User’s guide POSTERS (Ink-jet color plotter for A2 to A0 formats) pot

user’s guide
POsTers
(Ink-jet color plotter for A2 to A0 formats)
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  (PC & Mac)
 
 
 
  
 Michel GUYE Tél.: 69 342 93 michel.guye@epfl.ch
suBsTiTuTe
Enver KALIMASHI Tél.: 69 342 95 enver.kalimashi@epfl.ch
 Roland CHABLOZ Tél.: 69 342 92 roland.chabloz@epfl.ch

Computer issues - File generation - Access to the Repro/Plan server
All these informations are also available online at:
fl.ch
© Reprographie EPFL - roland.chabloz@epfl.ch - Poster-Plan - English V. 6.6 - May 2012
EPFL DII-I Reprographie
BP 0.243 (Bâtiment Polyvalent)
STATION 16
CH - 1015 LAUSANNE
Tél. 021 693 42 94
Print Center,
for knowledge
and communication
Centre d’Impression,
pour le savoir
et la communication
Note: all text in blue in this PDF manual are clickable hyperlinks.
They giving direct access to important information (advice, contacts, e-mail, downloads, etc…)

2
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The purpose of this manual is to give you some guidelines and advices.
1. Requirements: for PowerPoint and other non-Adobe software
The Repro only prints posters from PDF files. In order to produce a high-quality PDF, you must first
generate a PostScript file; and to do this you need to install a «DesignJet» virtual driver that is PS3
compatible. This is the ideal way to get A2 and A0 formats (or larger).
If you use PowerPoint, you must install the HP DesignJet (inkjet plotter) driver. If you don’t, you cannot
obtain «poster» compatible paper formats and your PDF may be faulty or even unusable.
NB: If it is installed on your system you can potentially (but without any guarantee of success) use
the «Adobe PDF» printer driver. It includes all the necessary paper formats and directly generates
a PDF file.
2. Advice: create your poster with Illustrator or InDesign
For unqualified success, THESE are the ideal programs to use; they’re capable of mixing all kinds of
media: text, images (vectorial, bitmap) and all the relevant color modes. Their ability to vectorize fonts
and to save directly in PDF format make them the ideal software to use.
NB: if you use Illustrator or InDesign you won’t need to install the HP virtual driver.

Suggested formats/sizes using
the HP DesignJet driver
Measured in mm
Corresponding to “wide
format» sizes.
841 x 1189
594 x 841

914 x 1219



Poster pricing, paper types
The price of posters and various paper
types available are subject to change;
please consult our website
reprographie.epfl.ch
for up-to-date information.
Turnaround time
Depending on our availability and the
quantity desired, expect a turnaround
time of about three days.
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Power Point is problematic for making
posters, because it was originally
designed to create screen-used slides
and not for printed brochures, posters or other
documents.
In order to guarantee good print quality, follow
these steps while you are creating your file:
•
Create your file in the right format from the
beginning (A0, etc)
•
If you import bitmap images, (photos) from
Photoshop / PaintShop / Gimp etc ), they must
be between 110 and 120 DPI/PP resolution
for their ultimate real size in the A0 poster/file.
•
avoid using “transparent” color values because
their translation from .PS > .pdf is known for
being unreliable.

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
We print on two roll widths :
•
914 mm (all paper types are available):
your file width must not exceed 895 mm.
(= printable surface / margins included)
•
1067 mm (a few paper types available):
your file width must not exceed 1050 mm.
(= printable surface / margins included).
PowerPoint tip:
Create your file in the
right format from the
beginning.
For example :
84.1 x 118.0 = A0
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This page briefly summarizes what you’ll need to do. You’ll find all the relevant details (installing
the drivers, setting up Distiller, etc) on the pages that follow.
1. For a PowerPoint document
in the right format (A0, etc )
Follow the same procedure
as for PowerPoint =
Print to file / Generate a PS ->
Distiller -> PDF,
Do this even if the software
is able to save to PDF!
Experience has shown

that non-Adobe programs
create PDFs that are incompatible
with our plotter.
1. Illustrator (.ai) or InDesign (indd)
document in the right format
2. Print to file (.prn) using the
«HP DesignJet z5200» driver
2. «Save as» (ai)
or «Export» (indd) Adobe PDF
nb: Use the «PDF/X-1a:2001» setting
and save the .prn to your desktop
3. Configure a setting in the right
format in Acrobat Distiller
4. Convert the .prn/.ps to .pdf
Send the PDF document to the Repro
• Option 1 : Upload the document to the server

