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Learning Preps 4.1Learning Preps 4.1


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Preps Learning Preps 4.1

Learning Preps 4.1

This manual is written and designed as an introduc-

tion to Preps for new users. It is a product of the

Technical Support and Training Department of

ScenicSoft, Inc.

For more information on anything related to Preps

training, please email: [email protected]

For general information about ScenicSoft or our

products, please email: [email protected]

If you need technical support information, and have a

current support contract, please email:

[email protected]. Please include your full

name, your company name, telephone number, andPreps hardware key (dongle) number.

Tech notes and additional support information can be

found on our Web site: http://www.scenicsoft.com

Publisher

ScenicSoft, Inc.

1133 - 164th Street SW

Lynnwood, WA 98037-8192

Tel: 425-355-6655

Fax: 425-355-6898

Email: [email protected]

Web: http://www.scenicsoft.com

No part of this manual may be reproduced in any

form or by any means without permission in writing

from the publisher.

Revision

Version 4.1, December 3, 2001

Copyright 2001 by ScenicSoft, Inc.

Lynnwood, Washington, USA. All rights reserved.

Preps is a trademark of ScenicSoft, Inc. All other

products and company names are trademarks or

registered trademarks of their respective holders.


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Table of Contents Learning Preps 4.1

Table of Contents

LEARNING PREPS 4.1

Step-by-Step Guide to Using Preps A Checklist of Basic Steps

Setting Up Preps

Device Setup ......................................................................................... iiFont Setup ............................................................................................. iiOPI Setup.............................................................................................. ii

Working with Preps

Building a Template.............................................................................. iiCreating a New Job.............................................................................. iiiPrinting ................................................................................................ iii

Chapter 1: Working With Jobs

Creating a Basic Preps Job

Overview............................................................................................... 2Saving Window Positions ..................................................................... 2Adding Source Files to a Job ................................................................ 2Adding Pages to the Run List ............................................................... 3Saving and Naming a Job ..................................................................... 3

Modifying a Preps Job

Selecting Page Ranges .......................................................................... 4Deleting Source Files............................................................................ 4

Deleting Pages from the Run List......................................................... 4Moving Pages in the Run List .............................................................. 4Editing the Run List.............................................................................. 4

Selecting a Signature Template

Overview............................................................................................... 5\Adding Signatures to a Job.................................................................. 5Selecting Signatures ............................................................................. 6Modifying Selected Signatures............................................................. 6

Chapter 2: Working with Placeholders

Using Placeholders in a Preps Job

Overview............................................................................................... 8

Adding a Placeholder to Preps Job ....................................................... 8Editing a Placeholder............................................................................ 8Replacing a Placeholder ....................................................................... 8Splitting a Placeholder.......................................................................... 9Converting a Source File to a Placeholder............................................ 9


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Chapter 3: Configuring Preps

Configuring Devices

Overview............................................................................................. 12Device Setup ....................................................................................... 12

Adding a Device ................................................................................ 12Removing a Device............................................................................. 13Device Configuration.......................................................................... 13Connection .......................................................................................... 15Error Log ............................................................................................ 16Fonts ................................................................................................... 16Job Log ............................................................................................... 16Media .................................................................................................. 16Custom Page Size ............................................................................... 17Punch .................................................................................................. 18

Preferences

Overview............................................................................................. 18General Tab ......................................................................................... 18Input Options ...................................................................................... 19Output Options ................................................................................... 20Folders Tab ......................................................................................... 21PDF Tab .............................................................................................. 22Font Processing Tab ............................................................................ 22

Chapter 4: Templates

Template Basics

Overview............................................................................................. 24Creating a New Template ................................................................... 26

Exercise .............................................................................................. 26Naming a Template............................................................................. 26Selecting a Binding Style ................................................................... 27Adding a Signature ............................................................................. 28Creating an Imposition ....................................................................... 29Page Numbering ................................................................................. 30Adjusting Margins and Gutters........................................................... 31Saving a Template............................................................................... 32Adding Another Signature .................................................................. 32Independent Pages .............................................................................. 35Nesting................................................................................................ 36Layering.............................................................................................. 36

Chapter 5: Marks

Page Marks

Overview............................................................................................. 38Adding Crop Marks to Template Pages .............................................. 38Deleting Crop Marks .......................................................................... 38Fold Marks.......................................................................................... 39


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Table of Contents Learning Preps 4.1

Press Sheet Marks

Overview............................................................................................. 39

Signature/Template Marks

Overview............................................................................................. 40

Mark Position ..................................................................................... 40Mark Types ......................................................................................... 40Cutting, Copying, and Pasting Marks................................................. 42Stepping and Repeating Marks........................................................... 42Single and Repeating Marks ............................................................... 43Color Options for Marks..................................................................... 45Adding Custom Marks ....................................................................... 45Text Marks .......................................................................................... 46

Chapter 6: Previewer

Previewing Preps Jobs

Overview............................................................................................. 50

Zooming ............................................................................................. 50Color Previewing ................................................................................ 51Color Set-up........................................................................................ 51Show Trim Box................................................................................... 52Process OPI ........................................................................................ 52Using Rulers and Guides .................................................................... 52

Chapter 7: Page Adjustments

Page Offsets

Overview............................................................................................. 54Adjusting Page Positions in the Previewer ......................................... 54Adjusting Page Positions Without Using the Previewer..................... 55

Ignoring a Source Files Bounding Box ............................................. 57Scaling

Scaling Run List Pages ....................................................................... 58

Rotation

Applying Rotation to Run List Pages ................................................. 59

Chapter 8: Fitting & Tiling

Fitting

Overview............................................................................................. 62Fitting Options .................................................................................... 62

Tiling

Overview............................................................................................. 63Automatic Tiling................................................................................. 63Tiling Options ..................................................................................... 63Tiling Dimensions .............................................................................. 65Display Tiles Tool ............................................................................... 65


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Chapter 9: Printing

Printing

Overview............................................................................................. 68Output Options ................................................................................... 68

Print Settings ...................................................................................... 70General Tab

Overview............................................................................................. 72Specify Print Range ............................................................................ 72Output Format..................................................................................... 72Imaging Options ................................................................................. 74Halftone Screening ............................................................................. 75

Color Separations Tab

Overview............................................................................................. 76Colors ................................................................................................. 76Build ................................................................................................... 76

Output As ............................................................................................ 76Overprint/Knockout ............................................................................ 77Line Screen and Screen Angle ............................................................ 77Add Color ........................................................................................... 77Halftone Settings Spot Shape .......................................................... 77

Level 2 Options

Overview............................................................................................. 78Color Separations ............................................................................... 78

Chapter 10: Native PDF WorkflowOverview............................................................................................ 80

Exercise .............................................................................................. 80Creating a Native PDF Job ................................................................. 80Template Marks ................................................................................. 81Exporting PDF Jobs ............................................................................ 82

Exercises

Learning Preps 4.1

Overview............................................................................................. 84Building a Job ..................................................................................... 85Using Placeholders in a Job ................................................................ 87Creating a Template ............................................................................ 88

Using Page Adjustments ..................................................................... 89


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Preps 4.1STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE TO

USING PREPS

Setting Up Preps

Device Setup

Font Setup

OPI Setup

Working With Preps

Building a Template

Creating a New Job

Printing


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BASIC STEPS IN PREPS

This is intended to be a simple checklist of things you

need to do when you are working in Preps. For specific

instructions on how to perform these steps, please refer

to the User Guide.

