HP RIP Software User Guide 0706399 Rev D
© 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 Confidential computer software. Valid license from HP required for possession, use or copying. Consistent with FAR 12.211 and 12.212, Commercial Computer Software, Computer Software Documentation, and Technical Data for Commercial Items are licensed to the U.S.
About This Manual This manual shows you how to use the RIP. • Chapter 1 shows how to install the RIP and introduces you to its main features. • Chapter 2 shows how to queue print jobs and set print options. • Chapter 3 explains the less-frequently used functions of the server, including routing and configuring ports, and viewing the tracking log. • Chapter 4 explains how color management works, and how to create custom color profiles for your media.
iv About This Manual
Table of Contents About This Manual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iii Getting Started System Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-2 Java Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-4 Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
RIP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-9 Profile. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-11 Printing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-12 Crop/Size . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-13 Color . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Creating a New Filter. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-11 Editing a Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-12 Deleting a Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-12 Creating a Color Profile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-13 Prepare the Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
viii Table of Contents
Chapter 1 Getting Started This chapter explains how to install the RIP and provides an overview of the RIP.
System Requirements The following minimum hardware and software is required to install and operate the RIP. The operating system used may have additonal requirements. This product is not supported with hardware and software that does not meet these minimum requirements: • Processor — Pentium 4, 3.0 gigahertz or comparable • RAM — 1.
• Supported printers — (printers supported may vary with license purchased) HP Scitex FB910 Printer, HP Designjet H35000/ H45000 Printer series, DisplayMaker UVR, UVX, and SI. Note Printing to any combination of printers at the same time may result in a decrease in performance of the RIP and slowdown in printer throughput. A separate RIP (computer) is recommended for each printer, particularly if printing at the highest speeds and maximum print width.
Java Settings In most cases, the default settings for Java will work well with the RIP. If needed to improve sluggish performance during the processing of large numbers of print jobs, you can enter the following settings in the windows Control Panel applet for Java before installing the RIP. Enter this setting exactly as shown below, including the space before the second dash (“-”): -Xmx256m -Xms128m Fig. 1-1.
Installation To get started using the RIP, follow these steps in order: • Step 1: Install the Printer (page 1-5) • Step 2: Install the VideoNet Card and Cable (page 1-5) • Step 3: Install the VideoNet Protocol (page 1-7) • Step 4: Install the Web Server (page 1-9) • Step 5: Install the RIP Software (page 1-9) • Step 6: Start the RIP (page 1-11) • Step 7: Add Ports and Hot Folders (page 1-14) • Step 8: Add a Printer to the Client Workstation (page 1-16) • Step 9: Add the Hot Folder to the
It can be difficult to determine which icon represents which connection. One way to determine this is to unplug the VideoNet cable and observe which icon shows a red “X” (see Fig. 1-2 below). Fig. 1-2. Identifying the VideoNet connection 5. Step 3: Install the VideoNet Protocol (Windows Vista) To avoid confusion in the future, rename the Local Area Connection icons to “LAN” and “VideoNet.” The VideoNet networking protocol is used to communicate with the printer.
Step 3: Install the VideoNet Protocol (Windows XP) The VideoNet networking protocol is used to communicate with the printer. These instructions assume a familiarity with Windows administrative functions. If necessary, consult your network or computer administrator or consultant for assistance. Caution XP 1. The VideoNet protocol is not compatible with Novell NetWare. Do not install VideoNet on networks using Novell NetWare. Display the Local Area Connection icons.
Note If Windows displays the message, “The software you are installing for this hardware has not passed Windows Logo testing to verify its compatibility with Windows,” click the Continue Anyway button. The software has been thoroughly tested with all supported Windows operating systems. 13. Un-bind protocols from the office network card. Uncheck the VideoNet protocol from this card by clicking once on the check box.
Step 4: Install the Web Server (Windows XP) XP 6. Follow the remaining steps in the User Guide to complete the RIP installation and setup. 7. Re-enable User Account Control (UAC). a. Click Control Panels > User Accounts > Turn User Account Control On/Off b. Check the checkbox Use User Account Control (UAC) to help protect your computer. c. Click OK and restart the computer. Install Microsoft Internet Information Services (IIS), if it is not already installed.
The installer displays informational messages if it detects any missing software components: The VideoNet protocol must be installed. The Microsoft Internet Information Services (IIS) must be installed and configured. For automatic configuration, install IIS before running the RIP installer. If you are following the procedure “Installation” on page 1-5, these components have already been installed. 5. Follow the prompts to complete the installation of the software. 6. Restart (reboot) the computer.
If the drive letter and/or path shown is different from where you installed the RIP, change it by right-clicking “hp-ripsw,” select Properties from the menu, and enter the correct path. Fig. 1-4. Microsoft Internet Information Services properly configured for the RIP Step 6: Start the RIP 1. Restart Windows. 2. Right-click the tray icon and select Start Server from the menu. Optionally, launch your web browser and enter the URL of the RIP (for example, http://computername/hp-ripsw).
With or without the RIP interface running, you can monitor the RIP by observing the system tray icon: • The left-hand light indicates port activity (gray for idle, green for an incoming job) • The center light indicates RIP activity (gray for idle, green for a RIPing job) • The right-hand light indicates printer activity (gray for idle, green for printing) Fig. 1-5. Tray icon indicator lights Stop the RIP • Right-click the tray icon and select Stop HP Software RIP from the menu.
• Tree Pane — shows all of the components of the server, such as the ports, queues, process, and output device, plus the message folders. Click any component to view details or change its configuration. • Detail Pane — shows status and configuration options for the selected system components. Most screens include Related Tasks links that take you directly to related tasks.
