1. Download & Installation

1. Download the latest installer ( PressriaBridge-Setup-1.0.10.zip ) from pb.pressria.com.
2. Run the downloaded file to start the installation wizard.

   
3. Confirm the installation path and click Install. We recommend using the default path.
4. After installation, double-click the Pressria Bridge icon on your desktop to launch it.

2. Trial & License

When you install and first launch PB, a 2-week trial period starts automatically. You can use all features immediately without entering a key or signing up.

Trial Period (2 weeks)

• Your device is automatically registered upon installation and the trial begins
• All features are available without restrictions during the trial period
• You can check the remaining trial period on the PB screen

Activating a Full License

After the trial period ends, you need to register a Pressria Pod account for continued use.

1. Create an account at pod.pressria.com.
2. Log in to PB with your Pod account.
3. Your device is automatically authenticated and full access is enabled.

3. Auto Update

PB automatically checks for the latest version on launch. When a new version is available, a notification is displayed, and clicking confirm will start the automatic update.

4. Offline Usage

PB can be used for up to 3 days without an internet connection. After 3 days, an internet connection is required for license re-authentication.

1. What Is Preprocessing?

Print shops often receive a single AI file from customers containing multiple designs grouped together. Manually separating each design is time-consuming and error-prone.

PB's preprocessing feature automates this process:

1. Detects each group in the specified layer of the AI file
2. Automatically generates individual PDFs for each group
3. Each PDF includes layers such as cut line, front, back, and white
4. The generated PDFs can be used directly for nesting

2. Preprocessing Settings

Click Preprocessing in the left menu, then open the settings window with the settings button.

3. How to Use

1. Click Preprocessing in the left menu.
2. Load the AI file received from the customer.
3. Each group within the configured Target Layer Name (e.g., Design, Order Images) is detected and separated into individual PDFs. Each PDF includes the layers defined in PDF Output Layers in Group (cut line, front, back, white, etc.).
4. Copy the generated individual PDFs from the save path to the nesting hot folder, or drag and drop them.

4. Relationship Between Output Layers and Nesting

The layer names set in PDF Output Layers in Group are reflected directly in the nesting results.

1. Preprocessing generates individual PDFs containing cut line, front, back, and white layers
2. When these PDFs are nested, the same layer structure is maintained in the result file
3. When you open the nesting result in Illustrator, the layers are automatically separated and ready for printing

5. When Preprocessing Is Not Needed

In the following cases, you can nest directly without preprocessing:

• When you already receive files as individual PDFs
• When using the Sticker feature for background removal + automatic cut line generation
• When using sheet nesting (rectangular placement)

1. PDF File Input

Free-form nesting supports PDF files only. You can input files in two ways.

Input Methods

PDF File Requirements

To perform nesting, the PDF file must contain a cut line layer. The cut line layer name must match the name defined in Cut Line → Cut Line Name in the nesting settings.

2. Nesting Settings

Click the Nesting Settings button to open the settings window, which has 5 tabs: Basic, Register Marks, Cut Line, Output, and Quantity Rules.

Basic Settings

Rotation Options

The nesting rotation setting applies to NFP placement (single-quantity images). Allowing rotation increases placement efficiency, but you can restrict it when print orientation matters.

Register Mark Settings

Cut Line Settings

Output Settings

Defines the layer order when nesting results are opened in Illustrator. Layers are created in the order set here.

Quantity Rules Settings

3. Quantity Settings

You can specify the placement quantity for each PDF individually. Enter the desired quantity in the quantity input field next to each PDF in the thumbnail list.

4. Nesting Execution and Auto Placement Method

Click the Start Nesting button to begin automatic placement. PB automatically selects the optimal placement method based on quantity.

Auto Group Placement (Hybrid Nesting)

PB automatically groups images by quantity and places them in two stages:

1. Images with quantity 2 or more — Identical images are grouped together and placed on the sheet first. Since the same shape is repeated, they are packed tightly with minimal gaps.
2. Images with quantity 1 — Placed in the remaining area (remnant) after group placement using the NFP algorithm. Placement is optimized for irregular shapes.

Group Placement Flow

When there are multiple orders, PB places parts with the largest area first. Placing larger parts first allows more efficient use of sheet space.

1. G1 Placement — The group with the largest part area is placed across the entire sheet
2. Remnant Extraction — The remaining empty space after G1 placement is calculated
3. G2 Placement — The next largest part group is placed in the remaining area
4. Repeat — This continues in area order until all groups are placed

Export Results

When nesting is complete, click the Finish button. The result file opens automatically in Adobe Illustrator, with register marks, white underlay, and each layer separated in the order specified in Nesting Settings → Output.

Any remaining quantities from a group that could not fit on the sheet after nesting are displayed as shown below.

5. Use Cases

• Automatic sorting by order — Orders with large quantities are automatically grouped and placed first, making sorting after cutting easier
• Maximizing material efficiency — Identical images are packed tightly first, then remaining space is filled with single-quantity images to reduce material waste

1. Difference from Free-form Nesting

2. How to Use

1. Select Sheet Nesting from the top tab.
2. Import the image files to nest. The size (width × height) and quantity of each image are displayed in the list.
3. Set the sheet size and margins.
4. When files are added, placement is reflected in real time. Results can be checked immediately without a separate nesting start button.

3. Panel Settings

Click the Panel Settings button to open the settings window, which is divided into a Basic tab and a Register Mark tab.

Basic Settings

Register Mark Settings

4. White Underlay Layer / Overprint

Sheet nesting also supports white underlay layer and overprint settings required for print output.

