Fiery fs300
Fiery fs300
Operation
1
Requirements and Pre-requisites
▪ Requirements
– Machine with Fiery controller, for example:
• Pro C7200 series with E45A or E85A
• Pro C9200 series with E45 or E85
– ES2000 Spectrophotometer.
– X-Rite iSis XL or ES6000 (when available)
– EFI Color Profiler Suite.
– Windows or Mac computer.
– Service Manual.
– Operation Manuals.
– This presentation.
▪ Pre-requisites
– Colour Management for PP v3
– Fiery Basic Maintenance and Operation
– Colour Setup for CRD
2
Objectives
▪ After completing this course, you should be able to
– use the Fiery controller at an advanced level.
– Assist customers on how and when to use the following Fiery features:
3
Module Overview
1 3 5
2 4
Job Colour and
Submission Colour
Methods Management
4
Chapter 1: Introduction
5
Fiery Features
▪ This training will cover the more advanced features of the Fiery controller.
▪ However, because of the sheer amount of features and settings, it is not
possible to explain each and every feature on the controller.
6
Practice
▪ As always, training is just the start of the learning process.
▪ Be ready to apply the learned theory in practice, to become truly skilled.
I hear, I forget
I see, I remember
I do, I understand
Confucius, 500 BC
7
Resources
▪ Before starting the training, let’s review some of the online resources that are
available to you:
– www.efi.com
– salesportal.efi.com
– learning.efi.com
– www.my-ricoh.com
8
EFI.com
▪ On www.efi.com you can find many videos, documents, how-to guides, etc.,
covering all EFI products.
9
EFI Sales Portal
▪ The name is a bit misleading, because all sorts of information can be found at
the EFI Sales Portal (salesportal.efi.com), including technical.
▪ You do need an account, so please register first.
10
Analyst/Service Tech Corner
▪ In the Fiery Quick Links, you will find the Analyst/Service Tech Corner, where
you can find all sorts of technical information and tools.
11
Learning@EFI
▪ A lot of free e-Learning modules, how-to guides and instructional videos can be
found at Learning@EFI (learning.efi.com).
12
EFI Communities
▪ In the EFI Communities anyone can ask Fiery-related questions, but they also
contain a lot of information.
13
My-Ricoh - Publications
▪ On the publication site on My-Ricoh (www.my-ricoh.com) you can download
service manuals, parts manuals, firmware and technical bulletins.
14
My-Ricoh – Knowledge Base Tier 2
▪ The knowledge base also contains useful information on many products,
including Fiery controllers.
15
Disclaimer
▪ All the screenshots in this
presentation are from the E-
85, running Fiery Command
WorkStation Package
v6.3.0.152.
▪ Depending on updates, and
patches, the interface may
change.
16
Chapter 2: Job Submission Methods
17
Chapter Overview
Command WorkStation
Hot Folders
Virtual Printers
JDF/JMF
18
Command WorkStation
19
Command WorkStation
Introduction
20
Command WorkStation
▪ In the Fiery Maintenance and Operation training, you have learned about
Command WorkStation.
▪ In this training we will dive a bit deeper into the vast amount of features of
Command WorkStation.
21
Command WorkStation v6.3
▪ The latest version, at the time of writing this presentation, is version 6.3.
▪ CWS v6.3 is a native 64-bit application for both MacOS and Windows, so
requires a 64-bot Operating System.
▪ CWS v6.2 will remain available for customers still using a 32-bit Operating
System.
22
Fiery Software Manager
▪ EFI regularly releases newer versions
of their software, introducing new
features or fixing bugs.
▪ You can use the Fiery Software
Manager to check for and install
updates.
23
Command WorkStation Login
▪ By default, there are two accounts on a Fiery controller:
– Administrator (default password: Fiery.1)
• Can perform configuration and operational tasks
– Operator (default password: no password)
• Can only perform operational tasks
24
Server Configuration Settings
▪ The Server Configuration contain settings that are related to Job Submission.
25
Job Submission
▪ In Job Submission you can configure
settings that are related to Job
Submission.
▪ You can enable or disable :
– queues
– and configure network printing ports and
printing methods
– and configure USB printing
– Hot Folders
– and configure JDF
– PrintMe (EFI Cloud Printing)
26
Job Management
▪ In Job Management you can:
– Enable and disable saving of printed jobs
– Set the maximum amount of saved jobs
– Enable or disable saving rasters with the
saved jobs
– Enable or disable RIP while Receive
(RWR) and Preview while Processing
(PWP)
– Enable, disable and configure Job
Mismatch actions.
