Complex layered art (curved label) to be curved without raster

[yankvish]

Hi all!

I am trying to get my art ready for printing but they keep rejecting because of this problem. They say they cannot print rastered objects, but my bucket labels must be 8% curved, and without rasterizing some elements (images) I cannot curve my art. 

Or can I? Is there a way to curve layered art with text and images? 

[jdanek]

Are you using a silk screen print vendor?  How many colors?  Are the images photographic?  The reason I ask is because the silk screen vendor may be using solid color and avoids anything enabling a halftone screen.

[yankvish]

Thank you for a quick response! 

No, they are local company named Sticky Business. These are their guidelines (https://www.stickybusiness.com/artwork-guidelines). I followed everything and they keep rejecting me because of the raster files... Idk, I've read on multiple forums that you don't really need to raster your files for them to be printed.

I use gradients, at least three colours in every artboard, photographic and non-photographic images, and basically here is a link to an example artwork (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XtSzwCtag7ocOyOCcbWrZu1bYtqyqk-f/view?usp=sharing).

[John Mensinger]

You may have to make contact with someone at Sticky Business who can discuss the technical aspects of your job. Their FAQ says they employ several different output processes, choosing the most applicable for your input. Their file guidelines surely do not rule out raster images, however the only way they can handle them, presumably, is in their so-called "digital" CMYK workflow; their flexographic and screen print services may be vector-only workflows. If they're telling you they can't output raster images, they must, for some reason, be routing your job into a vector-only output method. They may indeed have thier own reasons for this, but in any case, thorough communication will be key to submitting something they can use, that also delivers on your design intent.

[yankvish]

Your comment was very helpful, thank you very much!

Yes, I am at the communication stage with them right now (they answer really slow though ugh).

[meganchi]

I work with curved packaging art everyday. I am assuming they can't print screens due to a flexographic printing limitation. Can you instead rotate your artwork into place on the curved configuration afterward, instead of rasterizing it?

[yankvish]

Thank you for your reply.

Sadly, I cannot rotate it afterward. It must be arched by 8%, otherwise, the labels won't work. It appears I'll have to wait for the printer shop's detailed answer on what is causing a problem.

[meganchi]

Can you share a pic of what the label looks like? Prior to warping it by 8%, is all artwork vector?

[yankvish]

Well, in a nutshell: 

- text converted to outlines

- images converted to vectors (and then rasterized so I can curve them)

- other art is a vector, too

- foil on background (for a showcase only)

Here is an un-curved label: