10 Sep How To Get Metallic Elements On Your Labels Without Foil Stamping

Foil stamping is a label embellishment that gives a premium and upscale vibe to your labels — but, that premium look comes with a premium price tag. Happily, there’s a hack to get the impact of metallic elements without foil stamping!

Designing product labels with metallic BOPP (Biaxially Oriented Polypropylene) can give your products a premium, eye-catching appeal. Metallic BOPP is often used for its glossy, reflective surface that enhances the visual appeal of labels, making them stand out on store shelves.

In this article, we will explore how to design product labels in Adobe Illustrator using metallic BOPP, focusing on creating metallic effects with knockout sections, blocking metallic effects using white plates, and organizing and labeling layers for efficient design workflow.

Understanding Metallic BOPP

Before diving into the design process, it’s important to understand what metallic BOPP is. This material is a type of plastic film that has been stretched in both the machine and transverse directions. The result is a material that is both strong and flexible. Metallic BOPP adds a reflective, metallic sheen to labels, which can be used to create sophisticated and attractive packaging designs.

Getting Started with Adobe Illustrator

Adobe Illustrator is a powerful vector graphics software that is widely used in the design industry. Its robust tools and features make it ideal for creating detailed and intricate label designs. When designing for metallic BOPP, there are several steps to consider:

Step 1: Setting Up Your Document

1. Create a New Document: Open Adobe Illustrator and create a new document. Set the size according to your label dimensions. Ensure the color mode is set to CMYK, as this is standard for print.
2. Bleed and Safety Margins: Set up bleed (typically 0.125 inches) and safety margins to ensure your design extends beyond the cut line, preventing white edges from appearing on the final product.

Step 2: Designing with Metallic Effects

Creating Metallic Effects Using Knockout Sections

Knockout sections allow the metallic surface of the BOPP material to show through your design, creating a striking metallic effect. Here’s how to achieve this:

1. Design Your Label: Start by designing your label as you normally would. This includes adding text, images, and other design elements.
2. Identify Metallic Areas: Determine which parts of your design you want to have a metallic effect. These could be specific text elements, logos, or decorative elements.
3. Create Knockout Groups:
   • Select the elements that will have the metallic effect.
   • Go to the “Window” menu and select “Transparency.”
   • In the Transparency panel, click on “Make Mask” (ensure the Clip option is unchecked).
   • Draw shapes that represent the areas you want to knockout, using the Rectangle Tool or Pen Tool. Fill these shapes with black, which will act as the knockout.
   • The black shapes won’t be printed with black ink. Rather, when labeled properly, they act as an indicator to our production team that nothing should be printed in those areas, allowing the metallic material to show through.
4. Adjusting the Knockout: Use the Direct Selection Tool to adjust the shape and size of your knockout areas until you achieve the desired effect.

Blocking Metallic Effects Using White Plates

Sometimes, you might want to block the metallic effect in certain areas of your design. This is where white plates come into play:

1. Create a White Plate Layer: Create a new layer in your document and name it “White Plate.” This layer will contain all the elements that should block the metallic effect.
2. Draw White Blocking Areas:
   • Select the areas in your design where you don’t want the metallic effect to show.
   • Use the Rectangle Tool or Pen Tool to draw shapes over these areas.
   • Fill these shapes with 100% white (C0, M0, Y0, K0).
3. Setting the White Plate: To ensure that the white plate prints correctly, it needs to be a spot color. Open the “Swatches” panel and create a new swatch. Name it “White Plate” and set the Color Type to “Spot Color.” Assign this swatch to your white blocking shapes.
4. Arrange Layers Appropriately: Ensure the White Plate layer is on top of your artwork layer. This arrangement allows the white areas to block the metallic substrate effectively.

Step 3: Arranging and Labeling Layers

Proper organization of your layers in Adobe Illustrator is crucial for efficient workflow and avoiding confusion during the design process. Here’s how to organize and label your layers:

1. Create Separate Layers: Start by creating separate layers for each major element of your design, such as background, text, images, metallic effects, and white plates. This separation allows for easy editing and adjustments.
2. Label Your Layers: Clearly label each layer according to its content. For example, label layers as “Background,” “Text,” “Images,” “Knockout,” and “White Plate.” This labeling helps you quickly identify and select the appropriate layer when making edits.
3. Use Layer Groups: If your design has multiple elements that belong together, consider grouping them. For example, group all text elements together in a layer named “Text Group.” This organization simplifies the process of moving or editing related elements.
4. Lock and Hide Layers: To prevent accidental changes, lock layers that you are not currently working on. You can also hide layers to focus on specific parts of your design without distraction.

Step 4: Finalizing and Exporting

After completing your design, it’s important to review and finalize your artwork before exporting it for printing:

1. Check for Errors: Review your design for any errors or inconsistencies. Ensure that all knockout and white plate areas are correctly set up.
2. Outline Text: Convert all text to outlines to prevent font issues during printing. Select the text and go to “Type” > “Create Outlines.”
3. Save Your File: Save your file in a format compatible with your printer’s requirements, such as AI, EPS, or PDF. Ensure that all layers and spot colors are preserved.
4. Export for Printing: Go to “File” > “Save As” and choose the appropriate format. Check the “Use Artboards” option if your label has multiple artboards.

Designing product labels with metallic BOPP can elevate the look of your products and make them more appealing to consumers, all without expensive embellishments. 

By following the steps outlined in this article, you can effectively create metallic effects using knockout sections, block metallic effects with white plates, and organize your layers for a smooth and efficient design process. 

Remember to experiment with different designs and effects to find the perfect look for your product labels. With the right techniques and attention to detail, your labels will stand out and leave a lasting impression on your customers.