– Enable, disable and configure Sample
Print.
27
RIP
▪ In RIP you can:
– Enable, disable and configure Adobe
PDF Print Engine (APPE)
– Configure Postscript and PCL settings
– Configure some generic Variable Data
Printing (VDP) settings
– Enable or disable Set Page Device
(SPD)
– Enable or disable Native Documents
– Configure HyperRIP mode (Only on
FS300 Pro controllers, such as E85 and
E85A)
28
Command WorkStation
RIP - APPE
29
APPE
▪ APPE stands for Adobe PDF Print Engine.
▪ This technology enables direct PDF ripping without conversion to PostScript.
▪ This ensures that transparencies and PDF layers are honored during ripping.
▪ In Fiery Configure, you can:
– Disable APPE
– Enable APPE, but have it not used by default (selectable in Job Properties)
– Enable APPE and have it enabled by default (selectable in Job Properties)
30
CPSI
▪ CPSI stands for Configurable PostScript Interpreter.
▪ This technology converts all data into PostScript before ripping.
▪ As it has been in use for a long time, it is reliable and usually quite fast.
▪ However, the conversion to PostScript means that multi-layer PDF files are
flattened, and that transparencies in the PDF are lost.
31
Benefits of APPE
▪ Less problems processing PDF jobs that contain transparencies.
▪ Less PostScript errors when ripping complex PDF files.
▪ Better and more reliable colour conversions when working with device-
independent data (mostly ICC-based RGB images).
Transparent
Elements
32
APPE or CPSI
▪ When APPE is enabled, you can choose on a per job base to use either APPE
or CPSI.
▪ But note that this is only possible in a PDF workflow.
▪ When printing using the Fiery PostScript driver, APPE cannot be used.
33
Fonts
▪ When using APPE, make sure
to embed fonts in the PDF to
avoid font substitution or failed
print jobs.
– When font substitution is enabled,
the controller will replace missing
fonts with the Courier font.
– When font substitution is disabled,
the job will not print.
34
Command WorkStation
RIP - HyperRIP
35
HyperRIP
▪ HyperRIP is a proprietary EFI technology that improves ripping performance.
▪ It allows the EFI software to use multiple cores of the FS300 Pro controllers,
such as the E-85 and E-85A, for simultaneous ripping of files.
▪ There are 2 modes available, as you can see in this screenshot.
36
HyperRIP – Multiple Jobs
▪ Select Multiple Jobs to have HyperRIP process up to four smaller jobs
simultaneously.
37
HyperRIP – Single Job
▪ Select Single Job to have HyperRIP split up a single larger document into four
sections, and having those processed by four HyperRIPs.
38
HyperRIP in Action
▪ When HyperRIP is active, you can see that up to 4 simultaneous ripping
processes can take place.
39
Command WorkStation
Drag and Drop
40
Drag and Drop – Hold Queue
▪ The easiest way to submit files through Command WorkStation is simply drag
and drop the files into the CWS held queue.
41
Job Properties
▪ From the held queue, right-click on a job to open the Job Properties.
42
Job Properties
▪ Here you can specify the settings for this particular job.
43
Job Properties: Presets
▪ Often-used settings can be saved as a preset.
44
Drag and Drop – Drop Zone
▪ When you drag and drop the file onto the server in the server list, you can
immediately assign job properties through presets or virtual printers.
45
Lab – 1, 2
• Submit Job: Drag and Drop in
Command WorkStation
• Print Booklet, Centre Staples
46
Hot Folders
47
Hot Folders
▪ Fiery Hot Folders is a utility that allows you to store and use often-used print
settings.
▪ You can:
– Create special folders that assign specific print settings and print queues to jobs.
– Print jobs by dragging and dropping the files onto a created Hot Folder on your desktop.
48
Create Hot Folders
▪ With the Hot Folders utility installed and running, right-click on the desktop and
select New Hot Folder.
49
Create Hot Folders: Preset
▪ The print settings can be configured, similar to the Job Properties in Command
WorkStation, but you can also select a preset.
50
Input Formats
▪ Here you can select what file types the Hot Folder can print.
Needs MS Office to
be installed
51
Preflight
▪ Enabling preflight (part of the Graphic Art Package, Premium Edition) will allow
the automation of checking for missing fonts, spot colours, etc.
52
Caution: Drag and Drop
▪ Be careful when you drag and drop files onto the Hot Folder.
▪ When you drag and drop files that are located on the same volume as the Hot
Folder (usually c:\), Windows will move the file instead of copy it.
▪ Press and hold the CTRL key while dragging the file to copy it onto the Hot
Folder.
