PDF QUICKTIPS FOR KIP SYSTEMS

PDF Printing

The sheer volume of PDF files has allowed many vendors other than Adobe to create PDF creation applications.  Over the years, Adobe has updated the functionality of not only the Adobe® Reader®, but the PDF file format itself.  Files have become quite complex with text, drawings, 3D data, markups and file security. Unfortunately, until most recently, there was not a set standard of PDF file generation, thus leading to a myriad of file printing and viewing issues.

Users report that a file views properly in Adobe® Reader®, while printing the same document produces unwanted and unexpected output.

Understanding issues relating to PDF file generation and how to solve these issues will help ensure that the PDF files that are printed on your KIP printer are the best possible quality.  The most important piece of information to remember is that PDF files are not all created equally.

Identifying Common PDF Issues

Transparency

Transparencies are the most common issues affecting PDF file reproduction.  Transparency or ‘merge type’ controls what layer or entities are shown on the final output image. 

PDF version 1.4 was the first version of PDF that supported transparencies.

Transparencies are complex but are easy to notice when printing issues arise.  Issues with transparencies can be shown as missing data, solid black data, grids with thin white lines just to name a few.

When printing in color, it is possible to have an RGB image that is slightly translucent on top of a CMYK background.  This will show as a “color shift”. 

These actions lead to the addition of transparencies to layouts:

·         Making an object transparent in a lay-out or design application.

• Adding drop shadows to objects.
• Feathering objects.
• Placing native files which contain transparency from Adobe Illustrator, InDesign or Photoshop.
• Dragging & dropping or copying & pasting transparent objects from applications like Adobe Illustrator to Adobe InDesign.

In order for a RIP engine (PDF converter) to produce a file that is ready for a printer engine, it must first “flatten” the PDF file.

According to Adobe, Flattening divides transparent artwork into vector-based areas and rasterized areas.  As artwork becomes more complex (mixing images, vectors, type, spot colors, overprinting, and so on), so does the flattening and its results.

This flattening process is handled at the KIP controller using pscript.exe.  Pscript.exe is a command tool that converts PDF/PS documents into a file format that recognized by the print engine.

When flattening occurs, a noticeable delay of output may be observed.   This is typical amongst all RIP engines on the market today.  Printing directly from Adobe’s Acrobat software, there is a dialog box present where the flattening process is occurring and is visible to the end user.

Sometimes, flattening is not performed correctly due to the complexity of the transparencies within a document; an unusable, printed document may be the result.

Within KIP PrintNET, it is possible to enable or disable the flattening process by using the ‘No Transparency’ option.  In order to set, it is necessary to log into PrintNET using the ‘admin’ account and then accessing ‘Printer Config’.

Selecting ‘No Transparency’ (set as default) ignores the flattening process.  Unchecking ‘No Transparency’ enables the flattening process which may lengthen the time of the conversion process.

Fonts

Missing or incorrect fonts on the printed page is a result of ‘font embedding’.  Embedding fonts is a process where the application responsible for generating the original PDF embeds or includes the font in the PDF file.  This font is then transported along with the PDF and will print faithfully even without the font being present on the printer controller.

It is possible to upload fonts to the KIP controller using PrintNET’s Printer Config menu.

Log into KIP PrintNET as ‘admin’, enter ‘Printer Config’ and select Upload Font.  Browse for the font to be installed and click Open.  No further action is required.

Select ‘IPS Installed Fonts’ to view fonts currently installed at the KIP printer.

Colors and Line Weights

Most engineering and architectural drawings are created in color, even though they may be printed in black and white. It might be something as simple as color lines or a company logo.

There can be issues when colors are converted to grayscale. For example, the color yellow might be very visible on a monitor but will become a very faint gray when printed in black and white.

Line weights may become an issue depending on what printer the document is printed.  Documents with very thin or faint lines may not reproduce properly on monochrome LED printers.

Again, it is possible to set a minimum entity size that controls overall line thickness as well as set a dither pattern within KIP PrintNET.

Log into KIP PrintNET as ‘admin’, enter ‘Printer Config’ and select the appropriate dither pattern and Minimum Feature Size.