Step 7: Add Ports and Hot Folders Before you can print to any device connected to the RIP, you must add one or more virtual ports or Hot Folders to the RIP interface. • A port is an entry point to the RIP, visible on the workstation and network. You will print to this named port from application software, as you would to a local printer connected to your workstation or another network printer.
• TCP/IP — works with any operating system that will allow you to connect to printers on your network using the TCP or IP protocols. This is the most common port used for the Macintosh. • WinLink — best for printing from Microsoft Windows operating systems. Macintosh OS X 10.3 or later can access WinLink ports from the “Add a Printer” menu on the Macintosh. A port button appears with the identifier you entered. 4. Display the Port Properties by clicking the newly-created port button.
Windows Vista Windows XP Fig. 1-7. Sharing the Hot Folder you created Step 8: Add a Printer to the Client Workstation In order to print from a client workstation application (such as Adobe Photoshop or QuarkXPress), you must add or install the printer in the operating system on the client workstation. The following procedures are for general information only, since the exact procedures vary by operating system and operating system version. The general procedures for Microsoft Windows begins below.
Microsoft Windows Vista VISTA Due to Windows Vista security considerations, the recommended method for printing to the RIP under Windows Vista is via the Hot Folders feature. To continue, see “Step 7: Add Ports and Hot Folders” on page 1-14. Microsoft Windows XP The following procedures show you how to add a printer to Windows XP using these networking protocols: XP • Standard Printer and File Sharing for Microsoft Networks • TCP/IP To use Standard Printer and File Sharing for Microsoft Networks: 1.
Replace “myserver” in this example with the computer name, and “winlink” with the name of the WinLink port. Fig. 1-8. Create a new local port 7. Click Next. A window listing various manufacturers and printer names appears. 8. Insert the RIP DVD-ROM into the DVD drive. If you downloaded the Printing Tools from the www.colorspan.com web site, go to the folder where you downloaded and expanded the Printing Tools files. 9. Click the Have Disk button. A window opens asking for the location of the files.
A dialog box appears with a blank field for you to name the printer. 14. Enter a printer name and click Next. The Printer Sharing dialog box appears. 15. Select Do not share this printer (optional). 16. Click Next. The Print Test Page dialog box appears. 17. Select No and click Next. A dialog box appears with a summary of the installation. 18. Click the Finish button.
To use TCP/IP: 1. Log in to Windows. 2. Click Start - Settings - Printers and Faxes to open the Printers folder. The Printers folder appears. 3. Click Add Printer to launch the Add Printer Wizard. The Add Printer Wizard opening dialog box appears. 4. Click Next. The Local or Networked Printer dialog box appears. 5. Select Local Printer, and make sure that “Automatically detect and install my plug and play printer” checkbox is NOT checked. 6. Click Next. A dialog box with a list of ports appears.
17. Click OK, then click Next. This displays a summary of the port installation information. 18. Click the Finish button. This displays the Add Printers Wizard. 19. Insert the disc with the Printing Tools into the drive. If you downloaded the Printing Tools from the www.colorspan.com web site, go to the folder where you downloaded and expanded the Printing Tools files. 20. Click the Have Disk... button. 21. Click Browse, and navigate to the Printing Tools folder. This displays a file named ntprint.
29. Click the Continue Anyway button. Next, Windows copies the necessary files, and sends a test page to the printer. Then it displays a dialog box that asks whether the test page printed correctly. 30. Click the OK or Troubleshoot button. If the test page prints, the Add Printer process is complete. If the test page does not print and you click the Troubleshoot button, Windows guides you through a troubleshooting process the fix the error.
Using DHCP DHCP dynamically reassigns IP addresses on your local area network. If you use DHCP, you will need to reconfigure your desktop printer settings any time that the print server is restarted. To find the new IP address for the RIP, check the Server Status screen (see “Viewing Server Status” on page 3-2). Then delete the printer and re-add it with the new IP address. Alternatively, you can manually change the IP address in the client workstation’s printer settings.
The IP address can be found on the Server Status screen (see “Viewing Server Status” on page 3-2) 3. Click the Connect button. Depending on your network’s configuration, you may be prompted to enter a user name and password. See your network administrator for instructions. A valid account on the computer running the RIP is required to copy print jobs to the Hot Folder. The Hot Folder icon appears on the Macintosh desktop.
Remote Console You can view and control the server from any supported web browser (see “System Requirements” on page 1-2). To open the remote console: 1. From the client workstation, launch the web browser. 2. Enter the URL of the RIP (for example, “http://[computername]/ hp-ripsw”). where [computername] is the name assigned to the computer by Windows. To find the computer name, right-click the My Computer icon, select Properties, and click the Computer Name tab.
Licensing the Software If your copy of the RIP is a trial version, a watermark is added to every print job. The watermark can be disabled by purchasing a license key from Customer Service, and installing the key on your copy of the RIP. Other features of the RIP also may be enabled by this method. After the license is installed, re-RIPing the document will remove the watermark. To obtain and install a license key: 1. Locate and write down the Host ID, located in the Licensing pane of the RIP “home page.
Updating the RIP Software 1. Ensure that the computer is connected to the Internet. 2. Launch the RIP and open the console (see “Remote Console” on page 1-25).
Updating the Printer Software 1. Display the Printer Status tab of the Printer Properties screen by clicking on the printer icon in the tree view. 2. The following printer embedded software version numbers are displayed: • Firmware — version currently installed on the printer • Latest Firmware — latest version available on the HP web site If the latest version is higher than the Installed version, a button labeled Download Latest appears. Fig. 1-11. RIP software versions 3.
