Templot Club Archive 2007-2020                             

topic: 604A Printing Problem
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posted: 30 Oct 2008 15:52

from:

polybear
 
 

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Hi Martin,

I have a strange printing problem!

I have two templates joined together - the first is a straight length of trackwork (about 55" long) with a straight RH turnout about half way along the straight; the second is a transition curve connected to turnout as a siding.

I'm transferring the file as a PDF (using PDF995) to my works computer via CD, so I can print it on a Roller Plotter (I'm selecting a paper size of 36" by 60" since there doesn't appear to be an option for roller paper in PDF995, and anyway anything bigger would probably be unwieldy). In Templot the Print Preview option shows the entire track plan.

However, after conversion to PDF (the track plan just about runs onto a second paper sheet) only a straight section of trackwork upto the turnout plus a small section of turnout is coming up when the PDF file is opened - the rest of sheet one appears blank.  Sheet 2 shows the buffer-end of the siding curve, which agrees with print preview.

I hope that makes sense - any ideas as to what's happening to the trackwork in the middle please?

Thanks.

Brian.

posted: 30 Oct 2008 16:02

from:

Martin Wynne
 
West Of The Severn - United Kingdom

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Hi Brian,

Which version of Windows are you using, and what graphics dpi resolution have you set in pdf995?

Have you tested that the roller printer works with other large-area PDF files?

I'm selecting a paper size of 36" by 60" 

Just a thought -- you didn't get those swapped over anywhere, or set Landscape instead of Portrait on the printer or in pdf995?

regards,

Martin.

posted: 30 Oct 2008 16:39

from:

polybear
 
 

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Hi Martin,

The pc with TEMPLOT (and PDF995) on is running on Vista; the dpi is set to 600. I've checked and I was using Portrait; I've just tried 30" by 72" also, with the same problem. Whilst the Print Preview function in Templot doesn't show a problem, it's after conversion to PDF via PDF995 that the fun starts - even before I try to use the roller printer (just opening the PDF file shows that trackwork is missing).

I previously used size A2 and Landscape - this got most of the track plan but missed a few sleepers between each of the four sheets (meaning the turnout didn't print correctly as it was on a join).

The roll of paper is definitely 36" wide, by the way.

p.s  Do sheet alignment marks get printed automatically, or do I need to select them please?

Many thanks

Brian

posted: 30 Oct 2008 16:54

from:

Martin Wynne
 
West Of The Severn - United Kingdom

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Hi Brian,

Which version of Templot are you using? If not 091c, please upgrade:

topic 330

Try this: on the Control Room / Program Panel window, go to the program > expert > graphics limits > menu item and make sure the option setting is 24-bit or 32-bit.

I knew I would have to buy a Vista computer eventually and I fear this might be it now to find out what's happening. Sigh. :(

Please can you send me (or attach on the forum) your .box file so that I can check what's happening in pdf995. Also I can create your PDF file for you.

p.s Do sheet alignment marks get printed automatically, or do I need to select them please?
The red trim margins are printed as part of the page. If you are not seeing them in the PDF file, something has gone very wrong.

Have you tried viewing the PDF file in the Foxit Reader (free) instead of Adobe Reader? 

regards,

Martin.

posted: 5 Nov 2008 19:56

from:

polybear
 
 

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Hi Martin/All,

Here's an update:

With a lot of help from Martin part of the problem has been solved - I upgraded to Templot 091c and now use Win2PDF (instead of PDF995) to create the PDF Files; the PDF File created now shows the entire trackplan, with nothing missing.

The other problem was that both I and Martin found that PDF995 was telling Templot that it's only capable of printing in Black & White - hence all my prints were in B&W. But whilst Martin has been able to create a PDF from my BOX file (using Win2PDF) in colour, I can't!! Again I'm finding that Templot tells me that the virtual printer (i.e. Win2PDF) isn't a colour printer.  Any ideas anyone please?

The other problem I found today is that when I printed Martin's PDF version of my BOX file on a plotter (HP Designjet 800, with a paper size of 36" x 48" selected) there was a short section of trackwork missing at the transition between page 1 and page 2 (I lost 3 sleeper's worth).  I tried increasing the PRINT > TRIM MARGINS sizes but for some reason the plotter didn't like this very much.

The good news is that the print came out in colour!

I think this plotter is out to kill me.

If I don't kill it first....

Best Regards,

Brian Tulley

posted: 5 Nov 2008 21:22

from:

Martin Wynne
 
West Of The Severn - United Kingdom

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polybear wrote:
The other problem I found today is that when I printed Martin's PDF version of my BOX file on a plotter (HP Designjet 800, with a paper size of 36" x 48" selected) there was a short section of trackwork missing at the transition between page 1 and page 2 (I lost 3 sleeper's worth).