PDF Printing Methods

Now that we may understand some of the common PDF issues, it is also important to know about the different ways a PDF file can be printed as this can affect the final printed output as well. There are two methods that can be used to print PDF files.

·         The first is the Application/Printer Driver method. As its name implies, the Application/Printer Driver method requires two pieces of software in order to print a PDF file. The Application is software that can open and view the PDF file (e.g. Adobe Acrobat or Adobe Reader). The Printer Driver is software used by the application to convert its documents into a format that can be printed. Both the application and a printer driver are required to print the document.

·         The second method is called Direct PDF Printing. This method uses an application to submit PDF files directly to the printer. The PDF file is converted in the printer using a PostScript® interpreter or processor. No printer driver is required. (Note that not all printers support this method.)

Knowing the advantages and disadvantages of each method can aid in getting troublesome PDF files to print properly.

Application/Printer Driver

Adobe’s Acrobat is currently considered the ‘standard-bearer’ when it comes to PDF file accuracy.  For that reason, if a PDF file opens and views properly within Acrobat, it therefore is a reasonable assumption that the file to be printed will be accurate.

When using an application such as Adobe’s Acrobat, the application itself is responsible for the flattening, font creation and general output of the printed image.  Typically the image from within Adobe is ‘passed through’ the printer driver and delivered as a postscript file to the printer conversion software.

Beginning with the KIP Windows printer driver version 5.13 configured with KIPScript output mode, the PC application is responsible for “drawing” the image to be presented to the printer driver.   The printer driver’s responsibility is to connect to the printer port and pass the data to the printer controller as a postscript file.

The disadvantage to this method is there is no easy way to handle batch printing of multiple PDF files.

Direct PDF Printing

Direct printing of PDF files via KIP Request and KIP PrintNET or from the KIP Touch Screen allows a user to quickly output a batch set of PDF images. 

The major advantage to the direct PDF printing method is its ability to batch print multiple PDF files in one job. However, there are certain warnings to be aware of when using this method.

There are many software and printer companies that have written their own interpreters to emulate Adobe PostScript software.

Some are better than others. But, even when using true Adobe PostScript 3™ software, there is no guarantee that all PDF files will print correctly.

Since Adobe PostScript 3 software can only process specific versions of PDF files submitted using the direct PDF printing method. Not all PDF files are supported, or can be expected to process correctly.

Keep in mind that of all the third party software applications on the market that create PDF files some applications generate PDF files that print without problems - some do not! Some PDF creators even make different types of PDF depending on the content in the drawing. As you can see, there are many different types and versions of PDF files that you may encounter.

Remember: not all PDF files are created equal!

One of the easiest ways to avoid a large majority of PDF printing problems is to use the PDF/X standard. PDF files can be easily created in or converted to the PDF/X standard using Adobe Acrobat software (and many third party applications).

The PDF/X standard is supported by KIP software and most third party processing software when using the direct PDF printing method. PDF/X-1a and PDF/X-3 are two versions of this standard.

The PDF/X standard requires that all fonts be embedded, appropriate PDF bounding boxes be specified, color be correctly defined and it eliminates transparency issues. Using PDF/X eliminates the most common errors in file preparation: missing fonts, color space issues, missing images, page box problems, and overprinting and trapping issues.

The PDF/X standard doesn’t support transparency. So, the flattening is done when the PDF/X file is created. The result is that the PDF/X file generally processes more quickly than PDF files that contain transparency. It properly defines all page box settings. And because PDF/X encapsulates all the required page elements, such files generally have less printing issues. The one disadvantage is the file size can sometimes be larger than other PDF versions. When problems occur during the printing of a PDF file, the first course of action should be to convert it to PDF/X-3.

Standardizing on PDF/X may provide more consistent and reliable output with your printer or software.

Conclusion

As more and more firms, make the move to PDF because of the ease of sharing, viewing, print, and archiving of this type of file, the use of PDF files increase, as will the demand for plotting them on wide-format plotters and printers. As already stated all PDF files are not created equally.  Many different variables involved can have a negative effect on printing. Some of these include missing fonts, missing images, and color space issues. Understanding the issues presented in this paper is a good first step.