Uninstalling the Software To uninstall the RIP: 1. Delete any WinLink ports (see “Working with Ports” on page 3-3). 2. Delete the shared printer(s) via the Windows Printers (Vista) or Printers and Faxes (XP) applet of the Windows Control Panel. Note Failure to delete the WinLink ports when uninstalling the RIP software will result in these ports appearing in a reinstallation of the RIP, but without a route or default media. If this occurs, re-route and reselect a default media for these ports. 3.
Feature Overview • Raster Image Processor (RIP) — PostScript 3 compatible • Remote console — the RIP can be monitored and controlled by opening the remote console using a supported web browser, which displays the same Java-based interface that runs on the print server. • Hot Folders — the RIP monitors shared folders on the network for supported file types, and transfers them to the server for RIPing and printing.
Workflow Overview 1. Tip Workflow Overview A print job is created when a document is printed from an application, or a file is copied to a Hot Folder. From the computer that is running the RIP (not a remote computer over the network), you can use the mouse to drag a file from Windows Explorer into a Hot Folder in the tree pane of the RIP interface. 2.
1-32 Workflow Overview
Chapter 2 Managing Print Jobs in Queues This chapter shows you how to work with print jobs in queues, and how to specify job options.
Understanding the Queues When you print a document, it is received by the RIP via a port, and placed into an input queue defined in the input port’s route (see “Route” on page 3-8) for RIPing. Print jobs are usually processed in first in, first out order, but you can change this order. There are three types of queues: • Priority — print jobs in this queue are RIPed or printed before any jobs in the Standard queue.
Working with Queues The queue consists of the tree pane and detail pane. The tree pane shows the Priority, Standard, and Hold queues in the Input, Output and RIP Saver groups. Use the tree pane to select queues, and move or delete print jobs.
To use the context menus: In an input or output queue in the tree view, click any job icon (or select multiple jobs using your operating system’s methods), then right-click the job. An icon menu appears. From this menu, you can send print jobs directly from an input queue to the RIP, or from an output queue to the printer; copy, move, or delete jobs between queues; and pause or resume jobs.
drop-down list, and click the copy (two arrows) or move (one arrow) buttons. Move/copy controls Fig. 2-1. Moving or copying multiple jobs • Alternatively, after selecting the jobs in the tree pane, drag the group to the desired queue in the tree pane without releasing the mouse button after selecting the last job in the group. If you select a group of jobs, release the mouse button, then click and drag the group of jobs, only the one job directly under the mouse will be moved or copied.
Viewing and Changing Job Properties 1. In the tree pane, click the queue containing the job you want to change. This displays the queue’s list of print jobs in the detail pane. 2. Click the job listing in the detail pane. This displays the Job Properties page. This page has the following sections, which you can access by clicking the tabs at the top of the page: • General — view ink and media usage, status.
General Fig. 2-2. Job Properties - General This tab contains identifying information, shows consumables usage, and shows the job status. In the Output queues, you can click on the thumbnail image to open a new browser window and view a larger size image. The only field you can change on this tab is the Job Name. • To save your changes, click the Submit ( Note Working with Queues ) button. The units of measurement shown are determined by your computer’s operating system localization settings.
Route Fig. 2-3. Job Properties - Route The Route tab shows the possible routes that a print job may take. A line shows the currently-defined route. • 3. 2-8 Route the port by clicking on an icon in the queues, printers, filters, and RIP Saver columns. To save your changes, click the Submit ( ) button.
RIP Fig. 2-4. Job Properties - RIP The following options affect how the print job is RIPed: • Default Media Size for Downloaded Images — media size to use if no size is specified in the print job; most jobs printed from applications include a page size • Default Sizing Method for Downloaded Images — specifies how to scale downloaded images (bitmapped images are scaled at 72 dpi): • Best Fit scales the image to fit as much of the selected media size as possible.
• Stretch Fit scales the image in the horizontal and vertical dimensions to fit the entire area of the selected media size, without regard to aspect ratio. • Manual displays the Crop/Size tab so you can interactively position the image. • Unscaled prints the image at its original size and orientation, and snaps the page size to the image size (without regard to the default media size selected).
Profile Fig. 2-5. Job Properties - Profile This tab shows the color profile used. The options in each column that are available for your printer are identified with a printer icon to the left of the option. To change the profile: 1. Select a workflow, HP RIP SW or ICC. The HP RIP SW workflow uses proprietary profiles stored on the server (RIP). The ICC workflow uses standard ICC profiles that are applied on the client workstation in the application software.
3. Select a color set. 4. Select a media type. The file name and location of the color profile to be used is displayed in the detail pane. Check the file name of the profile in the drop-down list at the bottom of the screen (see Fig. 2-5 on page 2-11). 5. To save your changes, click the Submit ( ) button. Printing Fig. 2-6. Job Properties - Printing Check the Printing tab to access the advanced output options. 2-12 • Standard — enter the number of copies to print.
• Step-and-Repeat — prints rows of an image across the width of the media. Specify the space between images in a row in the Gutter Width field. Specify the percentage of the image width to offset the image copies in the Offset Percent field. Specify the length of media to print in the Step-and-Repeat Length field. • Create Media Saver — creates a Media Saver job from the current job (Output and RIP Saver queues only). See “Creating a Media Saver Job” on page 2-18 for more information about Media Saver.