SETTING UP PREPS

Device Setup

I Copy the PPD for your output device(s) into the

Preps 4.1:Printers:ppd folder. The name must

contain no special characters and must end in .ppd.

I From the Setup menu, select Device Setup.

I In the Device Setup dialog box, select Add Device.In the Add Device dialog box, select a Device Type

from the list and type a Nickname.

I In the Device Configuration dialog box, select a

Page Size. (Note: If there is not a fixed page size that

suits your needs, see the instructions for creating a

custom page size in the User Guide.)

I Select a Resolution, Line Screen, Screen Angle,and

Halftone Spot Shape. (Some RIPs may override the

specified options. Line Screen and Screen Angle

apply to composite output out of Preps. If you printcolor separations, you can change the line screen and

screen angle in the Color Separations dialog box.)

I ClickConnection.

I In the Connection dialog box, select your output de-

vice, then clickOK.

I In the Device Configuration dialog box and the

Device Setup dialog box, clickOK.

WORKING WITH PREPS

Font Setup

I From the Edit menu, select User Preferences.

I Select the Font Processing option you want to use.

I If necessary, create Font Locations in either the Font

Setup or Job Font Setup dialog windows.

OPI Setup (Preps Pro and Preps XL only)

If you are using Preps OPI handling:

I From the Setup menu, select OPI Processing.

I In the OPI Processing dialog box, clickImage Loca-

tions.I In the Image Locations dialog box, clickAdd Location.

I Navigate to the location of the images you want to

use and click the Select button.

I In the Image Locations dialog box and the OPI

Processing dialog box, clickOK.

Building a Template

I From the File menu, select New Template.

I Type a name for the template and select a Binding Style.

I In the Add Signature dialog box, type a name for the

Signature, select a Work Style, and type numbers for

the press sheet Width and Height, Position of Side

Guides, and Length of Center Marks. In the From

list, select the side to measure from for the side guides.

Then clickOK.

I From the Template menu, select Create Imposition.

I In the Create Imposition dialog box under Finished

Page Size, type numbers for the Width and Height.

I Under Number of Imposed Pages, type the number

ofHorizontal and Vertical pages in the imposition.

I Under Page Orientation, select the direction the

Lower Left Pages Head Faces and the direction to

Layout Additional Pages.

ii


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Learning Preps 4.1 Step-by-Step Guide to Using Preps

I Under Distance from Press Sheet Edge to Imposi-

tion,select the appropriate option. If you want to

measure to the Bottom Margin or Left Margin, type

the distance.

I ClickOK.

I In the Template window, set up the gutters and

margins. Click on the gutter or margin you want to

modify, then from the Edit menu, select Get Infor-

mation.

I If you want to use independent pages, from the

Template menu select Add Independent Page to

open the Add Template Page dialog box. Type the

appropriate numbers in the boxes, then clickOK.

I Use the Page Numbering tool to number the

template pages. (Note: Remember, this is the order in

which the pages from the run list flow through the

template. Start each signature with the number 1.)

I From the Template menu, select Add Template Mark

to open the Add Template Mark dialog box, where

you can add the template marks you want to use.

I Select the template pages. From the Template menu,

select Modify Template Page,then select Add Crop

Marks.

I From the File menu, select Save Template As.

I Name the template, then clickSave (OK on Win-

dows). (Note: Remember, Preps cannot use a

template with a job unless it is located in the Tem-

plates folder.)

i

Creating a New Job

I From the File menu, select New Job.

I In the File List window, clickAdd Files.

I Navigate to the source files you want to use and addthem to the list. Then clickOK.

I Or, drag and drop files into the File List.

I Drag your pages/files from the File List window to the

Run List window, in the order of the final printed piece.

I In the Signature List window, click the Signatures

button.

I In the Select Signatures dialog box, select the

Binding Style for the job.

I In the Template list and Signature list, select the tem-

plate and signature you want to use.

I ClickAuto Select or Add according to your require-

ments.

I ClickOK.

Printing

I From the File menu, clickFitting/Tiling Setup.

I In the Fitting/Tiling Setup dialog box, select thefitting or tiling options you want to use, then click

OK.

I From the File menu, select Print.

I Select the print options you want to use, then click

Print.

I If you selected the Color Separations check box, the

Color Separations dialog box opens. Select your

options, then clickPrint.


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Chapter 1WORKING

WITH JOBS

Creating a Basic Preps Job

Overview

Saving Window Positions

Adding Source Files to a Job

Adding Pages to the Run List Different Options

Modifying a Preps Job

Selecting Page Ranges

Deleting Source Files

Deleting Pages from the Run List

Cutting, Copying, and PastingPages in the Run List

Selecting a Signature Template

Overview

Adding Signatures to a Job

Selecting Signatures

ModifyingSelected Signatures


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PrepsLearning Preps 4.1

2SCENICSOFT

CREATING A BASIC PREPS JOB

Overview

Preps accepts PostScript, EPS, TIFF, DCS,

and PDF source files from more than 120applications. Preps Pro and Preps XL for Windows

accept Xerox RDO files, and Preps Pro and Preps

Plus for Windows accept Delta List files. You can

mix any combination of these files within a job.

There are two choices for working with jobs in Preps:

mixed source files with PostScript output, or PDF

source files with PDF output. When you create a new

Preps job, you choose which workflow you want to use.

When you create a Prepsjob, three empty jobwindows display on screen. They are:

File List window

Run List window

Signature List window

When you add source files to a Prepsjob, these job

windows contain information about the source files,

the source file pages, and the selected layout.

Saving Window Positions

You can customize your job window sizesand positions, and save them as the default.

Adding Source Files to a Job

There are three ways to add files to the

File List:

ClickAdd Filesin the File List window

From the Job menu, select Add Files

Drag and drop files from the Macintosh

Finder or Windows Explorer into the

File List

Information about the source file appears in

the File List window. The file name displays,

as well as the number of pages in the file and

the page size. Icons representing each page in

a source file appear on the right side of the

File List window.


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Chapter 1 Working with Jobs

SCENICSOFT 3

Adding Pages to the Run List Different

Options

There are three ways to add pages to the Run List:

Check the Add all pages to Run List box when

you add source files to the File List using the AddFiles button

Drag and drop files or pages from the File List to

the Run List

Drag and drop files files from the Macintosh

Finder or Windows Explorer into the Run List; if

the file is not already present in the File List, it

automatically appears there

Adding Blank Pages to the Run List

You can add single or multiple blank pages to

a jobs Run List:Drag the Blank page icon to the position where

you want to add the blank page.

To add multiple blank pages, hold down the

Shift key as you click the Blank page icon

and drag it to the Run List. The Add Blank

Pages dialog appears. Type the number of

blank pages you want to add, then clickOK.

Saving and Naming a Job

To save a Prepsjob:

From the File menu, select Save Job or Save Job As.Type the name for this job and select the location

where you want to save it.

ClickSave.

Once you have saved and named a Preps job:

It can be stored anywhere on your system

It is portable between Windows and Macintosh

It references all PostScript files used


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MODIFYING A PREPS JOB

Selecting Page Ranges

Select page ranges in either the File List or Run List

by choosing Select Page Range under the Editmenu.

Deleting Source Files

To delete a source file from the File List:

Select the file and press the Delete key.

Preps displays a message to confirm that the file is

to be deleted. When a source file is deleted from

the File List, its pages are also deleted from the

Run List.

Deleting Pages from the Run ListTo delete Run List pages:

Select the page(s) and press the Delete key.

Deleting pages from the Run List does not delete

pages or files from the File List.

