Printing Tools User Guide For Macintosh Operating Systems 0700001 Rev E
© Copyright 2008 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. Hewlett-Packard Company 11311 K-Tel Drive Minnetonka, Minnesota 55343 United States of America World Wide Web: www.colorspan.com www.hp.com Technical Support World Wide Web: www.colorspan.com E-mail: cs.support@hp.com Confidential computer software. Valid license from HP required for possession, use or copying. Consistent with FAR 12.211 and 12.
About This Manual Read this User Guide to learn how to install and use the Printing Tools software and fonts. • Chapter 1 explains how to install the Printing Tools software and DTC fonts. • Chapter 2 shows you how to use the Image Utility. • Chapter 3 shows you how to use the Downloader Utility. Refer to Appendix A for troubleshooting information and how to contact technical support.
Conventions iv This manual uses the following informational conventions: Note A special technique or information that may help you perform a task or understand a process. Caution Alerts you to something that has the potential to cause damage to hardware, software, or data.
Table of Contents Getting Started Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-2 System Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-3 Installing the Printing Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-4 Uninstalling the Printing Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-5 Installing DTC Fonts . . . . .
PostScript Printer Description Files PostScript Printer Description Files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-2 Generic PPDs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-2 QuarkXPress 4 PPDs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-2 Alternate Custom Page Size PPDs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-2 Revision 4 PPDs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Chapter 1 Getting Started This chapter explains how to install the Printing Tools software and DTC Fonts on your Macintosh.
Introduction 1-2 The Printing Tools are a collection of printer description files, applications, and fonts. • The Image Utility for OS X — enables you to transfer (download) files in various formats directly to the print server, or save them to PostScript format files for downloading later. This utility also enables you to apply transformation options (such as scaling, rotation, mirroring) prior to downloading.
System Requirements System Requirements We recommend that you use a system with the following minimum capabilities for the fastest print times and best output results: • Macintosh — a Power PC processor with at least 24 megabytes of RAM and Ethernet network adapter. • Operating System — The Image Utility requires OS X 10.2 (“Jaguar”) or later. • Drivers — the PostScript Printer Description (PPD) files supplied will work with the OS X Print Center.
Installing the Printing Tools 1. Load the Software DVD-ROM into the DVD drive of the computer. 2. Open the Printing Tools folder on the DVD-ROM. 3. Refer to the “readme” file for your operating system version for installation instructions.
Uninstalling the Printing Tools Uninstalling the Printing Tools To uninstall the Printing Tools, drag the components into the Trash.
Installing DTC Fonts The RIP includes a set of PostScript-compatible printer fonts factory-installed on its hard disk. • The standard 35 fonts found on most PostScript-compatible printers • DTC MasterWorks Type Library The Digital Typeface Corporation (DTC) MasterWorks fonts are shipped with the Printing Tools on the software DVD-ROM disc. A specimen sheet showing each of the fonts is shown on the following pages.
DTC MasterWorks Volume 1 fonts Installing DTC Fonts 1-7
DTC MasterWorks Volume 3 fonts 1-8 Installing DTC Fonts
Chapter 2 Image Utility This chapter shows you how to use the Image Utility. The Image Utility enables you to download files to the print server, save image files as PostScript language files, and apply image transformations prior to sending them to the print server.
What is the Image Utility? System Requirements 2-2 The Image Utility enables you to perform the following operations on TIFF, JPEG, Encapsulated PostScript (EPS), PostScript (PS), and Adobe Acrobat Portable Document Format (PDF) files: • Download supported file types directly to the print server • Save the file to a PostScript language file, for subsequent transfer to the print server (not applicable to PS files) • Optionally apply cropping, tiling, and scaling transformations to the file before sen
Configuring the Image Utility 1. Run the Image Utility. Double-click the Image Utility alias. The Image Utility window appears. 2. To set the preferences, select Preferences from the File menu. The Preferences dialog box appears. Click the tab corresponding to the preferences you want to change. When you change a setting, it is applied immediately.