The Crop/Size tab appears. Fig. 2-7. Job Properties - Cropping Note 5. A low-resolution preview image of EPS, PDF, and PostScript files is generated by the RIP for the Crop/Size function. The preview may not be available immediately if the RIP is busy processing other files for printing. Specify cropping settings. • Original Image Size — size of the image as specified in the file. • Crop Box — to resize the crop area, use the mouse to drag the borders of the crop box, shown in dotted lines.
• Scaling — to resize the image, position the mouse cursor at the edge of the image, and drag the edge. The Composite Box updates as you resize the image. You can also enter numeric values in these fields. • Rotate and Flip Image — select the number of degrees to rotate: 0, 90, 180, or 270. To flip (mirror) the image, check the Horizontal or Vertical checkbox. This is convenient when printing on reverse-print backlit media.
Color Fig. 2-8. Job Properties - Color The Color tab (in output and RIP Saver queues only) provides image adjustment controls to enable you to adjust the amount of each process color used in the RIPed image. Without these controls, you would have to make these changes to the original file, then re-RIP the file. When you adjust an image attribute by dragging its control right or left, the preview image changes to simulate your adjustments.
• To discard your color corrections, click the “Color Reset” ( button. • To zoom in the preview image, click the “Scale +” ( • To zoom out the image, click the “Scale -” ( • To resize the image to the default, click the “Zoom Reset” ( • 9. Working with Queues ) ) button. ) button. )button. To create a new filter based on this job, click the “Add Filter” ( ) button. See “Using Filters” on page 4-10 for more information about filters. To save your changes, click the Submit ( ) button.
Creating a Media Saver Job Media Saver enables you to combine and position documents to use as much printable area of the media as possible. With Media Saver, you can group small jobs together to conserve media, or package a set of documents to print as a single job. You can also combine multiple copies of a single job. Media Saver is designed for groups of different documents. To print multiple copies of a single document across the media, use the N-UP function (see “Printing” on page 2-12).
As you select documents, they appear in a list in the detail pane. ...they appear here. As you select documents here... Fig. 2-9. Packaging documents into a Media Saver job 4. At the bottom of the detail pane, enter a Job Name. 5. Enter a Gutter value (space between images). 6. Click the Create Media Saver Job ( ) button. If creating a Media Saver job from one or more large images or from many small images, there will be a delay while the system prepares the Media Saver.
Arrange 7. Click the Media Saver job icon in the tree pane. The detail pane displays the job properties for the Media Saver job. 8. Click the Media Saver tab. The Media Saver tab allows you to arrange the documents. Fig. 2-10. Media Saver arrange screen • Arrange — click to automatically arrange the jobs with the gutter width specified. • Edit — optionally, you can click the Edit button to use the mouse to drag the documents into position in the Media Saver job.
When you click the Edit button, the following screen appears: Edge of currently-loaded media “Pasteboard” temporary holding area for component jobs Zoom controls Fig. 2-11. Media Saver edit screen • Media width — indicated by the end of the white area, or by a dashed line if the width of the media is less than the width of the Media Saver job. • Pasteboard — an area where you can temporarily drag component documents while arranging others.
• Zoom buttons — click to zoom in, zoom out, or reset. 9. Click the Done button to return to the Media Saver tab. • To save your changes, click the Submit ( • To cancel your changes, click the Cancel ( ) button. ) button. All Media Saver jobs are created and saved to the Output Hold queue, where you can adjust them before printing. Note Print 10.
Chapter 3 Managing the RIP This chapter shows how to use the less-frequently used features of the RIP.
Viewing Server Status To view server status: • Click one of the servers listed in the tree pane or detail pane of the RIP interface. If there is only one server listed, you can only select that server. Fig. 3-1. Server status The status page appears in the detail pane.
Working with Ports Before you can print to any device connected to the RIP, you must add one or more virtual ports or Hot Folders to the RIP interface. A printer must be connected to the RIP computer for ports to be created. • A port is an entry point to the RIP, visible on the workstation and network. You will print to this named port from application software, as you would to a local printer connected to your workstation or another network printer.
To add a port: 1. Click the port type icon for the type of port to add. A dialog box appears that asks for a port name. 2. Type a port name, then click OK. A listing for the new port appears on the Ports home page, and an icon for the new port appears on the tree view. In the case of a new Hot Folder, entering a name creates a new folder on the RIP at the location shown in the next step. 3. If creating a Hot Folder, from the computer running the RIP, share the Hot Folder.
• Windows XP: on the Sharing tab, click the radio button marked Share this folder. Click the Permissions button, then click the checkbox under Change-Allow for the Everyone group. Then use the User Manager to turn on the Guest account (requires Administrator rights). XP Windows Vista Windows XP Fig. 3-3. Sharing the Hot Folder you created To delete a port: • Click the trash can icon next to the port’s name, or in the tree view, drag the port’s icon to the trash icon.
Adding a Hot Folder Shortcut to the Windows Vista Desktop 1. Click Start - Network. 2. Select the appropriate workgroup, then double-click the icon of the computer running the RIP. This displays the shared resources of the computer, including the Hot Folder. 3. Create a shortcut to the Hot Folder to the Windows desktop. VISTA Adding a Hot Folder Shortcut to the Windows XP Desktop 1. XP Open Windows Explorer or My Network Places, and browse to the computer running the RIP.
Setting Port Properties To view or change a port’s properties: • Click the port name of the port to configure. This displays the Port Properties page. This page has five sections, which you can access by clicking the tabs at the top of the page: • General — port name and options (varies by type). • Route — view and change the job route (port, input queue, process, output queue, printer, RIP Saver queue). • RIP — view and change RIP options. • Profile — view and change the color profile.
