Is there an easy way to include metallics at the prepress or electronic file stage?
Good question! If you dont want to create your own spot-color channels, take a look at a new Photoshop plug-in for creating metallic effects on photographs or illustrations. Ink manufacturer Wolstenholme Intl. has developed the WISE design and print tool. Based on Adobes Photoshop, it enhances printed images by integrating metallic inks with the four-color printing process. (The free software is available via download or on a CD for Mac and PC users at www.wolstenholme-int.com.) Traditionally, most designs have incorporated metallics as the final, decorative element in a printed piece. An integrated metallic printing process, on the other hand, encourages the introduction of metallic inks much earlier into the print sequence (gold or silver normally is the first color down in the print sequence) to achieve an extremely unusual, eye-catching and high-quality metallic effect.
