VersaWorks is a RIP (Raster Image Processor) software developed by Roland DG, designed for managing the printing process on the brand’s printers. It enables control over color settings, layer management, and precise print calibration. It is widely used in the large-format printing industry, advertising, label production, and the customization of various materials. VersaWorks supports a wide range of file formats and ensures compatibility with different media types, making it a versatile tool for professionals.
Sticker Builder is a tool that allows for the design and creation of custom stickers in various shapes and sizes. It enables sellers to offer different types of stickers, including those with embellishments, while users can design their own stickers using AI-powered features such as background removal from photos or face cutouts. Additionally, users can edit the final appearance and color scheme of the stickers and preview the final effect, ensuring the creation of attractive and professional stickers. The files generated by Sticker Builder are fully compatible with VersaWorks software, ensuring a smooth printing process and precise contour cutting on Roland DG devices.
How Are Spot Colors Used in VersaWorks for Precise Printing and Cutting?
A spot color, also known as an additional color, is a specially assigned color in a graphic design that is used in printing to achieve precise and consistent results. Unlike standard CMYK colors, a spot color is pre-mixed before printing and applied as a separate layer of ink, ensuring greater color accuracy. It is most commonly used to designate elements that require special handling, such as cutlines, white underlays for printing on transparent materials, selective varnishing, or embellishments like embossing and foiling. Spot colors are typically defined in color libraries, such as Pantone, allowing for accurate color reproduction regardless of the printing device.
You can read more about spot color in the blog Everything About Spot Color in Sticker Production.
In the Roland VersaWorks software, specially named spot colors are used to define cutting lines. The most commonly used ones are:
- CutContour: Used to specify standard cutting lines.
- PerfCutContour: Used to define perforated cutting lines, allowing for easy removal of elements such as stickers.
For VersaWorks to correctly recognize these lines, you need to create paths in a graphic design program such as Adobe Illustrator or CorelDRAW and assign them a color with the exact name as mentioned above. These colors can be imported from the color library provided by Roland or created manually by assigning them the appropriate names.
Once the project is imported into VersaWorks, the software identifies these special colors and assigns them the appropriate cutting or perforation functions, ensuring precise execution of tasks on Roland devices.
Printing companies using the Sticker Builder tool don’t have to worry about setting the correct spot color in every print file, as Sticker Builder automatically generates print-ready files with cutting lines and perf cut contours using these specific spot colors, ensuring seamless compatibility with Roland printers and VersaWorks software.
More information about Swatch Libraries, which contain these predefined colors, can be found on the official Roland DG website. Detailed instructions on how to locate and install these libraries in Adobe Illustrator and CorelDRAW are also provided there, helping users integrate them into their workflow effortlessly.
Printing Workflow in VersaWorks for Files Generated by Sticker Builder
With Sticker Builder, there’s no need for any workarounds with job queues. The files are prepared in a way that ensures cutting and perforation lines are automatically recognized when added to VersaWorks. This allows the software to correctly queue tasks based on the information within the file, streamlining the entire printing and cutting process without requiring manual adjustments.
Additionally, VersaWorks offers advanced customization options in the “Cut Controls” section. Here, users can fine-tune settings such as cutting pressure, speed, and perforation depth to match their specific material and production needs.