Production Job > Send to Printer (alt-p)
Availability: all Versions
The last production step is usually sending print data to the Durst printer. This function is a summary of all output parameters of the Print Item(s) that dictate the final result. With this step we can confirm our selected parameters or make last-minute changes and then send the Production Job to your printing system.
1. Dialog Settings
1.1. General Settings
Figure 1: The General Settings tab [1] of the"Send to Printer" dialog
Under the General tab [1] you see an overview of all printing parameters which determine the output:
This Preview area [2] shows the print sheet with the Imposed Print Item(s) as well as the number and resulting dimensions of the Print Items. If you've already Imposed the Print Item(s), you will see a preview image and statistical information such as; the number of items, page size and scaling proportions. If your not satisfied with your Imposition, you can remove the current Imposition using the "Delete Impose Spec" button. You have the additional option of creating a new Imposition within this dialog as well.
Warning! When you click on "Delete Impose Spec" this will permanently delete your Imposition and cannot be undone! Please ensure that you really want to delete the Imposition or are able to create it again. (see chapter Impose)
Figure 2: Designs/Production Jobs that are not Imposed can be Imposed directly in the "Send to Printer" dialog. The rule-based modes Nesting and Step & Repeat are available, Manual Impositions must be created directly in the Impose Editor. Please note:
Impositions created with this tool can be edited later in the Impose Editor at any time. In the example below, we can see in the Preview [2]:
Detailed explanations for these two Impose modes can be found in the chapters Nesting and Step & Repeat.
More information pertaining to the General tab:
- Under the Number of Pages [3] you can enter the required number of pages as well as the (Lead In) and the (Lead Out). Render flags?
- Copies [4] shows the quantity of copies (1), the total number of prints (5) and the quantity of overproduction (4). The overproduction amount can be negative based on the Imposition and the number of copies.
- The Printer/Substrate combination [5] specifies the output configuration. To change it, exit the "Send to Printer" dialog, select the desired parameters under the Output Configuration tab of the Production Job.
- General Information [6] concerning the output can be cross referenced and adjusted in the bottom panel of the dialog. A more detailed description can be found below.
The Preview/Imposition [2] and General Information [6] areas are available in all tabs of the "Send to Printer" dialog. The remaining settings change depending on the tab selected.
1.2. Size
Figure 3: The user can specify the Scale Factor among other options under the Size tab [7] of the "Send to Printer" dialog
The Size tab [8] allow "on the fly" changes such as: scaling, mirroring and rotating to be applied to the Imposition. These parameters only affect the print output and are not applied to the Print Items themselves. To make changes, first select Custom in the upper right corner and then select the desired parameters. Choosing Actual resets all settings to the original values from the Print Item and/or Impose settings.
ATTENTION: Since these settings do not refer to the production data, and only affect the output, the output preview is not updated.
1.3. Variable Data
Working with Variable Data is explained in a separate chapter.
1.4. Finishing
Figure 4: Adding a Cutting Device under the Finishing tab [9] in the "Send to Printer" dialog.
[10] Select your desired Cutter and corresponding Mode with the drop-down menu.
In order to apply a Cutter, the Cutter must first be created under Administration > Cutter Devices.
1.5. Inprint
Figure 5: Specifying an Inprint [11] in the "Send to Printer" dialog
The following Inprints [12] are available:
- Color Bars – Adds vertical CMYK strips on the left edge of the Imposition
- Info Block – Detailed information about the Production Job/motif in a block on the left margin
- Info Line – Contains a detailed description of relavant print information in one compact line
- Info Blocks (2 x 3 Lines) – Contains the same information as above but is divided into two aligned blocks
- File name | Code 128 | top-left – Creates a machine-readable barcode which contains the file name of the print Item
- Job Name | Code 128 | top-left – Creates a machine-readable barcode which contains the Job name
- Job Name | QR code | top-left – Creates a machine-readable QR code with the Job name
- Proper File Name | Code 128 | top-left – Creates a machine readable barcode which contains the File name proper
- Print Item Name | Code 128 | top-left – Creates a machine readable barcode which contains the Print Item name
- White Background – Creates a solid white separation
- File Name | top-left – Prints only the name of the File on the upper left hand corner
You can use an unlimited number of Inprints. Active Inprints are displayed below the Inprint drop-down menu and in the Preview area [12]. Inprints are automatically arranged from the top left corner in the order they were selected.
