Digimarc - Prepress workflow

[jbackus4]

Hi All,

I am looking to see how others have integrated this new package coding into their prepress workflow. Digimarc seems cryptic in providing available online information on how this will change the way printers manage their customers files (Flexo printers in particular).
Digimarc process - once a customer approves a design, that final design must then be uploaded via a web portal at Digimarc, along with a specification sheet, so that the artwork can have the code added to the design. Prepress won’t be able to add these new codes on their own like a UPC. After Digimarc 'enhances' the design, printers can then download the enhanced design for output to plates making sure no changes are made to the Digimarc file which will corrupt the Digimarc code.

Our company has had many discussions on this topic and each time new questions arise. Some of those topics discussed are below...

- press quality control in verifying both front and back labels match Digimarc’s enhanced code which is unreadable by eye. Scanning of the label is required by a smartphone or other approved scanning device.
- prepress post processing Digimarc enhanced files when outputing to plate are not possible without corrupting the code.
- press profiles can be uploaded to Digimarc with a design file for enhancing but how will that enhanced file now print on another press if a change in production is required (are multiple enhanced files now required for every press?).
- added time involved uploading and downloading artwork to Digimarc.
- quoting jobs when you don’t know which colors are common until you receive the enhanced file from Digimarc (possibly no common plates at all).
- common plates are now disrupted because the enhanced code is embedded in more than one color (4 color process images with black overprints for multiple items using the same process background, process plates are no longer common).
- on the fly minor changes will corrupt the enhanced code requiring another upload and download of a plate file (what is the wait time for this?).
- management of archived files since no changes are allowed creating multiple files of the same artwork (Pre and post Digimarc files of approved designs).

That is just a short list of topics we have had and so far Digimarc has been unable to enlighten us on how other printers might be implementing these chances in their workflow.

Your thoughts on this topic are greatly appreciated,
JB

 

[gordo]

Digimarc will be at infoflex in indianapolis in a few weeks - may be it’s worth you going and speaking to them directly.

 

[jbackus4]

Hi Gordo

Thank you for your quick reply and your suggestion to visit them at the next InfoFlex in Indianapolis.

I am not yet willing to include another expense of $1,750 plus airfare and hotel just to improve communication from Digimarc when I feel they need to sell this new code concept to us, not the other way around. Digimarc offers their service to the end user for free which is my case are grocery stores or the grocery store consumers. Those stores don’t pay for the coding process, but they would pay for the information these codes could offer if they decided to purchase that data. Data on who, when, what gets scanned by the consumer with an app on their smartphone. As a printer, we don’t pay for this enhanced coding either, but we do have to implement it if our customer has engaged with Digimarc. This is an added cost to printers which will then be passed onto our customers and eventually passed onto the grocery stores buying the products our customers are labeling but the grocery stores aren’t aware of that because Digimarc tells them the enhanced codes are free.

It’s a complex situation and I’m hoping to encourage discussion here on Print Planet.

We have an account representative with Digimarc, but that communication is lacking all the info we need to make this happen efficiently. We send them the final approved artwork and Digimarc returns that file with embedded coding. That’s it. This new element to a prepress workflow doesn’t just disrupt prepress but disrupts the entire chain from sales and quoting to quality control. We, as printers are expected to figure out the rest on our own. That is why I am reaching out to others here to see if they’ve started print these new codes and if so, what they might be doing to be proactive about it.

Thank you again in advance,
JB

 

[michaelejahn]

Hi JB

- I have never ever heard of some DFE or RIP that has the ability to "Digimarc" a packaging label.

This is 100% in the domain of the label designer.

So, unless you are doing the design of the images that will be used within the label, not sure your going to get a lot out of a Digimarc sales rep, as you are really not who they sell to.

If you are indeed doing the design, and have Photoshop, you can apply the Digimarc using that Photoshop Plug-in, or, as you mentioned, you can send images to them and they will return them to you ( as they offer cloud based services )

But, that is only 1 part of the workflow puzzle ( as you have already realized ) - there is proofing - and paper grading - and as any barcode - that needs to be uploaded into the database ( so the scanning system knows what to look up ) - which Digimarc 'seems' to refer to as their CRM.

I think you might find this PDF ( and the links within this PDF on page 14 in the references setting ) helpful.

https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/261...eb7eab01da.pdf

key parts:

Workflow

To measure throughput seven workflow phases were identified.