5. Results & Output

Nesting results provide a preview for each sheet. You can check the utilization rate (%) and placement count per sheet.

Click the Complete button for each sheet to generate the result file. When integrated with Illustrator CEP, the file opens automatically.

6. Use Cases

• Banners / Large-format prints — Optimally arrange various sized banners on large-format materials
• Signs / Information boards — Efficiently place multiple types of signs on a single sheet
• Synthetic paper / Coated paper prints — Arrange prints of various sizes per order without material waste

1. Die Cut Settings

Click Sticker → Die Cut in the left menu, then open the Die Cut settings window using the settings button.

Basic Settings

Background Removal Settings

Select the AI model for background removal. Speed, quality, and memory usage vary by model.

Cut Line Settings

Die-cut — Always generated.

Add Kiss-cut — When checked, an additional kiss-cut line (for folding/perforating) is generated inside the die-cut line.

Cut Line Spot Color Settings — When checked, applies spot colors to the die-cut / kiss-cut lines and lets you specify the spot color names.

Common

Registration Mark Settings

Adds registration marks to the output so the cutting plotter can identify the cut line position.

Use registration marks — When checked, registration marks are generated together in the output PDF.

Output Layer Settings

Specifies the layer names shown when the output PDF is opened in Illustrator. The layers are fixed at four; only the names can be edited.

2. How to Use Die Cut

1. Set the hot folder path and output path in Die Cut settings.
2. Copy image files (PNG, JPG, etc.) to the hot folder.
3. PB automatically performs background removal → cut line generation → PDF output.
4. The PDFs generated in the output path can be used directly for nesting.

3. Sticker Sheet Settings

Sticker Sheet is a menu for sheet-format sticker work that arranges multiple stickers on a single sheet for output. Click Sticker → Sticker Sheet in the left menu, then open the Sticker Sheet settings window using the settings button. The settings window consists of four tabs: Basic Settings / Cut Line Settings / Registration Marks / Output Layers.

Basic Settings

Cut Line Settings

Sticker Sheet generates both Die-cut and Kiss-cut lines.

Die-cut — Rectangular fully-cut line

Kiss-cut — Free-form kiss-cut line that follows the image outline

Registration Marks

Adds registration marks at the sheet corners so the cutting plotter can identify the cut line position.

Use registration marks — When checked, registration marks are generated at the corners of the sheet in the output PDF.

Output Layers

Specifies the layer names shown when the output PDF is opened in Illustrator. As with Die Cut, the layers are fixed at four; only the names can be edited.

4. How to Use Sticker Sheet

1. Add image files (JPG, PNG) to the Sticker Sheet screen via drag-and-drop. Copying files into the hot folder path works the same way.
2. For PNG files, PB automatically performs background removal if the transparent area is 10% or less of the total image. PNGs that are already sufficiently transparent are used as-is.
3. Clicking an image in the file list displays the nesting result with kiss-cut lines (free-form) in the preview area on the right. In this state, Die-cut not applied appears at the top.
4. Enter the rectangular die-cut Width × Height (mm) in the Die-cut Size field at the top of the preview, then click Apply Die-cut. The rectangular die-cut is added and nesting is recalculated, updating the placement count (it is normal for the count to decrease by the area the die-cut occupies).
5. After applying the die-cut, the Ai button becomes active at the top right. Clicking it auto-connects to Illustrator and opens the nesting result in Illustrator, separated into the four layers (Registration mark / Die-cut / Kiss-cut / Image) specified in the Output Layers settings.

1. Verify Plugin Installation

When you install PB, the Illustrator CEP plugin is automatically installed. No separate installation is required.

To verify the plugin is installed correctly:

1. Launch Adobe Illustrator.
2. Go to Window → Extensions → Pressria Bridge in the top menu.
3. If the PB panel appears, the plugin is installed correctly.

2. Connect with PB

1. With PB running, open the PB panel in Illustrator.
2. Click the Connect button in the PB panel.
3. When the status shows ● Connected, you are ready to go.

3. Auto-Open Nesting Results

When nesting is completed in PB, the result file is automatically opened in Illustrator. No manual file opening is required.

4. Spot Color Automation

Spot color layers for cut lines, white ink, and more are automatically created.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. How many PCs can PB be installed on?

The license is automatically linked to the installed device, so one account can be used on one PC. To use it on a different PC, disconnect from the current PC first, then log in on the new PC.

Q. How long is the trial period?

After installation, all features are available free for 2 weeks. After the trial ends, you can continue using PB by registering a Pressria Pod account.

Q. What file formats are supported?

Free-form nesting supports only PDF files with a cut line layer. Sheet nesting supports general image files (PDF, PNG, JPG, etc.).

Q. What if the hot folder is not detecting files?

Check that PB is running in the background. You can verify the status via the system tray icon. Also make sure the hot folder activation toggle is turned on.

Q. What if the PB plugin is not visible in Illustrator?

Try running PB once and then restarting Illustrator. PB automatically installs the plugin on first launch. If it still does not appear, try reinstalling PB.

Q. What if Illustrator does not auto-open nesting results?

Check the connection status in the CEP panel and restart both PB and Illustrator. Make sure the status shows ● Connected.

Q. Can I use PB offline?

You can use PB without internet for up to 3 days. After 3 days, you must connect to the internet to re-authenticate your license.

Q. How can I improve sheet utilization?

Try reducing item spacing or setting the rotation option to 180° or 90° increments. Using group nesting can also help fill empty space with other orders.

Q. What if a Windows SmartScreen warning appears?

This may appear on first launch. Click More info → Run anyway to proceed normally.

Error Codes

Additional Support

For issues not resolved by this documentation, please contact [email protected].