Packaging & print production artwork
Build dielines, bleeds, spot colors and print-ready artwork.
20 project-authored proposals · taxonomy v1.1 · 0 new benchmark runs. Verifiers and partial-credit rules below are designs, not executed results.
- Typical applications
- Illustrator · ArtiosCAD · Esko
- Class GUI-need label
HY· Hybrid
Task proposals · 20
Expand to inspect the complete original wording and proposed checks. Original proposal text remains English in both interfaces.
R06.01.01.04-T01 Place carton artwork on a dieline with bleed and overprinting die layer
Original instruction
In Illustrator, place the panel artwork from input/panels.ai onto the carton dieline input/carton_dieline.pdf: extend backgrounds 3 mm past cut lines, keep all text >= 2 mm from folds and cuts, put the dieline on its own top layer in spot color 'Dieline' set to overprint, and export output/carton.pdf as PDF/X-4.
- Platforms
mac· macOSwin· Windows- Applications
- Illustrator
- Interfaces
desk· Desktop GUI- GUI need · task setting
HY· Hybrid- GUI need · ordinary access
CL· CLI-sufficient- Interaction primitives
drag· Drag & dropgeom· Precise geometryvis· Visual judgment- Work product
WP03· Visual layout- Conditions
licensed· Licensed pro app- Proposed difficulty
- 3 / 5
Proposed verifier
pikepdf/PDF parse: OutputIntent and X-4 version; dieline paths use Separation 'Dieline' with overprint true on its own OCG; artwork reaches 3 mm beyond cut paths; text bboxes >= 2 mm from fold/cut lines. ExtendScript disabled.
Proposed partial credit
25% PDF/X-4; 25% dieline spot/overprint/layer; 25% bleed coverage; 25% text clearances.
R06.01.01.04-T02 Convert a logo to named Pantone spot swatches
Original instruction
In Illustrator, open input/logo_2c.ai. Convert its two colors to spot swatches 'PANTONE 2945 C' and 'PANTONE 7408 C' (from the Pantone Solid Coated library), apply them globally, and remove all RGB and unused swatches. Save output/logo_spot.ai and export output/logo_spot.pdf.
- Platforms
mac· macOSwin· Windows- Applications
- Illustrator
- Interfaces
desk· Desktop GUI- GUI need · task setting
HY· Hybrid- GUI need · ordinary access
CL· CLI-sufficient- Interaction primitives
click· Point & click- Work product
WP03· Visual layout- Conditions
licensed· Licensed pro app- Proposed difficulty
- 2 / 5
Proposed verifier
PDF: only Separation colorspaces with those exact names (no DeviceRGB/DeviceCMYK objects); all logo objects use them; swatch list in .ai has no unused entries.
Proposed partial credit
50% correct spot names applied; 35% no RGB/process objects; 15% swatches cleaned.
R06.01.01.04-T03 Place a scannable EAN-13 at nominal size in the safe area
Original instruction
In Illustrator, add the EAN-13 for GTIN 4006381333931 to the back panel of input/box.ai at 100% magnification (37.29 x 25.93 mm incl. quiet zones), 100% black only, bars parallel to the flute direction noted on the dieline, fully inside the panel's safe area. Export output/box.pdf.
- Platforms
mac· macOSwin· Windows- Applications
- Illustrator
- Interfaces
desk· Desktop GUI- GUI need · task setting
HY· Hybrid- GUI need · ordinary access
CL· CLI-sufficient- Interaction primitives
geom· Precise geometryclick· Point & clicktype· Text & forms- Work product
WP03· Visual layout- Conditions
licensed· Licensed pro app- Proposed difficulty
- 3 / 5
Proposed verifier
Rasterize at 1200 dpi: decodes to the GTIN; module width 0.33 mm +/-2%; quiet zones intact; bars K-only (separation check); bbox inside safe area; orientation per flute.
Proposed partial credit
35% decodes; 25% magnification; 15% K-only; 25% safe area and orientation.