The metrics of time and effort were estimated and then measured for a variety of package types to create a baseline of expected throughput.
Workflow Phase Tasks:

Phase 1: Gathering Assets Customer request, GTIN verification, setup FTP, file upload/download,
customer confirmation

Phase 2: PreFlight Log the file into CRM, evaluate the file layout, customer confirmation

Phase 3: Embedding Strategy Determine watermark approach, modify layout, scale or create composite
image, update CRM

Phase 4: Embedding Create the DDIM Service, run the embedder, on screen review, update layout,
update CRM

Phase 5: Proof Printing Generate proof, press check, print proof, update CRM

Phase 6: Evaluation Internal proof review, robot testing, robot results review, update CRM

Phase 7: Delivery Upload the files for the customer, customer review feedback, update CRM

 

[philstaff]

JB,

Thanks for the posting your concerns in implementing Digimarc Barcodes. Let me try to address some the issues you are facing when it comes to producing flexo work with Digimarc Barcodes.

The workflow you described in submitting artwork directly to Digimarc is only one model. When we are talking about Digimarc Barcodes for packaging and labels, enhancing print ready files can be done by Digimarc or by any one of our Enhancing Partners like Schawk, SGS, WestRock, or Berry Global to name a few. These partners go through a detailed training process that allow them to add the barcodes in a manner that least impacts the visibility and will replicate properly in a targeted press environment. Retailers and CPG’s adopting Digimarc Barcode choose who will perform enhancing services for their packaging.

So, you are correct in that not everyone can enhance a package or label with Digimarc Barcodes. The reason for this is that unlike traditional 1-D and 2-D barcodes, a Digimarc Barcode can be placed into various graphic elements within a package design.

To effectively enhance a job with a Digimarc Barcode you need both the tools and the training as different graphic elements are enhanced differently. 4/c images are treated differently than spot brand colors. Areas that don’t carry ink may need to add ink to carry the code.

Typically predefined enhancing strategies are documented before a brand, sub-brand or lines are enhanced. This along with the required assets of a print ready color corrected file, understanding what existing inks the artwork file uses, the print specifications of the press or presses that will print the job and ICC or color profiles to proof the job before and after being enhanced with a Digimarc Barcode enable a trained enhancer to enhance a job that will meet both the scanning intent and requirements while balancing the visibility of the barcode.

With that said, once a job is enhanced, it is sent to the printer to be printed to the same press specifications as provided to enhance the job. If the job is run on a different press with different conditions the enhancement may need to be optimized for that different press condition but these factors should be communicated before the job is enhanced.

As you mentioned there are steps that need to be taken to maintain the Digimarc Barcode. If receiving a digital file that has been enhanced, color correcting the file, dramatically applying in-RIP press curves or copying in additional graphic elements into the design could compromise the code. When it comes to common plates, as the Digimarc Barcode is applied to the graphic elements of a job, there needs to be an awareness within your pre-press and press environment on how these jobs are designed to replicate properly. Most printers will need to alter their image substitution and common plate workflows when a Digimarc enhanced job flows through their facility. When a job is enhanced and delivered to a printer, there will be an accompanying report that will show which colors are impacted and where the code is applied in the artwork. This is a useful tool for job planning and for future reruns of the job. In some cases, the enhancement of images will not impact future text changes, but the report should always be referenced and archived to ensure that there is no disruption of the barcode.

To QC a job that has a Digimarc Barcode, you can use ‘Digimarc Verify’, which is a free app that is available for download for Apple and Android smartphone devices. The instructions are fairly simple, and all you need to do is scan the 1D (UPC) barcode first, then slowly scan the rest of the artwork (press sheet and/or proof) and it will verify that the file does not have any conflicting GTIN information that may be introduced through leveraging previously enhanced artwork. Keep in mind, that the enhancement report that will accompany the job will show where the primary areas are where the barcode is added, and there may be specific areas where there is no barcode added, such as areas with small text blocks and white areas within the job. There are other tools available (in beta) that will scan the digital file prior to plating or that use a flatbed scanner that uses our software, to verify a proof or press sheet. We would be happy to talk with you about testing these tools to see how they would fit into your workflow.

When it comes to printing a job that has a Digimarc Barcode, it is designed to be robust enough to be replicated within your normal press conditions and tolerances. It all comes back to the original enhancement strategy that started with understanding your press environment.

You are always welcome to reach out to me directly here to discuss any questions that may come up or if you need to obtain more technical information about our barcode technology.