Mapping the Metallic Future with
Consolidated Graphics
What is MetalFX®?
MFX® base ink is overprinted with cmyk inks
These inks can be printed in your normal print sequence, provided the silver always prints first. MetalFX recommends printing S.K.C.M.Y
Print all 615 metallic colours in one pass of a 5 colour press
Available for most processes and substrates
Transparent inks and MetalFX® base ink
MFX Silver Base Ink
+
Transparent CMYK
=
104 Million Metallics
Metallic inks are opaque. Metallics printed under CMYK acts as the light source for the transparent inks
MetalFX® Colour Coding
• Coded in a Numerical sequence
• All colours are created in increments of 10% - this ensures
easy and accurate colour measurement.
• MetalFX® colours encompass the entire colour spectrum
MFX0552
MFX0078
MFX0010
MetalFX® Technical Advantages
Unlimited Metallics for the cost of only 1 additional spot colour
Colour consistency by fingerprinting the press
Reduced waste. Only one additional tin of ink required
Increased tack between silver and CMYK gives better colour trapping
CMYK when overprinted on top of the silver seals the metallic underneath.
This results in; no sealer required, better drying times, reduces rub off.
Alternative
Metallic Ink Systems
vs.
• Limited choice
• Unlimited number of metallics
• Expensive
• Economical (just one spot ink)
• Unreliable
• Reliable (colour control strip)
• Technical problems
• Many technical advantages
• Limits creativity
• Creative Freedom
• No special effects
• Special effects
• Unable to proof colours easily
• Proof all 615 MFX® colours
MetalFX® Print Processes
MetalFX® is a cross platform printing process:
Sheetfed-offset (Litho), web-offset (heatset), Flexo, Letterpress, Gravure
• Print on plastics, paper, board, metal and poly films
• UV or Conventional Inks
Product Portfolio
MetalFX® Licences
MetalFX® Design Kits
MetalFX® Ink
MetalFX® R&D and the Future
• Gold Ink - doubling the MFX® colours to 208m
• MetalFX® and spot colours
• MetalFX® and Hexachrome inks
• New improved Non Leafing silver inks
• MFX® swatch books for each print process
• MFX® swatch books for different paper types
• MetalFX® for Screen and Digital Printing
MetalFX® Website & Search Engine
www.metal-fx.com
Search for a MetalFX Printer
Search for a MetalFX Distributor
Search for a Design Agency or Brand Owner
Search for an Approved MFX Ink Supplier
Brand Penetration
“Design and Technical Overview”
How do I use MetalFX®?
Insert the MetalFX® CD
The CD supplied with the MetalFX kit is dual boot
Register your software on the MFX Website
You will be sent an email with your passwords
Colour Palettes
Copy the colour palettes into the designated folders within each application program as specified in the
user guide supplied with the MetalFX® kit. (Latest version is in PDF format on the CD)
Action Sets
Supplied on the CD are actions sets for Adobe Photoshop. Please load these into Photoshop from within
the application program in order to convert images into metallics.
Metallic images - Vector Based
Load the swatch
library from off the
MFX® CD
Silver set to overprint
MFX Colour
Create a piece of artwork using the CMYK MFX® colours from the swatch library
(these are referenced to the supplied MFX® swatch book).
Duplicate the colour areas you wish to be metallic with the MFX® - Base silver and
set the silver areas to overprint. Note: The silver goes on top when designing on the
computer, as this resolves overprinting issues with CMYK.
Turning on the Overprint Preview function in programs such as Illustrator and
Indesign will enable the design on screen to be seen in colour and show the
overprinting silver
LiteFX™
How do I create LiteFX™ ?
The idea is to create an area within a metallic area that is the same CMYK value as the metallic panel, but with NO
MFX - Base silver used. The use of light when looking at the metallic area will cause the CMYK area to change from
light to dark as you move the product or page.
100% MFX-Base
Set to Overprint
No Silver
MFX Colour
From the swatch book
Finished LiteFX Design
SpecialFX
•
LiteFX™ example
The creation of light changing
elements within a metallic area
HoloFX™
How do I create HoloFX™ ?
The idea is to reduce the amount of MFX-Base silver in certain areas of the Metallic design. This will make the design
appear and disappear as you move the product or printed page.
As a guideline, MetalFX recommends that the HoloFX areas have the following amount of MFX-Base silver:
Metallics - 60 % MFX Base silver surrounded by 100% silver
If you increase or decrease the amount of HoloFX area in percentage it will become more apparent or more subtle
100% MFX-Base
Set to Overprint
60% MFX-Base
Set to Overprint
MFX Colour
From the swatch book
Finished HoloFX Design
SpecialFX
•
HoloFX™ Example
The ability to make a metallic area
visually appear and disappear
SpecialFX
•
Security Printing
MetalFX® is perfect for adding extra
Security, by combining unlimited
Metallic colours, with LiteFX™ and HoloFX™
This example was printed with 204 metallics, with a combination of LiteFX and HoloFX to add extra
security. Metallics cannot be scanned, photographed or photocopied as they reflect light.
Metallic images
1)
Open a CMYK image in Photoshop
2)
Load the Action Sets provided on the
MetalFX® CD for Adobe Photoshop
3)
Create a clipping path around the
desired metallic areas
4)
Run Overall Metallic Action (the
computer will generate a metallic
channel)
5)
Make a selection from the clipping
path, inverse and press delete to clear
the unwanted metallic areas from the
5th channel.
Metallic images - sample 5th channel
The 5th channel that is created should not need
changing, as the action will do all the work for you to
give you a good metallic result, however you can
increase or decrease the strength of the metallic
channel prior to saving the image, using tools such
as Curves in Photoshop. You can also airbrush out
unwanted areas using the Eraser Tool.
When you finished, save the file as a DSC2.0 file.
This will retain the 5 separations for printing.
The MFX® - Base channel should look
like the above sample channel
Swatch Matching - BETA TESTING VERISON
To swatch match an image to the nearest MFX® colour swatch,
follow the previous steps for creating a clipping path (this will be
used to restrict the areas that are colour changed)
1)
Run “Swatch Match Part 1”
2)
Select a colour from the
Photoshop swatch palette
of MFX colours
3)
Make a selection from your clipping path and inverse the
selection. Now delete the unwanted information on the MFX®
channel and on Layer 1 that has been created by the computer.
4)
Inverse your selection once again to ensure you are selecting
the correct areas of your file you wish to change colour, and
also ensure that you are selecting the “Layer 1”.
5)
Run “Swatch Match Part 2” - the computer will now colour
correct your image.
6)
Save your file as a DSC2.0 file.
Please note that this is a beta testing version only
MetalFX® & Proofing…
MetalFX recommends using the Kodak range of proofing devices: Kodak Approval, Kodak First Check
Please note that currently, these devices will give a higher lustre on the proof than on press. This is because they are dry
thermal proofing devices with 100% transparent donor colours. MetalFX is currently working with Kodak Polychrome Graphics
to produce profiles for the MetalFX colour system.
Simulated proofs can be achieved in CMYK process colour on most high end proofing devices
The Future of MetalFX® & 3D Virtual Proofing…
You can now create on screen proofs that simulate various print finishes:
Create visual mock ups of your print with the actual print finishes I.e metallics, foils, glitter, varnishes etc in a virtual surrounding
Export the files to be sent to customers as Quick Time movies or via the free print viewer software