Figure 6: Two Inprints: Info Block and Job Name | QR-Code | top-right; in this case, the Inprints are visible left and right in the preview image [14] (yellow areas).
If you want to deactivate an active Inprint, simply click on the "X" [13] symbol on the right of the black Inprint chip. The Inprint will be deleted and the preview recalculated.
2. General Information
Figure 7: The lower panel of the "Send to Printer" dialog
Here you will find the Print Info field [15] and the General Output parameters [16] with detailed settings concerning reproduction of the motif.
This part of the "Send to Printer" dialog is ideal for quickly creating a series of test prints with different print settings. Instead of applying these settings directly to the print data, you can make "on the fly" decisions concerning quality, ink consumption, speed, etc. by selecting these parameters.
- Color Policy – Here you can select a Color Policy created for your specific Substrate/Printer combination
-
Color Space Conversion – Choose from the following options:
(a) CMYK Working Color Space
All calibrated color spaces will be converted to this color space. The resulting CMYK color values, including any other CMYK definitions in the original print data file, will then get transformed to the substrate's color space. The applied default CMYK profile depends on the selected default CMYK profile for this production job. Use this setup if all print data files shall be treated as prepared for the color space defined by the used default CMYK profile.
(b) RGB to Substrate
All calibrated colors are converted directly to the substrates color space. Any other CMYK definitions are converted using the Default CMYK method. Use this setup if the print data files have very vivid colors, defined in either RGB or Lab, and you want utilize the printers large color space. However, transparency effects between vivid colored elements for example and other elements on the page may produce inconsistent results.
(c) RGB Wide Gamut CMYK
At the moment this option is currently unavailable
All calibrated colors are converted directly to a wide gamut CMYK color space. All other CMYK definitions are converted from the defined default CMYK profile to the wide gamut CMYK color space. The resulting CMYK values will be calculated for the substrate being used. Use this method to utilize the larger color space of the printer to reproduce vivid colors, while keeping the visual integrity of the print file. However, the full gamut of the printer cannot be used, especially for printers using additional gamut extending colors like Green, Orange or Violet.
- Rendering Intent – Select from (a) Perceptual (b) Relative Colorimetric + BPC (c) Saturation or (d) Absolute Colorimetric. Information can be found here.
- Color Corrections – Apply image- or curve-based Color Corrections for print output. Standard color corrections are applied at the beginning of the rendering process, before the actual Color Management.
- DeviceN Color Correction – Contains the same corrections as above, but these corrections are handled differently than standard color corrections: DeviceN color corrections are applied directly in the Color Management, before the Ink Limit profile is calculated, to achieve a 'general' color correction that will affect or change the Color Management output. See the Color Management section for more information.
- Destination – The File Share assigned to the printer; if there are several, you can select a specific directory. You can hover the mouse over the info icon to see the assigned IP address.
WARNING: All settings discussed above do not affect print data directly, but are only transferred as parameters to the RIP during rendering or to the Durst Printer Software/Workstation for further processing.
Print Info [15] – This area can be used to enter text/commentary which is sent to the printer or additional processing systems together with the render data in an XML file.
3. Output
As soon as all parameters have been set to your satisfaction, you can start the transfer to the printer by clicking the "Send to Printer" button [17]. The Workflow processes and sends the render data to the printer (or it copies the generated data to the share directory selected as the target directory on the Durst printer Workstation).
After successfully rendering, the print job immediately appears in the Durst printer software in the appropriate directory and can be further processed by the operator.
All output parameters are saved with the Production Job/motif.
For this reason, the previously unavailable command "Reprint Job" is available in the menu bar for Jobs that have already been sent to a printer.
Reprint Job
With a single click, the Job will be sent again to the printer using the current settings.