R06.01.01.04-T04 Generate a reverse tuck end carton from the standards catalog
Original instruction
In ArtiosCAD on Windows, create a reverse tuck end carton (ECMA A20.20 style) from the standards catalog with inside dimensions 60 x 40 x 150 mm on 0.45 mm SBS board, standard tuck and dust flaps, then export the design as output/rte.ard and output/rte.dxf with cut and crease on separate layers.
- Platforms
win· Windows- Applications
- ArtiosCAD
- Interfaces
desk· Desktop GUI- GUI need · task setting
G2· GUI-essential- GUI need · ordinary access
G3· GUI-only- Interaction primitives
click· Point & clicktype· Text & formsgeom· Precise geometry- Work product
WP04· 3D/spatial model- Conditions
licensed· Licensed pro app- Proposed difficulty
- 3 / 5
Proposed verifier
DXF parse: cut vs crease layers; panel dimensions match 60/40/150 inside with board allowances per caliper (+/-0.2 mm); closed outer cut contour; topology matches RTE template (panel count, flap positions). ArtiosCAD macros and Automation Engine access are disabled and the VM has no scripting runtime; the .ard must be saved by ArtiosCAD.
Proposed partial credit
40% dimensions with allowances; 25% layers; 20% topology; 15% both exports.
R06.01.01.04-T05 Add a hang tab and adjust the glue flap on a dieline
Original instruction
In ArtiosCAD, open input/rte_base.ard and add a 30 mm hang-tab panel with a 'sombrero' hole (template in input/hole_spec.pdf) above the back panel, and narrow the glue flap to 12 mm with 15 deg tapered ends. Run the design-check report; fix any cut-crease conflicts. Export output/rte_hang.dxf.
- Platforms
win· Windows- Applications
- ArtiosCAD
- Interfaces
desk· Desktop GUI- GUI need · task setting
G2· GUI-essential- GUI need · ordinary access
G2· GUI-essential- Interaction primitives
geom· Precise geometrypath· Continuous pathclick· Point & click- Work product
WP04· 3D/spatial model- Conditions
licensed· Licensed pro app- Proposed difficulty
- 4 / 5
Proposed verifier
DXF: hang tab panel height 30 +/-0.1 with hole geometry per spec (Hausdorff <= 0.2 mm); glue flap width 12 and taper angles 15 +/-0.5 deg; no overlapping/duplicate lines; report clean. ArtiosCAD macros and Automation Engine access are disabled and the VM has no scripting runtime; the .ard must be saved by ArtiosCAD.
Proposed partial credit
35% hang tab and hole; 35% glue flap; 30% clean geometry.
R06.01.01.04-T06 Apply and verify traps between spot and process inks
Original instruction
In Esko ArtPro+ on macOS or Windows, open input/label_flexo.pdf (2 spot + CMYK) and apply traps per printer spec input/trap_spec.pdf: 0.12 mm spreads of lighter into darker, black text excluded (overprint), no trap on the white underprint. Verify in the separation preview and save output/label_trapped.pdf.
- Platforms
mac· macOSwin· Windows- Applications
- Esko ArtPro+
- Interfaces
desk· Desktop GUI- GUI need · task setting
G2· GUI-essential- GUI need · ordinary access
G2· GUI-essential- Interaction primitives
vis· Visual judgmentclick· Point & clicknav· Pan/zoom/scroll- Work product
WP03· Visual layout- Conditions
licensed· Licensed pro app- Proposed difficulty
- 4 / 5
Proposed verifier
Compare separations at 2400 dpi: trap widths 0.12 +/-0.02 mm at sampled boundaries with correct direction; black text overprint; white separation untouched. ArtPro+ action lists and Automation Engine access are disabled for the agent, so edits must be made interactively in ArtPro+.
Proposed partial credit
45% trap width/direction; 25% black overprint; 15% white untouched; 15% file saved.
R06.01.01.04-T07 Preflight and fix a PDF to the printer's specification
Original instruction
In Adobe Acrobat Pro, preflight input/brochure_print.pdf against input/printer_spec.pdf (PDF/X-4, CMYK only with FOGRA51 intent, all fonts embedded, total area coverage <= 300%, images >= 300 ppi). Fix what Acrobat can fix (convert colors, embed fonts, reduce TAC), report the remaining low-res image in output/preflight.txt, and save output/brochure_fixed.pdf.
