New Plotter and CTB File

[Iceberg]

We just got a new Kip plotter installed the other day. We replaced an old Xerox 625 machine.

When I print out our color chart the using our standard CTB file the colors print out slightly different then with the Xerox. All the colors print out darker. For example, we have color 255 set up to be screened 12%, when plotted it should not be visable or just slightly, when I print it out on the Kip it is printing out like its 40% screened (there abouts).

Is this a driver issue? Or a CTB file issue? Any insight would be a great help.

[cadtag]

sounds like a KIP issue. it's been awhile since we scrapped ours, but IIRC there was an ability set the configuration.

Are you trying to print directly to the KIP as a network printer, or using the Request sjob submission software?

[Iceberg]

sounds like a KIP issue. it's been awhile since we scrapped ours, but IIRC there was an ability set the configuration.

Are you trying to print directly to the KIP as a network printer, or using the Request sjob submission software?

Printing directly to the Kip from CAD as a network printer.

We do have the request job submission software as well. Does that print dwg and/or dwf files?

[cadtag]

using request is a two step process -- first create a plot file from CAD, and then submit the job for printing. Seems a bit clumsier, but worked pretty well.

more reliable IME...

[Iceberg]

using request is a two step process -- first create a plot file from CAD, and then submit the job for printing. Seems a bit clumsier, but worked pretty well.

more reliable IME...

IME????.....

[cadtag]

IME = In My Experience

[Iceberg]

IME = In My Experience

LOL.... I knew that... I over thought it to be some kind of technical term....

So I went to make a plot file of the color table. Had the Kip selected and the ctb file selected we use....

I did a quick print preview and that was as far as I got... I noticed right away that the colors were not matching what was set up in the CTB file.

Tech guy I believe (from IT) will be here Monday to discuss some things.... in the mean time I just need to improvise....

[Iceberg]

Okay.. So an update on this thread I started...

The KIP print software doesn't recognize PLT files, so I cant print drawings out that way to see if they work.

I found out that tech support wasn't called to address the concerns I had posted about the CTB colors not printing out correctly. It was explained to me that the CTB file needs to be adjusted so that the colors will print out correctly.

For example.... Color 74 is set up to have a pen weighty of 0.10 inches with a 75% screen. When plotted to the KIP, it prints out with a 100% screen (no screening at all). From what it looks like 50% is the same as 75% when I print to the KIP.

I was told to update the CTB file so that the colors will print out correctly. I have 2 issues with this... 1. when I print to other printers like our Xerox for small paper sizes (11X17 ex.) the CTB file prints correctly. 2. I don't understand why the CTB needs to loose 50% of its functionality by only being able to use 0 to 50% screens.

Can someone make sense of all of this so that I can talk to management about getting this resolved. If I have to fix the CTB file I will, but this seems to be a different issue other than the CTB file.

Any thoughts?

[cadtag]

someone with a current Kip model can chime in anytime, but what the tech guy is telling you does not sound right.

The Request software submits plot jobs - so you plot to file, and then use Request to send the job to the plotter. It certainly cannot process a dwg file, although if you purchased the PDF option, Request can print PDFs nicely.

From what I remember, we configured CAD to use HPGL2 as the plot format.

And absolutely you should not need to fubar your current CTB just because you chane to a Kip. the machine _has_ the ability to be configured to meet your needs, not vice versa.

Perhaps the autodesk plotting forum, or if there's a Kip customer discussion board somewhere they can give you more current info.

[Iceberg]

Yeah I posted a thread on the Autodesk discussion board so we will see what happens....

I tried to setup a PC3 file but the Add A plotter Wizard link isn't working.... So now I need to figure that out