How to make an artwork for paper webkey
This tutorial will show you how to create an artwork file from your great idea to a real product.
Simply speaking, image + diecut = artwork, with which Bonpal Technology company can make a final product.
↑ Image
↑ Diecut
↑ Artwork
↑ Product
(* Note: Due to lighting reasons, the color and image of the product may be not as exact looking as real in hand.)
THIS ARTICLE INCLUDES:
Intro – Elements of a USB paper webkey
1. How to make a paper template
2. How to make a webkey template
3. How to integrate paper & webkey templates (Diecut template)
4. How to fit the diecut template onto an image
5. Name the pages
6. Determine the orientation of the USB metal fingers
7. Determine paper finishing (Matte or Gloss)
Extra – Keyboard layout and input method (For Mac)
Intro – Elements of a USB paper webkey
Before we start, check the below pictures first. Here you’ll see some important elements we may refer to in this article.
a) Template border (finished paper area)
b) Diecut of detachable webkey (surrounded by outer paper)
c) Padding area (dotted, necessary places for gluing)
d) Chip, holder, USB metal fingers
e) Connector
f) Back of USB holder
1. How to make a paper template
1.1 Choose a size
Refer to “a) Template border (finished paper area)”.
In the design software like Adobe Illustrator, you may create a new file with a specific size, larger than rectangle lines (or other shapes), such as A4, A5, popular DL size 210x100mm, or smaller size like CR80 86x54mm, or any other sizes you like.
1.2 Choose a layout (flat or folding design)
If the above step is finished, a simple flat one would be done. Or what you need is a folding design, like bi-fold, tri-fold, just simply add some dotted lines within. And tell us how to fold, or notify inside/outside page to let us know how to press in each page if you want to get the products folded when delivered to you.
2. How to make a webkey template
If the webkey chip is on the edge of the paper, you may disregard this step. Now we take generally used detachable designs for example, with which the webkey part is surrounded by outer paper, if so, there are some requirements.
Here are some diecut examples for reference. Below one is shown in this article.
2.1 Connector width
It’s recommended to use 3mm. Easy to tear out but still strong enough, while cutting paper and inserting webkey chip casing.
2.2 Gap width
Minimum 3mm is needed, for the distance of the inner detachable part to the whole paper edge.
2.3 Border width
Minimum 5mm, to avoid breaking off the paper when inserting webkey chip casing.
2.4 Padding area
Min 5mm, the distance between casing wing and detachable webkey edge, for gluing tighter between the plastic casing and 2-layer paper.
2.5 Mixed color situation
If the colors of the detachable part and outer paper part are so different, they should be expanded by both, to make the effect like below. As a result, after diecutting, even slight moving of the cutting mold, we’re able to bring good-looking products.
(* Note: We have many webkey templates, please feel free to contact us to send them.)
3. How to integrate paper & webkey templates (Diecut template)
Now two templates are ready, after step #1 (flat rectangle as sample) & #2 (the small diecut within the paper). Simply copy the diecut template into the paper template, and adjust the place where you want to put the detachable webkey, then combine these 2 templates into a group, with this we can put all the lines in a fixed position.
↑ Put together, you should get diecut template like this.
↑ Simply make a mirror version, to use for the other page of artwork.
4. How to fit the diecut template onto an image
Open the image in design software, and insert diecut template. After this, we should get a workable artwork.
For the image, it’s recommended to use 300DPI, print quality scale; and it should be larger than the template, considering the bleeds before cutting. Most importantly, do remember to grid/vectorize/outline all the elements on the image, otherwise, we’d encounter font problem when loading file, especially when our computer doesn’t contain some fonts which are used in the art.
To have a conclusion first of above parts. Let’s use some images as above, but with some necessary notes.
↑ Image
(* Notes: 300dpi minimum for printing / larger than diecut / consider bleeds area.)
↑ Diecut
(* Notes: Beware of the width of the connectors as 2.8mm~3mm best, gap ≥3mm, padding ≥5mm, and border ≥5mm.)
↑ Artwork (Image + Diecut)
5. Name the pages
With the template and mirror template, putting on both sides of images, we’ll get 2 pages of output. Now it’s time to decide which page is inside/outside (folding design), or front/back (flat design). Name them, and we can go to the next step to know toward which page we should put the chips in the right direction.
6. Determine the orientation of the USB metal fingers
This factor is as important as determining pages. So, don’t forget to submit this request.
7. Determine paper finishing (Matte or Gloss)
For the paper surface finishing, matte or gloss, choose one of them, and then Bonpal Technology company can put it into production finally.
Extra – Keyboard layout and input method (For Mac)
The Windows PC uses the ASCII system which enables us to input virtually without any problem. However, Mac OS has a different input mechanism. Till now we’ve cooperated with clients from many countries, and have the records of Mac keyboard for most districts; however, we want to be sure 100%.
Simply take a picture of the Mac keyboard and the input method, that would be enough. If your campaign is in another country/district, use the one of your end-user.
A special condition is that the campaign is for many countries that may have many different keyboard layouts, however, it’s a pity that we could only choose one of them, for the Mac users.