Catalog : Product Manager : Edit : Print Layouts

Print Layouts

This section of the platform is for configuring Print Layouts to merge / manipulate output files associated with your Blank Product.

What is a Print Layout?

A Print Layout is an advanced print feature that allows Fulfillers to control how output files are generated to conform to specific production requirements.

The 'layout' itself serves as a definable print sheet, upon which Print Areas can be positioned / rotated / combined together into a single merged file.

The most common use cases of Print Layouts are:

to 'merge' multiple Print Area outputs together into a single printable file - eg a Cushion with separate Front & Back Print Areas OR a bundle product with multiple items that are printed together.
to 'repeat' the Print Area output multiple times - eg a Product that comes in a pack
to 'layer' Print Area outputs on top of each other to allow specific production properties to be included in the single print file - eg cutline, barcodes, crop marks etc

Blank Products support one or multiple Print Layouts.

How to Add a Print Layout

By default, newly configured Blank Products do not feature any Print Layouts.

Print Layouts require a connection to Print Areas - these should be configured prior to the layouts being added.

New layouts can be added using the '+ Print Layout' button

This adds a new Print Layout row that can be configured:

Name: Add a layout name that is relevant to the Product / function, eg 'Front & Back', 'Print with cutlines' etc...

Print Size: The physical size of the layout (in mm) - this determines the size of the artwork file that the system will generate when an order is placed.

Resolution: The print resolution of the merged file (default is 300).

To add an Area to the layout, use the '+Area' button:

This adds a new sub-row menu for each added area with additional configuration settings.

Print Area: Use the dropdown menu to select a Print Area.

Position: Input the co-ordinate positions for each Print Area output to be placed within the layout.

Rotation: Input a rotation value to rotate the Print Area.

Click Save to confirm the Print Layout settings.

To review the Print Layout, access Print Test via the Printer button

Use the 'Generate Artwork' button to generate an example 'merged' output file in multiple standard formats, at print resolution.

Tip: By default, the output file will be blank, but sized accordingly. You can add temporary Artwork files against each Print Area, to generate output files featuring an image.

Managing Print Layouts

Actions: There are 2 clickable Actions for each listed Print Layout;

Duplicate: Makes a copy of the Print Layout, carrying over configured settings
Delete: Removes the area and all settings from the Product

Selection: Serves as a mechanism to perform bulk Duplicate or Delete actions. Rows can be 'selected' using the individual selection boxes, or alternatively, Select All will auto-select all listed rows.

Using Print Test

It is recommended as best practice, that any newly added or amended print configuration is tested using Print Test. This provides immediate feedback based on the configured settings so that changes can be made as necessary.