New plate size for Prinergy/Preps

[RogerS]

I need to replace an Adast 725 plate size with a Speedmaster 74. I have changed the size on our Lotem 400 and it loads, unloads and exposes plate properly, but still receives files for the smaller Adast plate size and is not in the correct position. Is this done in the Preps section or maybe in the Mac ppd library or will Kodak/Creo have to get involved. I can get no help from Kodak even though we use Kodak Thermal Direct plates we are not current on our license.
Thanks in advance,
RogerS

 

[james.bredenhof]

Hi Roger.

Sounds like you impose to your plate size. In that case, in a nutshell, you'll need to create a new PPD from the Lotem software, add it as a device in Preps, and then use that device when outputting your impositions to Prinergy.

An alternate approach that might work for you is to impose to your press sheet size. Then in your Prinergy plating process template, select "center on width" and "shift on height" by whatever the layback is.

James

 

[Jackie]

I'd have to agree with James and you should make the switch to imposing to paper size. Much less mental math required ; - )

Then your output templates are press specific rather than doing your layback+grip calculations in Preps.

 

[RogerS]

Thanks, but this is all fairly new to me/over my head. The manuals don't seem to have what I need to know, or I don't know what I'm looking for. The system was installed with page size specifics ("large press" or "small press", we only have 2 presses) in a drop down menu. I don't know how to create a new one or get around having to select one from the drop down menu to use the imposing to sheet size approach. I also don't know how to create a new PPD. I only know how get jobs though the system this one way. I hope I'm not beyond help. I will keep researching your suggestions.
Thanks,
Roger

 

[Jackie]

Hi Roger, might need a little more info about your system if we're going to help you. Do you have a Prinergy front end, either Evo or Connect? How do you send your final layout to your CTP device?

 

[RogerS]

May have the solution for now. In preps, trying to configure new device by selecting Lotem 400 in the drop down menu only allowed the 2 devices already configured to be available. Must select "Scenic Soft Color" as the device to configure. This allowed customizing parameters for new plate size. This became available as a 3rd page size after re-starting Preps. We're running Prinergy Evo. This is such a powerful workflow, it's frustrating not to know how to get to its potential. We can use automated templates, multiple-up, perfect, pagination, etc. Just never had to do this. I put the lay-back in the Lotem plate template so hopefully we won't have to do this every time in Preps now. We'll see tomorrow, ran out of time today, but the press is ready. We currently save the InDesign file in Job Data creating a "source file", then drag and drop to "Refine to PDF", then drag this into the Preps Template, then drag this Pjtf file to the "plating", or "Integris proof or create VPS. Still open for comments if there is an easier way to send jobs. Is there some reference material out there? Thanks James and Jackie.
Roger

 

[james.bredenhof]

sounds like what you have will work.

re: " Is there some reference material out there? "
If you check the Preps online help under topic "Creating a new Media Resource", it walks you through how to get the new plate size from your Lotem into Preps using the PPD file.

 

[Mike Z]

new plate size warning

new plate size warning

One thing to watch for in using Press sheet size is that the image will be clipped at the sheet edge. Your side guides and center marks will not bleed off the sheet. Some pressmen will not like this!

 

[Mike Z]

The other thing you could do is only to use your largest plate size assuming it is the largest both in width and height. Then you make different output templates in prinergy centering the width and using a different vertical shift for each different plate/press. I used this at my last place and it was easier as only 1 preps profile is used. You can also switch which press a job will run on at the last minute without having to go into preps at all. You will get a warning in the process viewer about the imposition rectangle not fitting on the media but this can be ignored.

 

[Al Ferrari]

Your warning is well taken and on the mark. But the Press sheet size is not to be used for final output to plate precisely for the reasons you give.

I make frequent use of it for discussions internally, viewing it on screen because it shows relative distance of all press sheet objects to the edge of the sheet.

Al