Letterpress File Setup - Layers

Things to Know Before Proofing

MBO converts the colors to CMYK and often doesn't retain the stroke on text or the overprint settings.
You will always need to apply the Pantone color swatch in the design file, even if the colors look ok when you open it up in Illustrator.
Some people recommend proofing directly from product files, but as long as you carefully follow the directions below, you'll be safe working from the WTP.

Layers

Name each layer with its Pantone spot color value, with no spaces in the name (example: 7764U).

You will need a separate layer for each color. All items on an individual layer should be in the same Pantone value as the layer name.

Separate each color into its own layer
Name each layer with the Pantone Spot Color used in that layer
An editable text group must be saved for all text
the editable text layer must be locked, hidden and in the same exact placement as the outlined text
Guides can be kept at the bottom of one of the color layers
Be sure to follow Minted's minimum font guidelines

Color Layer Name Exceptions

There are three colors in the Minted wedding letterpress swatch library that use non-standard names. These colors do not use the standard numerals+U naming convention and it's a good idea to memorize the correct name for their layers. The colors and their layer names are:

Neutral Black (sometimes also listed as "Soft Black" on the Minted website): NeutralBlackU
Warm Gray (sometimes also listed as "Graphite"): WarmGray11U
Blind Deboss (no "U" is included in this layer name): BlindDeboss

WTP Example Layers

This is an example of what you'll see when you first open up the WTP for a wedding letterpress order:

Correct Layer Setup

This is an example of the same file, after the DA has adjusted the layer setup correctly.

Note that only two layers are present, one for each color in the file.
Both layers are named with the correct naming convention for the Pantone color being used.
Both layers have a visible compound path (made by combining any outlined text with any design elements), and a hidden and locked editable group (which contains editable text, in case of reproofs).
The bottom color layer also includes guides.

Step by Step Instructions

Getting started:

Delete any extra layers (for example, the background layer).
Guides can be moved to the bottom of one of the color layers.
Delete any extra paths or objects, for example, a white rectangle path on the background layer.

Working with color layers:

There must be a separate layer for each color, and no other layers.
Rename each color layer using the Pantone color code.
For example, if the Pantone swatch used is Stone, locate that swatch in the Wedding Letterpress swatch library, and name the layer using the Pantone code, making sure there are no spaces in the name. The color layer for the Stone elements would be named 2178U.
Using the recolor tool, apply the Pantone swatch to all items on the color layer.
The recolor tool is also very helpful for ensuring there is only 1 color on each color layer.

Fonts:

Keep in mind that for letterpress, the stroke on thinner fonts like scripts must be a bit thicker than for normal proofs. In general, apply a 0.1 stroke to most regular fonts. Apply a thicker stroke to thin fonts or script fonts.

Finalizing the layer structure:

Once you're finished proofing, create a group on each separate color layer, including both the text and any design elements. Name this group "editable."
Duplicate the "editable" group, leaving it in exactly the same placement as the original group.
Turn the visibility of the original "editable" group off and lock it.
In the new group, outline all text.
Then go to Object > Expand, and in the dialog box select both Stroke and Fill. Sometimes you may need to do this more than once. The end goal is to have the stroke fully applied to the fill, so that there appears to be no stroke.
Create a compound path, including text and design elements. There should now be one compound path and one editable group on each color layer. Make sure the compound path is named "compound."
Make sure Overprint Fill and Overprint Stroke are selected for each color layer.

*** A note on expanding the stroke and fill after outlining the text and before creating a compound path:

Most fonts on letterpress cards require a stroke. However, the final compound path cannot have a stroke.

Using Expand will apply the stroke to the text, and after doing that, you are able to create a compound path (with the stroke already applied).

Here, I've just outlined the text, and you can see that this is a selection of mixed objects, some with a stroke, and some without (represented by the ?):

We need to apply the stroke, so I'll use the Expand command. After doing that, the stroke is still present.

So, we need to expand again. I've selected Expand, and this time it opens a dialog box:

Select all options that aren't greyed out, and click OK.

Now, we can see that the stroke has been applied:

And now we can create the compound path. Notice that there is no stroke on the compound path:

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