Finding KIP Products on Energystar.gov

ENERGY STAR compliance means that the equipment purchased makes use of specific power management techniques to prevent unnecessary power consumption and offers economical and environmental benefits

 ENERGY STAR products can potentially assist your company in achieving LEED points. While there are no LEED designated points directly focusing on wide format printing equipment, there are areas where KIP wide format can contribute to customers achieving points. For example, if you are is working toward LEED for Existing Building and New Construction, having ENERGY STAR compliant equipment may assist you in obtaining LEED points.

Purchasing wide format equipment that is ENERGY STAR compliant can also save your company in electricity costs.

KIP is a partner of EPA-USA ENERGY STAR® for energy-efficient ICT products. ENERGY STAR® is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy.

KIP products are Energy star qualified, and comply with the latest ENERGY STAR specifications that became effective on 1 July 2009.

KIP products can be found on the Energystar.gov website by following the instructions below.

Click on the link below:

http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=find_a_product.showSearchForm&pgw_code=PS&pd_code=IEF%2CIEP%2CIES

The First in a New Series of KIP Product Videos

Key factors to consider when buying a wide format printer – Finale

Choosing a wide format printer

As previously discussed,the type of printing you need , (color, monochrome etc),  will influence your decision, make sure you have a clear understanding of what type of printing you'll be doing and what your monthly  print volume is expected to be .

Time for a metaphor:

The Corvette might look really cool, and you definitely WANT it, but that what you probably NEED, is the MiniVan, not as cool, but infinitely more practical, and in the end will cost you less to run, and is much more efficient.

You probably already have an inkjet device, (you know, the one that is too slow, but it is paid for), that you could pair with one of the monochrome LED systems that allows you to integrate your color inkjet device into their system, allowing you to Copy, Scan, and Print to your (paid for) inkjet, from their interface, and giving you the best of both worlds

And speaking of the interface, make sure that you go and see a demonstration of all of the solutions you’re interested in. Do not allow anyone to convince that there  is no need to go look at the competition. There is always a need to look at all of the options . An educated decision is a good decision.

When you go for a demonstration,  make sure you take sample files of the kind of work that you will be doing. (and I do mean “take with you”), also take your files, not files given to you by someone with a vested interest. Make your choice based on the things that matter to you, not the vendor. You and your users, have to be comfortable with the software interface, the loading and operation of the machine, the cost of operation etc.

While I am on the subject of software, look very carefully at any software that “comes with” the machine. Make sure that you are not paying a recurring monthly maintenance fee for software, (I am talking about Job/file submission software here).   Accounting software is a little different, depending on the level of acounting or tracking you need. All LED manufacturers can provide you account/tracking software, all but one charges for it.

Choosing a dealer

The dealer you choose can have a big impact on your overall satisfaction with your wide-format printer: service and support are the most important considerations. Whether you need a service technician to come out and repair a mechanical problem, or just have a question you need answered, the support offered by your dealership is critical.

Evaluating support can be difficult, but there are a few important steps you can take. When you visit the dealership, ask to tour the service department to get a sense for the size of their operation. Find out what avenues of support they offer: telephone or email-based help, online knowledgebases, discussion forums, etc. Also, inquire about their hours if you anticipate late-night printing sessions.

Many large-format printer dealers carry lines from multiple manufacturers, allowing you to compare print quality from different brands for yourself. If you do that make sure that get samples from multiple dealers, this allows you to compare output quality without bias.

Size isn't always  the best indication of dealer quality, however longevity may be. Small companies that have been around for a long time are likely to be just as dependable as larger companies. Smaller dealers may also offer a more personal touch, while larger dealers may have more of a selection, but these differences aren't critical.

You should look for a dealership that does a steady business in wide-format printers. Many dealers that focus on copiers, scanners, and standard-sized printers also carry a small selection of wide-format printers. Understandably, these dealers' expertise tends to center on the types of equipment they sell most often. You're better off with a dealer who's very familiar with wide-format printers.

Equipment Pricing

Pricing for wide-format printers and plotters can span a huge range.

