HP DesignJet 430, Designjet 450C, Designjet 488CA User's Guide

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HP DesignJet 430 Printer HP DesignJet 450C Printer HP DesignJet 488CA Printer

User’s Guide

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E Copyright Hewlett-Packard Company 1997, 1998

Manual part number: C6082-90001

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The information contained in this document is subject to change without notice and should not be construed as a commitment by Hewlett-Packard Company.

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C6082-90001 English

User’s Guide

HP DesignJet 430, 450C and 488CA Printers

First edition, October 1998

Finding information

This User’s Guide for the HP DesignJet 430, 450C and 488CA printers contains the following types of information:

Setup Use Maintenance Troubleshooting Reference material.

T o help with finding specific information, a comprehensive table of contents is provided at the front and an alphabetical index is provided at the back.

You will notice the use of symbols in the left margin and shaded backgrounds to the text. These are used to identify different types of information as follows:

430

450C/488CA

Information specific only to the HP DesignJet 430 is shown like this.

Information specific only to the HP DesignJet 450C and 488CA is shown like this.

All other information is applicable to all printers.

The accompanying Quick Reference Guide contains selected information to help with everyday use of the printer. It is designed to be stored in the plastic pocket at the side of the printer.

Where to find the most commonly needed information

To find how to ... Go to ...

Install the printer Connect the printer Configure the printer using the Setup Sheet Load media

Chapter 1

Page 1–17

Page 1–19

Page 2–9

Set the print quality Check cartridge alignment Replace a cartridge

Page 3–15

Chapter 5

Page 7–2

To find how to ... Go to ...

cover

Clean the cartridge nozzles by priming them Interpret the lights on the front panel Clear a media jam Solve print quality problems Order accessories

T o find any other information ...

Main controls of your printer

Page 7–7

Chapter 8

Page 9–5

Page 9–12

Page 10–17

Go to the index

at the back

this manual.

media load button

media lever

front panel

power switch

iii

www.designjet-online.hp.com

Direct access to HP and the information you

want, when you need it. Register now!

HP DesignJet Online is a free, web-based “user club” exclusive to HP DesignJet users. Having registered, the user has unrestricted access to a range of useful services, the emphasis being on “useful”, as this is definitely not a sales-oriented site.

Communication from HP to users includes:

a quarterly newsletter focussing on usage tips, technical briefings and examples of HP DesignJet applications around the world;

full information on worldwide HP Customer Care contacts; an online HP DesignJet Diagnosis troubleshooting tool; a calendar of HP DesignJet-related events and programs; online access to training videos and selected user documents; and immediate information on new products.

Communication from the users to HP includes:

feedback on HP DesignJet features; automatic contact with HP Customer Care from the troubleshooting tool, for HP

to follow up; and the chance to ask technical questions on large-format printing to industry

experts.

And finally, communication from user to user includes the chance to win prizes by submitting HP DesignJet success stories, as well as a user-to-user discussion forum where users can share best practices and ask for advice from their fellow professionals.

HP DesignJet Online is available in English, German, French, Italian, Spanish and Portuguese.

Contents

Finding information ii Main controls of your printer iii www.designjet-online.hp.com iv Welcome ix

1 Setting up your printer

Fast track 1–2

Setup checklist 1–3 T ask 1: Check that you have all the items required 1–4 T ask 2: (Optional) Install a memory expansion module 1–6 T ask 3: Position the printer 1–8 T ask 4: Switch on 1–9 T ask 5: Load the print cartridge(s) 1–10 T ask 6: (Optional) Change the language 1–14 T ask 7: Connect the printer to your computer 1–17 T ask 8: (Optional) Configure the printer 1–19 T ask 9: Set up the printer in your application software 1–24 T ask 10: Send a sample or demonstration print 1–26

CONTENTS

2 Working with media

Caring for your media 2–2 Choosing media 2–2

Supported media types and relative costs 2–3 Physical characteristics of media types 2–4 Recommended print quality settings and recommended media for color

prints 2–5

T ypical media-type choices by application 2–6 Before loading media 2–7 Before sending your file 2–8 Loading sheet media 2–9

T o load a sheet (without the roll-feed option installed) 2–9

T o realign the sheet manually (if necessary) 2–13 Loading roll media 2–16

T o change the roll 2–16

T o feed roll media into the printer 2–19 T o load a sheet with the roll-feed option installed 2–24

Contents

Unloading media 2–25

Drying time 2–25 T o unload a sheet at the end of a print 2–26 T o unload a sheet under any other circumstances 2–26 T o cut and unload a print from a roll 2–27

3 Controlling your print’s appearance

Ways to control the print’s appearance 3–2 Page size 3–3

When do you need to adjust the page size in the printer? 3–4 T o adjust the page size in the Setup Sheet 3–5 Page size and clipped prints 3–6

Rotating a print 3–7

Can you rotate any drawing using the Setup Sheet? 3–7 T o rotate a print using the printer’s Setup Sheet 3–7 Exactly what is rotated? 3–8 The Rotate feature and clipped prints 3–9

How does Rotate interact with your software? 3–9 Printing a mirror image 3–10 Changing the treatment of overlapping lines (Merge feature) 3–11 Changing the printer’s logical pen characteristics 3–12 Printing color drawings in monochrome 3–13

T o switch from color to monochrome 3–13

Important points about monochrome printing 3–14 Choosing an appropriate print quality 3–15

T o change the print quality on the front panel 3–16 Print quality recommendations 3–18

4 Managing your prints

T o cancel a print 4–2 T o copy a print 4–2 T o advance the media 4–3

5 Special internal prints

Their purpose and how to print them 5–2 Using the Black Cartridge Alignment Sheet 5–4 Using the Color Cartridge T est Sheet 5–8 Using the Print Quality T est Print 5-12

Printing the Print Quality T est Print 5-13

6 Reconfiguring your printer

T o see the current configuration of the printer 6–2 T o change the serial interface settings 6–3 T o change the graphics language setting for less common applications 6–3 T o change the I/O timeout setting 6–4 T o upgrade your printer with more memory 6–4

