About Variable Printing

Variable printing is printing which replaces a portion of the printing area such as characters and images, for each printing. Applications include the printing of employee ID cards where the name, department, and photograph differ; tickets with consecutive numbers, and postcard addressee information.

In order to perform variable printing, you will need the following files:
  • A template design file containing variable fields to hold unique text or images.
  • Data file for specifying the text or images to print
  • Image files if you want to print images.

Here the procedure is introduced using the creation of employee ID cards as an example.

Step 1: Create a Template

Use illustration software and create a template for variable printing.
Figure 1. Employee ID template
NameCard-Sample
IMPORTANT In cases such as when printing on transparent media, a white plate is not printed in the variable fields even when a white plate is added to the template.
Procedure
  1. Start the illustration software and create a new file.
  2. Decide the fields where variable printing will be performed (fields in which different text and images are printed).
    MEMO Up to 200 variable fields can be created for one template.
  3. Create spot colors with the name VDP_(variable field name) in the same number as the number of variable fields.
    For example, when creating three variable fields for "Department," "Name," and "Photo," create spot colors with the names VDP_Department, VDP_Name, and VDP_Photo. For the method of creating spot colors, see the instruction manual of the illustration software you are using.
    IMPORTANT Be sure to observe the following points when creating spot colors. If the spot color names are incorrect, VersaWorks will not recognize the variable fields.
    • Enter "VDP" in all capital letters.
    • Do not omit the "_" (underscore)
  4. Using the created spot colors, draw rectangular shapes (rectangles or squares) for the variable fields.
    These rectangular shapes will be recognized as variable fields by VersaWorks. Fields with non-rectangular shapes (such as circles and trapezoids) will not be recognized as variable fields by VersaWorks.
    NamecardandVDP
  5. Save the template in PDF, EPS, or PS format.

Step 2: Creating a Data File

Prepare a data file and image file for printing to a variable field. Use spreadsheet software to create the data file. It is also possible to create and edit in VersaWorks without creating a data file.Creating, Editing, and Exporting a Data File

Figure 2. Data file
DataBase-Sample
Figure 3. Image file
Photos-Sample
Procedure
  1. Save the employee name image files to the desired folder.
    Save image files in file formats that can be directly opened in VersaWorks (TIFF (LZW-compressed or uncompressed), EPS, JPEG, PDF, or PostScript).
  2. Start the spreadsheet software.
  3. On the first line, enter the VDP_Department, VDP_Name, and VDP_Photo (A) that were created in Step 1: Create a Template.
  4. Enter the characters listed (B) in each variable field and the absolute path of the image files that were saved in Step 1.
    DataBase-Edit
  5. Save the file.
    Save the file in one of the following file formats:
    • .csv (comma-delimited): Recommendations
    • .txt (tab-delimited)
    • .prn (space-delimited)
    • .xml (XML data)
      MEMO You can also load created files into VersaWorks and edit them there.Editing a Data File

Step 3: Load the Files Required for Variable Printing

Follow the procedure below to add the template file to the job list and load the variable print data file.
Procedure
  1. Add the template file for variable printing to the job list.
    Check that VW7-ICON_VariabuluPrint is displayed for Document Information - Special Items in the job overview area.
  2. Use one of the methods below to open the Job Settings window.
    • Double-click the job to set.
    • Right-click on the job to set, then click Edit Design - Job Settings .
    • With a job selected, click VW7_JobMenu1 on the left side of the job tool area, and then click VW7_CustomizeJob Settings .
  3. Click VW7_VariablePrint VariableData.
  4. Select the Enable Variable Data Printing checkbox.
    A preview of the template is displayed in the layout area. The variable field name ("VDP_" deleted from the spot color name) specified in Step 1: Create a Template is also displayed in the first line of the Variable Data Settings list.
    VW7_VariablePrintON
  5. Click VW7_VariablePrintFile.
    The window for selecting the file appears.
  6. Select the data file created in Step 2: Creating a Data File, and then click Open.
    The contents of the data file are displayed in the table. Click the [>] or [<] at the bottom of the job layout area to display the preview for each data set.
    VW7_VariablePrintALL
    MEMO
    • There are two types of variable fields: Image and Text. The type of each variable field is displayed in the Type list box. When the data file is loaded, data that starts with strings that denote paths (such as "C:\") is automatically recognized as Image, otherwise it is automatically recognized as Text.

    • The display width of the layout area and settings area can be changed.

