Re: meta dimension poll
Our Meta 6.x (upgrading to 6.5 and PDF engine soon) is tied to our ProSetter.
We drive files to Meta through Signa Station.
With our old Meta (4.x ?) we drove the Platesetter and Hp through the same box.
However, we still sent the file twice to be RIPped for each device.
I did set the workflow up, for a day or two, as a ROOM workflow utilizing a "Pause" after proofing
then "continuing" to the platesetter later.
The problem with this workflow was a matter of wasting proofing media. When we ran the ROOM method, utilizing the post proof pause,
our HP would only produce proofs the size of our plates and not the size of the "job".
So even if we were producing a 1 up 3"x5" card on 6x9 stock - the HP would only produce an HP at our plate size of approx. 22x15.
So, we went back to the RIP twice method - once for proof - once for plate to be able to produce HP's just the size of the stock to be run.
Saves enormous amount of material through time - but a, sort of, bogus workflow IMHO.
I was at the Los Angeles office for a week, with Michelle and Laurence, and a solution could not be established at that time.
So, we lived with it and all went pretty well.
Then we upgraded to the Meta 6 RIP in April. Our Rep (Phil ? - I believe he is no longer with Heidelberg) had assured us that
the new RIP upgrade would assure us of a true ROOM workflow.
We thought this would be great, because it would free up a server for us to us as a PC worstation in the prepress
or to replace our "poor" Signa box and we could use a less powerful shooter.
Well, it doesn't. We now drive the workflow through 2 boxes
One server box for the platesetter RIP and one server box for the Proofer RIP.
Everyone, including Adam? (our new Rep) as well as jim Ross and others in Atlanta have said this should be no problem.
However, we are seeing regular differences between our proofs and our plates.
Just yesterday, for example, I produced a 20 page annual report as 4 pagers on 19x12.5.
It was CMYK plus spot colors - so I used 6 color - color bars and extra solid take off bars for the pms colors.
This made the color bars butted against the work. We sent the bars to the back, no problem.
When we output HPs - on all of the fronts the color bars were perfect (sent to back).
On all of the backs - the color bars were in front on top of the work and in the job.
But - on ALL of the plates (front and back) all of the color bars were in back and fine.
- A minor difference - but a difference, none the less, and a major concern for our Sales Rep and the Customer
who, of course, did not want the color bars in the job.
We also have continuing problems with spot colors simply disappearing or being converted to CMYK or being converted to a screen of Black.
Sometimes, the spot color will disappear when running through Cockpit.
Sometimes the spot colors will make it through Cockpit and Signa but disappear coming into Meta
and will report as not being there and, of course, will not plate.
(This particular problem has cost us to rerun jobs with lost time, materials and money -
as well as being embarrassing to the prepress department as well as the shop in general.)
I have discussed this with Jim and have sent samples to Atlanta for analysis - to no avail.
I also had Josh Mc. look into this when he was here. But, since he is involved with Prinect now
he obviously did not have the time to dive deeply in to situation.
We discovered that sometimes the spot color problem can be remedied with optimizing the PDF.
Sometimes it works to optimize with a MAC - sometimes it HAS to be done on a PC -
sometimes it does not work at all and we need to go back and produce the PDF with Distiller.
Sometimes it works just to change the PMS name to "C".
We usually always catch it - but it is easy to overlook in a 60 or 100 page file.
We are hoping that when someone drops in to upgrade us to Meta 6.5 and the Adobe engine
that they will have the time to look into and correct these little nagging problems.
MSD
Sorry, not being in the office, I may have some names wrong and I forget some of the folks I have spoken with.