Move Copy
53
Lab – 3
• Hot Folders
54
Virtual Printers
55
Virtual Printers
▪ Similar to Hot Folders, Virtual Printers will assign pre-defined settings to a print
job.
▪ Jobs that are submitted to a Virtual Printer will conform to the settings of the
Virtual Printer.
Virtual
Printer
56
Virtual Printers
▪ Virtual Printer are created in the Device Center of CWS.
57
Configuration of Virtual Printers
▪ The configuration of a Virtual Printer is very similar to the configuration of a Hot
Folder.
58
Use Virtual Printers
▪ Virtual Printers can be used in various ways.
Point and
Print
Software
(TotalFlow Prep)
LPR (Host
Systems)
59
Lab – 4
• Virtual Printers
60
JDF/JMF
61
JDF (Job Definition Format)
▪ JDF or Job Definition Format is an XML-based file format that is used as an
electronic job ticket.
▪ It was designed as a standard for the printing and graphic art industry to
improve the implementation of different applications, systems and workflows by
various vendors.
62
JMF (Job Messaging Format)
▪ JDF is just the standard.
▪ The actual communication is done through JMF.
▪ JMF is built in XML and is part of the JDF specification.
▪ It communicates information such as events (start, stop, error) , status
(available, offline, idle, etc.) and results.
Agent
JDF
MIS
JDF
JDF
Controller/agent Controller
JDF
JMF
JMF
JMF
JDF
JDF
JDF
Device
Device Device
Workflow management
Folding/
RIP CTP Printer
Cutting
63
JDF in Practice
▪ JDF is all around us, as it allows an automated workflow.
▪ All major manufacturers of printers, controllers, folders, binders, cutters, MIS
systems, workflow systems, etc. have adopted JDF.
TotalFlow Prep
Heidelberg Prinect
Agfa Apogee 64
JDF On Fiery Controller
▪ JMF settings can be configured in Configure in CWS.
65
Chapter 3: Fiery Seequence Suite
Impose
Compose
66
Fiery SeeQuence Suite
▪ The Fiery SeeQuence Suite features 2 make-ready applications:
– Impose:
• A page imposition technology that allows operators to define how individual pages pf a job are
printed on a sheet of paper.
– Compose:
• A tool to prepare documents for printing, allowing operators to preview and edit documents on the
controller.
• Editing includes adding and deleting of pages, add blank sheets or tab sheets, re-order pages,
assign specific media to individual pages in the document, etc.
▪ The SeeQuence Suite requires a license.
– Available licenses
• Impose
• Compose
• Impose - Compose
67
Licensing
▪ Since Fiery FS100, the required licences are software licenses, and must be
installed on the PC where you want to make use of the SeeQuence Suite.
▪ Note that on pre-FS100 controllers, the SeeQuence Suite made use of license
dongles.
▪ These dongles can still be used on new controllers, but can no longer be
purchased.
▪ Also note that Fiery Impose features a demo mode.
– Without a license, you can make use of Impose, but you cannot save any created
templates, and a watermark will be printed on all printed sheets.
68
Fiery Impose
▪ Impose allows operators to apply imposition layouts for special printing and/or
binding needs.
▪ You can start Impose by selecting a job in the hold queue of the controller, and
selecting Impose.
69
Fiery Impose - Compose User Interface
▪ The Impose – Compose screen is divided in 3 sections.
71
Fiery Impose Finish Size
▪ Finish Size has 2 workflows:
– Based on Crop Box.
• The layout of the job is referenced to the Adobe PDF crop
box.
• The user must manually determine the bleed size for the
selected document page content, and specify the trim
marks.
– User Defined.
• The final finish size and bleed size are automatically
detected for the PDF job, but the user cab change both
settings.
• The page content is aligned in the centre of the media.
• In the User defined workflow, the finish size is a static
value, independent of bleed, crop box or document page
size.
• The original bleed sizes are automatically detected, as are
the placement of the trim marks.
72
Fiery Impose Crop Box or User Defined
Crop Box
User Defined
73
Fiery Impose Creep Adjustments
▪ Shingling or Creep are adjustments that come
available when Booklet is selected.
▪ When folding sheets for booklets, pages move
towards the outside edge of the book.
▪ Elements on centre pages will end up further from
the spine.
▪ Creep adjustments or shingling is a
compensation for this.
74
Fiery Impose Gutter
▪ The Gutter adjustment allows you to move the
content on a page spread either closer together
(negative gutter) or away from each other
(positive gutter)
Gutter +
Gutter 0
Gutter - 75
Fiery Impose Binding Methods
▪ When choosing Booklet, there are 3 binding
methods available:
Saddle
Nested Saddle
Perfect
76
Fiery Impose Use Case
▪ A good use case for Impose is for instance the printing of business cards.