3. Specify an output option. • Directly to print server — The image utility sends print files to the printer shown (AppleTalk or TCP/IP). You can change the AppleTalk Zone and printer. Click the Refresh button to refresh the lists of zones and printers. • Save to a PostScript file on disk — a PostScript or PDF file can be saved to disk, and transferred subsequently to the RIP via a hot folder. • Click the Change button to change the destination.
6. Click the Logging tab to specify logging options. The Logging tab appears. The software can keep a record, or log, of its activity. This is useful for troubleshooting (to determine the cause of a problem or error). • Log activity to a file — check this box to enable logging. • Detailed logging — check this box to increase the detail included in the log file, uncheck to decrease. • To change the output file location shown, click the Change button.
7. Click the Warnings tab to specify Warning options. The Warnings tab appears. Warnings alert you to potential problems, and give you the option of cancelling or continuing anyway. Check each box to enable the warning, uncheck the box to disable it. • Warn about presence of EXIF tags — image files containing EXIF (Exchangeable Image File) data, which is descriptive data added by digital cameras, can cause the RIP to generate PostScript errors. See also “Strip EXIF tags automatically“ page 2-4.
Using the Image Utility 1. Run the Image Utility. Double-click the Image Utility alias. The Image Utility window appears. 2. Open the folder containing a supported file type. 3. Drag the file icon to the Image Utility window. • If the file is a bitmap image (TIFF, JPEG, EPS), the transformations dialog box appears with a preview of the image. Go to step 4.
The pixel dimensions, resolution, and format of the original image are shown for your reference. 5. Optionally, flip, rotate, or scale the image. Click the Transformation tab. • Flip — check the Horizontal checkbox to create a rightto-left mirror image, check Vertical to create a top-down mirror image. • Rotate — click 90, 180, or 270 to rotate the image counterclockwise by the corresponding number of degrees. • Scaling — drag the slider or enter a scaling percentage, or enter the desired width or height.
the image is automatically preserved. The resolution of the printed image is updated as you change the scaling. 6. Click Save or Cancel. • To save your changes and output the file to the print server or disk, click Save. The PostScript file will be output according to the settings on the File - General Preferences tab. • To cancel your changes, click Cancel. The file is not output. If you save the file to disk, use DiskDirect to print the file. Refer to the System Control User Guide for instructions.
Batch Processing Batch processing allows you process a group of TIFF or JPEG all at once with a set of parameters that you define once. For example, you could download a batch of images, then arrange them on the server as a MediaSaver or N-UP job (refer to the System Control User Guide for instructions). When you drag multiple image files onto the regular Image Utility window (instead of the Batch Processing window), the Cropping and Transformation dialog box appears for each image.
• Fit Horizontal — the horizontal dimension of the image will be scaled to fit the horizontal dimension of the page size. The vertical dimension will not be scaled. • Fit Vertical — the vertical dimension of the image will be scaled to fit the vertical dimension of the page size. The horizontal dimension will not be scaled. • Stretch to Fit — to image will be scaled to fit as closely as possible within the page size, without necessarily preserving the aspect ratio of the image. 4. Set the Page Size.
If you enable this option, as each image is opened, a dialog box appears with the file name. You must confirm or cancel the selection of each file before downloading will proceed. 9. Drag a group of files to the Batch Processing window. The files are processed according to the Batch Processing settings, then sent to the printer. You can cancel the batch process at any time by clicking the image in the upper portion of the dialog box.
Chapter 3 Downloader Utility This chapter shows you how to use the Downloader Utility to download files and fonts to the RIP.
About the Downloader Utility Use the Downloader Utility to download the following types of files: • EPS files to be printed • TIFF files to be printed • JPEG files to be printed • PostScript files to be printed • Kodak Photo CD files to be printed • PostScript Type 1 and TrueType fonts to be saved on the RIP. Downloading files saves you the time of importing the file into an application and then printing it.