The general options you can specify vary with the type of port: • TCP/IP — Port Name, IP Address, Subnet Mask, Default Gateway • WinLink — Port Name, Description, Location • Hot Folders — Port Name Route Fig. 3-5. Port Properties - Route The Route tab shows the possible routes that a print job may take. A line shows the currently-defined route. All jobs entering the RIP by this port will follow this route.
RIP Fig. 3-6. Port Properties - RIP The following options affect how the print job is RIPed: • Default media size for downloaded images — media size to use if no size is specified in the print job; most jobs printed from applications include a page size • Default sizing method for downloaded images — specifies how to scale downloaded images (bitmapped images are scaled at 72 dpi): • Best Fit scales the image to fit as much of the selected media size as possible.
• Stretch Fit scales the image in the horizontal and vertical dimensions to fit the entire area of the selected media size, without regard to aspect ratio. • Manual displays the Crop/Size tab so you can interactively position the image. • Unscaled prints the image at its original size and orientation, and snaps the page size to the image size (without regard to the default media size selected).
Profile Fig. 3-7. Port Properties - Profile For each section, the valid selections for the current printer are designated with the a printer icon in the left margin. To select a default color profile for the port: 1. Select a Workflow. • HP SW RIP — color correction occurs during the RIP process, using ICC color profiles. • ICC — color correction occurs on the client workstation, using ICC profiles. 2. Select an Ink Type. 3. Select a Color Set. 4. Select a Media Name.
Printing Fig. 3-8. Port Properties - Printing This tab allows you to specify the advanced printing options. 3-12 • Standard — enter the number of copies to print. • Basic N-UP — prints the image repeatedly across the width of the media, in a single row. To specify the number (N) across, enter a number in the Copies field. Specify the space between each image in the Gutter Width field. • Step-and-Repeat — prints rows of an image across the width of the media.
Configuring the RIP Fig. 3-9. RIP Properties To display the RIP Properties page: • Click RIP in the tree pane, or the RIP status button. • To remove a currently RIPing job from the RIP and restart the RIP, click the Restart ( • Configuring the RIP ) button. To delete a user-installed font, click the font name in the list, then click the Delete Font button. Fonts marked with an (S) are standard permanent fonts and cannot be deleted.
Configuring the Printer To display the Printer Properties page: • Click a printer icon in the tree pane. This page has these sections, which you can access by clicking the tabs at the top of the page: • Status • Configure • Calibrate In addition to the online Help button, the following buttons appear near the top of the screen: • To cancel a currently-printing job, click the Cancel Job ( button. • To pause the printer, click the Pause ( ) button.
This tab shows the printer’s current status (for example, Ready or Printing), the ink type installed, and the percentage and amount of remaining ink reported by the profiler for each color. To update the printer’s embedded software from this tab, see “Updating the Printer Software” on page 1-28. Configure Fig. 3-11. Printer Properties - Configure This tab displays printer embedded software version information, and allows you to specify the media type and ink options.
Calibrate Fig. 3-12. Printer Properties - Calibrate 3-16 • If the printer supports multiple resolutions, select the resolution to calibrate. • To read calibration patches that were printed previously, check the Skip Printing checkbox (external device only). • To reset the calibration, click the Reset Calibration button. The software asks whether to reset all printer calibration. Click No to reset just the current media and resolution, click Yes to rest all calibrations.
Note You can calibrate with the camera on a given media if any of your installed profiles for that media contain camera data. All factory profiles include camera data. For profiles you created, if you checked the box marked “Allow camera calibration,” then the profile contains camera data (see “Device Configuration” on page 4-16). If you use a profile without camera data, calibrate the printer with an external device for best results. Factory backlit profiles do not include camera data.
Using the Tracking Log The tracking log consists of two parts: • Job Log — shows details about each print job received by the server. • System Log — shows details about each system event, such as connections to the server or adding port. The log messages are sorted chronologically into folders by date. To display the Job Log: • In the tree pane, click the Tracking Log icon (or if visible, click the Job Log icon.
To display the System Log: • In the tree pane, click the System Log icon. This displays the latest System Log entry in the detail pane, and expands the System Log branches in the tree pane. Fig. 3-14. System Log To delete a System Log entry: • Drag the log entry icon (in the tree view) to the Trash. To export the system log: • Enter the URL of the RIP into your browser’s address field, followed by “syslog.csv:” http://[computername]/hp-ripsw/syslog.
3-20 Using the Tracking Log
Chapter 4 Managing Color Managing Color • What Are Color Profiles? (page 4-2) • Linearization (page 4-8) • ICC Workflow (page 4-9) • Using Filters (page 4-10) • Creating a Color Profile (page 4-13) • Editing a Color Profile (page 4-26) 4-1
What Are Color Profiles? The RIP enables you to create and edit custom color profiles, which measure, or characterize, the color properties of a specific media and ink combination to ensure accurate and consistent color matching between prints. When you create a profile, it is saved in the International Color Consortium, or ICC (.ICM), format. (See the ICC web site at www.color.org for more information about ICC profiles.) The profiles are used by the RIP or by applications on a client workstation.