Low-end wide-format printers, (less than 2 D size sheets per minute), start at less than $2,000 for small inkjet devices, and go up from there. A midrange 36" inkjet printer,        ( 2>3 D size prints per minute),  can range from $4,000 - $9,000 , and $9,000 - $19,000 for a toner based LED printer. (4 D size prints per minute)

A quick note on printer speeds. Inkjet speeds are always quoted at the fastest speed/lowest quality. More often than not, in order to get acceptable quality in the real world, means slowing the inkjet down below the stated speed. Whereas,  LED (Toner), printers always print at stated speed regardless of image density etc.

The mid volume range of LED printers, which can range in speed from 6 D size prints per minute up to 14 D size prints per minute, cost between $19,000 and $50,000, depending on the manufacturer and model

Production-class printers, which have a print capability of 18 to 22 D size prints per minute, range in price from  $50,000 to $200,000 again depending on the manufacturer and model.  

These machines are designed for much higher volumes of printing (hundreds of thousands of square feet per month) with speeds to match. These machines are only needed by specialized print for pay shops or the larger CAD shops.

You may be tempted to look at used wide-format printers, and you may be able to get a good deal. However, a wide-format printer's operational life is generally fairly short - they get outdated by improving technology within 3 to 5 years - so it's usually not worth buying used.

Maintenance and service agreements

Like copiers, LED printers require regular maintenance: cleaning, inspection, and replacing of worn parts. Keeping your printer well maintained is the best way to ensure quality of the prints and prolong its useful life.

Maintenance agreements for wide format LED printers are generally  priced on a per square foot printed per month. If you're new to wide-format printing,  or if you'll depend on the printer for day-to-day production, we strongly recommend that you purchase the maintenance agreement. Make sure the agreement covers on-site labor, and see if guaranteed response times are included. 

Key factors to consider when buying a wide format printer – Part 3

Color vs. black & white

 If you primarily work in the design side of the business, i.e Architect, you probably need to print the majority of your plans in color, and a color printer is most likely the best choice.  

However, if you print a combination of black & white and color such as might occur in the Construction / Contractors office, where the majority of the drawings printed are in black and white, with a much smaller percentage, needed in color, (a good rule of thumb is the old 80/20), then you will be more efficient and more cost effective if you use a low volume LED printer with the ability to interface with a color inkjet as required. Allowing you to print productively in monochrome to the LED , and when circumstances dictate, print to the color inkjet, only printing on the higher cost device when absolutely necessary.

Color printers typically use inkjet technology. Modern inkjet printers utilize both a printhead and a ink cartridge, which are considered consumables. Because there is generally no way to know when either one of these consumables will run out or expire, it is good to have a spare set of both on the shelf, just in case. Of course the big issue with that scenario is that there are at least 4 Colors,(sometimes six or eight), and you will need both a printhead and a ink cartridge, and that can run into the hundreds of dollars, sitting on the shelf.

Low volume monochrome solutions today offer a tremendous amount of flexibility and capability when it comes to interfacing with third party color inkjet printers. The most basic systems allow you to configure the color scanner on the LED printer to copy to the color inkjet. This is accomplished in one of two ways:

 1. The user scans directly to the print controller on the inkjet, allowing the inkjet to process the data exactly as it recieves it, with no way to change output options. Additionally, the sender of the print has no way of knowing if the correct paper is loaded, or if there is enough ink to complete the job.

2. The monochrome device is in constant communication with the inkjet device, allowing the user to see on the LED printer interface, the consumables status on the inkjet, paper, ink levels etc. Error messages or service conditions can even be seen from the interface of the black and white machine. In addition to the communication capabilities, the job configuration functionality provided on the LED device, can be used to configure a job to be printed on the inkjet in color, i.e multiple copies, reduced to 50%

A number of LED monochrome solutions today will interface with most, if not all existing inkjet installations out in the field today, so it is entirely posssible that other than the cost of the LED printer, you could not only dramatically improve your productivity, but also lower your cost of operation, while at the same time print what you need in color.

Sounds like a Win! Win! 