- Platforms
mac· macOSwin· Windows- Applications
- Acrobat Pro
- Interfaces
desk· Desktop GUI- GUI need · task setting
HY· Hybrid- GUI need · ordinary access
CL· CLI-sufficient- Interaction primitives
click· Point & clicknav· Pan/zoom/scroll- Work product
WP03· Visual layout- Conditions
licensed· Licensed pro app- Proposed difficulty
- 3 / 5
Proposed verifier
veraPDF/pikepdf checks: PDF/X-4 conformance; no RGB; OutputIntent FOGRA51; all fonts embedded; TAC max <= 300% (raster sampling); report names the one image < 300 ppi.
Proposed partial credit
25% X-4 conformance; 25% color; 20% fonts; 30% TAC and report.
R06.01.01.04-T08 Prepare wine label separations for foil, emboss and varnish
Original instruction
In Illustrator, finish input/wine_label.ai for print: create spot layers 'Foil_Gold', 'Emboss' and 'Varnish' as 100% overprinting separations matching the marked areas in input/finish_markup.pdf, ensure foil areas knock out CMYK beneath by 0.1 mm choke, and export output/wine_label.pdf (PDF/X-4).
- Platforms
mac· macOSwin· Windows- Applications
- Illustrator
- Interfaces
desk· Desktop GUI- GUI need · task setting
HY· Hybrid- GUI need · ordinary access
G2· GUI-essential- Interaction primitives
path· Continuous pathvis· Visual judgmentclick· Point & click- Work product
WP03· Visual layout- Conditions
licensed· Licensed pro app- Proposed difficulty
- 4 / 5
Proposed verifier
PDF: 3 Separation colorspaces with exact names, overprint on; finish areas IoU >= 0.95 vs markup; CMYK knocked out under foil with 0.1 mm choke (separation raster check).
Proposed partial credit
30% separations named/overprint; 40% areas match; 20% knockout/choke; 10% PDF/X-4.
R06.01.01.04-T09 Reserve a no-ink area for lot and date coding
Original instruction
In Illustrator, on input/pouch_back.ai create a 40 x 15 mm unprinted window for inkjet lot/date coding at the position given in input/coding_spec.pdf: knock out all inks including white underprint, and add a non-printing guide outline on a 'Notes' layer. Export output/pouch_back.pdf.
- Platforms
mac· macOSwin· Windows- Applications
- Illustrator
- Interfaces
desk· Desktop GUI- GUI need · task setting
HY· Hybrid- GUI need · ordinary access
CL· CLI-sufficient- Interaction primitives
geom· Precise geometryclick· Point & click- Work product
WP03· Visual layout- Conditions
licensed· Licensed pro app- Proposed difficulty
- 2 / 5
Proposed verifier
Separation rasters: zero ink in all separations within the 40x15 mm window (+/-0.2 mm position); notes layer non-printing (OCG print state off).
Proposed partial credit
60% window clear in all inks; 25% position/size; 15% non-printing guide.
R06.01.01.04-T10 Step and repeat labels on a press sheet with marks
Original instruction
In Illustrator, impose input/label_70x40.pdf (with 2 mm bleed) on a 330 x 480 mm sheet: 4 x 10 grid with 3 mm gutters, centered, crop marks per label, registration marks and a CMYK color bar in the margin. Export output/press_sheet.pdf.
- Platforms
mac· macOSwin· Windows- Applications
- Illustrator
- Interfaces
desk· Desktop GUI- GUI need · task setting
HY· Hybrid- GUI need · ordinary access
CL· CLI-sufficient- Interaction primitives
geom· Precise geometrydrag· Drag & dropclick· Point & click- Work product
WP03· Visual layout- Conditions
licensed· Licensed pro app- Proposed difficulty
- 3 / 5
Proposed verifier
PDF: 40 placements with positions on the computed grid (+/-0.1 mm); centered layout; crop marks at each trim corner; registration marks in all separations; color bar present.