Color Management Overview To take full advantage of how the RIP manages color, you should understand the following concepts: • How Color is Defined • Why Color Management is Needed • How Color Management Works Each of these topics is introduced on the following pages. The entire scope of color management issues as they relate to digital imagery and wide format output is beyond the scope of this manual.
varies the hue. Upwards movement from one disk to another increases the lightness. Radial movement from the center of each disk outwards increases saturation. The model is irregularly shaped because the eye is more sensitive to some colors than to others. Colors on your monitor need to be reproduced by printing ink on paper. Spot colors are reproduced with pre-mixed inks, while process colors, such as the Standard Web Offset Press set (SWOP), are reproduced with cyan, magenta, yellow, and black inks (CMYK).
b* values are yellowish and negative b* values are bluish. Lightness varies in the vertical direction. Fig. 4-1. The CIE L*a*b* color space Why Color Management is Needed Color Management Overview To match colors in printed output to those in scanned originals is not a simple task because of a number of variable factors in the reproduction chain: • Different image-capturing devices generate different output values when reading the same original.
How Color Management Works Attempting to compensate for all these color variations by trial and error is impractical. A Color Management System (CMS) resolves the color mismatch between input and output devices. The CMS translates colors from the color gamut of one device into a device-independent color model, and then maps that color information to another device’s color gamut.
In the ICC workflow, the profile is applied at the user workstation by the application program. The ICC specification provides three basic profile types: • Input profiles, associated with input devices such as scanners • Display profiles, associated with display devices such as monitors • Output profiles, associated with output devices such as printers Fig. 4-3. ICC profiles are applied at the start of the workflow, prior to reaching the RIP The ICC (.
Linearization As the density of an image varies from highlights to shadows, or from lighter tints to darker tints, the printer should accurately reproduce these areas in a predictable, or linear, fashion. The process of linearization (or color calibration) involves printing and reading color test patches, and calibrating the printer to ensure that the expected and printed densities will match. This in turn will ensure optimal color matching.
ICC Workflow The ICC profile must be copied to a client workstation, where it is used by a supported application to create color-corrected output.
Using Filters Color correction filters are sets of color correction settings that are applied to print jobs after they are RIPed. The settings are applied to the entire image as if the image was viewed through a colored glass photographic filter. Filters appear in a column along a job’s route. The default filter is the passthrough filter, which applies no additional color correction to the image (like viewing the image through a clear filter).
4. Click the icon of the filter you want to apply. 5. Click the Submit ( Cancel ( Creating a New Filter ) button to save your change, or click the ) button to cancel your change. To create a new filter: 1. Open a reference document in a RIP Saver queue. Filters are based on a user-selected reference image. This document will display on the filter details screen, for your reference as you make adjustments to the filter settings. 2. Click the Create ( ) button.
Reset the size to the default by clicking the “Zoom Reset” ( button. 4. ) Adjust the filter settings as desired. To adjust the settings for each of the process colors, drag the slider control to the desired setting. The reference image redraws itself after you stop adjusting, displaying how the image would look with the filter applied. To restore the previous settings, click the ( ) “Reset” button. You can also enter values to the right of the sliders. 5.
Creating a Color Profile If enabled by your software license, you can create custom ICC color profiles, which you can use with your application software (such as Adobe Photoshop or QuarkXPress) to create output that is adjusted for the media you are using. These ICC profiles are only compatible with the HP RIP Software. This optional feature is available if enabled by your software license.
Prepare the Printer 4-14 1. Load the printer with the media to profile. If profiling rigid media, make sure to have a new sheet loaded before printing the test patterns, which occurs at several points during procedure. 2. Make sure that the printer is calibrated and jetting well, with all jets firing or substituted. Ensure that the media advance (media feed) accuracy has been calibrated. The exact procedures vary by printer. Refer to the printer’s User Manual for instructions. 3.
Basic Info 4. From the tree pane of the RIP interface, click the Profile Creation icon. The Create a color profile screen appears in the detail pane. Fig. 4-6. Create a color profile 5. Select a target printer and resolution. 6. Enter a name for the media. 7. Select the ink type from the drop-down list. Depending on the printer, there may only be one type of ink, so no selection is necessary or allowed. 8. Configure the color set.
On printers that have an extended ink set installed, all colors will be printed and read to create all profiles, even profiles that use just CMYK. 9. Click the Next ( ) button. The Device Configuration tab appears. Fig. 4-7. Device Configuration Device Configuration 10. Select the primary device, which will be used to read the color profiling target. 11.
12. Click the Next ( ) button. This initializes the linearization process. The printer prints the linearization targets so you can read them with the external device. Depending on the color set and width of the media, the patches may need to be printed in two sets. The patches are shown as they are read, and the first patch of each printed row will be outlined in green with a row number. When you hover the mouse cursor over a patch, the row and patch numbers and reading value are displayed.
you to set the ink channel limits for each ink channel and the global ink limit. Fig. 4-9. Linearization Linearization 14. Set the ink channel limits for each color, either by entering a numeric value, or by selecting (with the radio buttons) a dot gain curve for one of the ink colors and clicking where the curve begins to flatten out or change its slope (see arrow in Fig. 4-9 above). Only the CMYK curves can be changed.
including at the ends of the ramps. Adjust the ink channel limits as necessary. • Click the Apply button to save these ink limits. The example below shows how the dot gain curve looks after you click the curve as shown in Fig. 4-9 and click the Apply button. 15. Click the “Global ink limit - Print chart” button to print the global ink chart. (If you already know the value you will enter, you can check the “Skip print” box to skip printing the chart.) 16.
The verification ramps apply the ink channel limits you specified, but not the global ink limits. Fig. 4-10. Verification ramps 18. Click the Next ( ) button to continue. The Target Configuration tab appears. This tab allows you to specify that gray balance and target data will be read from a file, but in most cases you will simply click the Next button to continue.
The Primary Device cannot be changed from this tab. It is displayed for reference only. Fig. 4-11. Target Configuration Target Configuration To determine the printer’s gray axis, a set of gray balance patches are printed. After printing and reading these patches with the primary device, you print and read the color target patches. 19. (Optional) To read gray balance data from a file (generated by a previous profile creation), check the corresponding checkbox, and select the file. 20.