File size and memory usage 6–4 T o upgrade your printer with a network interface 6–4 T o upgrade the HP DesignJet 430 printer with color 6–5

7 Maintaining your printer

Replacing cartridges 7–2

When to replace cartridges 7–2

Using genuine HP supplies 7–3

Before replacing cartridges 7–4

T o replace one or more cartridges 7–5 Cleaning the cartridge nozzles (priming) 7–7 Cleaning the printer 7–9

Contents

CONTENTS

8 Front-panel lights and keys

Front-panel lights 8–2 Front-panel keys 8–7

9 Troubleshooting

Using the documentation 9–2 Locating the source of your problem 9–3 Solving media-handling problems 9–4

If the printer will not accept your media 9–4

If the printer continually rejects your media, with the Load Media light

flashing 9–4 Clearing a media jam 9–5 Solving communication problems 9–8 Solving problems with print position or content 9–9

If the print is completely blank 9–9 If the output contains only a partial print 9–9 If the print is clipped 9–10 If the entire print is in one quadrant of the correct printing area 9–10 If one print overlays another print on the same sheet 9–10 If the output is distorted or unintelligible 9–11

vii

Contents

If the printer has drawn a different print from the one you were

expecting 9–11

If pen settings seem to have no effect 9–11

Solving print-quality problems 9–12

If there are white streaks in solid areas or gaps in lines 9–12 If there are jagged vertical or horizontal lines 9–14 If there are slightly warped lines 9–14 If there are color “shadows” 9–14 If a cartridge is not printing at all 9–14 If the print quality appears to be poor just in one part of the print 9–14 If there are blurred lines (ink “bleeds” from lines) 9–15 If there are blotchy areas (uneven fill density) 9–15 If there is other pronounced banding in area fills 9–15 If ink smears after you remove a print 9–15

Solving miscellaneous problems 9–16

If the printer does not print 9–16 If the printer seems too slow 9–16

Getting help 9–17

What to do before you call 9–17 If a repair is needed 9–18

10 Reference

Printer specifications 10–2 Interface specifications 10–8

Parallel (Centronics) cable 10–9

Serial (RS-232-C) cables 10–10 Interface cables 10–11 Regulatory notices 10–12 Ordering accessories 10–16

HP part numbers for HP DesignJet Papers and Films 10–19

How to order supplies and accessories 10–20

11 Glossary

Index Documentation map Please give us your feedback

viii

(removable pages)

Welcome

An introduction to the HP DesignJet 430, 450C and 488CA printers and their accessories

WELCOME

430

450C/

488CA

The HP DesignJet 430, 450C and 488CA are large-format inkjet printers employing HP disposable print cartridge technology.

The HP DesignJet 430 prints in monochrome and uses a single cartridge, containing black ink, one of which is supplied with your printer.

The HP DesignJet 450C and 488CA print in color or monochrome, using yellow, cyan, magenta and black cartridges, a set of which is supplied with your printer. All other supported colors are generated using these four cartridges.

Welcome

Accessories

Roll-feed kit

Legs assembly

Extra spindles

430

You have a large series of accessories available for use with your printer, including:

A roll-feed kit

A separate legs assembly

Extra spindles for the roll-feed, for easy changing of rolls

Memory expansion modules.

In addition, for the HP DesignJet 430:

A color upgrade kit, allowing the printer to be upgraded to a HP DesignJet

450C.

For the full range of available accessories, see page 10–17.

Welcome

450C/488CA

Media

You can print on sheet media up to E/A0 size or D/A1 size, depending on the printer model you have.

With the addition of the optional roll-feed kit, you can also print on roll media up to E/A0 or D/A1 width.

A large range of media types is supported2:

Bright White Inkjet Paper Translucent bond Natural tracing paper Vellum Coated paper Heavyweight coated paper Matte and clear film.

In addition, on the HP DesignJet 450C and 488CA:

High-gloss film. High-gloss photo.

WELCOME

For best quality prints, use HP media, as your printer’s configuration is optimized for it and tested with it. For details of HP media, see page 10–20 and any separate

HP media literature supplied with the printer.

T o indicate which media type you have loaded, use the printer’s front panel.

1. It is possible that, since the publication of this document, more media types have been tested and are now supported for your printer. For the latest information, contact your HP dealer or local HP Sales and Support office, or see page iv for information about HP’s web site.

2. There may be differences between the ways some media types are used for color and for monochrome printing. Refer to “Choosing media” on page 2–2.

Welcome

Print quality

You can choose between three print quality options:

Best Normal Fast.

In general, the better the print quality you choose, the slower the printing routine. The highest resolution in color, for the HP DesignJet 450C and 488CA, is 300 dpi (dots per inch) and the highest addressable* resolution in monochrome, for the HP DesignJet 430, 450C and 488CA, is 600 dpi. T o select a print quality option, use either the keys on the printer’s front panel or the printer driver in your software.

Configuration settings

0.13

0.18

0.25

By pressing the Setup key on the front-panel of the printer, you can print the printer’s current configuration in a Setup Sheet. If you want to change any of the configuration settings (for example, line widths) you can do this by simply marking your changes on the Setup Sheet and feeding it back into the printer. The printer will read your request and re-configure itself automatically.

Each time you print one of these Setup Sheets it shows the printer’s latest configuration—and so please keep the latest one filed with your Quick Reference Guide in the pocket at the side of the printer, so that a service engineer would know the current configuration even if the printer is temporarily inoperable.

* The “addressable” resolution refers to the smallest movement the print head can make between

dots rather than to the size of the dot.

xii

Welcome

488CA

Software applications and drivers

T o make sure that your printer prints exactly what you were expecting—in terms of size, position, orientation, color and quality—the key is to use the correct driver for the combination of your application software and your printer, and to be confident that it is configured correctly.

T wo types of HP drivers are supplied with your printer:

For users of AutoCAD For users of Microsoft Windows applications.

These drivers come with printed and online documentation to help you install and configure them correctly.

Generally , software applications include their own drivers too. For some popular applications, we have provided with this printer a set of Software Application Notes. If you find your own application in these notes, we recommend that you use the information they contain as an overall guide to configuring the software for your printer.