Preferences To configure the Downloader Utility preferences, select Preferences… from the Edit menu. The Preferences dialog box appars. • Background Speed— Sets the amount of CPU time that is allocated to the Downloader Utility. Fastest downloads files (in the background) as fast as possible. This may affect the performance of other applications running in the foreground.
information will be written to that log so you know what happened. • Default Units — Sets the measuring system used for scaling Photo CD and TIFF images. • When an error needs to be reported — Sets the way in which you are notified of printing errors. • Server Type — Select the server type. • Print Engine — Select the desired output device. • Paper — Select any page size from the popup menu. • TIFF Download Format — Determines how TIFFs are downloaded to the server.
• Preferences Printer Message Log — Creates a Message Log where status messages from the printer are written. This is a standard text file that can be opened with any text editor. When you click the Set button, a standard Save File dialog box appears. Select a location on your hard disk to log the errors, accept the name of PS Output or name it something else. To turn the Message Log off, click the button and select Cancel.
Downloading Files There are two ways to download files with the Downloader Utility: • Select files from the File menu • Drag-and-drop files on top of the application’s icon Note Select from the File Menu In OS X, the Downloader Utility may not run properly unless you restart your Macintosh in OS 9 or earlier, instead of launching it within OS X. 1. Launch the Downloader Utility by double-clicking its icon. The status dialog appears. 2. Select Download from the File menu.
Downloaded TIFF and JPEG files appear in server queues with the generic file names “TIFF” and “JPEG.” Drag-and-Drop The easiest way to download a group of files is to drag and drop them onto the Downloader Utility icon or dialog box. The Downloader Utility automatically launches and presents you with a dialog box for setting print options. As the Downloader Utility sends the files to the RIP, you can view the progress on the status box that appears.
Preview 3-8 When you download a file, a dialog box appears that enables you to accept or cancel the file, or each file of a multiple-file batch. If the file was saved with a Macintosh preview, the preview is displayed. If not, a “preview not available” message is displayed instead.
Using Transformation Options You can print Encapsulated PostScript (EPS), Tagged Image Format File (TIFF), and Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG) files directly by downloading them from your workstation using the Downloader Utility, or from the server using the DiskDirect port. You can apply a transformation mode to these files automatically or manually at the RIP’s Port Configuration dialog box. If you select automatic mode, the transformation is applied automatically before printing.
All modes except Stretch Fit preserve the original aspect ratio of the image. You can see how the image will look before printing by checking its Preview in the System Control Output queue.
Downloading PostScript Files The Downloader Utility can send PostScript files to be printed. When you download a PostScript file, the following dialog box appears: 1. Select the settings for the PostScript file. • Copies — Type in the number of copies you want to print. (If the number of copies specified in the file is different from what you specify, the number in the file will be used.) • Print Engine — Specify the engine to which the file will be printed.
Downloading TIFF Files When you download a “Client-Side” TIFF file, the following dialog box appears. 1. Select the output image settings. • Printer — Specify the engine to which the file will be printed. • Output Size — With Constrain Aspect Ratio selected, you can type in one dimension and the other dimension will change proportionally. Uncheck Constrain Aspect Ratio to change the height and width independently.
• Position — Select the position on the page where you want the image printed. (Grayed out if Conserve Paper is checked.) • Rotation — Type in the degree of rotation; select whether you want the image rotated clockwise (CW) or counterclockwise (CCW). (Grayed out if Conserve Paper is checked.) 2. Click Options to set options for the chosen output device. See the chapter in this manual that describes the output device for information on the available options. 3. Click Print to send the file to the RIP.
Downloading Photo CD Files The Downloader Utility can send Kodak Photo CD files directly to the RIP. Note To access Photo CD files, you must have the proper drivers provided by the manufacturer of your CDROM drive. Refer to the documentation that accompanies your CD-ROM drive for detailed information. When you download a Photo CD file, this dialog box appears. 1. Select the output image settings for the Photo CD file.
size in inches, centimeters, percent, or Full Page to fit to the paper size selected. • Copies — Type in the number of copies you want to print. • Conserve Paper — Only the length of paper needed for the print will be fed from the media roll instead of the entire length for a standard paper size. When this option is selected, Paper Size, Position, and Rotation are grayed out. (Not available for color copier output.) • Paper Size — Select the paper size that will fit your output image area.