Proposed partial credit
45% grid placement; 25% crop marks; 15% registration; 15% color bar.
R06.01.01.04-T11 Add dynamic barcodes and printer marks with Esko DeskPack
Original instruction
In Illustrator with Esko DeskPack, add a Dynamic Barcode (GS1-128 for the data in input/gs1_data.txt) with BWR 0.03 mm for flexo, and Dynamic Marks for the printer: registration marks, a color bar for the 5 inks, and the job info slug. Save output/case_label.ai and PDF.
- Platforms
mac· macOSwin· Windows- Applications
- Illustrator · Esko DeskPack
- Interfaces
desk· Desktop GUI- GUI need · task setting
HY· Hybrid- GUI need · ordinary access
G2· GUI-essential- Interaction primitives
click· Point & clicktype· Text & forms- Work product
WP03· Visual layout- Conditions
licensed· Licensed pro app- Proposed difficulty
- 3 / 5
Proposed verifier
PDF: barcode decodes to GS1 data with correct AIs; measured bar width reduction 0.03 mm; marks present in all 5 separations; slug text contains job id.
Proposed partial credit
40% barcode content; 20% BWR; 25% marks; 15% slug.
R06.01.01.04-T12 Apply flexo distortion compensation to pouch artwork
Original instruction
Flexible pouch artwork input/pouch_front.pdf will print flexo with a web-direction distortion factor of 98.2% (input/press_data.pdf). In Esko ArtPro+, scale the artwork 98.2% in the web direction only for the plate files, keep the original for proofing, adjust the eye-mark to stay at 10 x 5 mm actual size, and export output/pouch_plates.pdf.
- Platforms
mac· macOSwin· Windows- Applications
- Esko ArtPro+
- Interfaces
desk· Desktop GUI- GUI need · task setting
G2· GUI-essential- GUI need · ordinary access
CL· CLI-sufficient- Interaction primitives
geom· Precise geometryclick· Point & clickvis· Visual judgment- Work product
WP03· Visual layout- Conditions
licensed· Licensed pro app- Proposed difficulty
- 4 / 5
Proposed verifier
Plate PDF: web-direction scale 0.982 +/-0.0005 and cross-direction 1.0; eye-mark dimensions 10x5 mm after compensation; proof file untouched. ArtPro+ action lists and Automation Engine access are disabled for the agent, so edits must be made interactively in ArtPro+.
Proposed partial credit
45% distortion scale; 20% cross-direction unchanged; 25% eye-mark size; 10% proof untouched.
R06.01.01.04-T13 Build a compliant nutrition facts panel
Original instruction
In Illustrator, build the US Nutrition Facts label (standard vertical format) for input/nutrients.csv on the side panel of input/cereal_box.ai, following input/fda_format.pdf: type sizes and rule weights per spec, rounding rules applied to values and %DV, panel fitting the available 60 x 110 mm area.
- Platforms
mac· macOSwin· Windows- Applications
- Illustrator
- Interfaces
desk· Desktop GUI- GUI need · task setting
HY· Hybrid- GUI need · ordinary access
CL· CLI-sufficient- Interaction primitives
type· Text & formsgeom· Precise geometryvis· Visual judgment- Work product
WP03· Visual layout- Conditions
licensed· Licensed pro app- Proposed difficulty
- 4 / 5
Proposed verifier
PDF text extraction: nutrient values and %DV equal key after FDA rounding; font sizes and rule weights within 0.25 pt of spec; panel bbox within area; order of nutrients exact.
Proposed partial credit
40% values and rounding; 30% type/rules spec; 20% order; 10% fit.
R06.01.01.04-T14 Fit a five-language back panel at minimum legal x-height
Original instruction
In InDesign, set the back panel text of input/biscuit_pack.indd in EN, FR, DE, IT and ES from input/translations.xlsx with language-specific hyphenation, keeping x-height >= 1.2 mm (EU 1169/2011) and fitting the 90 x 70 mm panel without overset; allergens in bold in every language. Export output/back_panel.pdf.