The CD–ROM that is supplied with the HP DesignJet 488CA contains some useful guidance on which drivers you should install. When you have set up your printer, check this information; you will be prompted again to do this on page 1–24.

WELCOME

Up-to-date information about drivers and software support is available from HP’s web site; see page iv.

Memory

Your printer comes with a basic memory of 4MB. Note that there is not a one-for-one relationship between the printer’s memory and the maximum size of file that it can print. However, in case you need to print particularly large files, the following memory expansion modules are available; 4MB*, 8MB*, 16MB, and 32MB. The maximum total memory is 36MB (4 + 32). With some drivers, there are other means of printing large files—for advice, see page 9–16.

* 4MB and 8MB memory expansion modules are not available with the HP DesignJet

488CA.

xiii

xiv

Fast track 1-2

Setup checklist 1-3 Task 1: Check that you have all the items required 1-4 Task 2: (Optional) Install a memory expansion module 1-6 Task 3: Position the printer 1-8 Task 4: Switch on 1-9 Task 5: Load the print cartridge(s) 1-10 Task 6: (Optional) Change the language 1-14 Task 7: Connect the printer to your computer 1-17 Task 8: (Optional) Configure the printer 1-19 Task 9: Set up the printer in your application software 1-24 Task 10: Send a sample or demonstration print 1-26

SETUP

Setting up your printer

1–1

Setting up your printer

Fast track

If you meet all the following requirements:

If you are happy with English as the language for the printer’s internal prints If you are experienced at installing printers or plotters If you don’t want to add extra memory If you are going to connect the printer directly to a PC If you are going to use a parallel connection

... just follow these five steps, and skip the rest of this chapter.

1 If the printer is without legs, place it at the edge of a stable platform.

Place the printer at the edge of the support, so that sheets exit without hitting the top of the stable platform

Leave enough space for your largest sheet size to hang freely from the media exit slot without touching the ground

2 Connect the power cord and the parallel cable, securing it with the cable clip, and

then switch the printer on.

3 Open the cover and load the supplied print cartridge(s) into the carriage on the left

of the printer. For help, use the label on the printer near the carriage and the documentation in the cartridge box. Don’t forget to remove the tape from the cartridge(s).

4 If you haven’t already done so, install the media deflector extensions (as described

in the Printer unpacking and assembly instructions).

1–2

Level surface

Setting up your printer

Setup checklist

5 Choose your driver disk(s), read the instructions on the label and follow the printed

instructions that were shipped with the driver.

That’ s all!

Setup checklist

Having unpacked and assembled the printer, you can use the checklist below as you complete each task explained in this chapter.

Task

Check that you have all the items required 1–4

(Optional) Install a memory expansion module 1–6

Position the printer 1–8

Switch on 1–9

Load the print cartridge(s) 1–10

(Optional) Change the language 1–14

Page

Done? (n)

SETUP

Connect the printer to your computer 1–17

(Optional) Configure the printer 1–19

Set up the printer in your application software 1–24

Send a sample or demonstration print 1–26

1–3

Setting up your printer

T ask 1: Check that you have all the items required

Task 1: Check that you have all the items required

Supplied

430

450C/ 488CA

1 You will need the following items, which were supplied with the printer:

Power cord

The power cord supplied with your printer should meet the plug requirements for your area. However, different power cords (international options) are available. If necessary, contact your dealer or HP Sales and Support Office.

Print cartridge(s)

For the HP DesignJet 430:

– One black (HP part number 51640A).

For the HP DesignJet 450C and 488CA:

– One yellow (HP part number 51644Y) – One cyan (HP part number 51644C) – One magenta (HP part number 51644M) – One black (HP part number 51640A).

Software

The following two software packs were supplied with the printer. Whether you need them depends on what application(s) you intend to use.

– Driver for AutoCAD – Driver for Microsoft Windows applications.

Media deflector extensions

The deflector extensions should already have been fitted as part of the assembly of your printer (see the the Printer unpacking and assembly instructions).

2 Inspect the printer itself and the above accessories. If you received any item in a

damaged condition, notify the dealer or HP Sales and Support Office where you purchased the printer, and file a claim with the carrier.

1–4

Setting up your printer

T ask 1: Check that you have all the items required

Not supplied

Optional

488CA

3 You will also need the following items, which were not supplied with the printer:

Interface cable

For details of suitable cables, see page 10–11. Note that the cable is supplied with the HP DesignJet 488CA printer.

Media

For details of supported media types, see page 2–3. As part of the setup routine, you may need up to three A-size or A4-size sheets, plus whatever size sheet you prefer for a sample print.

If you have fitted the optional roll-feed assembly, you can use either roll media or cut sheets; if not, you can use only cut sheets.

4 If you have bought one, you will also need your:

Memory expansion module

For details of the memory expansion modules available, see page 10–18.

HP JetDirect EX print server

This is required if you intend to connect your printer directly to a network. For details of the latest HP JetDirect EX products, contact your local HP Sales and Support Office. For configuration details, see page 1–18.

Note that the HP JetDirect EX print server is supplied with the HP DesignJet 488CA printer; you can find detailed information about it on the compact disk supplied with the HP DesignJet 488CA printer.

SETUP

1–5

Setting up your printer

T ask 2: (Optional) Install a memory expansion module

Task 2: (Optional) Install a memory expansion module

For details of the memory modules available, see page 10–18. You may install only one.

1 Make sure that the printer is switched OFF and that neither the power cord nor an

interface cable is connected.

2 Unscrew the cover plate at the back of the printer, and remove it.

1–6

Setting up your printer

T ask 2: (Optional) Install a memory expansion module

CAUTION

Before handling a memory module, either put on a grounding wrist strap and attach the end to the metal chassis of the printer, or touch the outer metal surface of the printer with your hand. Otherwise, static electricity from your

body could damage the memory module.

3 Take the memory module out of its bag, holding the module only by the edges. 4 With the module’s small notch on the left and the metallic edge away from you,

load the module into the slot nearest to you. (The other slot is not for memory

modules.) T o do this, first hold the module at an angle, and then gradually push it

back until it clicks into place vertically.