Single business
card
Imposition settings
77
Fiery Impose Auto Best Fit
▪ Auto Best Fit will automatically apply the most efficient impose settings.
78
Fiery Compose Overview
▪ Fiery Compose allows last-stage editing on page
level.
▪ The WYSIWYG preview allows operators to:
– Insert, duplicate or delete pages
– Reorder pages
– Set chapters
– Insert tabs
– Assign media to individual pages
79
Fiery Compose Tab Media
▪ Text can be added to tabs on tab sheets.
80
Adobe Acrobat and Enfocus PitStop
▪ The Fiery SeeQuence Suite comes with Adobe Acrobat and Enfocus PitStop.
▪ Where Impose and Compose allow editing of the document pages, Acrobat and
PitStop allow editing of the actual content on the pages.
▪ It allows operators to:
– Change colours
– Change fonts
– Convert from or to RGB, CMYK or Grayscale
– Check for inconsistencies using PitStop Preflight
– Add headers and footers
81
Benefit
▪ PitStop is a plugin for Adobe
Acrobat, greatly enhancing the
editing functionality of Acrobat.
▪ This can be done through
Command WorkStation, so
operators can actually change
content on pages of already
submitted jobs, without requiring
them to return files to the
content creators.
82
Lab – 5
• Fiery SeeQuence Suite
83
Chapter 4: Colour and Colour Management
84
Chapter Overview
Calibration
Image Viewer
Preflight
Postflight
Control bar
85
Calibration
86
Calibration
▪ Calibration was already covered in the Colour Management for Production Print
and Colour Setup for CRD training tutorials, but as it is such an important
subject, we will review some of the basic theory.
▪ What is calibration:
– Print calibration is the process of comparing and adjusting the output of a printer to a known
standard or target.
– When performing calibration, the printer will print various coloured CMYK patches in various
densities, which are measured with a spectrophotometer or densitometer.
– Based on these measurements, the controller will adjust the outputted colour when
necessary.
87
Calibration – Calibration Set – Output Profile
▪ As you know, when performing calibration, you deal with Calibration,
Calibration Sets and Output Profiles.
Calibration
88
Output Profile
▪ The output profile describes the colour
characteristics of a printer, including the colour
gamut.
▪ These characteristics are dependent on the
printer, the toner or ink, but also the used media.
▪ When colour accuracy is important, it is highly
recommended to create custom output profiles
for the media in use.
▪ To create output profiles you need:
– profiling software, such as EFI Color Profiler Suite or
X-Rite i1 Profiler.
– Spectrophotometer, such as ES2000 or X-Rite iSisXL.
89
Calibration Set
▪ The calibration set contains the information
that is needed for calibration.
▪ It contains:
– The media type (plain, matte-coated, gloss-coated)
– The media weight
– The halftone mode (200 dots, 175 dots, etc.)
– The calibration target
90
Calibration Set and Output Profile
▪ The calibration set is linked to an output
profile.
▪ By default there are default output profiles for
plain, matte-coated and gloss-coated media,
linked to default calibration sets for plain,
matte-coated and gloss-coated media, which
in turn are linked to the media types
uncoated, matte-coated and gloss-coated.
Media Calibration Sets Output Profiles
91
Calibration Set and Output Profile
▪ However, you can assign media types
to other calibration sets if you want to.
▪ In this example, all media types will
use the calibration set and output
profile for Matte-Coated.
▪ This makes calibration faster, but will
sacrifice colour accuracy.
Plain
Gloss-Coated
92
Calibration Process
93
New Calibration Set
▪ The default calibration sets contain calibration targets for generic media, which
may not be ideal for the media actually in use.
▪ If you need colour accuracy, the creation of custom calibration sets for all the
media in use is highly recommended.
▪ To create a new calibration set, a spectrophotometer is required.
Pro-Graphic Gloss 250 gsm Pro-Graphic Gloss 250 gsm Pro-Graphic Gloss 250 gsm
Color Copy Silk 170 gsm Color Copy Silk 170 gsm Color Copy Silk 170 gsm
94
New Calibration Set
▪ The next slide will show how to create a new calibration set.
▪ It shows how to change the halftone mode from 200 dots + Fine Text to 175
dots.
▪ It also shows how to link the new calibration set to an existing output profile,
and how a new output profile is created.
95
New Calibration Set
96
Link to Paper Catalog
▪ If you want to make sure that the correct calibration is used for this media,
make sure to link the new output profile to the media profile in the paper
catalog.