Hi Brian,

The problem here is that the PDF generators create an "electronic" page which can print from edge to edge. Most real printers can't do that, there is an unprintable margin area all round the edge of the paper, usually wider at the bottom.

The PDF Reader programs deal with this by means of page scaling "fit to page", shrinking the PDF page to fit within the printable area. Unfortunately that upsets the correct scale of printed templates, so you need to set page scaling to "none" when printing templates, with the result you found -- part of the image overlaps beyond the printable area.

The solution is to create a custom paper size which will fit within the printable area -- in this case say 35" x 46" to fit comfortably on the printable area within 36" x 48". You can then select this custom size as the paper size when generating the PDF file.

For details of how to create a Windows custom paper size (it's not obvious), see:

topic 224 - message 1096

These problems will all go away when I get the native PDF output from Templot finished -- it completely ignores the set paper sizes and asks you for the size of the PDF area in mm. You can then enter any convenient size which fits within the printer's printable area.

The black & white problem is a bit of a mystery at present. :( All PDF generators are creating colour output on my systems, except PDF995. :?

regards,

Martin.

posted: 6 Nov 2008 17:00

from:

polybear
 
 

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Hi Martin,

Many thanks for the reply and assistance - it's very much appreciated.

I carried out the process (or tried to!) of creating a Windows Custom Paper Size in Vista, only to find that (under PRINT SERVER PROPERTIES) the "CREATE A NEW FORM" tick box was greyed out (somewhat strangely the same box on my works P.C. [XP] was also greyed out - possibly due to the I.T. Dept. preventing us from messing around too much though?).

However, on my Vista P.C. there is fortunately already an option for a paper size of "E-Size 34x44in." available, so I selected this in Templot PRINT SETUP when printing the trackplan to Win2PDF. The resulting PDF file was then saved on DVD and transferred to my works P.C. for printing via the Plotter; under PRINT SETUP I selected a paper size of "Arch E" (36x48in.)

I initially had problems - the Plotter just did not want to play and seemed to get very confused (I was only trying to print sheet 2 of the trackplan at this point - maybe the Plotter didn't like this?). So I went back to the PRINT SETUP>PROPERTIES page for the Plotter; under the EFFECTS>RESIZING OPTIONS I selected PRINT DOCUMENT ON>Custom 1: Arch E 36x48in. (it was previously set to ACTUAL SIZE).

I then proceeded to print all sheets (to eliminate the risk that the Plotter didn't like only a partial print being carried out); fortunately the problem of missing sleepers has now been resolved and a check with a rule confirms the track gauge is also o.k. (I was unsure about deselecting ACTUAL SIZE).

As regards the problem of not being able to select the colour printing option when using Templot & Win2PDF, I've yet to try this on an XP machine - I'll do this tonight with the same trackplan and let you know what happens...

Best Regards,

Brian Tulley

posted: 7 Nov 2008 02:35

from:

Brian McK
 
 

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> The black & white problem is a bit of a mystery at
> present. All PDF generators are creating colour
> output on my systems, except PDF995.

Earlier today I had sent a message to Templot at Yahoo Groups commenting about PDF995’s graphics settings.

Now at the computer where this is used I note:

Plotter Configuration Editor – PDF995/Device and Document Settings/Custom Properties/Paper Quality/select B&W or Colour

Perhaps B&W is your default option?

-Brian McKenzie

posted: 7 Nov 2008 14:29

from:

polybear
 
 

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Hi Martin/All,

Another update!
I just tried Win2PDF with a MSWorks document (& Vista) and it played in colour quite happily.

Best Regards,
Brian Tulley

posted: 7 Nov 2008 17:02

from:

Glen Suckling
 
Oswego - New York USA

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Hi Brian

PDFCreate from Nuance also works well in color.

I am using version 5 of PDFCreate with Vista and Templot v 0.91.c

PDFCreate shows up on the list of printers. Just print to it like you would any other printer and you get a PDF file. I was afraid that there might be some scaling problems but, so far, nothing that I can detect with a common garden variety ruler.

Glen

polybear wrote:
Hi Martin/All,

Another update!
I just tried Win2PDF with a MSWorks document (& Vista) and it played in colour quite happily.

Best Regards,
Brian Tulley


posted: 10 Nov 2008 15:01

from:

polybear
 
 

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Glen Suckling wrote:
Hi Brian

PDFCreate from Nuance also works well in color.

I am using version 5 of PDFCreate with Vista and Templot v 0.91.c


Hi Glen,

Thanks for the tip - I've downloaded Nuance PDF Professional 5 (which includes PDFCreate) and can also confirm it prints PDF's in colour:thumb:  (Templot versions 0.74b and 0.91c)

Unfortunately it's only a trial version (15 days I think).  Longer than that and they want money!:(

I'll probably wait for Martin's PDF Generator (no rush though Martin - I'm still pondering what layout plan to use, and then I've got to create it in Templot.....)

Best Regards,
Brian Tulley



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