Notch

SETUP

Slot nearest to you

5 Replace the cover plate and screws.

Push until it clicks into place

1–7

Setting up your printer

T ask 3: Position the printer

Task 3: Position the printer

If you have fitted the optional legs assembly, this task does not apply. If you have not fitted the optional legs kit, position the printer as shown below. For operating temperature and humidity, see page 10–5. Allow enough space above the printer to open the cover.

If the printer is without legs ...

Level surface and sturdy support. For printer weights, see page 10–4.

Leave enough space for your largest sheet size to hang freely from the media exit slot without touching the ground.

1–8

Place the printer at the edge of the support, so that sheets exit

without hitting the top of the

support.

Task 4: Switch on

Setting up your printer

T ask 4: Switch on

WARNING

Be sure that the power cord supplied with your printer matches your ac

power connection requirements. Use only three-wire (earth-grounded) power

cords with this printer.

1 Make sure that the power switch on the front of the printer is in the OFF position

(extended).

on off

2 Plug the power cord into the socket at the back of the printer, and then into your

power outlet.

SETUP

3 Switch on the printer, by pushing the power switch.

After you switch on, the printer will execute a self diagnostic test while flashing

each of the lights for a few moments.

4 If there is no sound, nor any light on the front panel, you may have a power

problem. For troubleshooting information, see Chapter 9.

1–9

Setting up your printer

T ask 5: Load the print cartridge(s)

Task 5: Load the print cartridge(s)

1 Make sure that, on the front panel, the Cartridges light is flashing. If other lights

in the upper part (the status and error groups) are on, look up their meaning in Chapter 8. Any lights in the lower part of the panel (the print quality, media type and media source groups) are not relevant at this stage.

CARTRIDGES

WARNING

2 Open the cover using the small handle at the center front. If necessary, wait for the

cartridge carriage to move to the service station (the area on the left of the printer).

Cartridge carriage in service station

430

450C/ 488CA

Don’t touch the plastic strip that runs the length of the printer behind the cartridge carriage. Keep hair, jewelry, clothing, and foreign objects away from the printer mechanisms.

1–10

A set of cartridges was supplied with the printer:

Setting up your printer

T ask 5: Load the print cartridge(s)

430

450C/488CA

The HP DesignJet 430 is supplied with one black cartridge.

The HP DesignJet 450C and 488CA are supplied with four cartridges:

– yellow – cyan – magenta – black.

For the 450C and 488CA, each stall in the carriage has a dot indicating the color of

the cartridge that should be installed: you must put the correct cartridge in the

correct stall. The sequence of the stall colors is, from left to right, yellow, cyan,

magenta and black.

Yellow

Cyan

Magenta

Black

SETUP

For users with color-vision deficiencies. You can also identify the colors of the

cartridges by the part numbers on the boxes—see page 10–19.

Note. It is not recommended to operate the 450C or 488CA with only the black

cartridge loaded.

1–11

Setting up your printer

T ask 5: Load the print cartridge(s)

3 For each cartridge in the set:

a Take the cartridge out of its box.

b Remove the colored protective tape and tab from the cartridge’s nozzles.

450C/488CA

c For the 450C and 488CA, match the color of the cartridge’s label with the color

of the dot above the stall.

d Make sure that the printer is still switched ON. (Never install cartridges with

the printer switched off.)

e Insert the cartridge in the stall. Press down lightly and push the cartridge away

from you until it snaps into place.

Yellow

Cyan

Magenta

Black

450C/

488CA

430

f If it is installed correctly , the Ready light flashes three times. Otherwise,

re-seat it.

1–12

Setting up your printer

T ask 5: Load the print cartridge(s)

4 When all the cartridges are installed, lower the cover. On the front panel, the

Ready light should flash for up to about a minute and then go off. The Load

Media

light should then be on (together with Media Type and Print Quality lights).

READY

LOAD MEDIA

Print Quality

lights

Media Type

lights

5 Now check your cartridge alignment by running the Black Cartridge Alignment

Routine (see page 5–4) and the Color Cartridge T est Routine (see page 5–8).

SETUP

1–13

Setting up your printer

T ask 6: (Optional) Change the language

Task 6: (Optional) Change the language

All the printer’s internal prints are available in the following languages: English, French, Italian, German, Spanish, Portuguese and Japanese. By default, the language is English. If English is what you want, then you can skip this task and go to task 7.

T o change from English to any of the other languages, you must use the printer’s Setup Sheet, as explained below.

1 Load a sheet of A-size or A4-size plain paper, in portrait orientation. For help on

how to load a sheet, either refer to the pictures on the right-hand side of the printer’s media-entry slot, or see the section starting on page 2–9. Don’t forget to check that the Media Source is set to

Sheet.

When the

Print will be on underside

Ready light is on, you have loaded the sheet correctly.

1–14

Setting up your printer

T ask 6: (Optional) Change the language

2 Make sure the front-panel Media Type is set to Paper. If necessary, press the

Media T ype key until the Paper light is on.

PAPER

MEDIA TYPE

SETUP

3 Press

Setup.

SETUP

4 When the print has finished, wait until the Load Media light comes on and the

printer ejects the sheet. Remove the sheet.

LOAD MEDIA

1–15

Setting up your printer

T ask 6: (Optional) Change the language

5 The print is a Setup Sheet in English, as shown

1. Language

on page 1–21.

English

You can ignore all the information except the box in the top left, headed “1. Language”.

T ake a pencil or black pen and fill in the oval next to the language you want.

Français Deutsch Español Italiano Português

6 Reload the Setup Sheet into the printer, printed side down and with the large arrow

pointing into the printer.

When the press Setup again.

The printer now reads your marks and

Ready light comes on,

SETUP

READY

reconfigures itself automatically.

7 When the

Load Media light comes on again, remove the sheet and make sure that

the printer has marked your selection with a check mark. If it hasn’t marked the correct language, repeat this task.

LOAD MEDIA

1–16

Setting up your printer

T ask 7: Connect the printer to your computer

Task 7: Connect the printer to your computer

If you are connecting the printer directly to your computer

1 Decide whether to use the parallel or serial interface.

If your computer and your application software support it, use the parallel

interface, as it is faster. You may connect both the parallel and the serial interface

simultaneously if you wish: the printer uses the interface that first receives data.