97
Calibrate Job
▪ When the new output profiles are linked to the paper profile in the paper
catalog, you can easily calibrate the printer for the media that is to be used for
a particular job.
98
Lab – 6.1
• Calibration
99
Calibration using Color Profiler Suite
100
Color Profiler Suite Calibrator
▪ Calibration can also be performed using EFI
Color Profiler Suite.
▪ Benefits:
– When creating a custom calibration set, you can
also create a custom output profile.
– The Color Profiler Suite allows the creation of
calibration sets using automated scanners, such
as the X-Rite i1iSis or X-Rite i1iO, instead of
using the ES-2000.
101
Color Profiler Suite Calibrator
▪ The Calibrator allows operators to either
recalibrate, or to create a custom
calibration.
102
Color Profiler Suite Express Profiler
▪ The Express Profiler lets you create a
custom calibration set and a custom output
profiler in just a few mouse clicks.
▪ The configuration settings are limited, so
even novice operators can use this tool.
103
Color Profiler Suite Express Profiler
▪ After creating the calibration set and output
profile, a server preset and a virtual printer
will be created, both with the new calibration
set and output profile selected as default.
▪ The new output profile will automatically be
assigned to the used media.
104
Lab – 6.2
• Express Profiler
105
Colour and Colour Management
106
Colour and Colour Management
▪ This chapter will cover the colour and colour management features of a Fiery
controller.
▪ The colour and colour management settings of a Fiery controller can be found
in several places.
▪ In the Device Center you can set the default colour settings.
▪ In the Job Properties you can set the colour settings for a specific job.
107
Graphic Arts Packages
▪ Some colour features, such as colour management, are standard on all Fiery
controllers.
▪ Other colour features may be optional, depending on the controller type.
▪ These optional features are bundled in packages.
▪ Available packages for served-based controllers:
– Graphic Arts Package (GAP)
– Graphic Arts Package, Premium Edition (GAPE)
▪ Available packages for embedded-type controllers:
– Graphic Arts Basic Package (GABP)
– Productivity Package (PP)
• The Productivity Package contains some of the features of the Graphic Arts Basic Package.
108
Standard or Optional
▪ Embedded Type: Packages are optional
– Typically controller for office or black & white machines
109
Default Colour Settings
▪ The default settings, including the colour
management settings, can be configured
by selecting “Set Defaults”.
110
Job Specific Colour Settings
▪ The Job Properties allow
the colour management
settings for this specific job.
111
Color Mode
▪ The Color Mode allows operators to print either in full colour or in black and
white.
▪ The output profile selection allows operators to select the output profile for the
print job.
– Note that when the paper catalog is used, and output profiles are assigned to paper profiles,
the assigned profiles will overrule this setting.
– Also note that operators can immediately see the calibration status of the selected output
profile.
112
Color Input
▪ The Color Input section allows operators to:
– Select the source profiles for both RGB and CMYK.
– Instruct the controller to either honour or ignore
embed profiles.
– Select the rendering intents both for RGB and
CMYK.
– Enable or disable Spot Color Matching.
– Configure settings, specifically for printing black and
gray tones.
113
Color Settings
▪ The Color Settings section allows operators to:
– Enable or disable PDF/X Output Intent.
– Enable or disable RGB/Lab to CMYK Source.
– Configure Black Overprint and Composite Overprint.
– Enable or disable 2-Color Print Mapping.
– Enable or disable Combine Separations.
– Enable or disable Optimize RGB Transparency.
– Enable or disable Substitute Colors.
– Enable or disable Auto Trapping.
– Specify the correction curves for Image Viewer.
114
Colour Management Settings Explained
▪ Most of the mentioned settings in the previous slides are explained in the
Colour Management for Production Print tutorial and in the Colour Setup for
CRD tutorial.
▪ However, let’s review these settings, as they are very important for a correct
colour management setup.
▪ Also some Fiery specific settings will be reviewed.
115
RGB Source
▪ The RGB Source allows operators to select the source profile
that was used for creating the RGB objects in the print job.
– This can be, for instance, the workspace setting of a DTP application or
the colour space setting of the digital camera that was used to shoot the
RGB pictures.
117
Add Profiles: Profile Manager
118
Embedded Profiles
▪ Enabling or disabling Use Embedded Profiles
will either honour or ignore embedded profiles in
the PDF file.
▪ This will allow the operator to ignore incorrect
embedded profiles.
119
Rendering Intents
▪ As you have learned from the Colour
Management for PP tutorial, rendering intents will
determine how out-of-gamut colours are mapped
to the selected output profile of the printer.