Moving Pages in the Run List

You can move pages in the Run List by dragging and

dropping them to new positions, or by cutting or

copying, and pasting them.

Editing the Run ListYou can move pages in the Run List by dragging and

dropping them to new positions, or by cutting or

copying, and pasting them. You can create a copy of a

Run List page by holding down the Option key while

dragging and dropping the page to a different position.

You can replace pages in the Run List by dragging the

new page from the File List (or the Finder or Explorer)

and dropping it onto the page you wish to replace.


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SCENICSOFT 5

SELECTING A SIGNATURE TEMPLATE

Overview

Once pages are in the Run List, the next step is

to select a template to produce imposedoutput. Preps then flows the Run List pages

through the signatures in a template.

Preps ships with a number of templates that

contain commonly used layouts for different

binding styles.

Adding Signatures to a Job

To add signatures to a job:

In the Signature List window, click

Signatures.Select the Binding Style from the list.

There are five binding styles in Preps:

Saddle-stitched

Perfect Bound

Come n Go

Cut and Stack

Flat Work

The binding style determines the order in which the

job pages flow through the template signature. Once

a binding style is selected, templates created with that

style are available for selection in the Templateswindow. (More information about binding styles is in

Chapter 4, Templates.)


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Selecting Signatures

Templates may contain more than one signa-

ture. There are two ways to select signatures.

Automatically Selecting SignaturesTo add a signature(s) automatically:

ClickAuto Select.

Prepsautomatically flows the job pages

through the largest signature available until

there are no longer enough pages to fill it.

Prepsthen uses the partial signature

that most closely matches the number of

remaining job pages, and adds blank pages to

the end of the job to fill the signature.

Manually Selecting Signatures

To add a signature manually:

Select the template and signature you want to add.

ClickAdd.

There is no limit to the number of signatures

you can add.

Modifying Selected Signatures

Moving Signatures Up and Down

Once you have selected the signatures you want

to use, you can change their positions withinthe job.

To move signatures:

Select the signature to be moved.

ClickMove Up or Move Down.

Deleting Signatures

To remove selected signatures from the job:

Select the signature to be deleted.

ClickDelete.


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Chapter 2WORKING

WITH PLACEHOLDERS

Using Placeholders in a Preps Job

Overview

Adding Placeholders to a Job

Editing a Placeholder

Replacing Placeholderswith Source Files

Splitting a Placeholder

Converting a Source Fileto a Placeholder


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USING PLACEHOLDERS IN A PREPS JOB

Overview

Placeholders are useful for setting up a job

before all the source files are available. Youadd a placeholder to the File List, give it a name and

page count, and add it to the File List and Run List.

You replace the placeholder with the actual source

file when it becomes available.

Adding a Placeholder to a Preps Job

To add a placeholder to a job:

Drag the Placeholder icon into the File

List. Or, from the Job menu, select Add

Placeholder. The Placeholder Informa-

tion dialog box opens.Type a name for the placeholder. If you do

not know the exact name of the source file,

you can type any descriptive name, or use

the default name ofPlaceholder 1.

Enter the page count.

If you want to add pages to the Run List

automatically, select the Add all pages to

run list check box.

ClickOK.

Editing a PlaceholderYou can change the name of the placeholder or the

page count at any time.

To edit the placeholder:

In the File List, select the Placeholder icon.

From the Edit menu, select Get Information.

Type the desired changes, then clickOK.

Replacing a Placeholder with a Source File

When the actual source file becomes available, you

can easily replace the placeholder.In the File List, select the Placeholder.

From the Job menu, select Replace Placeholder.

Navigate to the source file, select it, then click

OK.


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Chapter 2Working with Placeholders

Different Page Count in Placeholders and

Source Files

If the source file contains more pages than you

entered for the page count of the placeholder, a

warning dialog appears. You have the option ofadding the extra pages to the Run List after the last

page of the placeholder, not adding them to the Run

List, or canceling.

If the source file contains fewer pages than you

entered for the page count of the placeholder, a

warning dialog appears. You have the option of

removing the extra pages from the Run List, splitting

the placeholder (which creates a new placeholder for

the missing pages), or canceling.

Splitting a Placeholder

To split a placeholder into two smaller placeholders:

In the File List, select the Placeholder.

From the Job menu, select Split Placeholder. The

Split Placeholder window appears.

Enter the page count for the first placeholder. The

second placeholder will contain the remaining pages.

ClickOK.

Converting a Source File to a Placeholder

To convert a source file into a placeholder:In the File List, select the source file.

From the Job menu, select Convert to Placeholder.


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Chapter 3

CONFIGURING PREPS

Configuring Devices

Overview

Device Setup

Adding a Device

Removing a Device

Device Configuration

Connection

Error Log

Fonts

Job Log

Media

Custom Page Size

Punch

Preferences

General Tab

Input Options

Output Options

Folders Tab

PDF Tab

Font Processing Tab


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Chapter 3Configuring Preps

Removing a Device

In the Device Setup dialog box, select

the device, then clickRemove Device.

Device ConfigurationWhen you add an output device, the

Device Configuration dialog box

automatically displays.

Output device options include the page

size, resolution, line screen, halftone spot

shape, and screen angle.

Information about the available options

is contained in the PPD or PPX files for the output

device. The default configuration options also arespecified in these PPD and/or PPX files.

You may change the configuration of an output

device at any time.

Page Size

The Page Size list displays the page sizes supported

by the output device you are configuring.

Alignment

Changing the coordinates in the Alignment fieldsmoves the image data within the imageable area defined

by the page size. Do not use Alignment in conjunction

with Punch Coordinates because they will conflict.

Punch Coordinates

If the output device has a center punch, the horizontal

and vertical coordinates (relative to the current

PostScript origin) display for the location of the

physical punch on the currently selected Page Size. If

no punch coordinates have been specified for the

selected page size, nothing displays in this area of thedialog box.


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Resolution

The Resolution list displays the resolutions

supported by the selected output device.

Line ScreenThe manufacturer-recommended line

screens for the output device are listed,

but you also may specify other line-screen

values. The lines-per-inch (lpi) value sets

the line screen for halftones and color

composite, or unseparated, output.

This halftone screen value is used in

conjunction with the Override Line

Screen option in the Print dialog box. The line screen

specified here also is used as the default line screen forspot colors, unless overridden by values in the PPD

Screen Angle

The manufacturer-recommended screen angles for the

selected output device are listed. The screen-angle

value specified here is used for composite output and

for spot colors, unless overridden by values in the

PPD. Screen settings include line screens and angles

for spot colors.

Halftone Spot ShapeYou can select the halftone spot shape that will be

used when you print using this output device. The

halftone spot shape is used in conjunction with the

Override Halftone Spot Shape options in the Print

dialog box. The Halftone Spot Shape you select here

is used when you print composite output. You select

the spot shape for separated output in the Print

dialog box.

OPI Images as

If your job contains OPI-linked TIFF files and PrepsPro or Preps XL is doing the image replacement, you

can print composite output on a color output device

as either Color or Gray Scale. The type of output

you print is generally decided on a per-job basis.

Printing grayscale composite output on a color output

device is useful for quickly proofing a job.


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SCENICSOFT 15


Connection

Port (Zone)/Printer Dialog Boxes

To establish a connection to the printer:

In the Device Configuration dialog box, click

Connection.In Windows, in the Select Printer window,

select the output device you want to connect.

On the Macintosh, select an Apple Talk Zone,

then select a printer that is resident in that zone.

