with both layers turned off, the page is the page that came in. The layer and ink names are the ones the Imposer carries through imposition and Embellishment Studio reads.
Result renders the file as it will be saved, with checkboxes to show the artwork and each layer. On screen Spot UV shows as magenta and Foil as gold; on press each is a plate of its own. Save PDF… writes a copy named … - spot layers.pdf.