▪ Operators can select:
– Photographic (Perceptual)
– Presentation (Saturation)
– Relative Colorimetric
– Absolute Colorimetric
– Pure Primaries (CMYK rendering intent only)
120
Print Gray using Black Only
▪ Print Gray using Black Only lets operators specify
when black toner is used for RGB gray, CMYK
gray or grayscale.
▪ The available settings are:
– Off (default)
– Text and Graphics
– Text, Graphics and Images.
121
Spot Color Matching
▪ This will enable or disable Spot Color Matching.
– Disabled:
• Spot colours will be printed using their Lab equivalent, as
specified by the spot colour manufacturer, for instance
Pantone, HKS or Toyo.
– Enabled:
• Spot colours will be printed using the CMYK equivalents
that are defined in the spot colour library on the controller.
• Note that the CMYK equivalents are recalculated for every
output profile on the controller, ensuring a good match on
many types of media.
• Using Spot-On, the spot colour library, spot colours can be
edited, and custom spot colours can be added.
122
Spot-On
▪ Colours can be edited and added by
defining their CMYK values, Lab
values, by clicking on the coloured
arrows, but also by using a
spectrophotometer.
123
PDF/X Output Intent
▪ This setting limits the printer output gamut to the
specified PDF/X Output Intent in the PDF.
– PDF/X is an umbrella term for several ISO standards
that define a subset of the PDF standard.
– The purpose of PDF/X is to facilitate graphics
exchange, and it therefor has a series of printing
related requirements which do not apply to regular
PDF files.
– In a PDF/X file that has colour managed data, each
colour managed graphic gets its own colour profile.
124
Separate RGB/Lab to CMYK Source
▪ This setting will convert RGB data to CMYK
using the selected CMYK source profile.
▪ Then the data is converted from CMYK to
CMYK using the selected printer output profile.
▪ This will allow operator to print RGB files to
match a CMYK standard or another CMYK
printer.
125
Composite Overprint
▪ This setting makes it possible to view CMYK
overprints.
▪ Normally, a second-down colour knocks out the
colour that is printed underneath.
▪ With Composite Overprint enabled, the second-
down colour will overprint the first colour to
create a new additive colour.
Composite Composite
Overprint enabled Overprint disabled
126
2-Color Print Mapping
▪ This setting is only available when the Graphic
Arts Premium Edition is installed on the
controller.
▪ Using this feature, operators can map the
process colours that are used in a job to other
colours to print.
Black Black
127
Substitute Colors
▪ This feature allows operators to substitute a
specific colour with another colour, basically
treating the colour as a spot colour.
▪ This will affect only text, vector objects and line
art.
▪ Substitute colours are specified in the spot
colour library.
128
Combine Separations
▪ This feature allows operators to combine pre-
separated PostScript jobs into a composite
colour print.
Black
Yellow
Magenta
Cyan
Pantone
129
Auto Trapping
▪ Auto Trapping is a feature that can
automatically correct mis-registration for
composite or separated documents.
▪ There are no configurable settings, so it’s either
ON or OFF.
Auto Auto
Trapping Trapping
Disabled Enabled
130
Configurable Auto Trapping
▪ Configurable Auto Trapping is part of GAPE, and allows operators to configure
the parameters for trapping.
▪ They can adjust the width, colour and shape of the trapping, as well as the
types of objects to trap.
131
Configurable Auto Trapping
▪ An exaggerated comparison between no trap, auto trap and configurable auto
trap:
Configurable Auto
No Trapping Auto Trapping
Trapping
132
Optimize RGB Transparency
▪ Transparencies are not supported by
PostScript.
▪ Therefore, the Optimize RGB Transparency
feature flattens multiple overlapped RGB
transparencies in a PDF file into one CMYK
element during the processing of the PDF.
▪ This enhances the print quality of PDF files that
include overlapping RGB elements defined with
transparency, rendering and accurately printing
the resulting colours.
133
Lab – 6.3, 6.4, 6.5
• Rendering Intents
• ICC Profiles
• Spot Colours
134
EFI Image Viewer
135
EFI Image Viewer
▪ One of the best features on a Fiery controller is the EFI Image Viewer, allowing
operators to soft proof processed jobs, without having to print them.
136
EFI Image Viewer Features
▪ Colour modifications, using a colour wheel or curves, without the need for re-
processing jobs.
▪ Multi-page preview.
▪ Zoom in up to 3200 percent, at actual dot cell level.
▪ Review dot shapes, screen angles, trapping, etc.