\\repro\public
into the
plan
folder
notify the repro by e-mail and attach a
Repro request form
(filled in)
•
Option 2 : come to us with your PDF le on a USB drive
and bring a filled-in
Repro request form
My-Poster.pptx My-Poster.ai
My-Poster.indd

My-Poster.prn (or .ps)
My-Poster.pdf
My-Poster.pdf
POWER POINT
Generate a .PDF via .PS
OTHER SOFTWARE
Generate a .PDF via .PS
ILLUSTRATOR / INDESIGN
Save as .PDF
Acrobat Distiller
3

• Option 1 Upload the document to the server \\repro\public into the plan folder,
notify the personne in charge <michel.guye@epfl.ch> by e-mail
and attach a «Repro request form» (filled in).
• Option 2 Come to us with your PDF le on a USB drive
and bring a filled-in«Repro request form».
For PowerPoint Windows only
HP DesignJet Z5200ps PS3»
 To install the driver, your PC must be in Administrator mode.
Only those using PowerPoint to create their posters need to install this driver.
If you’re using Illustrator or InDesign (or potentially PhotoShop), you can
export your PDF in “native” or .TIF format (for flattened image file).
When you install the driver, it creates a virtual printer, which you will use to
print to a file (.PRN OR .PS) in order to obtain the conguration needed
(paper size, etc) for generating a high-quality PDF le. You will NOT use
this driver to print the file out on a printer!.
INSTALLING THE «HP DesignJet Z5200ps PS3» DRIVER
This driver is compatible with all Windows versions (XP, Vista and Windows 7 – both 32 and 64
bits). It can handle all paper formats up to B0 (100x140cm).

The driver is located on the Repro server, and installs itself almost automatically when you follow
these simple instructions:
 Startup menu -> Settings -> Printers -> Add a printer
 Select -> network printer

 Select -> Shared printer (Windows 7) or -> Connect to printer (Windows XP)
- Type in the server path \\repro\
- Then choose the printer HP DesignJet Z5200ps PS3
 -> next = Install and then Finish
The printer is now available in your list of printers
In order to facilitate the installation, the following functions have been pre-configured by default:
– «print to file» and paper format «A0 without margins»
Windows 7
Windows 7
Windows XP
Windows XP
4
For extranet user (outside of EPFL) lthe HP-Z5200 PostScript driver is downloadable online from our WebSite
Link-URL to download driver for Windows XP 32 Bit : fl.ch/drivers/hpdjz5200psserieswx86ps.exe
Link-URL to download driver for Windows 7 64 Bits : fl.ch/drivers/hpdjz5200psserieswx64ps.exe
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1 File menu -> PRINT
If your file was created in A0
format (841x1189) go directly
to step
2

 If your file needs to be printed
in another format, go to «Pro-
perties», then choose “paper/

quality” and choose the paper
format you want. If it is not
available in the list, click on
«More»
1b and choose the paper format
you want (in this example it’s
«BO JIS» = 1030 x 1456 mm.)
3 Choose the setting
PDF/X-1a:2001
4 Choose the menu ->
Settings -> Edit Adobe PDF
Settings
5 In the left menu -> General
Choose Millimeters as unit
and enter the measurements
of your format of poster (in
this example, «A0» = 841 x
1189 mm.)
 In the left menu -> Fonts ->
if incorporation fails, select
Ignore
7 In the left menu Colors ->
select (by browsing the menu)
proles of ISO European
standards include:
Gray: Dot Gain 15%
RGB: Adobe RGB (1998)
CMYK: Coated Fogra 39
8 In the left menu Standards
-> if not compliant, select

Continue
9 At the bottom of the window
click Save As
In the Save As dialog, rename
the setting -> eg. PDF / X
Poster A0
Select your new setting, then
drag and drop the .PRN file
in the Distiller window, you will
find the converted PDF in the
same location (your desktop).
When the virtual driver is available in your list of printers, and if your PowerPoint file is ready to
go, you can select the printer and print the file (create-save to file PostScript .prn)
Once the PostScript le .prn is on your desktop, open «Acrobat Distiller». Before starting the
conversion, you must create a “setting” that corresponds to the paper size you want, otherwise
your file will be truncated to A4 format.
2 «OK = print to file»
Choose where you want to save
your .prn PostScript file. (Ideally
to the desktop) and give it a
name.
1
1
1b
2
5
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• Option 1 Upload the document to the server \\repro\public into the plan folder,
notify the personne in charge <michel.guye@epfl.ch> by e-mail
and attach a «Repro request form» (filled in).

