Virtual proofing hits the big screen for label design

A new development in the art of virtual proofing is set to have a big impact on creativity and accuracy in the design of labels, bottles and other cylindrical packaging, enabling designers and brand managers to visualize and display finished artwork and special print effects just as they will look in a real life retail environment but before anything goes to print.

Print visualization specialist Stonecube have launched PrintDevizor Pro, a unique design and print visualization tool that delivers virtual proofing of special finishes and inks can now wrap round as well as wrapping up. Having mastered the ability to wrap and display the impact of 2D artwork around a 3D folded carton or box, now new PrintDevizor Pro version 2.1 can preview the very different effects exhibited by metallic inks and other special finishes when printed on a cylindrical label or surface.

Take artwork from any standard creative software, select a material, including plastic, which can be shown as opaque or transparent, and add any special effect, from embossing, spot varnish, foils, metallic inks, textures or die cutting. New PrintDevizor Pro v2.1 will take 2D artwork and in one neat maneuver literally wrap and display your printed sheet as a full or partial cylindrical shape at the touch of a button. 

This key new development means that PrintDevizor Pro, the high performance, print visualization software specifically produced for packaging design professionals, can now deliver an all-round industry-wide solution for print visualization. It extends the benefits of accuracy, creativity, flexibility, speed and efficiency to encompass label design and better service the food, drinks and cosmetics sectors and a wide range of other cylindrical packaging applications.

Packaging designer Jeff Boyle, with international packaging specialist Field Group, believes the benefits will be significant: ‘We’ve already had huge success using PrintDevizor Pro to display the impact of special effects on our 3D boxes and then communicating these to customers before going to print. This new development for curved surfaces overcomes a key constraint in the earlier versions of what is otherwise a great design tool. We can’t wait to unleash PrintDevizor Pro on the design of labels and tubes particularly in sectors such as premium spirits, where we use a wide range of special effects.’

All PrintDevizor images can be viewed and manipulated in a range of real-world lighting environments and three new retail viewing environments have been introduced in version 2.1. See a new design through the eyes of a potential purchaser using realistic lighting effects drawn from a music shop, a DVD store and a greeting card outlet. There’s also a new facility to apply user-generated images as a backdrop to design or packaging models for use on-screen, in snapshots and in movie outputs. By loading and viewing multiple print models at the same time, it’s easy to contrast and compare different finishes in different environments.

Another significant new function from an ease of use perspective, PrintDevizor Pro v2.1 makes applying special finishes to original artwork simply a breeze, introducing Special Finish color libraries for both Adobe Creative Suite and QuarkXPress. And there are further improvements to working with composite PDF files which can now be 'opened' by PrintDevizor, which automatically starts an auto-build process. 

Launched in April this year and aiming to shape new opportunities for creativity and communication both for packaging specialists as well as professionals in design, print and print finishing, PrintDevizor Pro pushes dynamic print visualization to new levels, taking flat sheet design concepts, adding a range of advanced materials and finishes and in one neat maneuver, folding 2D artwork into lifelike 3D products and pack visualizations – instantly, on screen.