See The Power of the KIP Color 80 with SAi Flexi 10 @ ISA

SA International and KIP America Partner for ISA International Sign Expo Salt Lake City, UT — April 19, 2011 — SA International (SAi) announces a  partnership with KIP America to create a printer driver in SAi’s Flexi 10 for the KIP Color 80 printer. KIP is a leading provider of wide format digital solutions for the architectural, engineering, manufacturing and sign industries. The KIP Color 80, which is a high-production toner-based color printer that outputs up to 2,000 sq. ft. per hour, delivers high quality prints with incredible speed. Visit KIP America’s booth number 2308 to see Flexi 10 software design, RIP and print jobs to the KIP Color 80. For further information about how you can run Flexi 10 with your KIP Color 80, visit by SAi’s booth 4335. “KIP’s products are highly innovative and are the perfect complement to our Flexi Family of print and design solutions,” states Don Feagan, President & COO. “KIP recognizes SA International as an industry leader in sign making software and we are excited to partner with them for our groundbreaking KIP Color 80 printer,” states Sonny Odom, VP of Sales for KIP America. About SA International: SAi is recognized as a global leader in providing complete, professional solutions for the sign making, digital printing and CAD/CAM for CNC machining industries.  The Company’s solutions help turn creative ideas into reality by providing world–class design and editing tools geared for production. Headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, SAi has additional offices in Belgium, Brazil and China. About KIP America: KIP is the modern leading innovator in monochrome & color wide format printing and image capture technology. In addition, KIP is a major provider of wide format digital solutions for architectural, engineering and manufacturing industries – solutions that  deliver efficient, dependable and consistently high quality performance. For additional information: United States and Canada call: 800.229.9066 United States and Canada fax: 801.401.7234 Europe call: +32.2.725.5295 Latin America call: +787.790.6526 All other regions call: 801.478.1900 Website: www.SAintl.biz

Key factors to consider when buying a wide format printer – Part 2

Ease of Use

Here is a question for you. Who taught you how to get money out of the ATM at the bank?

The answer for most everybody is “No one”, you just figured it out. The interface & directions on the screen led you to make the right logical choices for your particular transaction.

Well, that is the direction that a number of wide format printers have gone recently.  While it was KIP who led the way about 5 years ago, since then other companies have followed suit, (Xerox, Ricoh). By putting an intuative touchscreen interface onto their multifunction printer,copier scanners, manufacturers have removed the need for specialist or key operators. Allowing anyone with a need to easily make a wide format scan or copy

In addition to the touchscreen functionality, most wide format printer manufacturers have been adding the ability to print directly from a USB drive or device at the printers touchscreen.

This accommodates walk-up printing at the printer,however,  the ability to preview the files before printing, and build a collated set of prints for multiple sets, or printed in set order, it is still limited to only a couple of manufacturers at the time of this posting.

Software/Utilities

All manufactures offer a range productivity tools, with a broad range of features. If you need specific functionality make sure that you understand what, if any, additional cost those features will add to the purchase of the equipment. The price for some features or functions can be quite substantial, especially if that feature/function comes with a recurring monthly maintenance cost.

The next generation of convenience printing to wide format printers is the addition of Cloud Printing and Scanning.

Most require registration with a 3^rd party website, which then allows you to “print ” to the website from selected  web connected devices ,and or applications, the website then provides a file processing service, converting your file into a print ready file, before passing the file to your printer for output.

Currently these Cloud print service websites are been offered free. This type service is useful for those who do not have any concerns about document security or privacy

The newest cloud print functionality is one that enables the printer itself to receive print jobs from any web-connected device directly. Eliminating the need to register with 3^rd party websites, leaving the security of the printing infrastructure to the owner of the printer, and the processing of the file to the printers controller, which is optimized to process the complex data that often makes up wide format print files.

Key factors to consider when buying a wide format technical printer – Part 1

Printer types

Monochrome wide format printers generally come in one of three configurations: printer only, printer copier, or multi-function.

Printer only configurations are just that, they print digital files submitted from a user’s desktop, or in the case of Web enabled printers, from a Web connected device, (Smartphone, Tablet etc), or they can print from the printer’s interface. This can include, (not all manufacturers support this), browsing to network folders, USB, or FTP locations to build a job directly on the printers interface.

