What it does with the artwork
- Reads PDF and image artwork
- Separates process colours (cyan, magenta, yellow, black) and spot colours
- Gives deep solid colours their own cylinder, as engravers do
- Measures the printed design, not the empty border, for the right print size
- Lists the cylinders for the quotation, the job and the engraver
Why it matters for the quote
Cylinders are paid for before the first metre is printed. Knowing the cylinder count at enquiry time means the quotation carries the right cylinder cost, and the customer sees early how many colours their design really needs.
The separation is a planning aid for estimation and job set-up. Final engraving files still come from your pre-press or cylinder maker.
Questions
How many cylinders does a gravure job need?
One per colour printed: usually the four process colours plus any spot colours, and sometimes a white or a varnish. RotoPilot counts them from the artwork.
Which artwork files can I upload?
PDF and common image files such as JPG and PNG.