Photo CD Notes 3-16 Downloading a Kodak Photo CD image is similar to downloading print files in other formats, with the following exceptions: • You cannot print a negative of the Photo CD image. • Photo CD images are available at several resolutions. When you select a Photo CD image and image size, the Downloader Utility defaults to an appropriate resolution for the paper size selected. In most cases, use the default resolution.
Appendix A Support Information Support Information • Software DVD-ROM Layout (page A-2) • Technical Services (page A-3) A-1
Software DVD-ROM Layout Root Directory setup.exe - installs the Software RIP \Documentation \Drivers \netcard \DTC Fonts \Fonts \gator-other \colorspan \icc \gatorsi-other \colorspan \icc \Printing Tools HPIU.
Technical Services For service and support, contact HP Technical Services: • World Wide Web: www.colorspan.com • E-mail: cs.support@hp.com United States and Canada: • Telephone: (800) 925-0563 or (952) 944-4040 • Fax: (952) 944-8509 Latin America: • Telephone: +1 (952) 943-3427 or +1 (952) 943-3627 • Fax: +1 (952) 944-8509 Europe/Middle East/Africa: • Telephone: +31 23.5622000 • Fax: +31 23.
A-4 Technical Services
Appendix B PostScript Printer Description Files PostScript printer description files (PPD files) are text files that enable software application programs to use the various features of your printer, including page sizes, paper handling, font availability, and others. This appendix describes the PPD files included on the software disc.
PostScript Printer Description Files The Printer Description Files (PPDs) describe each printer to the LaserWriter driver. The software disc contains versions of PPDs that are specific to each printer and RIP type. It also includes various alternate version PPDs. The Printing Tools Installer automatically copies most of these PPDs to their proper locations. Some PPDs must be manually copied to their appropriate location.
File naming convention for Macintosh Revision 4 PPDs: [printer] [us|metric] [CMRIP] [Alt|Q4] Printer Model Units Version Special Version RIP Version Printer Model Codes The PPDs are in folders by printer model. This table shows the folder codes and printer model codes used in the PPD file names.
RIP Version PPDs for RIPStation users contain a smaller resident font list than for printers connected to a ColorMark Pro print server. These PPDs are identified by “CMRIP” in the position shown. Metric Code If the PPD contains metric paper sizes, “Metric” appears in the position shown. If the PPD contains U.S. paper sizes, “US” appears in the position shown. B-4 Revision 3 PPDs These PPDs conform to version 3.0 of the Adobe PostScript Printer Description File Format Specification.
PDFs are files created for use with QuarkXPress. They are required for QuarkXPress versions 3.2 and earlier and can also be used with versions 3.3 and 3.31. Quark provides a tool that helps in the creation of PDFs called MakePDF. PDFs were originally called XPDs. PDFs are binary files with the data stored in the resource fork. There are two types of PDF files: one containing fixed paper sizes and one that allows creation of variable (custom) page sizes. Some engines have both, some just the former.
B-6 PostScript Printer Description Files
Index Index-1
A P Application-specific PPDs B-4 Passthrough mode 2-4 Photo CD files downloading 3-14 resolution 3-14 PostScript files downloading 3-11 PPDs application-specific B-4 generic B-2 QuarkXPress B-2 preferences Downloader Utility 3-3 Printing Tools Installer 1-4 Progressive JPEG files 2-6 D Downloader Utility downloading with 3-6 EPS files 3-9 EPS preview 3-8 overview 3-2 preferences 3-3 Downloading fonts 3-2 Photo CD files 3-14 PostScript files 3-11 TIFF files 3-12 Downloading files 3-6 Downloading fonts 3