Step 4: Configure the Variable Printing Settings

Configure the size, color, font, etc. of the variable fields.
Procedure
  1. Select the field to be configured.
    • When applying the same settings to all data
      Select the first row (the field name) in the list. The settings will be applied to all the data.
      VW7_VariablePrint1
    • When applying the settings only to specific data
      Select the cell to configure.
      VW7_VariablePrint2
    MEMO

    The selected column or cell is displayed in the layout area with a border line and field name.

    VW7_VariableDataSelect
  2. Set the details of Text.
    • Font

      Selects the font type.

    • FontSize

      Sets the font size.

    • Tracking

      Sets the spacing between two characters. Set this to 100 to make the spacing one-character wide.

    • Auto Sizing

      Select this checkbox to automatically adjust the font size to fit the text in the variable field when the text is larger than the variable field.

    • Alignment

      Sets the alignment of the text in the variable field.

    • Rotate

      Rotates the text in the variable field in units of 90 degrees.

    • Mirror

      Horizontally mirrors the text in the variable field.

    • Opacity

      Sets the opacity of the entire variable field. Set this to 0% to make the target transparent.

    • Draw on White Background

      Select this checkbox to print the background object on top when the background object and the variable field overlap.

    • Effect

      VW7_Italic: Italic, VW7_Bold: Bold, VW7_UnderLine: Underline, VW7_Shadow: Shadow, VW7_Nakanuki: Outline can be set.

    • Offset

      When VW7_Shadow (shadow) was selected for Effect: Sets the offset widths of shadow characters as a percentage.

      MEMO
      Figure 4. Example: Offset: 10% (blue shadow)
      DepartmentSample
    • Stroke

      When VW7_Nakanuki (outline) was selected for Effect: Sets the stroke width as a number of points.

      MEMO
      Figure 5. Example: Stroke width: 1 pt (red outline)
      NameSample
    • Color
      Set the text (1), shadow (2), outline (3) and variable field color (4).

      Click the square to display the Color Settings window.

      Select RGB, CMYK, or Transparent for ColorSpace. When RGB or CMYK is selected, use the slider bar or enter the value to set each color value.

  3. Set the details of Image.
    • Fit
      Sets whether to fit the image in the variable field. Set one of the following for the original image (1).
      • None (2): Places the original image without resizing.
      • Fit to Fields (3): Changes the size of the image to fit in the variable field. The horizontal to vertical ratio is not maintained.
      • Fit proportionally (4): Changes the size of the image proportionally to fit either in the height or width of the variable field.
    • Alignment

      Selects the alignment of the image in the variable field.

    • Rotate

      Rotates the image in the variable field in units of 90 degrees.

    • Mirror

      Horizontally mirrors the image in the variable field.

    • Opacity

      Sets the opacity of the image. Set this to 0% to make the target transparent.

    • Draw on White Background

      Select this checkbox to print the background object on top when the background object and the variable field overlap.

    • Color

      Sets the background color inside the variable field.

      Select RGB, CMYK, or Transparent for ColorSpace. When RGB or CMYK is selected, use the slider bar or enter the value to set each color value.

  4. As necessary, change the size and position of the variable field.
    1. Select the field to change.
      • Applying the same changes to all data

        Select the first row (the field name) in the list. The changes are applied to all data.

      • Changing only specific data

        Select the cell to change.

    2. Change the field.
      • Changing with Field Settings

        Use X and Y to change the field position. Specifically, set the distance between the top left corner of the job and the top left corner of the variable field.

        Use W and H to set the variable field size.

      • Changing in the layout area

        Move the pointer to the selected area, then drag to move it. Move the pointer to the square on the frame of the selected area, and drag the square to adjust the size of the variable field.

      MEMO
      • To undo or redo operations, use VW7-ICON_return or VW7-ICON_redo (respectively).
      • Click Reset with a variable field selected to revert any changes made to the field (to its size or position) to the original settings.
      • When Show All Variable Data Fields is selected, the border lines and variable names for all set variable fields are displayed in the layout area.
      • The data's cell color changes if the attribute setting differs from that of the other data.
  5. Configure other Job Settings as necessary.
    Example
    • Layout - Print Properties - Orientation
    • Cut Controls - Cutting Options - Cut Image Boundaries - Normal Cut
  6. Click OK.
    You are returned to the main window.

Step 5: Performing Printing

Follow the procedure below to start variable printing.
Procedure
  1. Select the job from the job list.
  2. Perform printing.

    Processing by the RIP and printing are performed.