- Platforms
mac· macOSwin· Windows- Applications
- InDesign · Excel
- Interfaces
desk· Desktop GUI- GUI need · task setting
HY· Hybrid- GUI need · ordinary access
G2· GUI-essential- Interaction primitives
type· Text & formsvis· Visual judgmentclick· Point & click- Work product
WP03· Visual layout- Conditions
licensed· Licensed pro app- Proposed difficulty
- 4 / 5
Proposed verifier
PDF: all 5 texts present (diff vs xlsx); measured x-height >= 1.2 mm via font metrics x size; no overset; allergen words bold in each language; paragraphs tagged with correct language in IDML.
Proposed partial credit
25% texts; 30% x-height; 20% fit; 25% allergens bold and language tags.
R06.01.01.04-T15 Reduce a design from CMYK to three spot inks
Original instruction
The client wants input/tea_tin.ai printed with only 3 spot inks. Choose the 3 Pantone inks from input/ink_options.pdf that best reproduce the design and rebuild all colors as tints/overprints of them, then export output/tea_tin_3spot.pdf with separations preview checked. Mean DeltaE2000 vs original rendering must be <= 6.
- Platforms
mac· macOSwin· Windows- Applications
- Illustrator
- Interfaces
desk· Desktop GUI- GUI need · task setting
G2· GUI-essential- GUI need · ordinary access
G2· GUI-essential- Interaction primitives
vis· Visual judgmentclick· Point & click- Work product
WP03· Visual layout- Conditions
licensed· Licensed pro app- Proposed difficulty
- 4 / 5
Proposed verifier
PDF has exactly 3 Separation inks from the allowed list; no process objects; simulated composite (ink Lab values) vs original: mean DeltaE2000 <= 6, p95 <= 12. Illustrator scripting (ExtendScript/UXP) is disabled and the VM has no shell or scripting runtime, so artwork must be built in the Illustrator UI.
Proposed partial credit
35% only 3 allowed spots; 15% no process; 50% color fidelity (linear 12->6).
R06.01.01.04-T16 Control: apply the T07 preflight fixes by command line
Original instruction
Control pair of T07. Using Ghostscript and command-line tools only, convert input/brochure_print.pdf to PDF/X-4 with FOGRA51 output intent, CMYK-only, embedded fonts and TAC <= 300%, writing output/brochure_fixed.pdf and output/preflight.txt naming the low-res image.
- Platforms
lin· Linuxmac· macOSwin· Windows- Applications
- Ghostscript · veraPDF
- Interfaces
term· Terminal- GUI need · task setting
CL· CLI-sufficient- GUI need · ordinary access
CL· CLI-sufficient- Interaction primitives
code· Code & commands- Work product
WP03· Visual layout- Conditions
- None declared
- Proposed difficulty
- 3 / 5
Proposed verifier
Same checks as T07.
Proposed partial credit
25% conformance; 25% color; 20% fonts; 30% TAC and report.
R06.01.01.04-T17 Check panel orientation by folding the carton in 3D
Original instruction
In ArtiosCAD (3D) with input/rte_art.ard and its artwork input/rte_art.pdf, fold the carton in 3D and find the panels whose artwork is upside-down or misregistered when folded (top tuck and dust flaps). Correct them in Illustrator by rotating/moving the panel art, re-check in 3D, and export output/rte_art_fixed.pdf.
- Platforms
win· Windows- Applications
- ArtiosCAD · Illustrator
- Interfaces
desk· Desktop GUI- GUI need · task setting
G2· GUI-essential- GUI need · ordinary access
G2· GUI-essential- Interaction primitives
vis· Visual judgmentgeom· Precise geometrynav· Pan/zoom/scrollmulti· Cross-app- Work product
WP03· Visual layout- Conditions
licensed· Licensed pro appmultiapp· Multi-app- Proposed difficulty
- 3 / 5
Proposed verifier
Fixed PDF: each panel's art orientation matches the reference fold map (3 seeded errors corrected); art registered to panels within 0.3 mm; no other panels changed. ArtiosCAD macros and Illustrator ExtendScript are disabled and the VM has no scripting runtime, so corrections must be made in Illustrator.