▪ Object Inspector, indicating text, images and graphics in the processed job.
▪ Separations, allowing operators to visualize the 4 development stages.
▪ Export soft proof PDF.
137
EFI Image Viewer Interface
138
EFI Image Viewer Wiper and Color Adjust
Before Edits
Colour Edits
After Edits
139
EFI Image Viewer Object Inspector
Part of GAPE
140
EFI Image Viewer Revert
141
Preflight
142
Preflight
▪ The Preflight tools is part of GAPE.
▪ Operators can use this tool to check print jobs, prior to
printing, for potential printing problems.
143
Difference with Adobe Acrobat Preflight
▪ Adobe Acrobat also contains a preflight option, which has a lot
more functions.
Preflight in
▪ However, the Fiery preflight option can still be useful. Acrobat
▪ It can indicate missing spot colours, fonts and VDP resources
on the controller, which is something that the Adobe Preflight
tool cannot do.
144
Postflight
145
Postflight
▪ The Postflight tool is also part of GAPE, and analyses the colour spaces of
processed files.
▪ This may be useful for troubleshooting colours of a printed job.
146
Postflight Report
▪ The Postflight Report shows all colour spaces in a
colour-coded way.
– Cyan: CMYK colour space
– Orange: RGB colour space
– Indigo: CIEBased colour space
– Yellow: Spot colours
– Black: Device gray
147
Control Bar
148
Control Bar
▪ The Control Bar option is part of GAPE.
▪ It consists of a row of coloured patches, which can be measured with a
spectrophotometer.
▪ These measurements can be used to check:
– The colour stability within a long print run.
– The colour accuracy and stability against another printer.
– The colour accuracy and stability against a standard, for instance FOGRA51 or FOGRA39.
149
Create Control Bar
▪ Operators can create their own control bars in the Device center.
150
Use Control Bar
▪ The Control Bar can be selected in the
job properties.
▪ You can use the EFI Color Verifier
(part of the Color Profiler Suite) to
measure the control bar, to compare
different measurements, and to
compare measurements against a
standard.
151
Lab – 6.6, 6.7
• Preflight
• Control Bar
152
Chapter 5: Variable Data Printing (VDP)
153
Chapter Overview
Introduction to VDP
Fiery FreeForm 2
PPML
PDF/VT
154
Introduction to VDP
155
Introduction to VDP
▪ VDP or Variable Data Printing is the concept of merging static data with
variable data.
▪ The most basic form would be a mail merge, for instance with MS Word, where
all variable and static data is combined into a print file.
▪ Advantages of mail merge:
– No additional applications needed.
– Can be used with any kind of printer.
▪ Disadvantages of mail merge:
– The Word file can become extremely big, causing slow printing, network congestions, etc.
Printer language
156
Introduction to VDP
▪ Another method would be to send the static data, the master page(s), to the
controller first, and have it stored on the controller.
▪ When the VDP job is printed, the pages containing the variable elements are
combined with the static master page(s) (already ripped) on the controller.
▪ This saves RIP time, but also reduces the file size of the print job, since the
static data doesn’t have to be send over the network.
▪ An example of such a VDP solution is Fiery FreeForm, which is standard on
Fiery controllers.
157
Introduction to VDP
▪ A third method will combine the static and variable data into print files using
specialized software.
▪ This software will produce optimized print files that maximizes print speed, as
the static elements needs to be processed only once.
▪ These static elements are frequently accessed, so they are stored on the print
server and cached as a group.
▪ Examples of VDP software:
– EFI DirectSmile
– Marcom Central Fusion pro
– Objective Lune PrintShop Mail
– Objective Lune PlanetPress
– XMPie PersonalEffect
– Creo Darwin
158
VDP Technology
▪ There are many VDP technologies available for creating VDP output, each with
their strong and weak points.
– Standard PostScript
– Optimized PostScript
– PDF/VT
– Creo VPS
– AHT
– VIPP
– Fiery FreeForm
– Fiery FreeForm 2
– PPML
– And more ……
159
Fiery VDP Technology Support
▪ Fiery controllers running FS300 or higher support:
– Standard PostScript
– Optimized PostScript
– PDF/VT
– Creo VPS
– VIPP
– Fiery FreeForm
– Fiery FreeForm 2
– PPML
160
VDP Workflow
▪ The Fiery VDP workflow is very similar to non-VDP workflow, supports many
VDP languages, and supports all the Fiery features, including Impose.
161
VDP in Action
Printer
Output
162
VDP Resources
▪ Cached VDP elements are stored in the VDP Resources section in the Device
Centre, so they can be re-used when necessary.