Wait for PostScript RIP to Finish Processing

This check box is available only for connections with

back-channel communication capabilities. Back-

channel communication allows the printer to send

error messages back to the Preps Status window.

Selecting this box ensures that you receive all errormessages. However, this also means that Preps

maintains the connection with the printer until the RIP

has finished processing the job, preventing any further

activity on the workstation. If the output device is

connected through a print spooler, this box should

never be checked. Back-channel communication is not

available on Windows.

Test Print

In order to produce output, a connection between

Preps and the currently selected output device must beestablished. You can confirm the connection by

printing a test page.

Device Information

If you have a back-channel connection, you can verify

that your connection has been established by request-

ing status information from the output device.


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16SCENICSOFT


Error Log

The Error Log lists PostScript errors on

Preps jobs for each device you have

configured. You cannot print the Error

Log from Preps; however, it can be openedand printed using a text editor. It is called

errors.txt and is located in the devices

folder in the Preps 4.1:Printers:(device

nickname) folder.

Fonts

This window lists the fonts that are

resident on your output device as defined

in the PPD.

To add fonts to the list:

Select the font from the list.ClickAdd Font.

Job Log

The Job Log lists Preps output jobs for each device

you have configured. You cannot print the Job Log

from Preps; however, it can be opened and printed

using a text editor. The job log file is called log.txt

and is located in the Preps:Printers:(device nick-

name) folder.

MediaIf the device is a fixed-sheet printer, you can specify

the input and output trays by clicking Media. The

Fixed Sheet Device window gives you choices for

input tray and output tray. Not all fixed-sheet devices

provide a list of output trays.


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SCENICSOFT 17


Custom Page Size

Sometimes the standard page sizes that

are defined in the PPD do not suit your

needs. This option allows you to add

custom page sizes for your device, andedit the custom sizes you create.

To create a new page size for a device:

From the Setup menu, select Device

Setup.

Select the output device in the Device

Setup dialog box.

ClickDevice Configuration.

In the Device Configuration window,

clickCustom Size.

The Edit Page Size dialog box opens. ClickAdd.Enter a name for the new page size and type in the

Width and Height you require. Do not use spaces

or special characters.

The Orientation list determines the orientation of

your new page size. To make sure you have the

correct orientation for your new page size, you will

need to print a mock-up of a press sheet that will fit

on the custom page size in one direction only (see

Chapter 9, Printing). We recommend that you start

with orientation 0; each of the available orientations

represents a 90-degree rotation.ClickOK.

To edit or delete custom page sizes you have created,

clickEdit or Delete in the Edit Page Size dialog box.


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Punch

Punch coordinates are used to precisely position the

selected page size on the output media when printing

from Preps. Some pre-defined page sizes already

have punch coordinates. For those that do not, and forany custom page sizes you create, you can add punch

coordinates. Even if your output device does not have

a punch, you may want to use punch coordinates to

precisely position your Preps output.

PREFERENCES

Overview

You access the Preferences from the Edit

menu. In the Preferences dialog box, you

select options for: General settings, such as workflow, measurement units,

language, input file handling, and output options

Folder locations

PDF handling

Font processing

General Tab

Default Workflow

You select either Mixed Files ->

PostScript or PDF -> PDF (PDF native)

for the default workflow that is usedwhen you create a new job using key-

board shortcuts (Command + N on

Macintosh and Control + N on Windows).

Measurement Unit

The default measurement unit is set to

decimal inches.

Picas and points are based on the Adobe

PostScript standard 1 inch = 72 points

(1 mm = 2.835 points), rather than thetraditional 1 inch = 72.31 points

(1 mm = 2.847 points).

The dimensions of fractional inches display as

fractional inches if they are an exact multiple of 1/32

of an inch. Otherwise, they display as decimal inches.


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SCENICSOFT 19


For example:

228p0 (picas and points)

38.125 in (decimal inches)

96.52 cm (centimeters)

965.2 mm (millimeters) 2745 pt (points)

228.75 pi (picas)

38+1/8 in (fractional inches)

Language

Preps can be used in English, German,

French, and Spanish.

Select a language from the list, then

clickOK. Restart Prepsfor the

language change to take effect.

Input Options

Autoreverse backward page order

You may encounter a source file that

contains pages in reverse numerical order.

When this box is checked, Preps changes

the order of pages whenever it encounters

the tag that indicates descending page

order.

Use index files (.PSI files)

Prepsreloads large PostScript source files faster byusing index files. Index files are created after Preps has

read the source file and contain only the information

Preps needs to load the file. The next time you open

the job containing the same, unchanged source file,

Preps reads the index file rather than the source file.

Tech Tip

Preps gives you the flexibility to type whatever

measurement unit you prefer, automatically

converting it to the default measurement unit

set in your preferences.


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20SCENICSOFT


Report modified source files

If this check box is selected, Preps displays a

message notifying you that the source file used in

this job has been changed since the last time the

job was saved. Changes to a source file may makeit necessary to modify the jobs Run List.

Ignore bounding box as default

Sometimes the bounding box defines the element

on the page rather than the trim size of the page

itself. When Ignore bounding box as default is

checked, Preps places all pages that are brought

into Preps in the same relative position to the 0,0

point as it appears in the document, rather than

using the bounding box to determine placement.

Autocenter run list pages

Some input files are positioned incorrectly when they

are added to a Preps job. For example, Rampage

FPOs typically require page offsets of about half an

inch. This option automatically centers all pages that

you add to the Run List in a Preps job.

Add pad pages for missing pages

When you print selected pages from a document to a

PostScript or PDF file, the other pages in the docu-

ment are omitted. By default, when you add the fileto a Preps job, Preps adds pad pages to replace the

missing pages. This is useful when creating layering

jobs (digital double burns).

Output Options

Display punch mark

The punch mark is used to accurately position Preps

output on the selected page (media) size. If you do

not want this mark to print, de-select this check box.

This mark always displays in the template editor.

Print side center marks

Preps automatically places center marks at the top

and bottom of the press sheet. To print center marks

on the sides of the press sheet, select this check box.

Ignore split file output errors

When this option is selected and Preps is printing


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SCENICSOFT 2


divided output (signatures, sides, etc.), if a PostScript

error occurs in one of the parts of the job, you have the

option to continue printing the subsequent parts. If this

option is de-selected, the remaining parts do not print.

Print crop marks for bleed bounds

This option causes Preps to print crop marks that

indicate the bleed margin.

Image by template page number

The default setting is for this option to be de-

selected. This creates the smallest possible file size

output by optimizing processing of the input files. In

order to use layering, you must select this option; this

causes Preps to image the pages in the order in which

they appear on the template. (See the User Guide formore information on layering.)

Folders TabYou can specify or change the location

of several folders that Preps uses:

Temporary files

Templates and marks

Output path

Web growth compensation sets

To set up or change folder locations:

ClickSelect for the folder location

you wish to modify.

Navigate to the location you wish to

use. If you want to create a new

folder, clickNew; name the folder,

then clickOK.

When you have selected the folder you

wish to use, clickSelect.

Temporary Folder Location

On Macintosh, the temporary files that Preps creates

are stored in the invisible Temporary Items folder.

The operating system automatically empties this

folder whenever the computer is shut down or

restarted. On Windows, Preps uses the PrepsTemp

folder that is stored within a single, system-wide

temporary folder called Temp that cannot be changed.


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22SCENICSOFT


Templates and Marks Folder

Templates can be stored in a central

location, such as a server, so they may be

accessed from several workstations. The

Templates and Marks folders must

be located in the same parent folder. For

example, the Templates folder cannot

be located on a server with the Marks

folder located on a local hard drive.

