Digital Printing

Unlike conventional offset (analog) printing, which is designed for large order quantities, digital printing is designed to eliminate the non-value added cost and associated lead time of printing plates. While analog printing is still cost effective for large orders, digital printing technology offers exciting customization capabilities previously unavailable with metal packaging.

As with conventional offset printing, the Xccelerate™ pre-press process is fully digital. Artwork is designed on Adobe® Illustrator® software or similar graphic arts software. However, unlike conventional offset printing, this digital file isn't used to create color separations and burn printing plates. Instead, the digital file is ripped and sent to a Print PC, a specialized computer which serves as the driver for the digital printing press.

The digital printing press uses ‘Piezoelectric, Drop-On-Demand inkjet technology.’ In short, the digital printing press is able to interpret a computer-based digital artwork file (rip file) and jet ink directly onto the steel substrate. Immediately after application, the ink is cured using ultraviolet (UV) light. The process reduces the air emissions and utility costs typically associated with offset printing and solvent inks.

As the metal sheet is decorated prior to fabrication, Ball-Steeltin has developed proprietary technology which guarantees ink adhesion to the metal substrate. Following the printing operation, the decorated flat sheets are processed into finished product using the same technologies used with analog lithography.

Please call Larie Gallagher at (410) 682-7118. She will be happy to explain the benefits of Xccelerate™ and she can generate a quote based upon you requirements.

1. An Adobe® PDF template for your desired can size. You will receive a separate template for each can component.
2. An Adobe® Illustrator® template (file type ‘.eps’) for your desired can size. This template will speed your artwork development process and provide critical placement information.

As the majority of graphic artists develop in Adobe® software, Xccelerate™ digital printing is compatible with the following formats: .eps Adobe® Illustrator® Vector-Based Files .tiff Adobe® Photoshop® Raster-Based Files Please do not provide artwork files as PDF documents. (These files are typically compressed and the output resolution may be compromised.) Files should be developed in CMYK format The required resolution is 300x300 dpi at 1:1 output scale Black text will appear strongest when built from:

• 60% Cyan
• 40% Magenta
• 40% Yellow
• 100% Black

Text fonts may be included in either of the two methods listed below:

• As a Collected Fonts Folder, or
• As an Adobe® Illustrator® EPS file with Embedded Fonts

Ball-Steeltin manufactures tins for the food and pharmaceutical industry, following the requisite Best Manufacturing Practices. Plain electrolytic tinplate, side seam stripe and compound sealing materials are approved for food contact under Title 21 CFR § 175.300. Additionally, lubricants used in the manufacture of decorative tins are USDA H1 approved and also meet the FDA requirements defined under Title 21 CFR § 178.3570.

However, for specific instances where products come in direct contact with the top curled surface of a decorative tin, a secondary barrier must be employed.

Certainly! Designs printed on plain tinplate will have a metallic appearance. My design features areas where the background white is 'reversed out.' Why do the white areas appear to have slightly more gloss than the CMYK printed areas? In order to reduce the time required to process your order, we digitally print on white pre-coated stock metal sheets. While these white sheets are specially coated to enhance the digital printing process, there is a slight difference in gloss level between the white coating and the digital ink.

Not at this time.

The Xccelerate™ system currently employs eight process colors to reproduce your artwork. Printing with PANTONE MATCHING SYSTEM® spot colors is currently not available. However, with the PANTONE® color bridge™ solid to process guide, you can find a process approximation of your PMS spot color. The PANTONE® color bridge™ guide is available online at www.pantone.com or by phone at (888) PAN-TONE.

We will happily provide a metal proof that has been produced on our digital printing press - the same press that will produce your order!

The printed appearance of small characters can be improved through the following measures:

For most font styles, a minimum size of 10pt is acceptable. Digitally printed characters smaller than 10pt may be hard to read. Characters ‘reversed out’ of the background should be a minimum size of 12pt. Boldfacing smaller font sizes will also help with readability of ‘reversed out’ characters. Apply caution when using Script fonts as they may be hard to read.

Printed text clarity and the barcode scanning performance are improved when designs adhere to specific orientation recommendations:

The barcode should be a minimum 100% symbol. When viewing printed text in the correct orientation, the barcode lines should form a picket fence orientation. Barcodes can be printed with a ladder orientation, but the text clarity of small fonts may be compromised.

The below images illustrate the preferred orientation of text with respect to barcodes.

Please follow the guidelines on the Adobe® Illustrator® EPS and Adobe® PDF template drawings. These layouts illustrate the positioning for text and graphics. The final artwork should be developed to the exact size of the template. For tin bodies, the template size is the overall size of the body blank. For tin covers and bottoms, the artwork should extend to the touching circle.

For final art delivery please place artwork in the “your artwork here” layer of the Adobe ® Illustrator® template. Please keep all other layers intact and save file as an EPS with the “Embed Fonts” option checked.

Yes! Please route all graphic arts questions through the Xccelerate™ artwork coordinator, Larie Gallagher, at (800) 226-6490 extension 7118.

In order to guarantee data integrity, Ball-Steeltin prefers to receive graphics files via recordable media in either CD or DVD format. Please save final art in the Adobe® Illustrator® EPS template with fonts embedded. Don’t forget to include any placed Raster-Based Files in Adobe ® Photoshop® TIFF file format.

Please include the following when mailing your CD/DVD data disk:

• Contact information
• A sample paper proof (to verify graphic content, not color)

Please send the completed development package to:
Ball Steeltin
Attn: Larie Gallagher – Xccelerate™ Artwork Coordinator
1101 Todd’s Lane
Baltimore, MD 21237
(410) 682-7118