▪ From here they can be archived and deleted.
163
Configure VDP
▪ Cached objects can also be stored on a
shared resource, allowing multiple
controllers to use the same cached
objects.
164
VDP Imposition
▪ VDP Imposition is very similar to non-
VDP imposition.
Switch wireframe /
preview
165
VDP Application: PrintShop Mail
▪ To create a VDP job, you need an
application that can create VDP.
▪ An example of such an application is
PrintShop Mail.
▪ It’s a very intuitive application that
supports a wide variety of VDP
technologies.
166
Fiery FreeForm 2
167
FreeForm
▪ FreeForm is an EFI solution for VDP printing, available on all Fiery controllers.
▪ It can be used with EFI utilities, such as Command WorkStation, Hot Folders,
Virtual Printers, and the Fiery PostScript Driver.
▪ Also some 3rd party applications support FreeForm.
168
Use FreeForm (1/3)
▪ FreeForm in its most basic way works like this:
l’essentiel
urbain
800 boulevard rene levesque
montreal, quebec
canada H3B 1D4
Susan Murphy
Senior Director, Marketing
HomeStuff
303 Velocity Way,
Foster City, CA 94404
USA
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consetetur sadipscing elitr, sed diam nonumy eirmod
tempot invividunt ut labore et dolore magna aliquyam erat, sed diam voluptua. At
vero eos et accusam et justo duo dolores et ea rebum. Stet clita kasd m dolor sit
amet. Lorem ipsum dolor site amiet, consetetur sadipscing elitr, sed nonmumy
eirmod tempor invidunt ut labore et dolore magna aliquyam erat, sed diam
voluptua.
Ut wisi emin ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit
lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis autem vel eum iriure dolor
in hendrerit in vulputate velit esse molestie consequat, vel illum dolore eu feugiat
nulla facilisis at vero eros et accumsan et justo odio dignissim qui blandit
praesant luptatum zzril delenit augue dolore te feugait nulla facilisi.
Sincerely,
Zoe Jones-White
Vice President, Sales
170
Use FreeForm (3/3)
End Result
l’essentiel
urbain
800 boulevard rene levesque
montreal, quebec
canada H3B 1D4
Susan Murphy
Senior Director, Marketing
HomeStuff
303 Velocity Way,
Foster City, CA 94404
USA
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consetetur sadipscing elitr, sed diam nonumy eirmod
tempot invividunt ut labore et dolore magna aliquyam erat, sed diam voluptua. At
vero eos et accusam et justo duo dolores et ea rebum. Stet clita kasd m dolor sit
amet. Lorem ipsum dolor site amiet, consetetur sadipscing elitr, sed nonmumy
eirmod tempor invidunt ut labore et dolore magna aliquyam erat, sed diam
voluptua.
Ut wisi emin ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit
lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis autem vel eum iriure dolor
in hendrerit in vulputate velit esse molestie consequat, vel illum dolore eu feugiat
nulla facilisis at vero eros et accumsan et justo odio dignissim qui blandit
praesant luptatum zzril delenit augue dolore te feugait nulla facilisi.
Sincerely,
Zoe Jones-White
Vice President, Sales
171
PPML
172
PPML
▪ PPML or Personalized Printing Markup Language is a device-independent XML
printing standard.
▪ It describes the entire personalized printing job and contains all the necessary
elements to print the content (layout and variable data).
▪ The PDF (static data) and PPML (variable data) are zipped before being sent to
the printer.
173
Print PPML
▪ When send to the controller, the controller will unzip the file and store the pdf
file in a processed format on its hard disk.
▪ Then it will combine the variable data (PPML) and the static data, and will print
the job.
PPML
PDF
174
PDF/VT
175
PDF/VT
▪ PDF/VT is based on PDF 1.6, and uses X-Objects as caching method.
▪ The Fiery controller will automatically recognize PDF/VT files.
▪ PDF/VT will behave the same as other VDP file formats with regards to
imposition, mixed-media, finishing, etc.
▪ PDF/VT is supported for both CPSI and APPE.
Resource Manager
PS Interpreter
APPE Interpreter
176
PDF/VT Import
▪ When a PDF/VT file is imported, automatically the records
information is retrieved and shown in Command
WorkStation.
▪ After processing, the cached elements are stored, and can
be viewed in the resource manager.
177
Preflight and PDF/VT
▪ Preflight can show the file type and any
missing resources.
178
Hot Folders and PDF/VT
▪ Hot Folders can be configured to accept
PDF/VT files.
179
Lab – 7
Variable Data Printing
180
Questions?
181
182