When a location is selected for the

Templates and Marks folders,

subfolders are automatically created for

both the templates and marks. Move the

templates and marks to be used with

Preps into their respective folders.

Output Path

This establishes the default location for

printing from Preps to a PostScript file.

Compensation Sets Path

In Preps Pro, you have the option of using web

growth compensation. You select a location for

storing the compensation sets. If you are running

multiple copies of Preps, you may wish to store the

compensation sets on a server that is accessible to all

Preps workstations.

PDF Tab

When working in a mixed files

workflow, PDF source files must be

converted to PostScript. You can use

either the internal converter or Adobe

Acrobat to do this conversion. If you use

Acrobat, you must install an Acrobat

plug-in and select the location. (For

information on the PDF-in/PDF-out

workflow, see the Preps User Guide.)

Font Processing Tab

You configure font-processing options

in this section of the Preferences. (See

the Preps User Guide for more informa-

tion on fonts.)


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Chapter 4

TEMPLATES

Template Basics

Overview

Creating a New Template

Naming and Saving a Template

Selecting a Binding Style

Adding a Signature

Work Styles

Creating an Imposition

Page Numbering

Adjusting Margins and Gutters

Adding Crop Marks

Saving a Template

Adding Another Signature

Independent Pages

Nesting

Layering


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24SCENICSOFT


TEMPLATE BASICS

Overview

Templates are the layout masters that are

used in conjunction with jobs to produceimposed output that can be printed. The template

pages on a press sheet provide a pattern, or frame-

work, into which job pages are flowed. Templates

ensure that when the job is printed, the pages are

positioned correctly.

Preps ships with a number of templates that contain

commonly used layouts for different binding styles.

If a template with the appropriate specifications

already exists, Prepscan quickly flow the job pages

through it.

Parts of a Template

Preps templates are based on a specific binding style

and may contain:

Press sheets

Signatures

Template pages

Template marks

Gutters

Basic Rules of a Template A template is not limited

to any specific job

A template can be used

repeatedly, for multiple

jobs, regardless of the

number of pages

Templates are Based On

Printing device/press

Binding style

Finished page trim size Work style

Template Page

Signature

Gutter Press Sheet

Template Marks

FRONT

BACK

Punch AlignmentLocation

Center Mark

Margin

Head of Page

Side GuideFold Mark

Template Page


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SCENICSOFT25

Chapter 4Templates

Template Tool Palette

When a template is created or opened, Preps displays

the Template Tool Palette. These tools are used to

view, create, and edit templates.

Select Object: Use this tool to select objects in thetemplate editor.

Fit in Window: Use this tool to fit the entire

template in window.

Show/Hide Pages: Toggle this tool to show or hide

the pages on the imposition.

Zoom Twice (Macintosh only): Zoom in at 2X the

current magnification.

Zoom: Marquee or click on the template to zoom in.

Show/Hide Marks: Toggle this tool to show or hide

template marks.

Fit Press Sheet in Window: Use this tool to fit theselected press sheet in window.

Last View: Toggle this tool to switch between the

two most recent views of the template.

Show/Hide Gutters: Toggle this tool to show or

hide the gutters on the template.

Page Numbering: Use this tool to determine the

order in which pages flow through the template.

Show/Hide Grid: Toggle this tool to show or hide

the grid.

Show/Hide Tiles: Toggle this tool to show or hide

the tiles. Grabber (Windows only): Use this tool to scroll

around the template.

Template Menu

When a template is opened or created, Preps adds a

Template menu to the menu bar. The commands on

this menu are used to add information to templates

and adjust the way they display on the screen.

Select Object

Fit in Window

Show/Hide Pages

Zoom Twice (Macintosh only)

Zoom

Show/Hide Marks

Fit Press Sheet in Window

Last View

Show/Hide Gutters

Page Numbering

Show/Hide Grid

Show/Hide Tiles

Grabber (Windows only)

Macintosh WindowsTool Palette Tool Palette


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SCENICSOFT27

Chapter 4Templates

Selecting a Binding Style

The binding style determines the order in which job

pages are flowed through the template. When Auto

Select is used, Preps flows pages in the Run List

through the largest signature in the template. If therearent enough Run List pages remaining to complete

another full signature and partial signatures exist in

that template, Preps flows the remaining pages

through the signature that most closely matches the

number of remaining pages. Prepsadds blank pages

if there are not enough pages to fill the last signature.

The binding style also determines how automatic

shingling is applied to jobs based on the template.

Learning Preps 4.1 focuses only on the saddle-

stitched and perfect-bound binding styles.

Saddle Stitched

When a job is based on a saddle-stitched template,

Preps flows equal numbers of pages from the

beginning and from the end of the Run List through

each signature in the job.

For example, in a saddle-stitched template with a 32-

page signature, Preps flows the first 16 pages and the

last 16 pages of the Run List through the signature.

Perfect Bound

When a job is based on a perfect-bound

template, the Run List pages flow through the

signature in the order in which they appear in

the Run List.

From the Binding Style list, select Saddle-

Stitched. Leave the Partial Signature

Placement at its default settings.

ClickOK.

Perfect-bound Binding Style

Saddle-stitched Binding Style


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28SCENICSOFT


Adding a Signature

The Add Signature dialog box opens. Prepsasks for

information about the first signature.

In the Signature Name field, type 16-pageSheetwise.

Leave the check boxes for Make Signature

Available for Auto Select and Multiple

Web Signature at their defaults.

Do not select the Multiple Sections check

box. Multiple sections are considered to be

an advanced-user option and are not

covered inLearning Preps 4.1. For infor-

mation on multiple sections, see the User

Guide.

In the Press Sheet Information area, fromthe Work Style list, select Sheetwise.For a

definition of the different work styles, see the

box at right.

The Press Sheetsize is 38" x 25". Accept the

default Width and Height of38 in by 25 in.

Note: Preps always places the gripper edge at the

bottom of the computer screen.

The Distance from Press Sheet Edge to Punch

Center refers to the set back or plate bend.This value is dependent on the press on which the

job will be printed. For this exercise, leave this

number at 0.

Leave the Position of Side Guides and Length of

Center Marks at their defaults.

ClickOK.

Work StylesThere are five work styles available in Preps. The work style depends on how

the job will be run on the press.

SheetwiseSheetwise is one of the most commonly used styles. Different plates are used

to print the front and back of the press sheet. The paper is run through a press

that prints on one side of the sheet. The first plate is used to print the front

side of the press sheet. The paper is then turned over and run through the

press again. The second plate is used to print the back side of the press sheet.

Some presses accomplish a sheetwise work style by simply printing both

sides at the same time with different plates.

Work-and-TurnFor a work-and-turn work style, both sides of the imposition are on the same

plate. Work-and-turn jobs are laid out so that they use the same gripper edge

and the opposite side guide for positioning the back and side guides of the

press sheet. After the first side is printed, the sheet is turned over from left to

right so that the second side can be printed. After printing, the sheet is cut in

half before finishing.

Work-and-TumbleFor a work-and-tumble work style, both sides of the imposition are on the

same plate. After the first side is printed, the sheet is turned over from gripper

edge to tail edge so the second side can be printed. The side guide remains the

same. After printing, the sheet is cut in half before finishing.

PerfectorThe perfector work style is used for a sheet-fed perfector press. The back side

of the press sheet is rotated 180 degrees and is imaged with the tail of the

press sheet facing the gripper.

