Pitstop Action for making Kongsberg Cut PDF [solved}

[magnussandstrom]

Hi, I'm trying to make an action that does the following:

1. Select Kongsberg marks and move objects to PDF layer named Regmark (the black circles)
2. Select spot color 'cut' and move objects to a PDF layer named Cut (the pink boxes)
3. Delete all other objects

Here is an example file: https://bit.ly/3pJYJzx

I'm really struggeling, if someone could help me out I would be very happy!

[magnussandstrom]

This is my poor attempt of an non working action: https://bit.ly/3cuEoLk

[JimmyHartington]

Are the circle always placed with the same inset from left and right.
Or is the Media Box format of the pdf always the same?

[magnussandstrom]

Mediabox will vary and the black circles will always be positioned the same relative to the mediabox.

[jslater]

Magnus Kongsberg Marks.eal.zip

(2.58 KiB) Downloaded 245 times

One of my favorite tricks when dealing with relative positions is to use the art box to isolate my selection. In the attached example, I shrink it relative to the media box, then it's easy to select everything outside it to move it to the layer.
I may have gone a little above and beyond with what's getting moved, but it gives you a good idea how I like to approach this sort of thing. Hope it helps.

[bens]

This is my poor attempt of an non working action: https://bit.ly/3cuEoLk

The Action List Visualiser is very helpful in debugging something like this. It will show the selections on the page as you step through the Action List.

With this I noticed the "select fill color" action didn't select anything. And indeed, looking at the registration mark they are not DeviceGray but instead an ICCBased CMYK. You can select that specifically, or use a "Select color range" in combination with turning off colour management to select all black objects, regardless of colour space.

A second problem is more insidious. Because of the way layers work in PDF assigning something to a layer and then immediately using that layer to select the objects won't work. But that's okay because you already _have_ the selection. Basically what you have is:

Select registration marks
Assign to layer
Select cut guide
Assign to layer
Select all
(Try to deselect registration marks and cut guide)
Remove selection

The deselecting is not working because it's based on layers, but like I said you don't need that if you can re-use the existing selections. Something like this is probably the easiest:

Select registration marks
Assign to layer
Select cut guide
Assign to layer
OR ---- selects anything that is a registration mark OR a cut guide
NOT --- invert the selection
(select all is not needed, but could be added for clarity if you want, then combine with AND)
Remove selection

[magnussandstrom]

Thanks, I figuered it out!

[Tim Murphy]

Hi Magnus,
Could you post your solution please.

Cheers

[magnussandstrom]

Hi Magnus,
Could you post your solution please.

Cheers

Hi Tim, this is how I solved it (actions and test file): https://bit.ly/3fQFSRZ

Hope it works for you!

[Tim Murphy]

Thanks Magus.
I'll give it spin and let you know how I go.

Cheers

[magnussandstrom]

Thanks Magus.
I'll give it spin and let you know how I go.

Cheers

FYI: To reduce the chance that Pitstop grabs anything else then the Esko circles we make them 100%k and 1%y.

[Tim Murphy]

Yes, works well.
The 100% / 1% did have me stumped for awhile

Thank you