Online designer provides 3D visualization for custom packaging designs 

LAS VEGAS, NV - DaVinci Designer (DaVinci), an advanced 3D designer and 3D proofer, generated much buzz on the floor of Print 17 where approximately 20,000 decision-makers attended the leading exhibition for the graphic communications industry from Sept. 10-14 at McCormick Place in Chicago.

The industry is undergoing a shift from traditional document printing to more specialty printing at this year’s show, according to Charles Culley, vice president of sales, Tecra Systems, Inc.

“Large manufacturers and distributors like Konica Minolta are now diving into specialty printing, which have higher value in product printing,” Culley observed. “And as the industry trends toward specialty and packaging printing, the need has emerged for 3D visualization.”

The focus on custom printed boxes and other packaging designs creates a need for a composition tool where 3D designs can be viewed from different angles. DaVinci’s designing, proofing and PDF building capabilities meet this demand for both flat and 3D designs.

Developed by Opensoft Inc., DaVinci’s award-winning online designer can generate special effects, such as spot UV, foil and texture, and place dielines and folds onto PDF designs. Most importantly, its built-in 3D proofer renders an interactive soft proof with a 360-degree preview as well as accurate folding and unfolding animation of packaging designs and other 3D objects.

Tecra, an e-commerce platform provider for print-centric applications, will offer integration of the web-to-print software for clients building platforms for customer communications management, custom manufactured printed products, variable data printing, etc.

“Tecra has found the DaVinci product to have deep functionality and robust rendering ability. The DaVinci development team has been open, flexible and very competent,” said Culley. “In my experience, it is rare to find successful collaboration through challenging projects.”