2 Choose an interface cable.

For a list of HP cables for various computers, see the table on page 10–11. If you

are making up your own cable, refer to the interface specifications starting on

page 10–8. Use shielded interface cables only.

Note on the parallel interface. The parallel interface is an IEEE-1284-compliant

Centronics interface. The same cable can be used for both Centronics and

IEEE-1284-compatible communication.

3 Switch off the printer and the computer . 4 Connect one end of the cable to the appropriate port on the back of the printer.

Make sure the cable is secured with the cable clip.

Port for serial-interface

cable (printer end of cable:

25-pin male)

Port for parallel-interface cable (printer end of cable: 36-pin male)

SETUP

5 Connect the other end of the cable to your computer. For help on choosing the

correct port on the computer, refer to your computer documentation.

6 Switch on the computer and the printer.

1–17

Setting up your printer

T ask 7: Connect the printer to your computer

If you are connecting the printer directly to a network

You can connect your printer directly to a Local Area Network using an HP JetDirect EX external network interface, connected to the printer’s parallel port. Various network operating systems are supported, in DOS, Unixr and Macintosh environments. For the latest information on HP JetDirect EX products, contact your local HP Sales and Support office.

/488CA

For installation of the HP JetDirect EX interface with the DesignJet 430, 450C or 488CA, see the Installation Guide that comes with that product.

For installation of the DesignJet 488CA with the supplied HP JetDirect EX interface, refer to the HP DesignJet 488CA Software RIP set-up guide.

In order to be able to print from your Macintosh to the HP DesignJet 430, 450 or 488CA you should contact your local HP Sales and Support office.

1–18

Task 8: (Optional) Configure the printer

Setting up your printer

In the majority of cases, there is no need to change any of the printer’s default

settings. This may be because:

You prefer to change those settings that affect the appearance of your prints from your application software.

The printer’s factory defaults, listed on page 1–22, are acceptable.

However, if you do want to change the defaults, follow these steps, which explain

how to print and use the Setup Sheet.

Note. If you changed the language from English (see task 6 above), you already

know how to use this sheet, but this time it will be in your chosen language.

1 Load a sheet of A-size or A4-size plain paper, in portrait orientation. For help on

how to load a sheet, either refer to the pictures on the right-hand side of the

printer’s media-entry slot, or see the section starting on page 2–9. Don’t forget to

check that the Media Source is set to

When the Ready light is on, you have loaded the sheet correctly.

Sheet.

SETUP

Print will be on underside

C471307.

1–19

Setting up your printer

Task 8: (Optional) Configure the printer

2 Make sure the front-panel Media Type is set to Paper. If necessary, press the

Media T ype key until the Paper light is on.

PAPER

MEDIA TYPE

3 Press

Setup.

SETUP

4 When the print has finished, wait until the Load Media light comes on and the

printer ejects the sheet. Remove the sheet.

LOAD MEDIA

1–20

Setting up your printer

Task 8: (Optional) Configure the printer

Software

4xx

For an explanation of all the parameters

on this sheet, see the User’s Guide.

RAM: 4MB Standard + 14MB SIMM

Firmware Revision: A.69.69 (LD)

450C/488CA

7. Cutter

Enabled Disabled

SETUP

450C/488CA

1–21

Setting up your printer

Task 8: (Optional) Configure the printer

An example of a Setup Sheet is shown on the previous page. That example is for an E/A0-size printer. The items in the Setup Sheet are listed in the table below.

Setup Sheet Items and Defaults

Factory

Item

Language English Task 6 on page 1–14 explained how to change

Baud Rate 9600 (Serial interface only). You must set the baud

Parity None (Serial interface only). You must set the parity to

Graphics Language

I/O Timeout 30 minutes See page 6–4. Rotate Off See page 3–7. Mirror Off See page 3–10. Merge Off See page 3–1 1. Cutter Enabled For roll media only . See page 2–27. Color/Mono Print color as

Page Size Software See page 3–5.

Default

HP-GL (7586B) See page 6–3.

color

Comments

this.

rate to be the same as that of the computer sending the data.

be the same as that of the computer sending the data.

See page 3–13.

450C/488CA

Pen Settings Use settings

from software

1–22

Note that not all the page-size options shown in the example are available on the D-size printer.

See page 3–12.

Note that the color pen settings are only available on the HP DesignJet 450C and 488CA.

450C/488CA

Setting up your printer

Task 8: (Optional) Configure the printer

5 Follow the instructions on the Setup Sheet. Having marked the ovals to change the

settings, reload the sheet into the printer, with the printed side down, and with the

large arrow pointing into the printer.

When the

press Setup again.

The printer now reads your marks and

Ready light comes on,

SETUP

READY

reconfigures itself automatically.

SETUP

6 When the

Load Media light comes on again, remove the sheet and make sure that

the printer has marked your selection with a check mark.

LOAD MEDIA

7 Please store this latest copy of the Setup Sheet with the Quick Reference Guide in

the plastic pocket at the side of the printer, so that a service engineer would know

the current configuration even if the printer is inoperable.

1–23

Setting up your printer

T ask 9: Set up the printer in your application software

Task 9: Set up the printer in your application software

“Application software” is the software from which you intend to send prints to your printer—for example, a CAD system.

What is a driver? Your application software needs to know to which type of printer it is sending

information. This knowledge, and other configuration information, is held in a “driver.” A driver is a piece of software that handles communications between your application software and a peripheral, in this case a printer. Drivers are usually supplied as part of the application software, but they are also available separately. If they are supplied separately, you need to install them separately.

AutoCAD Supplied with the HP DesignJet printers is a pack containing drivers for AutoCAD

for DOS and AutoCAD for Windows. Please refer to the documentation supplied with these drivers.

Windows applications Supplied with this printer is a pack containing a driver for applications that work

with Microsoft Windows. Please refer to the documentation supplied with this driver.

Other applications Users of other applications should first check any Software Application Notes

supplied with the printer, to see if their application is covered there.

