Scribus-for-Stickers

What this does

Print preparation of vectorized stickers for print services using only FOSS tools. The method can be easily adapted for other print houses, but (I use wirmachendruck.de)

Tools used

Scribus

Version 1.5.8

Environment tested in

Manjaro Linux

Outline of workflow

1. Things you need

• A vector graphic you want to print. If you want your stickers contour cut the graphic will need a path for your cut contour, if you want white print you need paths for the areas to be filled in white, the same goes for effect colours. Keep in mind that normal colors (CMYK), white, and effect- or special colors are printed in a certain order. If any of the elements you plan to use for this in your SVG overlap you may need to fix that. (Unless for example you have a transparent sticker with white print on the backside.)

• Print data specifications or the service you will be using containing bleed areas, margins etc.

2. Scribus

Open Scribus

Creating a new file

1. You will be greeted with a prompt for creating a new document.
   • If not in the menu bar click: File → New
2. In the top left select Single Page (should already be selected),
3. Enter the final dimensions of your sticker in the top right.
4. In the bottom left, enter the Margins (Margin Guides-Tab, open by default) and
5. Bleed areas (in the Bleeds-Tab) Keep everything the same otherwise.
6. Klick OK

Importing a vector image

1. In the menu bar click File → Import → Get Vector File...
2. Click on the page/canvas to paste the image.
3. Position and size it according to your needs. (Hint: The blue frame on your shows the Margins, the red one the Bleeds)

Adding custom color channels for white print, contour cut, and effect colours.

1. In the menu bar click Edit → Colors and Fills... to open the "Colors and Fills..." window.

2. In the window titled Colors and Fills... click the button Add on the right, 2nd from the top.

3. [Name]{.underline} the color (that name goes into the output PDF), assign it a (display) color (same with the PDF here), and check the checkbox Is Spot Color.

4. Preparation for adding white print/cut contour/effect colours:

   1. Ungroup your vector image. To do this right click on your image and select Ungroup Repeat this step on the subgroups until the desired elements to fill are available individually. The same goes for your cut contour.

5. Converting regions from SVGs to white print or effect color.

   1. Select the elements/paths to print in white, right click on the selection, and select Properties in the context menu.
   2. In the now open Properties panel (normally opens on the left side of the window) select the category Colors. If the category Colors is greyed out you might still have a group in your selection, which you need to change (as described above).
   3. In Colours, select the tab Fill.
   4. From the list of colors select the one you made for that purpose earlier. (As you have selected the "Is Spot Color"-option, it will have a red dot next to it, making it easy to find.)
   5. If your elements/paths have outlines you can use the Stroke tab to either set them to the same color or remove them by setting them to None (1st entry in list).
   6. Underneath the list of colors is a setting named Overprinting Unless otherwise specified set it to Knockout

6. Converting paths from SVGs to cut contour.

   1. As above
   2. As above
   3. In Colours, select the tab Stroke.
   4. From the list of colors select the one you made for that purpose earlier. (As you have selected the "Is Spot Color"-option, it will have a red dot next to it, making it easy to find.)
   5. If your path has a fill you should now select the Fill tab to set it to None to remove it.
   6. Underneath the list of colors is a setting named Overprinting Unless otherwise specified set it to Knockout
   7. Now select the category Line
   8. Unless otherwise specified set the value of Line Width to "0". (It will be replaced by the word Hairline)

Exporting to PDF (If that is what you need)

All of these apply if not otherwise specified.

1. In the Menu bar select Save → Export → Save as PDF...
2. In the tab General (open by default)
3. Under the header Export Options uncheck Compress Text and Vector Graphics
4. Under the header File Options set Compatibility to the type of PDF you need. (Likely PDF/X-3, which is common in printing.)
5. Under the header Image Quality Options set Compression to None and set the Maximum Image Resolution.
6. In the tab Fonts under the header Embedding for Embedding Mode select Outline all Fonts.
7. In the tab Colors uncheck Convert Spot Colors to Process Colors.
8. If, you are using PDF/X-3, in the tab Pre-Press under the header PDF/X Output Intent set the output color profile (Output Profile).
9. Save

You're done

Addendum

There is also the posibility of globally substituting colors, I however went with this alternative because it is more capable and straightforward. Also some Services might need things to be on certain layers, something I have not covered here.