Note The printer MUST be ready, online, and loaded with media before you continue to the next step! 24. Click the Next ( ) button. The printer prints the color characterization patches, or reads the data from the specified file. 25. Read the color characterization patches. Read the patches with an external device or wait while the printer’s camera reads them. Refer to the manual for your external device for instructions. As each strip or patch is read, its color is displayed.
Profile Settings 26. Enter the Black values for this profile, or select one of the predefined limits (Light, Medium, or Dark; the default is Light). This allows you to adjust the Black Generation (BG) and Under Color Replacement (UCR) curves and the grayscale smoothing curve, and specify the starting point and maximum amount of Black ink used for a given percentage of black called for in the image. You can select a preset BG-UCR curve, enter numeric values, or click the curve to change it.
When the profile creation process is complete, the final tab is displayed. Fig. 4-13. Gamut Display Gamut Display This tab shows a graphical representation (CIE 1931 x,y chromaticity diagram) of the color gamut of the profile you created, along with the various parameters you specified for the profile. User-created profiles are saved to the following folder on the RIP: c:\program files\kodiak\colormark\profiles\user\[printer] where [printer] is the type of the printer for which the profile was created.
Creating a Color Profile 4-25
Editing a Color Profile You can adjust user-created profiles using this procedure. Factorycreated profiles cannot be edited. 1. In the tree view, expand the Device branch to view the connected devices. If the Camera is not shown under Devices, stop the RIP and restart it. 2. In the tree view, expand the Profile Creation branch to view the printer icon(s). 3. Click a printer icon. The profile selection screen appears in the detail pane. 4.
Chapter 5 Printing from Windows and Macintosh OS This chapter explains how to add a printer to your Microsoft Windows XP or Macintosh operating system, and how to configure driver and printing options. This provides your application software with the information it needs to print. VISTA To print under Windows Vista, drag a document icon to the Hot Folders shortcut. See “Adding a Hot Folder Shortcut to the Windows Vista Desktop” on page 3-6 for instructions.
How to Add a Printer to Windows XP These instructions show you how to add a printer to Microsoft Windows XP using these networking protocols: • Standard Printer and File Sharing for Microsoft Networks (below) • TCP/IP (page 5-7) Windows XP does not support the NetBEUI or AppleTalk protocols. Standard Printer and File Sharing for Microsoft Networks 1.
5. Select Local Printer, and make sure that “Automatically detect and install my plug and play printer” is not checked. Fig. 5-2. Add Printer Wizard - Local Printer 6. Click Next. A dialog box with a list of ports appears.
7. Next to Use the following port, select an available local port not currently in use (such as LPT2:). Fig. 5-3. Add Printer Wizard - Select Port 8. Click Next. A window listing various manufacturers and printer names appears. 9. Click the Have Disk button. A window opens asking for the location of the files. 10. Click Browse, and navigate to the following folder on the software disc: Printing Tools\PPDs\windows\ This displays a file named ntprint.inf in the file name field. 11. Click Open.
14. Enter a printer name and click Next. The Printer Sharing dialog box appears. 15. Select Do not share this printer. 16. Click Next. The Print Test Page dialog box appears. 17. Select No and click Next. A dialog box appears with a summary of the installation. 18. Click the Finish button. The following message may appear: The software you are installing for this hardware (Printer) has not passed Windows Logo testing to verify its compatibility with Windows XP. 19. Click the Continue Anyway button.
26. Click the Apply button. 27. Click the General tab. 28. Click the Print Test Page button to verify the correct installation of the printer to Windows. Windows sends a test page to the printer. Then it displays a dialog box that asks whether the test page printed correctly. 29. Click the OK or Troubleshoot button. • If the test page prints, the Add Printer process is complete.
TCP/IP Note Before you begin, create and configure a TCP/IP port on the RIP. See “Working with Ports” on page 3-3 for instructions. 1. Log in to Windows with any user name except Administrator, but the user must have Administrator rights at least temporarily assigned to add the printer. 2. Click on Start - Settings - Printers and Faxes to open the Printers folder. The Printers folder appears. 3. Click Add Printer to launch the Add Printer Wizard. The Add Printer Wizard opening dialog box appears. 4.
7. Click the Create a new port radio button. 8. In the drop-down menu, select Standard TCP/IP Port and click Next. This starts the Add Standard TCP/IP Printer Port Wizard. 9. Click Next. The Add Port dialog box appears.
10. Enter the IP address of the TCP/IP port you created on the RIP. 11. Replace the default port name with the name of the port you assigned when you created it on the RIP. 12. Click Next. The Additional Port Information Required dialog box appears. 13. Click the Custom radio button, then click the Settings button. 14. Verify and change, if needed, the port name and IP address. 15. In the Protocol section, click the LPR radio button. 16. In the LPR settings section, enter the name you gave the TCP/IP port.
20. Click Browse, and navigate to the following folder on the RIP software disc: Printing Tools\PPDs\windows\ This displays a file named ntprint.inf in the file name field. 21. Click Open. The Install from disk dialog box reappears. 22. Click OK. A dialog box appears with a list of printers. 23. Select your printer from the list, and click Next. A dialog box appears with a blank field for you to name the printer. 24. Enter a name for the printer, then click Next.
• If the test page does not print and you click the Troubleshoot button, Windows guides you through a troubleshooting process the fix the error.
