Mike Chaney's Tech Corner

Hi

I am a newbie as far as Qimage is concerned and would appreciate some help to define a workflow for printing using XPS 16bit printing on a 24inch roll on a Canon pro-2000. I have also only just acquired the Imagegraf Pro-2000 printer so I have much to learn!
here is my pre-print workflow:

Stage 1.
I prepare a series of images in Photoshop within an A3 canvas size and save each image in Please_Print directory. The images are finalised before saving.

Stage 2.
Using the PS place command I place the images in pairs and laying them in Photoshop onto an A2 canvas. Each pair of images is used to create a separate file.This file is saved in a Please_Print subdirectory named for the media to be used (e.g PS_Platinum_Baryta).

Stage 3.
When a sufficient number of images have been loaded into any of the media directories the next step is to load the chosen media into one of the two Media Roll holders (lets say) Roll 1.

Stage 4
The next step I presume would be to open all the files for printing in photoshop

What I do not understand is how to move on from this point. There does not seem to be a way of instructing Qimage that it is to use as much length of paper as is required and print each A2 file with the largest side across the width of the 24inch roll. I do not want any space between each of the A2 files. I am using the XPS driver and the files are all prepared with an imbedded prophoto profile ready to take full benefit from the XPS driver printing capability of the Canon Imagegraf pro-2000.

I will of course be using the profile I have created for the chosen media on my pro-2000.

Would anyone please be willing to help me manage this process. Most of the papers I use are quite expensive so I do not want to be wasting paper!

The first thing you have to do is define the "page" size in the 2000 driver.  Even when using a roll, the length must be defined; it cannot be undefined or "infinite".  So go to the "Printers and Settings" tab and click the "Properties" button to open the driver.  Then in the driver, choose your roll, your 24 inch width for the roll, and set the length to something like 18 inches so that it'll have enough roll length for the A2 turned landscape.  Of course, also set your paper type and quality as needed in the driver and turn color management off in the driver if you are using a profile: you can select the profile after going back to the main window (just click "Prtr Profile", "Choose new profile" and select your profile).  Before closing the driver though, I would also suggest clicking "Preview before printing" in the driver so you can preview it before committing it to print.  When you've made the settings, go back to the QU main window and look at the size of the printable area reported above the center section live view.  The printable area reported should be at least 23.4 inches wide and at least 16.5 inches long to accommodate an A2.

As long as you have enough printable area as above, you should be able to add your first print.  Highlight a thumbnail and then click on the "Prints" tab on the right and click "Original Size".  If you designed these at A2 size and you saved them in a format that can embed the size (like JPEG, TIFF, or PSD), that will give you an A2 print on the live view.

At this point you can click the print button, top right, and check out your print in the driver's preview to see if it looks OK before printing.

Regards,
Mike

Hi

Thanks v. much
There are two issues.;

1. I intend to do multiple A2s - but I now understand what you mean.
2. The XPS driver does not have a preview (canon do not have preview software for the XPS driver only for the standard driver) is there a preview available from nqimage?
So I want to use the layout facilities of qimage to make sure I can see how the images are to be printed! Have had terribel trouble printing from XPS driver - very difficult to stop it printing with the short side across the roll rather than the long!

So should I give a paper size to qimage of (23.4 x (nx16.5in)) +m where n=number of A2s amd m=margin of error. (I have replaced mm with imperial equivalents here)
Will this work or will qimage add a certain marging for each A2?

The lack of preview really does cause a problem.

No matter what I do I still get A2 images document printed the wrong way round using XPS but printing fine when using the standard driver.

I have tried talking to Canon and am waiting a response from them.


David