For other applications, there is on the next page a general recommendation as to which device to choose when setting up this printer. Device lists are not always up-to-date with the latest printers, and so with some software you may have to choose a printer other than the HP DesignJet 430, 450C or 488CA from the device list.

488CA

The CD–ROM that is supplied with the HP DesignJet 488CA contains some useful guidance on which drivers you should install. You should now check this information to decide which drivers to install.

1–24

Setting up your printer

T ask 9: Set up the printer in your application software

When choosing from a device list, follow these preferences, which are listed here

in priority sequence.

Preference 1: HP DesignJet 430/450C/455CA/488CA Preference 2: HP DesignJet 330/350C Preference 3: HP DesignJet 700/750C/750C Plus/755CM Preference 4: HP DesignJet 650C

with a preference for C2858B/C2859B rather than C2858A/C2859A.

Preference 5: HP DesignJet 220 Preference 6: HP DesignJet 200 Preference 7: HP DesignJet 600

HP DesignJet

Preference 8: HP-GL/2 Device

or a similar option including a reference to HP-GL/2.

Preference 9: Any of:

HP 7595B DraftMaster SX HP 7596B DraftMaster RX HP 7599A DraftMaster MX HP 7595C DraftMaster SX Plus HP 7596C DraftMaster RX Plus HP 7599B DraftMaster MX Plus

SETUP

If any of the options quoted above appears, then your software supports HP-GL/2.

If it doesn’t support HP-GL/2, then go to Preference 10.

Preference 10: HP 7586B

This printer supports HP-GL. However, if you choose this device you may not be able to use your printer’s parallel connection—depending on the application software.

Getting help

If in doubt, or if you have problems with your driver, refer to the section at the end

of Chapter 9 for advice on how to get help. See page iv for information about

Hewlett-Packard’ s web site for DesignJet printers.

1–25

Setting up your printer

T ask 10: Send a sample or demonstration print

Task 10: Send a sample or demonstration print

T o verify a successful configuration, choose a sample print in your application and try to print it on the printer.

In case of problems, refer in this manual to Chapter 9, “Troubleshooting”. To test whether the source of any problem is in the printer itself or in the link with your application, it is useful to print the printer’s internal demonstration print.

To print the demonstration print

1 If media is not already loaded, load roll media or a sheet, as explained in

Chapter 2, which also provides advice on the availability and use of different media types.

2 Press simultaneously the two keys Setup and Cancel:

SETUP FORM FEED CANCELREPRINT

488CA

The demonstration print summarizes the printer’s main features and includes a sample CAD drawing, using a variety of line widths and colors. It is printed in the language currently configured in the Setup Sheet. T o change the language, see task

The demonstration print of the HP DesignJet 488CA must be printed from the HP DesignJet 488CA software RIP. Please refer to the documentation supplied with this pack.

1–26

Caring for your media 2–2 Choosing media 2–2 Before loading media 2–7 Before sending your file 2–8 Loading sheet media 2–9 Loading roll media 2–16 Loading a sheet with the roll-feed option installed 2–24 Unloading media 2–25

MEDIA

Working with media

2–1

Working with media

Caring for your media / Choosing media

Caring for your media

If your printer includes the legs option, make sure the media bin is installed between the printer’s legs, so that uncut media doesn’t drag on the floor.

Make sure that the media deflector extensions have been installed correctly, so that the media path is correctly followed by the roll.

Handle film and glossy media by the edges or wear cotton gloves. Skin oils can interact with ink and cause it to smear.

Choosing media

Your printer supports many types of paper and other media types, and can operate both with sheets and, if the roll-feed option is installed, with rolls. Choosing the best media type for your requirements is the first—and most important—step in ensuring good print quality.

450C/488CA

For color printing, although most supported media types are suitable, some are not recommended. For details, see the table on page 2–5.

When choosing between opaque paper types for monochrome printing, be aware that you will use significantly less ink printing on coated paper types than on normal opaque bond.

Whenever you load a roll or a sheet, you must check that the media type specified on the printer’s front-panel is correct for the media type you are loading. It is essential for good print quality to specify this correctly. See the table on page 2–3.

You should also be aware of which print quality setting (best, normal or fast) you are using. You can set this either from your software or from the printer’s front panel. The combination of media type and print quality settings automatically tells the printer how to place the ink on the media—for example, in terms of density and number of passes of the cartridges. For more details, see the tables on pages 2–5 and 2–6.

For the best-quality prints, use HP media, as your printer’s configuration is optimized for it and tested with it. For details of HP media, see page 10–20 and

any separate HP media literature supplied with the printer.

2–2

450C/ 488CA

Supported media types and relative costs

Media type selection on the front panel

Paper HP Bright White

Coated

Film HP Matte Film Poly matte film

Glossy

Supported HP media

Inkjet Paper HP Translucent Bond Low

HP Natural Tracing Paper

HP Vellum Moderate HP Coated Paper Color inkjet paper

HP Heavyweight Coated Paper

HP Clear Film Translucent film

HP High-Gloss Photo Paper

HP High-Gloss White Film

Non-HP media also known as ...

Plain paper Printer paper

Tracing paper Extra translucent bond

Matte paper Presentation

Heavyweight color inkjet paper

Heavyweight matte paper

Matte polyester Mylar

Clear polyester

Working with media

Choosing media

Relative cost

Low

Moderate

Low/ moderate

Moderate

High

MEDIA

From time to time, new media types may become available. Up-to-date

information is available from your HP dealer or local HP Sales and Support Office.

HP Special InkJet paper and HP Heavyweight Special InkJet Paper are

supported on the HP DesignJet 430, 450C and 488CA printers.

Glossy media types are not supported on the HP DesignJet 430.

not

2–3

Working with media

Choosing media

Physical characteristics of media types

Physical characteristics

HP media

Bright White Inkjet Paper

Translucent Bond

Natural Tracing Paper

HP Vellum Cotton-

HP Coated Paper

Base Opacity

Woodpulp

fiber Wood-

pulp

Matte or Glossy

Opaque Matte No.

Semiopaque

Opaque Matte Yes.

Matte

Special coated side for printing?