Single-SidedFor a single-sided work style, the press sheet has only a front side. This work

style is commonly used for posters and other single-sided pieces.


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SCENICSOFT29

Chapter 4Templates

The first signature appears on the

computer screen. The solid black line

(green on Windows) represents the

signature. The dotted lines represent each

side of the press sheet.

Remember that only the front side of the

press sheet has to be defined; Preps

automatically defines the back side.

Creating an Imposition

Now add pages to create the imposition.

From the Templatemenu, select Create

Imposition.

In the Finished Page Size area, acceptthe default values of8.5 in x 11 in.

In the Number of Imposed Pages area,

type 4 in the Horizontal box and 2 in

the Verticalbox.

In the Page Orientationarea, leave the

Lower Left Pages Head Faces

selection at Up. Leave Layout Addi-

tional Pages at Head to Head.

In the Distance from Press Sheet Edge

to Imposition box, select the Bottom

Margin option. This will activate a boxfor the bottom margin. Type .875 in in

this box .

Leave the Center Horizontally option

active.

Leave the Length of Fold Mark at its de-

fault of.5 in.

ClickOK.

The press sheet with pages, margins, and gutters now

shows on the computer screen. The margins and

gutters display as gray areas.


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30SCENICSOFT


Page Numbering

You now need to number the

pages in the template. The

numbering sequence deter-

mines the order in which thepages flow through the

template when the job is

assembled. Each signature in

a template starts with the

number 1 (for example, a 16-

page signature is numbered 1-

16, and an 8-page signature in

the same template is num-

bered 1-8).

Select the numbering tool (in the lower left cornerof the Tool Box).

Place the cursor over the

page in the upper left-hand

corner of the front side of

the press sheet and click

once. Note that the tool in

the tool box now displays

the number 4.

Place the cursor over the

upper right-hand page of the

front side and click once.Notice that the back side updates automatically.

Follow the numbering pattern on the diagram at

right and finish numbering the front side of the

press sheet.

If a mistake is made in the numbering sequence,

double-click on the numbering tool and enter a new

number. Notice that the number in the numbering

tool in the tool palette changes to reflect the next

number in the sequence.


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SCENICSOFT3

Chapter 4Templates

Adjusting Margins and Gutters

Set the remaining margins and gutters. It is important

to remember that Prepswill never allow the right-hand

or top margins to be changed directly. These are

automatically adjusted when the left and bottommargins and the gutters are changed. The margins

cannot be changed ifCenter Vertically or Center

Horizontally in the Distance from Press Sheet Edge

to Punch Center area are selected.

Using the Select Object tool (in the upper left

corner of the Tool Box), select the vertical gutter

between pages 1 and 16.

When the gutter is selected, from the Edit menu

select Get Information.

In the fields for the left and righthalves of the gutter, type 0.

Select OK.

Select the vertical gutter between

pages 4 and 13, and Get Infor-

mation as above.

Type 0 in each box.

ClickOK.

Select the vertical gutter between

pages 13 and 16, and Get

Information as above.

Type 1.125 in in each box.ClickOK.

To verify the left and right margins, first select the

left-hand vertical margin and Get Information.

This box should read .875 in. Select the right-hand

vertical margin and Get Information; it should

also read .875 in. If these numbers are incorrect, go

back and verify that the numbers for the vertical

gutters are correct.

Tech Tips

The only way to select a gutter that has a width of0

is to marquee it, starting and ending off the edges of

the press sheet.


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32SCENICSOFT


Select the horizontal gutter between the heads of

the pages and Get Information.

Type .25 in in each of the boxes for the top and

bottom halves of the gutter.

Select the horizontal margin at the bottom of thepress sheet, Get Information, and verify that it

says .875 in.

Select the horizontal margin at the top of the press

sheet, Get Information, and verify that it says

1.625 in.

Saving a Template

It is a good idea to save a template after every signature

is created. You can save a template in any location,

such as in a customer job folder, but you will not be

able to use it in a Prepsjob unless it is in the Tem-

plates folder (this is the default location). You can

create subfolders within the Templates folder to aid

in organizing your templates.

To save the template:

From the File menu, select Save Template As.

The default name for the template is the name you

entered when you first created it, but you can type

a different name in the Save as box if you wish.

ClickSave.

A functional signature for any 8.5" x 11" saddle-stitched

job has been created. This signature will layout jobs in

16-page increments; Prepswill use this signature as many

times as needed depending on the page count.

Adding Another Signature

Of course, not all jobs have page counts in 16-page

increments. To accommodate this, a 4-page Work and

Turn and an 8-page Work and Turn will be created.

Any 8.5" x 11" saddle-stitched job with any number

of pages in four-page increments will work with this

template.

Tech Tips

You can create subfolders within the Templates

folder; for instance, you may want to group your tem-

plates based on the press for which they were cre-

ated.


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SCENICSOFT33

Chapter 4Templates

From the Templatemenu, select Add Sig-

nature.

Name the new signature 4-page Work/

Turn 19x25.

From the Work Style list, select Work andTurn.

Change the Widthto 25 in and the Height

to 19 in. As with the 16-page signature,

leave the remainder of the settings at their

defaults.

ClickOK.

There is now a new signature without any

imposed pages on it. Notice that this press

sheet appears to have only one side. There is a

vertical dotted line in the center of the sheet;the left half of the press sheet represents the

front of the sheet and the right half represents

the back.

Under the Templatemenu, select Create Imposition.

Leave the Finished Page Size at 8.5" x 11".Enter the number of imposed pages. Remember

that only the front of the press sheet needs to be

defined, and Prepswill define the back. Since

Prepsviews the left half of the press sheet as the

front, type 1 in the Horizontalbox and 2 in the

Verticalbox.

From the Lower Left Pages Head Faces list,

select Right.

Leave the Layout of Additional Pages at the

default ofHead to Head.

Select the Bottom Margin option, and in the boxtype .875 in.

Select the Left Margin option, and type 1.25 in.

ClickOK.


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34SCENICSOFT


The only gutter that remains to be set is the

horizontal gutter running between the pages. Select

this gutter and Get Information.

Change the Topand Bottomfields to 0 in.

Number the pages according to the diagram at right.

Now create an 8-page Work and Turn using the values

in the diagram at right. The steps are:

Create a new signature with a press sheet size of

38" x 25".

Create an imposition with 8.5" x 11" pages, 2

horizontally by 2 vertically.

Change the bottom margin to .875 in and the left

margin to .875 in.

Change the gutters to 0 in as illustrated in thediagram.

Number the pages.

.25"

.875"

.875".875"

.25"

1.625"

0" 0"1.125" 1.125"

0" 0"


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SCENICSOFT35

Chapter 4Templates

Independent Pages

You can create layouts that contain pages of

different sizes and orientations, which is

useful for flat work or gang-up jobs. This is

accomplished by using independent pages,which are added to the press sheet one at a

time and do not have gutters. Individual

independent pages can be deleted or moved.

Adding Independent Pages

Create a new template and add a signature.

From the Template menu, select Add

Independent Page.

Specify the page number, finished page size, position

relative to the lower left corner of the press sheet, and

the orientation.

Step and Repeat

Use the step-and-repeat feature to duplicate an

independent page on a press sheet. Step-and-repeat

work is used for jobs such as printing a business card

many times on a press sheet.

From the Edit menu, select Step and Repeat.

Specify the total number of times the page should

appear on the press sheet. This number includes the

original page, as well as the pages to be added.Specify the displacement offset. Both directions may

be stepped at the same time.