• Option 2 Come to us with your PDF le on a USB drive
and bring a filled-in«Repro request form».
4
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5
9
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b

8
3 7

PRN
1 Open «Print & Fax» (Apple menu -> System preferences)
2 Add (+) or rename any of your printers (preferably a PostScript printer)
Nb: the way you add it (IP, default, other) is not important.
3 > Open «options and supplies»
> under the «general» tab, rename the printer: PRINT-PS-POSTER (for example)
> Under the «driver» in the «print via» menu «choose printer software »
4 Find and choose the printer click OK
5 The printer is ready, you can use it to print a .PS file from PowerPoint

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Summary of basic points
• create your PPT le in the right format initially (for example A0 = 841 x 1189 mm)
• install/create or rename a virtual printer based on an A0 type plotter «HP DesignJet PostScript»
• print to a le (PostScript = .ps)
• convert the .ps le to .PDF using Acrobat Distiller (use the «Optimal or Press» setting).

Remarks and advices for PowerPoint Mac are identical to those for Windows, please refer to page

2 of this manual.
2
1
3
4
6
Attention : for Mac OSX Lion 10.7
No large-format driver is included, it is impe-
rative to install a driver and select the HP
Designjet HP-Z5200 PostScript printer.
The driver can be downloaded online from
our wesite by clicking the link below:
fl.ch/drivers/Mac_OS_X_HP_De-
signjet_PS_Driver.dmg
Proceed as follows:
 download the driver, unpack the .dmg and install the
simple version
B once installed, follow the same instructions as above
(points
1 > 3) in point 4 select the printer software
HP DesignJet Z5200 PostScript
5
Verify visually with this icon
that your document format
will fit in the paper size
you’ve pre-defined
*
*
ATTENTION: : if your format exceeds 84 X 118 or if your page
setting are too close to the paper edge, please choose «Super

A0» or «A0 Oversize». Please check that your entire page is
contained in the PDF before sending it to us for printing.

When the virtual printer is available in your list of printers, and if your PowerPoint file is ready to
go, you can select the printer and print the file (create-save to file PostScript .ps)
PowerPoint Mac :
File -> PRINT
1 Click on «Page setup » :
first check the format/size in
cm to be sure that it will adapt
to the paper format the you
choose in step 2
Nb: if your file was created in
A0 (84 x118 cm) go directly to
step
2

2 In «Page setup » :
«Format for :» :» choose your
virtual printer,
«Paper size :» in the drop-
down menu, choose the paper
size corresponding to your .PPT
file.
3 You are ready, at the bottom of
the Print window, under «PDF»
choose «Save as PostScript »
A window opens, choose the
destination (desktop) and name
the file.

7
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• Option 1 Upload the document to the server \\repro\public into the plan folder,
notify the personne in charge <michel.guye@epfl.ch> by e-mail
and attach a «Repro request form» (filled in).
• Option 2 Come to us with your PDF le on a USB drive
and bring a filled-in«Repro request form».
: edit and save a parameter based on the default setting «PDF/X-1a:2001», and then convert the .PS to .PDF file
We propose to modify your setting PDF/X for well optimized .PS
file to PDF conversion.
For more details you can also refer to the suggested settings for
Distiller Windows on page 5.
1 From the menu > Settings > Select Edit Adobe PDF Settings
2 On > Fontes tab-panel > Select Ignorer
3 On > Standards tab-panel > Select Continue
4 On > Colors tab-panel -> Workspaces select (by drop-down
browsing menu) proles of ISO European standards include:
Gray: Dot Gain 15%
RGB: Adobe RGB (1998)
CMYK : Coated Fogra 39
5 At the bottom of the window click Save
 In the Save As dialog, rename the setting -> eg. PDF / X
Poster A0
7 Save the changed setting
8 Select your new setting, then drag and drop the .PRN file
in the Distiller window, you will find the converted PDF in the
same location (your desktop)

Tip: Once the PDF product, carefully check your file
8

8

capable of generating large-format printouts and saving in PDF format directly
We strongly encourage you to use this software. With it you can mix bitmap and vector images,
work in CMYK mode, vectorize your fonts in order to avoid inter-platform codage problems,
and above all save directly to a PDF file (save as; Acrobat PDF). The directions below are for both
MAC and PC (screen copies done on a MAC).
PC / MAC

> choose CMYK mode
> Enter the format of your poster
= work plan (see the compatible
measurements on page 2)
In case you make a mistake in the
format / document you can correct
it on:

 
You have re-read your texts, and all corrections have been made? Vectorize all the texts before
saving the PDF that will go to the «Repro» for printing (be sure to save your original non-vectorized
.AI file for future modifications).
 (> Edit > Select all) 

Note: all the objects and grids must be unlocked, then
choose the menu:


Note: vectorizing fonts is not obligatory, but a precaution
to avoid coding problems with fonts between platforms.
eg

Prepare your images in Photoshop (for AI save/export in .TIF - .PSD ou .BMP / avoid .JPG and
.GIF because they are geared for Web use)
because it is the base mode of images sized in PhotoShop,
convert those images into CMYK before save/export, so that they are correctly imported into
Illustrator.
images for nal size (100%) in cm at 110 DPI (increasing this resolution
doesn’t help, your eye will not see a difference.)

The goal is to enter the desired paper format: A2 to A0 (or larger)

this color mode is proscribed (not permitted)


 the direct/nuanced Pantone
®
are normally compatible, but in certain conditions their
use is risky; in order that the colors print correctly, we advise you to translate your «Pantone»
into CMYK values.
9
 PC / MAC

Follow the screen instructions
below
PC / MAC

It is even possible to give us an ALL BITMAP file, created in PhotoShop in CMYK mode and saved
as «Photoshop .PDF»
The only inconvenience: time it takes to print. This le type is very slow (about 30 à 50% slower
than an Illustrator-generated PDF), it monopolizes our system, and text prints better with a PDF
file created in Illustrator (which conserves the vector aspects of the fonts.)

In all cases, we insist that you not «stuff» the le; the ideal resolution is between 110 and 120
DPI (pixels per inch).



- Enter the format (in mm or cm)
ex: A0 = 840 x 1180 mm
- Resolution: (140 DPI maximum)
- Colors:


- it is possible to attibute a color profile,
under
> Edit > Attribute a profile
Choose:
, or

the profile will then be recognized and
«incorporated» when the file is saved.

• Option 1 Upload the document to the server \\repro\public into the plan folder,
notify the personne in charge <michel.guye@epfl.ch> by e-mail
and attach a «Repro request form» (filled in).
• Option 2 Come to us with your PDF le on a USB drive
and bring a filled-in«Repro request form».

Access / Path for
MAC OSX
smb://repro/public
NATIVE FILE FOR DTP

OFFSET PRINT
High volume printing
(black & white, BiChromy
or CMYK colors)
.pdf or .tif FILES
FOR POSTER INKJET COLOR

.plt .pdf or .tif FILES
FOR PLAN BLACK AND WHITE
.PDF (.prn .ps) FILES
BLACK & WHITE
Digital printing
ONLY FOR THESIS
Access to our Repro server \\repro\public
and its differents repositories
Update: May 2008 - © Repro-EPFL roland.chabloz@epfl.ch

ACCESS FOR PC-Windows
Workstation :
(right click)

- map a new network drive,
- type this path: \\repro\public
Manual method :
Network Neighborhood: Epfl global network
- Domain name : SCX
- Server name : Repro
- Repository : Public
If identification is required to connect,
test one of these 3 solutions: (same as Mac)

«Username» or
«Your domain name\username» for
example «sti\username» or
«Intranet\username»
ACCESS FOR MAC OSX
Menu: Go to -> Connect to a server
type this path : smb://repro/public
Identification is required, it is linked to your
Gaspar deposit or Active Directory, after which
you access and / or your mode of connection,
Try one of these 3 solutions below:
Name username
or your domain name\username

(
for example «sti\username»
)
or intranet\username (note the backslash)
NB: methods «domain name \» «Intranet\» are the most common.
Password • • • • • • • •
LINUX ACCESS
Use the graphic tools «Nautilus» and proceed the same way as
for Mac OSX
DII-I REPROGRAPHIE
Mailing
Theses
DRIVERS / Utilities for
COLOR PRINT (PC - MAC)
to be used for direct print
from your desktop

(locked repository)
.PDF (.prn .ps) FILES
BLACK & WHITE
Digital printing
Complex jobs - Lesson
No larger than 700 - 1000 copies
.PDF (.prn .ps) FILES
BLACK & WHITE
Digital printing / urgent and
simple work. Not more than a
few hundred pages
FILES FOR MAILING
(Exel or File Maker)
For putting in envelopes
and for mailing
Access / Path for
PC-Windows
\\repro\public
Mac OSX 10.5 / 10.6