Both sides are the same. If the sheet is curled, load with the curl

Load with the coated side down. On HP Coated Paper and Heavy-

weight Coated Paper, look for the small notch in the corner:

450C/ 488CA

Heavyweight Coated Paper

Matte Film Poly-

ester

Clear Film Poly-

ester

High-Gloss Photo Paper

High-Gloss White Film

Polyester

2–4

D When loading in a landscape

Semiopaque

Clear — Yes.

Opaque Glossy Yes.

Matte Yes.

Load with the matte side down.

Load with the rougher side down.

en loading in a portra orientation, make sure the notch is on the right side of the leading edge.

orientation, make sure the notch is on the left side of the leading edge.

CAD d

recommended

not recommended for

Working with media

Choosing media

Recommended print-quality settings and recommended media for color prints

450C/

488CA

Print quality

(set either on the front panel

or in the software)

HP media Fast Normal Best

HP Bright White Inkjet Paper OK for monochrome,

but color for CAD drawings only

HP Translucent Bond OK for monochrome,

not recommended for color HP Natural Tracing Paper OK for monochrome, HP Vellum HP Coated Paper OK HP Heavyweight Coated Paper HP Matte Film HP Clear Film HP High-Gloss White Film Not

HP High-Gloss Photo Paper

The limitation on the use of non-coated media for color really depends on: D the amount of area fill in your drawing (the more there is, the less likely that

the print quality on opaque bond will be satisfactory)

D the quality of the media.

ut color for

rawings only

OK for color; monochrome

MEDIA

2–5

color

packages

Coated aer

Working with media

Choosing media

Typical media-type choices by application

450C/ 488CA

Application Use Typical choice of

media

Computer-Aided Design (CAD) monochrome

Computer-Aided Design (CAD) and Geographical Information Systems (GIS)

color

Imaging and graphics

ackages

color

Drafts Bright White Inkjet

Paper Translucent bond Natural tracing paper Vellum

Final versions Bright White Inkjet

Paper Matte or clear film

Archives Vellum

Matte or clear film

Diazo reproductions

Drafts Bright White Inkjet

Final versions Coated paper

Archives Matte film

Overlays Clear film Fast or Normal Matte Bright White Inkjet

Gloss High-gloss white film Normal or Best Gloss High-gloss photo

Clear film Clear film (colors not

Translucent bond Natural tracing paper Vellum Matte film

Paper Natural tracing paper Vellum Coated paper

Heavyweight coated paper (for durability)

Matte film Clear film

Clear film

Paper (for drafts)

Heavyweight coated paper (for durability)

paper

optimized for this media type)

Probable choice of print quality

Fast or Normal Fast or Normal

Normal or Best Normal or Best

Best Best

Normal or Best Normal or Best Normal or Best Normal or Best

Fast or Normal Fast or Normal

Normal or Best Normal or Best

Normal or Best Fast or Normal

Best Normal

Fast, Normal or Best

Fast, Normal or Best Normal or Best

Normal or Best

Best

2–6

Working with media

Before loading media

Specify whether you are going to load a sheet or a roll

On the front panel, if the Roll light is on, the printer believes you are loading a roll.

Sheet light is on, it believes you are loading a sheet.

If the

ROLL SHEET

MEDIA SOURCE

MEDIA

T o toggle between the two settings, press the Media Source key.

2–7

Working with media

Before sending your file

1 Specify the media type

Press the

Media T ype key until the light comes on against the name of the media

type you are going to load. For an explanation of which media type category on the front panel should be used for each supported media type, see the table on page 2–3.

PAPER FILM COATED GLOSSY

MEDIA TYPE

Note that, if your software printer driver allows you to specify the media type, you must specify it correctly there as well.

2 Specify the print quality setting

Press the

Print Quality key until the light comes on against the print quality setting

you require.

FAST NORMAL BEST

PRINT QUALITY

For details of each print quality setting, see the table on page 3–15.

Alternatively, you may be able to specify the print quality setting from your software printer driver. In this case, the driver’s setting is used for the next print. During the print, the front-panel setting changes temporarily to that from the driver, and then resumes its previous setting again.

2–8

Working with media

Loading sheet media

To load a sheet (without the roll-feed option installed)

T o learn how to load a sheet correctly first time, follow steps 1 through 9. For subsequent help on how to load a sheet, refer to the pictures on the right-hand side of the printer’s media-entry slot.

When you load a sheet, the printer checks that it is correctly aligned. If it is not correctly aligned, the printer flashes an error on the front panel, as explained in step 10 below, and you must try again. If your alignment is almost correct, you have a chance to re-align it, as explained on page 2–14.

1 If your printer has no legs, you’ll find it easier if it is positioned at the edge of the

table.

2 Make sure that the cover is closed and that the media lever is raised.

MEDIA

media lever

3 On the front panel, make sure the Sheet light is on, to indicate that you are going

to load a sheet. Select Sheet by pressing the Media Source button.

SHEET

MEDIA SOURCE

2–9

Working with media

Loading sheet media

4 Which way round? You can load a sheet in either portrait or landscape orientation.

portrait landscape

Unless you are using the Rotate option (see page 3–7), load the sheet in the same orientation as you have specified in your software. If you are loading an A- or A4-size sheet, portrait orientation is recommended.

5 Which side down? As you load the sheet, it is the underside on which the printer

will print. With most media types, the two sides are different and so it is important to load the sheet correctly. See the table on page 2–4.

6 Hold the sheet by its edges, about 18 cm (7 in) from the top.

Don’t hold the sheet right at the top, as you would have to adjust your grip as you

push the sheet into the printer, and this would probably make you misalign it.

2–10

Working with media

Loading sheet media

7 Align the right-hand side of the sheet with the dashed line on the printer.

8 Make sure the entire top edge of the sheet—left and right—is placed inside the

entry slot and under the deflectors, especially if the sheet is wider than A- or A4-size. While keeping the right-hand side aligned with the line of holes, push the sheet up into the entry slot with both hands, until you feel resistance from the grip-rollers inside the printer.

MEDIA

9 Using your right thumb, press the Load Media button.

load media button

2–11

Working with media

Loading sheet media

The printer will start to take the sheet from you. At this point, let go!