Windows Settings Device Options In general, leave all Windows printer driver settings at their default values. You can configure these settings from the application program’s Print Setup function. Any settings so specified will override the default settings specified in the driver. Output Color Space Your application software and the RIP allow you to select from a variety of device-specific RGB color conversion methods.
Adding a Printer to the Printer List in Macintosh OS X In order to print to the printer you must add it to the Printer List. These instructions are for Macintosh OS X 10.3 (Panther) or later. For earlier versions of OS X, refer to the documentation. The option choices are the same, but the dialog boxes are arranged differently in the different OS versions. 1. Make sure the printer is connected to your network or computer, plugged in, and turned on. 2.
Macintosh OS Settings Printer Features Before you print, install the Printing Tools software and fonts as described in the Printing Tools User Guide. You should install the LaserWriter driver that is appropriate for your operating system version. This driver is available on your operating system disks or from the Apple Computer World Wide Web site at http://www.apple.com/. You can set device options from your application, or simply leave all settings to “Printer’s Default.
The document is sent to the printer. Output Color Space Your application software and the RIP software are allow you to select from a variety of device-specific RGB color conversion methods. Matching an RGB output color space, as defined in application programs such as Adobe Photoshop, with its corresponding conversion method will result in more accurate color reproduction and an expanded color gamut. To select an output color space: 1.
• If you will be downloading the document, select the working color space in the application’s color configuration dialog box. Note that some file formats may not support the color space you selected in step 1; if so, select another file format or color space. After changing the working color space, you may need to adjust the colors in the document to compensate for any resulting color shift. The location of these settings varies by application and version.
AppendixA Glossary Glossary A-1
browser — software that allows a user to view a document or run an application, usually stored on a web server on a network (such as the Internet). Examples of browsers are Microsoft Internet Explorer and Firefox. CIE — Commission Internationale de l’Eclairage, or International Commission on Illumination, a standards organization that defined the color spaces used to quantify color. client — a computer workstation that sends print jobs over a network to a print server.
ICC — International Color Consortium, an organization that promotes color management standards such as color profiles. ink channel limit — for each ink color, the printed density at which the ink will no longer be used. Prevents oversaturation of the image. IP address — a numeric identifier for devices on a TCP/IP network. Java — a programming language designed for applications delivered over the Internet or local network, regardless of operating system.
RIP — Raster Image Processor, which interprets PostScript language code, corrects the color, and creates the bitmap (raster) image required for printing. Also used as a verb, as in “to RIP a document file.” RIP Saver — a file format that can be sent directly to the printer, enabling reprinting of the file without re-RIPing it. route — the process path taken by a print job, from port to input queue, RIP, output queue, filter, printer, and RIP Saver queue.
Appendix B Configuring TCP/IP TCP/IP is a popular network protocol supported by all current operating systems. This chapter provides an overview of the issues involved in configuring your printer, network, and workstation for TCP/IP communications. This is necessary to send print jobs and download files to the printer over TCP/IP.
Configuring the Network for TCP/IP To send print jobs to the RIP via TCP/IP, your office network operating system and workstation operating systems must support the TCP/IP network protocol. The latest versions of the Macintosh OS and Microsoft Windows both support TCP/IP, as does the Unix operating system. You can connect your workstation to the RIP via a local area network or directly using a single cable.
Configuring the Print Server for TCP/IP To print via TCP/IP, the print server must be assigned a unique IP address. Many companies are running a TCP/IP-based network to provide Internet services to their employees. In this case, it is a relatively simple task for the network administrator to assign an IP address to the print server TCP/IP port.
Configuring Your Workstation for TCP/IP To send a print job via TCP/IP, your workstation must be configured as follows: • Your workstation must have an Ethernet adapter (interface card), which must be properly installed and connected via Ethernet cabling to the network. • You must have TCP/IP software installed and configured on your workstation.
TCP/IP Glossary DHCP - Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol, a standard that enables each client on the network to request and receive an IP address from a DHCP server. These addresses expire after a certain time so that a pool of addresses can be shared among a group of workstations. DHCP also allows static (permanent) IP addresses to coexist with the dynamically assigned addresses. DNS - Domain Name System, a method for matching a host name to an IP address, for example: the host name www.company.
B-6 TCP/IP Glossary
Index Index-1
A J Adding a printer to Macintosh OS 1-22 Adding a printer to Windows 1-17, 5-1 Browser 1-9 Job log 3-18 Job properties color 2-11 general 2-7 printing 2-12 route 2-8 C L B Calibration 4-8 CIE 4-4 CIE L*a*b* color space 4-4 CMYK color space 3-10 Color 4-3 L*a*b* color space 4-4 ColorMark+ 4-2 D DHCP 1-23 Dither 2-10, 3-10 E Embedded software, printer 1-28 L*a*b* color space 4-4 License key 1-26 Licensing the software 1-26 Linearization 4-8 Log files 3-18 M Macintosh OS 1-22 Media Saver 2-18 Mess
Q W Queues 2-1 Hold 2-2 input 2-2 output 2-2 Priority 2-2 RIP Saver 2-2 Standard 2-2 Web browser 1-9 required 1-2, 1-3 Web server 1-9 required 1-2 Windows XP adding a printer 5-2 Standard printer and file sharing 5-2 TCP/IP 5-7 Workflow, color 2-11 R Remote console URL 1-25 Resolution 2-10, 3-10 RIP Saver 1-30, 2-2 S Server starting 1-11 stopping 1-12 Server status 3-2 Software installation 5-1 Software license 1-26 Software updates 1-27, 1-28 Start Server 1-11 Status screen 3-2 Step-and-Repeat 2-13 St
Index-4