Some printers also have scanners built into them, (Printer/Copier), allowing you to print from the network, make copies, but not scan to file.

Speeds

Evaluating a printer just by the numbers, (feeds & speeds), is potentially decieving. Most printers in the same class will have almost identical speed specifications; however, their productivity may vary substantially.

What affects this most often is the ability of the print controller to process the file data, quickly, and accurately.

Most wide format printers only process one (1) file ahead, (processing 1 file , while printing another), this means there could be a delay while the controller processes large amounts of data, slowing the output of the printer, or creating an “Intercopy Gap”.

More advanced wide format printers use a process called pull ahead processing, this allows the controller to keep processing files until there are no more to convert. Pull ahead processing minimizes the intercopy gap, allowing the print engine to maintain rated print speed, and to complete the print job quicker.

 Most wide format monochrome printers are rated to print a designated number of D-sized drawings (24" x 36") per minute (ppm).

 Black & white printers will range from 3 ppm in the low-volume segment, 6–9 ppm in the mid-volume segment and 13–22 ppm in the high-volume segment. These speeds represent the physical output speed of the engine.

 Imaging Technology

 All major monochrome wide format printers on the market today use LED as its primary imaging technology. LED technology uses a light-emitting diode array as a light source in the printhead.  

The toner image is fixed to the paper using either a heat and pressure mechanism (Hot Roll Fuser) or a radiant fusing technology (Oven Fuser) to melt the toner particles onto the paper being printed on.

It has been suggested by some wide format manufacturers that there are energy benefits to be gained by using one fusing method over another. However, all printers regardless of technology use about the same amount of power when printing, and all manufacturers employ comprehensive energy management tools, to the extent that the real difference is negligble. (pennies a month, not dollars).

The standard for energy management is the Energy Star rating, which all machines you consider should be Energy Star qualified. (More on this in a later post)

New Wide Format Printer in your Future?

If so, which printer is right for you?

If you are planning to purchase a wide format printer sometime in the future then this next series of blog postings are going to be for you.

Over the next few weeks we will be highlighting the kind of things that you should be looking at when considering a Wide Format Printer, (we don’t really call them Plotters anymore, but you can if you want), we will also attempt to dispel some of the myths about the different types of technology and what the truth really is.

Some of the key things to look for include:

• Printer types

• Speeds

• Color vs. black & white

•Print technology and print sizes

• Scanners

• ENERGY STAR® Certification

•Which technology best suits your business

Next article - Printer Types

KIP Products Nominated for 2011 Top Products Award

KIP is very excited to announce that the KIP 9900 high-speed, high quality production printer and the KIP 2300 Scanner, the fastest wide format scanner on the market today, have both been nominated for the 2011  Wide Format Imaging Top Products Awards in the following catergories:

Output Devices: Engineering Printer (24-95 inches)

KIP 9900 from KIP America

Output Devices: MFP (24-95 inches)

KIP 2300 from KIP America

In today's competitive business climate, customers have three objectives when acquiring a high volume large format multifunction system, Exceptional Quality, Incredible Cost of Operation, and Superior Productivity. The KIP 9900 Printer is the only High-Volume large format printer available today that meets all these requirements.

The KIP 2300 scanner features an advanced data transfer called KIP Tru•Speed, which offers both high speed and high-resolution imaging at the same time. The technology used in KIP Tru•Speed provides an image transfer rate of 2.3GB per second, ensuring high productivity for the most complex full color documents. Originals are imaged at MAXIMUM SPEED with NO scanning slow downs or pauses.

From January 3 through March 4, 2011, you, our valued KIP customers, have the opportunity to vote for the products that have caused the most excitement in the industry , and have been a valuable asset to wide-format print service provider's  and businesses over the last year.

The nominated products were submitted from October 15 - December 15, 2010 and then supplemented by products received by the magazine in 2010.

 Winners will be announced at the ISA show in Las Vegas.

We ask that you click on this link (http://2011topproducts.questionpro.com) to to vote.