Introduction:

Thank you for choosing FlexoStep from FlexoStep Development.

FlexoStep Development is a provider of custom software solutions specializing in the graphic arts, prepress, and printing industries. We are pleased to provide this tool in order to help your business be more productive. If you have a request for custom software development, please visit our website at http://www.flexostep.com.

FlexoStep Requirements:

• Adobe Illustrator 8.x, 9.x, 10.x, Macromedia Freehand 8.x, 9.x
  
• Apple Macintosh running OS 8, OS 9, or OS X
  
• Windows PC running 95, 98, ME, NT, 2000, or XP
  

Note that different versions of the plugin are required for different configurations. Please visit http://www.flexostep.com to download the different versions.

Installation Instructions:

Simply drag the 'FlexoStep Plug-in' file to the 'Plug-ins' folder located in the Adobe Illustrator application folder on your hard drive. If Illustrator is already open, quit the application and re-launch it in order to initialize the FlexoStep plug-in; otherwise, just launch Illustrator.

Once Illustrator has been relaunched, you can find the FlexoStepX filter in the ‘Filters’ menu. If you have problems installing, please contact FlexoStep Development.

Instructions for use:

Open a document that contains your label artwork.

Note: Before using FlexoStep, make sure that any artwork that you do not wish to transform is 'locked' down. FlexoStep for Illustrator will assume every piece of unlocked/normal artwork in the document is part of the desired artwork to step, repeat and distort.

Another Note: The artwork must include a path which represents the die line. FlexoStep uses this path to calculate the dimensions of the die cut shape so that you can confirm that you have correctly selected the properly sized label artwork. This path can be of any color and stroke weight, but it needs to be there.

With the release of Illustrator 8, the use of a [Registration] color is now available. Be sure that your 'Swatches' palette has the [Registration] color in the second position (after [None]) as FlexoStep uses this as the color of all of the printer's marks. Note that this is the default order for Adobe Illustrator's 'Swatches' palette and nothing additional may need to be done.

[Registration] color is second.

FlexoStep will step and repeat starting at the position of the original artwork. Make sure that your artwork is where you want it to print. Otherwise, you'll have to move the stepped result.

When you are ready to step the artwork, select the die line path with Illustrator's 'Group Selection Tool' (open arrow with '+' sign) and launch the FlexoStep filter from Illustrator's Filter Menu.

Note the selected die line.

'Group Selection Tool' - select the die line, launch FlexoStep.

Once you have selected the die line and launched the FlexoStep filter, you will be prompted with a dialog box containing several user-configurable parameters. Below is an explanation of each of the parameters.



Explanation of FlexoStep Parameters:

• Load/Save: allow loading and saving of all parameters. An example preferences file is included with FlexoStep in order to speed installation.
  
• Across/Around Dimension: shows the across/around dimension of the selected die line path. Use this to confirm you have selected the correct die line.
  
• Across/Around Steps: the number of times to step the artwork in the across/around direction.
  
• Across/Around Gap: amount of gap between stepped art instances across/around.
  
• Bearer Bars:
  
  • Width: the width of each bearer bar.
    
  • Offset: the offset of the bearer bars away from edge of the die line.
    
  • Extend: the extension of the bearer bars beyond the edge of the die line.
    
  • Select between 'Block' and 'Tractor' for variations on the type of bearer bar used.
    
  • Select 'Horizontal' in order to orient all extra art horizontally instead of vertically.
    
• Reg. Marks:
  
  • Quantity (#): number of registration marks, spaced equally along the bearer bars, top to bottom.
    
  • Weight: the stroke weight of the registration mark.
    
  • Select between 'Inset' and 'Offset' for variations on the type of registration mark used.
    
  • Also, select between 'Off Art', 'Off Cut Marks', and 'In Gaps' for variations on the spacing used between the 'Quantity' of registration marks.
    
• Cut Marks:
  
  • Width: the width of the cut marks.
    
  • Weight: the stroke weight of the cut marks.
    
  • Offset: the offset of the cut marks away from the edge of the die line (use positive values).
    
  • Select between 'Centered' and 'Edges of Art' for variations on the spacing used between the cut marks.
    
• Running Lines:
  
  • Weight: the stroke weight of the running lines.
    
  • Offset: the offset of the running lines away from the edge of the die line (use positive values).
    
  • Extend: the extension amount beyond the die's bounds for the running lines.
    
  • Use the 'On' checkbox to turn the function on/off.
    
• Shadows:
  
  • Width: the stroke weight of the shadow, to be placed behind the running lines.
    
  • Offset: the offset of the shadows away from the edge of the die line (use positive values).
    
  • Use the 'On' checkbox to turn the function on/off.
    
  • Note that the shadow can be used with both the running lines and job info options.
    
• Colors:
  
  • Offset: the horizontal offset of the color information away from the edge of the die line (use positive values).
    
  • Select between 'Inset' and 'Offset' for variations on the way the color information is presented.
    
  • Note that FlexoStep uses all of the defined colors from the 'Swatches' window. If you have extra swatches defined which you don't want included in the stepped artwork, remove them before stepping by using the 'Select All Unused' and 'Delete Swatch' from the 'Swatches' window. Also note that when you import artwork into Adobe's Illustrator from other tools, colors can be 'lost' and you will need to rename them using the 'Swatch Options...' from the 'Swatches' window in order for FlexoStep to pick them up correctly.
    
• Job Info: this will allow you to create a descriptive line of text to be placed along side the bearer bar for negative and plate identification.
  
  • Weight: the font size of the text.
    
  • Offset: the offset of the text away from the edge of the die line (use positive values).
    
  • Select between 'Left', 'Right', 'Top', and 'Bottom' to place the job info on the preferred side of the stepped art.
    
  • Select between 'White' and 'Registration' for variations on the text color used.
    
• Distortion: the percent distortion in the around direction, to be applied after stepping is complete.
  
• Measure Die Bounds: include the die bounds in the measurements used for stepping the art. Any non-zero stroke weight will be considered in the measurement.
  
• Press OK when you're ready to step!
  

Finally and most importantly, give us feedback. We love to hear from our customers!

Thank you,

Kevin Wriston
http://www.flexostep.com
info@flexostep.com