HP Plotter Instructions
From UNC Tectonic Geomorphology
Here’s a quick little tutorial on how to use the ridiculously large printer in 208, broken down into a few major points.
Contents |
Document Setup
(Here described using Illustrator)
When creating the document/ poster, set the document size to “Custom”, the height to no more than 42” (using 40” or 41” works best, the max paper size is 42”) and the width up to 8 feet.
IMPORTANT: Set the color mode to RGB. The plotter will not recognize CMYK color, and you’ll be in a world of hurt when you try to print if it’s not RGB.
Create your poster
This document assumes that everyone knows how to make their poster using Illustrator or their program of choice, so we’ll go ahead and skip this.
Exporting
When finished with your poster, you’ll want to export it as a TIFF (*.tif) file.
There are two ways of exporting the TIFF file.
1. To export a smaller file, first flatten the image. Easily done by going to the “Select” menu and choosing select “All”. Next, from the “Object” menu, choose “Flatten Transparency”. Done. Now export as a TIFF following the steps below.
2. If you’re not worried about the size (really only limited by your USB key), then just go ahead and export.
Simply choose “Export” from the “File” menu, and choose the TIFF (*.tif) option.
Name your poster something cool, make sure the color is RGB and resolution at 300 dpi.
Click “OK” and this part is done.
Setting up the document for printing
Open up Photoshop and load your poster. To print on the plotter, you’ll need to re-orient the document. Rotate it 90 degrees so the long axis is North-South and that’s it. We suggest saving this one with a different file name to indicate that it’s been rotated.
Also, if you’re already here and the poster isn’t RGB, then change the color mode in Photoshop. Image- Mode- RGB Color.
Save the file on a USB key.
Setting up the Plotter
This friendly beast has 3 parts and all must be working to print out a cool poster.
1. Turn on the scanner (the funky looking thing on top). If the scanner isn’t turned on first, you’ll print out a pair of German shepherds in front of a rhododendron bush and be forever ridiculed on the “Plotter wall of shame”. wait for a green light to appear on the top of the scanner before proceeding.
2. Turn on the printer (big thing below the scanner). It’ll do it’s warm-up dance and aerobics while you’re logging into the system.
3. Log in. Turn on the monitor. To log in, the username is “scan” and password is “print”.
4. Plug in your USB key and click on the “designjet scan” icon. First thing that pops up will be a “System Maintenance” window- click on “Remind Me Later” and then “OK” to bypass this stuff.
Printing
Darrell is the man and he’ll make sure there’s ink in the plotter for everyone. Anyway, someone will make sure there’s ink and the proper paper is loaded.
1. On the top right of the screen are four menus. Click on “Print”, and then “Add to list”. This should lead you to your USB key and then it’s up to you to find the poster.
2. If you want to preview the poster, click on its name and then “View”.
3. Printing is easy. Make sure your file is selected, then click on the printer icon in the bottom right corner of the screen.
You might want to hang out for a couple minutes to make sure it’s going well (it should be), and then go get a coffee. These posters take a little while to print.
When the plotter finishes, it will wait a few minutes before cutting the paper to let the ink dry a bit more.
After all is said and done and printed, close the Designjet Scan program (little door in the bottom left) and eject your USB key.
IMPORTANT: If you are the last one to print, PLEASE turn off the scanner so that we can conserve the scanner bulb. Then, select the exit door in the printer software and select 'System Shutdown.' When windows is shut down, turn off the monitor and turn off the plotter.
Done.
