A Digital Printing Network
Contour Cuts
Hi I've been working with VersaCamms since 2004 and have little or no issues. Same true of Versa Works. I've noticed with my most recent 540 and it's software I've had issues with the contour cuts. Example: When using any masks in artwork created in Illustrator (CS5) when ripping into Versaworks, the contour shows and prints as a white line even when placing the contour on a separate layer. I have to rasterize the art which sacrifices editing or adding new elements , etc. Didn't seem to be an issue before in previous versions of Versaworks. Any others with suggestions. I've placed Illustrator generated images in Photoshop and re-placed back into Illustrator and then sent Ripped the file which solves the contour/cut issue but I am less than enthused by the density of especially the black(s) as far as density and color value.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Steven Jackson - Admin on -
Try exporting the file as a PDF X3 format. It will flatten the layers for you and maintain the vector aspects in the file for Versaworks.
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Permalink Reply by Walter D. Ayres III on -
I will give it a try. Seems like a likely solution. Thank You.
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Permalink Reply by Walter D. Ayres III on
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I have an issue with Versaworks RIP software and contour cutting. Here is my setup: I have a Macbook Pro with Parallels installed.I do my primary design work on my Mac but switch to the PC side on the Mac for printing/cutting (Parallels) I recently upgraded to Version 7 and upgraded from Windows XP to Windows 7. I reinstalled Versaworks and performed upgrades to the program including Color Profiles. I placed the contour cut swatch from the Versaworks disk into my CS5.5 Illustrator swatch folder. I've created artwork and saved all as .eps files and have been able to print/cut on our dedicated server setup (PC based) directly wired to our VersaCamm 540 without issue with these Mac generated files. When I try and print wirelessly using the same file from my Mac/Parallels Versaworks RIP, the contour cut is nowhere to be found (even as a magenta line. Actually there is no visible lines where the contour should be. Any thoughts.
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Permalink Reply by irving donaldson on -
First thoughts - you are exporting with one of your settings converting spot colors to process colors. One of your programs is doing it and you will have to find that. If you see the file then that is the issue - if you do not see the file then it is your wireless setup. One is software related while the other is hardware related. You can print raster no cut, you can print raster with vector to get a cut, you can print vector to get a cut. The last two need to be in a container - EPS or PDF - any other extensions might print but will not cut. I have worked with customers with similar setups with no issues providing they are using the proper contour cut naming conventions for their software.
On your Mac - see if you can find the Input A folder where your files are kept you can try droping your files in there and saving a step.
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Permalink Reply by Walter D. Ayres III on
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I'm confused as to why the same files I've created on my Mac and saved as .eps files will print on our workstation (a PC) which is directly wired to the machine.
I make sure the contour cut layer is above the art elements, etc. I save my Illustrator files as .eps files and for the "Custom Transparency Flattner Options" I spike the Vector slider to the max (100), I deselect the "Convert all strokes to outlines" box and save. The "crawly insects" contour cuts show up without fail when printing from the direct connected PC. Open the same file on my Parrallels side of my Mac Laptop (in a PC environment and upon opening Versaworks) the drawn contour path isn't showing my "crawly insects" and doesn't even show the path as a solid. No evidence of the art period. Wondering if there is some sort of issue because I've upgraded to Windows 7. With XP it worked just fine in this platform and file saving process. Also for the swatch...I'm using Versaworks "Cut Contour " swatch which as I said I took directly from the installer disk. I have older files created for print on older machines from other jobs, etc. The contour cut swatch matches exactly to what the most recent swatch data has from the install disk.
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Permalink Reply by irving donaldson on
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Walt I would not be able to unconfused you at this point. Your steps sound as the proper ones. Windows 7 works with no issues for most of us. Roland has been very consistent in there cutline procedures and naming conventions. It sounds as if it is something you will need to create a checklist for and record your steps that are successful and insure those are the same steps for the other process. I have found only by writing down and following can you identify stuff you are doing subconsciously. There is no obvious explanation it should be working. One last thing - try everthing but instead of eps try pdf.
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Permalink Reply by Walter D. Ayres III on
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Sadly I've created thousands of files over the last 10+ years on all these VersaCamms and Pro III's using Versaworks in a variety of platforms (PC & Mac) and haven't experienced this before. If the process works on the workstation hooked up to the machine....it stands to reason my machine RIPs should have no issue either especially when I was printing without issue using Parralels and Windows XP on my machine. The only difference as I said has been my upgrade to Windows 7.....yikes. I'll try the PDF route. Thanks for your efforts to help. Technology is similar to family members....you love them some days, others you want to send 'em packing!!!
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Permalink Reply by irving donaldson on
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LOL agreed
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Permalink Reply by Walter D. Ayres III on
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Resolved my contour cut issues especially with masks/transparency elements...etc. (the contour cuts were not showing when Ripped)
I primarily use Adobe Illustrator CS5.5 and save my files as .eps files.
During the saving process in the "Custom Transparency Flattener Options" I move the Raster/vector balance slider to 100.
I then deselect a box that default checks "Convert all strokes to outlines"
I Change the Adobe PostScript from "Language Level 2 to Language Level 3" and hit save. The files RIP to Versaworks seamlessly with contour lines clearly visible (crawling ants).
No need to export /change to PDF's , etc. Printing wirelessly from my Mac to the VersaCamm.
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