How to Set Up Files for Metallic or Clear Stock Printing
Getting your design press-ready for specialty label printing
At Rose City Label, we love helping our customers create bold, standout labels, and one of the best ways to do that is by printing on specialty stocks like metallic or clear. These substrates offer a premium look, but they also require a slightly different file setup to get great results.
In our latest video (see below), we walk through how to correctly set up your artwork for printing on metallic or clear stock. Below is a quick summary of the key steps and best practices we covered:
Why It Matters
Metallic and clear stocks allow the base material to show through your design, creating shimmer, shine, or transparency effects. But unlike standard paper labels, you’re not printing the metallic effect; you’re letting the stock do the work. That means you don’t design the metallic or clear effect directly—you plan around it.
Key Takeaways from the Video
1. Don’t Simulate the Effect with CMYK
If you want a part of your label to appear metallic, don’t use a faux gray or gradient to simulate the look. Instead, leave that part empty—set it to 0% CMYK. That’s how Illustrator (and your printer) knows you want the raw stock to shine through.
2. Create a Spot Color for White Ink
To control what parts of the design should not be metallic or clear, you need to print white ink underneath those areas.
- Create a spot color and name it “White.”
- Give it any visible color (blue, green, etc.) just so you can see it in your file—it doesn’t affect the print.
- Make sure the white ink object is set to overprint.
- Layer it on top of your other objects in your file—this makes it easier to visualize, even though it will print beneath everything else.
3. Use White to Block Out the Metallic or Clear
The white ink acts as a blocker. Wherever you place it, it prevents the metallic or clear stock from showing through, giving you a solid, opaque look.
Want only part of a design element to be metallic? Easy. Just:
- Create a new shape on top of the white layer.
- Fill it with 0% white (not empty—just 0% of the white ink spot color).
- Set that to overprint as well.
This “knocks out” a portion of the white and lets the stock show through without needing to mess with complicated compound paths.
4. Keep Things Organized
We recommend putting your white ink elements on a separate layer. It helps with file organization, and more importantly, it makes your intent crystal clear to your prepress team.
Final Reminders
- Always use a spot color for white ink
- Set it to overprint
- Put white on top in your file (even though it prints underneath)
- Use 0% white ink to knock out metallic/clear areas
Whether you’re going for a luxe metallic look or a sleek transparent design, setting up your file correctly makes all the difference. It ensures your label prints exactly the way you envision—and helps us deliver the high-quality results Rose City Label is known for.
Watch the full video here.
Have questions about file setup? We’re here to help. Contact us any time.