Proposed partial credit
60% three errors corrected; 25% registration; 15% no collateral changes.
R06.01.01.04-T18 Make a print-ready shelf wobbler with die line
Original instruction
In Affinity Publisher, place input/wobbler_art.afdesign onto the 80 mm circular wobbler with a 60 mm tab from input/wobbler_die.pdf, 2 mm bleed, cut path in spot 'CutContour' on its own layer, overprint, and export output/wobbler.pdf (PDF/X-4).
- Platforms
mac· macOSwin· Windows- Applications
- Affinity Publisher
- Interfaces
desk· Desktop GUI- GUI need · task setting
HY· Hybrid- GUI need · ordinary access
G2· GUI-essential- Interaction primitives
drag· Drag & dropgeom· Precise geometryclick· Point & click- Work product
WP03· Visual layout- Conditions
licensed· Licensed pro app- Proposed difficulty
- 2 / 5
Proposed verifier
PDF: CutContour Separation path matching die geometry (Hausdorff <= 0.2 mm), overprint; art covers bleed; X-4 conformance.
Proposed partial credit
40% cut path; 30% bleed; 30% PDF/X-4.
R06.01.01.04-T19 Produce complete carton artwork from a packaging brief
Original instruction
From input/brief.pdf build the full carton: generate the dieline in ArtiosCAD (straight tuck end, given dimensions/board), then in Illustrator lay out all panels from the brand assets with 2 Pantone spots + CMYK, EAN-13, nutrition and legal text at minimum sizes, dieline/varnish separations, and preflight to input/printer_spec.pdf. Deliver output/carton.ard and output/carton_print.pdf.
- Platforms
win· Windows- Applications
- ArtiosCAD · Illustrator · Acrobat Pro
- Interfaces
desk· Desktop GUI- GUI need · task setting
HY· Hybrid- GUI need · ordinary access
G2· GUI-essential- Interaction primitives
geom· Precise geometrydrag· Drag & dropvis· Visual judgmentmulti· Cross-app- Work product
WP03· Visual layout- Conditions
licensed· Licensed pro applong· Long-horizonmultiapp· Multi-app- Proposed difficulty
- 5 / 5
Proposed verifier
Dieline dims per brief; PDF checks: panels mapped correctly (fold map), bleed, spot names, barcode decode and size, legal text sizes, separations, X-4 preflight clean.
Proposed partial credit
20% dieline; 25% panel layout; 30% color setup, barcode and legal text; 25% preflight clean.
R06.01.01.04-T20 Version a label family for eight SKUs with soft-proof annotations
Original instruction
In Illustrator, produce 8 SKU labels from master input/label_master.ai and input/sku_data.xlsx (flavor name, color band spot ink, net weight, barcode) on separate artboards, keeping shared plates (black, white) identical across SKUs. Export a print PDF per SKU and one proof PDF with Acrobat comments flagging the 3 SKUs whose band ink is new.
- Platforms
mac· macOSwin· Windows- Applications
- Illustrator · Acrobat Pro · Excel
- Interfaces
desk· Desktop GUI- GUI need · task setting
HY· Hybrid- GUI need · ordinary access
CL· CLI-sufficient- Interaction primitives
type· Text & formsclick· Point & clickmulti· Cross-app- Work product
WP03· Visual layout- Conditions
licensed· Licensed pro applong· Long-horizonmultiapp· Multi-app- Proposed difficulty
- 5 / 5
Proposed verifier
Per SKU PDF: text and barcode per row; band spot ink name per row; black/white separations identical across SKUs (pixel diff 0 at 600 dpi); proof PDF has comments on exactly the 3 new-ink SKUs.
Proposed partial credit
30% data per SKU; 20% barcodes; 25% shared plates identical; 25% spot inks and proof comments.
Mapped research references
No benchmark reference is assigned to this class in the current mapping.