ONYX RIP Tips & Tricks
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ONYX RIP Tips & Tricks This e-mail contains quick tips and links to useful information on avoiding potential postscript file issues, transparency issues, information on using the ONYX PostScript RIP options, as well as guidelines for creating PDF files for wide-format printing. New RIP Update for ONYX Version 7.3.2 Because of the many ways elements can be combined in the creation applications, a PostScript RIP file can handle the instructions provided in a PDF or EPS file in many different ways. For tips and tricks on how to avoid potential postscript file issues, take a look at the latest release notes here. Maximizing Your Use of the ONYX PostScript RIP Options The ONYX PostScript RIP engine is incredibly powerful. To simplify your use of the PostScript RIP capabilities, we would like to highlight the following workflow options: • TRANSPARENCY - This option handles transparency elements in PDF 1.4 or higher. This option is enabled by default; however, you should disable this option if you use an ONYX Virtual Printer workflow or if you regularly RIP files that do not support transparency such as PDF 1.3 or lower, EPS, and PS files. • BLACKOVERPRINT - This options allows you to use overprint instead of knockout for only black elements. Enable this option if you are using PrepEdge and a white ink workflow in order for white to be properly rendered. • OVERPRINT - This option overprints all channels instead of applying a knockout function when combining separation. Enable this option if you are printing with white ink and you see white or color where there should be a combination of white and color data. • USECUTSPLINES - This will turn off the splines function for cutters. Enable this option if you are seeing stray lines in your cut data. These and other PostScript Options will help you get the output you are expecting. To learn more take a look at the Configuring PostScript RIP Options document here. Create the Optimal PostScript File for Wide Format Printing PDF Files are complex and issues can appear during printing that are not visible in digital format. To help you avoid potential issues we have put together simple guidelines for creating a PDF-file that is compatible with large-format printing: • If your graphics application has presets for saving PDF file in PDF/X format, choose PDF/X-4. If not, save files as PDF version 1.6. • Embed your images. TIFF files are recommended. Avoid using lossy formats such as GIF or JPG. • Use high-resolution images (image resolution should be greater than 150 dpi, but no higher than 600 dpi). • Avoid embedding 16-bit images. Convert 16-bit images to 8-bit before adding them. • If your design application allows you to define a bleed area, the BleedBox must be larger than the ArtBox, but smaller than the MediaBox. • Embed all color profiles in your PDF file. • Embed all fonts in your PDF file. • Do not embed non-printable items such as movies and audio. • Place annotations outside the ArtBox or remove them before saving. • Do not use encryption when saving your PDF file. To download a whitepaper with additional information and guidelines about Color Spaces in PDFs please click here. Working with Transparencies Following are some quick tips on working with transparencies to avoid potential issues: • Have your design application convert all elements to the current working space. In the Adobe Suite these settings can be found under the Edit menu --> Color Settings • If you are using spot colors and transparency, do not use EPS or PS. These file types do not support transparency and are Rasterized. If your spot color crosses the transparency boxes in your file, they will be Rasterized if saved as an EPS or PS file. You can only resolve this by turning off the color matching table or using a PDF file format. If you use the virtual printer workflow to submit jobs to your ONYX Rip-Queue, these files are postscript files. All transparency elements are Rasterized. • PDF files versions 1.4 or higher do support transparency. If you use PDF/X-1 or save your file as a version 1.3 PDF, all transparencies are processed and Rasterized when they are created. It is recommended that you use the latest PDF version (1.7) if your design application gives you that option. • Your ONYX RIP software has the ability to see input profiles within images, if embedded. This can help improve workflow and make color management much easier. You can embed profiles into TIF and PDF files. EPS, PS, and others do not support this ability. For more information on transparencies from our top color scientist Max Derhak, see the December 2009 Max-imize Your Color article here..