Template Page Information

To view and modify template page information

in the Template Page Information dialog box:

Select an imposed or independent page.

From theEditmenu, select Get Information.


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36SCENICSOFT


Nesting

Independent pages can be overlapped

to fit images together to maximize the use

of the film, and to avoid media waste. This

technique is referred to as nesting.

In PostScript source files, all pages are

defined as rectangles by their bounding box.

By overlapping the pages, you can nest odd-

shaped or rotated images, eliminating the

wasted area between the edges of the image

and the pages border. In this way, all or most

of the components required for the panels of a

box can be printed on the same press sheet.

In order to take advantage of Preps nestingcapabilities, the application you use to create

the source file must support transparent

backgrounds. You can use PrepsPreviewer to

make sure the images are correctly positioned

after you impose a job using a template

containing nested pages.

Layering

Independent template pages can be com-

pletely overlaid, resulting in the electronic

equivalent of a double burn. In Preps, this isknown as layering. The final imposed page

ends up being a combination of two or more images,

depending on how many pages you overlay. This

technique is useful for jobs that use the same

boilerplate information for each page, but also

contain variable information. The application you use

to generate the source file must support transparent

backgrounds and you must select Image by template

page number in the General Preferences.

(For more information on nesting and layering, seethe User Guide.)

Overlapping Independent Template Pages

Imposed Job with Nested Images

ScenicSoft,Inc.11400AirportRoadEverett,WA98204

BUSINESSREPLYMAIL


BUSINESSREPLYMAIL


BUSINESSREPLYMAIL


BUSINESSREPLYMAIL


BUSINESSREPLYMAIL


BUSINESSREPLYMAIL


BUSINESSREPLYMAIL


BUSINESSREPLYMAIL

ScenicSoft, Inc.11400 Airport RoadEverett, WA 98204

BUSINESS REPLY MAIL


BUSINESS REPLY MAIL


BUSINESS REPLY MAIL


BUSINESS REPLY MAIL


BUSINESS REPLY MAIL


BUSINESS REPLY MAIL


BUSINESS REPLY MAIL


BUSINESS REPLY MAIL

1 1 1 1

1111

1 1 1 1

1111


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Chapter 5MARKS

Page Marks

Overview

Adding Crop Marks to Template Pages

Deleting Crop Marks

Template Marks

Overview

Built-in Marks

Color Options for Marks

Single and Repeating Marks

Stepping and Repeating Marks

Cutting, Copying, and Pasting Marks

Adding Custom Marks

Text Marks


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38 SCENICSOFT


PAGE MARKS

Overview

Page marks are associated with pages

rather than press sheets. This means that ifyou move the template pages, or if you apply

shingling or bottling (see the Preps User Guide), the

marks move, too. Crop marks and fold marks are the

only marks in Prepsthat are associated with pages.

When you add crop marks to imposed pages, the

marks are added to all the selected pages on the press

sheet. You may add crop marks around only the

outside of the entire imposition, or to all four corners

of each imposed page.

When you add crop marks to independent template

pages, the marks appear at all four page corners.

Adding Crop Marks to Template Pages

Select the pages to which you want to add crop

marks. To select more than one page, hold down

the Shift key as you click on each page.

From the Template menu, select Modify Template

Page > Add Crop Marks.

Type the desired amount (or accept the default) in

the Distance from Page Corner box..

Enter a length (or accept the default) in the Length

of Mark box.

Under Mark Placement, select the sides of the

press sheet where you want the marks to appear.

On the Macintosh, you can set marks individually

to print or not by clicking on the marks shown in

the preview area.

Select the Place crop marks on outside of imposi-

tion check box if you want the marks to be added

only in the margins of the imposition and not in the

gutters.

Deleting Crop Marks

Set the Length of Mark to 0 (zero) if you want to

delete existing crop marks. Or, select the marks in

the Template Editor, then press the Delete key.


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SCENICSOFT 39

Chapter 5Marks

Fold Marks

Fold marks appear only when you create an imposi-

tion. The changes you make to the imposition (for

example, changing the gutters and margins), affect the

placement of the fold marks. You control the length ofthe fold marks in the Create Imposition or Modify

Imposition dialog boxes. You control whether or not

fold marks display and print by editing gutters and

margins.

PRESS SHEET MARKSOverviewPress sheet marks are associated with the

press sheet. This means that changes made to

the press sheet size affect the placement of the marks.

Press sheet marks in Prepsinclude side guides, punch

marks, and horizontal and vertical center marks.

Side Guides Side Guides

Center Marks

Punch Mark


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40 SCENICSOFT


SIGNATURE/TEMPLATE MARKS

OverviewPreps ships with many types of signature/

template marks. You can add these marks

to any selected press sheet. The available template

marks are listed in the Mark Type list in the Add

Template Mark dialog box. Some marks are built

into the application; all others are stored in the

Marks folder.

Mark Position InformationThe starting point for a mark is determined by the

values entered in the Left and Bottom boxes. If you

enter 0 in each box, the mark begins at the lower-left

corner of the press sheet.

You center a mark on a specific point by selecting the

Center mark on point check box. Left and Bottom

change to X Ctr and Y Ctr.

If you want an exact mirror image of a mark to print

on the back side of the press sheet so that the two

marks are perfectly aligned, select the Mirror on

Back check box. If you want the mark to appear on

top of the pages on the press sheet, select the Bring to

front check box.

Mark TypesRectangle Marks

You may specify the size, orientation, position, color,

and halftone screen percentage of rectangle marks.

The orientation of a rectangle mark is determined by

the larger of the height and width values you specify

for the mark.

Line Marks

You may specify the length, color, orientation, and

halftone screen percentages of line marks. Preps has

three types of line marks:

Line (Dashed) Line (Dotted)

Line (Solid)

The values entered in the Height and Width boxes

determine the line length. Horizontal lines have a

height of 0; vertical lines have a width of 0.


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SCENICSOFT 4

Chapter 5Marks

Fillcirc.eps

Fillcros.eps

Onlycirc.eps

Onlycros.eps

Opencirc.eps

Opencros.eps

Regmark1.eps

Regmark2.eps

Exposure Bar Marks

Exposure bar marks provide a gray scale from

0 to 100 percent, in 10 percent increments. They have

a fixed size, but you may specify their color. Preps

has four types of exposure bar marks: left to right,

right to left, top to bottom, and bottom to top.

Registration Marks

Registration template marks are EPS files and are

stored in the Marks folder. You cannot change their

size, orientation, color, or halftone screen percentage

from within Preps. They appear on all separations

when the job is printed.

Preps installs with eight registration template marks.

Tech Tip

The default line marks weight is .25 pt. To change the line

weight, open the default.cfg file with a text editor. Locate

the line that says AMERICAN_LINE_WIDTH:0.2500

or-METRIC_LINE_WIDTH:0.1700 and change the

amount (use Adobe points, 1 in. = 72 points).


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42 SCENICSOFT


Cutting, Copying, and Pasting Marks

You may cut, copy, and paste template marks on the

same press sheet or to a different press sheet. You

may cut, copy, and paste more than one template

mark at a time.

When you paste template marks on another press

sheet, they appear in the same position as they did on

the press sheet from which they were cut or copied.

To delete a mark:

Select the mark, then press the Delete key.

Stepping and Repeating Marks

You may duplicate template marks on a press sheet

using the step-and-repeat feature. When you step-and-repeat a template mark, you indicate the total

number of times that you want the mark to appear

on the press sheet. This number includes the original

mark, as well as the marks you want to add.

