Scodix1200™ OPA™ System OPA™ - Optical Print Alignment

Daniel Schott – Application Specialist

September2011

The Optical Print Alignment (OPA) feature enables the Scodix1200™ press to optically align the Scodix Clear Polymer image on each page of

the preprinted CMYK substrate as it is printed.

What is OPA?

Scodix1200™ OPA™ System

OPA™ - Optical Print Alignment

OPA™ is designed for best accurate results, and applications requiring accuracy in over-print

Optical Print Alignment (OPA)

- Scodix Clear Polymer aligned to printed page

- Each page is aligned separately – on the fly

- OPA dot doesn’t effect the throughput

- Precise positioning

- Manipulation of the image to align perfectly (scale, margins)

What is OPA?

• 2 round circles, 4mm diameter each.

• Placed 12mm from the long side of the media.

• 100% black (C-0%, M-0%, Y-0%, K-100%).

• Added to both CMYK file and the 5th Scodix Spot color separation file.

OPA Registration Marks

Design

CMYK.pdf UV.pdf

Best Scodix effects starts with a design prepared specifically for the Scodix1200™ Press

Designed files

OPA Template

Create a template with OPA dots for the format you use most frequently (e.g. A3 template, B2, HP Indigo A3 size, etc.) When starting a new graphic job, place your ready made template into your document as a joined layer for your UV and CMYK separation. You can download the template bellow, all setup with a distance of 12mm for edges:

OPA dot placement

12

mm

2-12mm

2mm

12

mm

2mm

media edge

• OPA dot located 12mm from top media edge.

• On digital printers, it is necessary to keep 12mm from all media edges.

• OPA dot must be isolated from any printed object by 2mm.

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Adobe Illustrator

The center of the 4mm OPA dot is at position of X, Y at 14mm

OPA dot on digital printers

Tip:

OPA dot on a digital printer: (example: HP Indigo) Do not use the option “Center”. This option will center your CMYK file to the media size and the OPA dot might not be adjusted to the media edge of media (12mm).

Most laminated films are applied over the surface of the material and in many cases they stick out of the paper borders. These sticking-out films create issues in loading, as well as under the print-heads carriage, and to the OPA cameras. It is recommended to try and avoid it during the lamination process or to trim them before entering into the Scodix Lamination film hanging out of the paper borders Tip: In case you need to rotate the print, due to the 4 OPA dots on your file, it will be possible to rotate the print and use the bottom edge OPA dot. The sticking out lamination will be at the bottom border and effect less on the print process.

Laminated Materials

•It is not necessary to locate the OPA dot at every top or side media edge. • 2 OPA dots should be positioned in the UV print area only.

OPA dot placement

media edge

Printing d

irection

OPA dot placement

media edge

• It is not necessary to locate the OPA dot at every side media edge (Any distance) – you can locate your UV print in any area of the media (side edge can variant in the media)

Any distance Any distance

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14

No OPA dot on bottom edge of media. Print area till bottom edge!

4 OPA dots provides an option to insert page in both directions

OPA dot placement

OPA dot at 12mm from media edge, Top and Bottom!

15

Wrong OPA placement The dots are not adjusted to the edge.

4 OPA dots provides an option to insert page in both directions

OPA dot placement

OPA dot at 12mm from media edge, Top and Bottom!

OPA dot placement

20cm/7.8in minimum distance between OPA dots (center to center)

20cm/7.8in

Tip: For better correction and alignment, it is recommended to keep as much distance between dots.

Image area in case of 2 targets

Image area in case of 4 targets

Printing direction

OPA dot placement

4 OPA dots provides an option to insert page in both directions

OPA Recognition sensitivity (press GUI)

OPA Recognition sensitivity: Normal – Standard. Medium – Slightly more accurate. High – Is more robust which comes to deal with “spikes” on the target or cut targets etc.

Thank You!