Trapping

Knockouts May Require Trapping

What looks like two overlapping circles prints as a circle and a crescent

In the above illustration it looks as if a dark gray circle is printing on top of a yellow circle. However, in reality a gray circle and a yellow crescent shape are printed side by side The yellow knocks out leaving white space for the gray circle to print on.Because what you have are two touching colors there is a chance that the colors can get out of register on the press. Knockouts may require trapping to insure that no unsightly gaps are left behind.

• When Colors Touch
• Avoid Touching or Almost Touching Colors
• Use Common Process Colors to Close Gaps
• Overprint Black to Prevent Gaps
• Basic Trapping Terminology
• Chokes and Spreads Fill the Gaps
• Knockouts May Require Trapping
• Overprinting / Surprinting Avoids Need to Trap
• Manual and Automatic Trapping