You also indicate the horizontal and vertical distance

between the marks. To calculate the horizontal

distance, you add the mark width to the distance you

want between each horizontal mark. To calculate the

vertical distance, you add the mark height to the

distance you want between each vertical mark.

To step and repeat a mark:

Select the mark.

From the Edit menu, select Step and Repeat.

Enter the values.

Tech Tip

An independent page and its associated template

marks can be stepped and repeated together. Select

both the page and the marks with the Select tool by

holding down the Shift key, and follow the step-and-

repeat instructions outlined above.


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SCENICSOFT 43

Chapter 5Marks

Single and Repeating Marks

EPS and TIFF template marks are added to press

sheets as single marks or repeating marks, depending

on where they are stored.

Single Marks

Single EPS and TIFF template marks are stored in the

Marks folder or directory. When you add a single

mark, one copy of the template mark is added to the

press sheet.

Repeating Marks

Repeating EPS and TIFF template marks are stored in

the dupmarks folder or directory. You may specify a

width and height for repeating marks. Preps repeats

the mark as many times as possible within thespecified width and height for the mark.

Colors and halftone screen percentages for EPS

template marks are defined in the EPS files and cannot

be changed in the Template Mark Color dialog box.

However, if an EPS mark contains spot colors, you can

convert each spot color to another spot color, or to a

process color build in the Color Separations dialog

box (seeChapter 9, Printing).

Color BarsFour color bars ship with Preps. The mark called

colorbar.eps is based on the GATF Compact Color

Test Strip. This color bar mark is 4-color process.

There are also a digital 4-color bar, a digital 6-color

bar, and a black-plus-5-spot-colors bar. All four color

bars are repeating marks and are stored as EPS files

in the dupmarks folder.

When you add a color bar template mark to a press

sheet, Preps repeats, or duplicates, the mark as many

times as possible within the width and height youspecify for the mark.


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SignatureCollationMark C

Sigcolld.eps Sigcolle.epsSigcolla.eps Sigcollb.eps

Signature Collation Marks

You may specify the size, orientation, color, and

halftone screen percentages for signature

collation marks. Signature collation marks

ensure the signatures are in the correct order and

that none are missing. Preps has five types of

signature collation marks.

You may specify the total distance along

which the marks move. When the mark has

stepped along the entire distance, the next

mark prints at the initial position. The larger

value of the marks height and width deter-

mines the total area in which the marks move.

Signature collation marks can be positioned vertically

or horizontally on a signature. The larger of the

height and width values determines whether the mark

moves horizontally or vertically.

If the height is larger than the width, the mark

moves vertically

If the width is larger than the height, the mark

moves horizontally

If the value in the step distance is a negative

number, the mark moves in the opposite direction,

and the first mark begins at the opposite end

For example: If you add a signature collation mark

that has a width of 6" (150 mm) and a height of0.25" (5 mm), and a step distance of 0.5"

(10 mm), each mark is 0.5" wide, 0.25" high, and

moves vertically on the first six signatures at 0.5"

intervals. On the seventh signature, the mark prints in

the same position as the mark on the first signature,

and the sequence repeats. The exception to this

behavior are the sigcollza.eps,sigcollzb.eps,

sigcollzc.eps,sigcollzd.eps, and sigcollze.eps

marks. These repeat in a zigzag pattern, so on the

seventh signature the mark prints in the same position

as the mark on the fifth signature, the eighth signa-ture mark prints in the same position as the fourth

signature mark, and so on.


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SCENICSOFT 45

Chapter 5Marks

Color Options for Marks

To change the color and halftone screen

percentages when adding or editing a

template mark:

In the Template Mark dialog box, click

Mark Color.

In the Template Mark Color dialog box, edit

the color.

Separation Black

When you select this option, the mark

prints on all separations. You can specify

the halftone screen percentage you want

to use for the template mark.

Spot Color

When you select this option, you can assign a custom

color number to a template mark. Custom color

numbers display in the Color Separations dialog box,

which you access from the Print dialog box.

SSI Custom Color

You may type any number you want for a custom color.

Custom color numbers are simply placeholders that are

used when you map a custom color to a spot color.

Remapping custom-colored template to spot colors

allows you to print template marks, such as ink take-off bars, using the spot colors in the job.

Adding Custom Marks

Preps Pro and Preps Plus accept custom EPS and

TIFF template marks. Preps XL does not support

template marks.

You can use a graphics application to create your

own EPS and TIFF template marks, and then add

them to the Marks folder so they are available to

add to press sheets. The marks you create must besaved as TIFF or EPS files for Preps to recognize

them. If you save a mark as an EPS file with a

preview (TIFF on Windows or PICT on a Macintosh)

a preview of the mark appears in the Add Template

Mark dialog box when you select that mark. On the

Macintosh, the preview, rather than a placeholder,

displays on the screen.


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46 SCENICSOFT


Tech Tip

If you would like to change the font for the text mark,

open the default.cfg file with a text editor such as

BBEdit or TextPad. Locate the line that says

TEXTMARKFONT:Helvetica and change it to a

different font that is resident on your RIP.

To add a custom mark:

From the Setup menu, select Add Custom Marks.

Navigate to the mark you want to add, select it, and

clickOK.

The mark is copied into the Marks folder.

Text Marks

You may specify the size, content, orientation,

color, halftone screen percentage, position, and

placement of text marks.

Preps has two types of text marks:

Flat Identifier Text marks appear in exactly the

same position on each side of the press sheet, rather

than in a backing-up or mirror-image position

Text marks appear in different positions on eachside of the press sheet. Preps automatically

calculates the correct mirror image position on the

back side of the press sheet, depending on the press

sheet.

When you add a text mark to a press sheet, a box

opens in which you can type the text you want to

print on the press sheet.

The orientation of a text mark is determined by the

larger of the height and width values. The smaller ofthe height and width values determines the size of the

font used for the text mark. All text marks are printed

in Helvetica font. If the text in the mark is longer than

the width you specify, the text is not cut off.


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SCENICSOFT 47

Chapter 5Marks

The following table contains a list of the variables

that can be printed in text marks:

Variable Result

$jobname Name of the Preps job

$jobdate and $jobtime Date and time job was last saved

$date and $time Date and time job was printed

$localelongdate Uses the international date format

selected for the operating system

$sig and $web Current signature and web numbers

$side Side (A, B, etc.) of current press sheet

$color Color of current separation

$comment User-defined comment defined in Print

dialog box

$customer Customer ID or name added from Job

Information dialog box

$jobid Job ID number added from Job


$job_title Job Title number added from Job


$(variable) User-defined variable comment

referenced in Job Information

In-RIP-Color-ID

When using the Level 2 option to color separate in

RIP, Preps sends a composite file, and the variable

$Color appears as Composite. Instead of using

$Color, you should use an In-RIP-Color-ID mark.The mark is available in four different orientations.

Pick the appropriate mark, depending on which way

you want to read the color names.

The mark automatically picks up the color

names from the source files. Because the

length of the mark varies depending on the

name of the color plate, make sure to place

the mark where it will not interfere with other

elements on the press sheet.

Tech Tip

You can add your own variables to the Type

list by editing the defaults.ppd file in a

text editor.


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Chapter 6

PREVIEWER

Previewing Preps Jobs

Overview

Zooming

Color Previewing

Color Set-up

Show Trim Box

Process OPI

Using Rulers and Guides


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PREVIEWING PREPS JOBS

Overview

The Preview function allows you to see

learning preps 41

Documents