Don’t touch the sheet while the printer feeds it out again a short way, as this would probably misalign it.

10 The printer takes about a minute to check the alignment. While it’s doing this, the

Ready light on the front panel flashes.

READY

Wait until ...

Either the Ready light stops flashing, but stays

READY

on:

Alignment good. Ready to print!

Or the Align Media lights starts flashing:

ALIGN MEDIA

2–12

Working with media

Realigning sheet media

Alignment close. Either realign the sheet manually , as explained in the next section, or

Cancel to start again from step 6 on page

press 2–10.

Media light starts flashing:

Or the

Alignment bad. The printer has rejected the sheet. Simply remove it and start again from step 6 on page 2–10. (There’s no need to press any key.)

There is another reason why the Media light may flash: the sheet may be an invalid size. For supported media sizes, see page 10–3. With very small media sizes (B/A3-loaded in landscape or A/A4-size loaded in any orientation), there’s no middle option above: unless the alignment is good, you have to remove the sheet and start again.

MEDIA

To realign the sheet manually (if necessary)

1 If the Align Media light is flashing, the printer is inviting you to realign the media

manually.

MEDIA

ALIGN MEDIA

2 Lower the media lever to release the media.

2–13

Working with media

Realigning sheet media

3 Align the edges of the media coming out of the printer with the same edges going

into the printer, by pulling them taut and aligning them by eye.

4 Raise the media lever.

2–14

media lever

Working with media

Realigning sheet media

5 The printer checks the alignment again. While it’s doing this, the Ready light on

the front panel flashes.

READY

Wait until ...

Either the

Ready light stops flashing, but stays

READY

on:

Alignment good—ready to print!

Or the Media light starts flashing:

Alignment bad. The printer has rejected the sheet. Simply remove it and start again from step 6 on page 2–10.

Notice that you have only one chance to realign the media manually. If it’s still not right after the realignment, you have to load it again.

MEDIA

2–15

Working with media

Loading roll media

To change the roll

You can order spare spindles as accessories—see page 10–19. In this way, you can keep different rolls on different spindles and make this task easier. However, except where noted, this section assumes that you are using the same spindle for both the old and the new roll.

1 If you are using the legs option, be sure the printer wheels are locked (the brake

lever pressed down) to prevent the printer from moving.

WARNING

In the next step: Don’t touch the plastic strip that runs the length of the printer behind the

cartridge carriage. Keep hair, jewelry, clothing, and foreign objects away from the printer

mechanisms.

2 If the old roll is not used up, then remove the media from the media path, as

explained here.

a Lower the media lever to release the media; raise the printer cover and lift the

bail.

b Turn the roll on the spindle to wind the media out of the printer and onto the

roll.

c Raise the media lever.

2–16

Working with media

Loading roll media

3 Remove the old roll by pulling firmly first on the left end of the spindle and then

on the right. You may find that you have to push your thumbs against the cover of the roll-feed assembly while pulling the roll with your fingers to be able to release the spindle.

If the new roll is on a different spindle, then you can skip steps 4 and 5, and go straight to step 6.

4 Remove the left media stop, and then remove the roll from the spindle, with the

right media stop still connected to the spindle.

MEDIA

2–17

Working with media

Loading roll media

5 Remove the new roll from its wrapping, place it on the spindle, so that, as the

media winds up from behind the roll, the media stop still on the spindle is on the right. Push the right media stop so that it is flush against the end of the roll (2 in the illustration below). Then insert the left media stop on the left end of the spindle.

WARNING

6 Put the loaded spindle back in the printer, pushing first the right side into place and

then the left.

Make sure that each end of the spindle slots firmly into place with an audible “click”.

It is important to make sure that the spindle is firmly in place, otherwise it could fall off the printer.

2–18

To feed roll media into the printer

1 Make sure that the cover is closed and that the media lever is raised.

Working with media

Loading roll media

MEDIA

media lever

2 On the front panel, make sure the Roll light is on, to indicate that you are going to

load a roll. Select

3 Which side down? As you load the roll, it is the underside on which the printer

will print. With most media types, the two sides are different and so it is important to load the media correctly. See the table on page 2–4.

4 If the leading edge of the roll is uneven, you may find it easier to load if you trim it

now , for example with scissors.

Roll by pressing the Media Source button.

ROLL

MEDIA SOURCE

2–19

Working with media

Loading roll media

5 Wind the media from the roll, leaving plenty free, and hold it ready to load into the

printer. Hold the media near its edges, about 18 cm (7 in) from the top.

Media path (view from right)

Don’t hold the media right at the top, as you would have to adjust your grip as you push it into the printer, and this would probably make you misalign it.

6 Align the right-hand side of the media with the line of holes on the printer.

2–20

Working with media

Loading roll media

7 Make sure the entire top edge of the roll—left and right—is placed inside the entry

slot. While keeping the right-hand side aligned with the line of holes, push the media up into the entry slot. You will feel the media come up against the media stops.

8 Using your right thumb, press the Load Media button.

MEDIA

The printer will start to take the media from you. At this point, let go!

2–21

Working with media

Loading roll media

Don’t touch the media while the printer feeds it out again a short way, as this would probably misalign it.

9 Realigning the media is an essential, not optional, part of the roll-loading

procedure.

When the Align Media light is flashing, the printer is waiting for you to realign the media, as explained below.

ALIGN MEDIA

10 Lower the media lever to release the media.

2–22

Working with media

Loading roll media

11 Align the edges of the media coming out of the printer with the same edges going

into the printer, by pulling them taut with both hands and aligning them by eye.

Make sure that the right-hand side of the media is aligned with the line of holes on the printer, and the roll. You may need to manually unroll a small amount of the media from its roll, to align the sheet satisfactorily.

MEDIA

12 Raise the media lever.

2–23

Working with media

T o load a sheet with the roll-feed option installed

To load a sheet with the roll-feed option installed

From time to time you may want to load a separate sheet even though you normally use a roll—for example, to use the Setup Sheet.

1 If a roll is currently loaded in the printer, unload it as explained on page 2–16, step

2a—c, remembering to raise the media lever again when it’s done.

2 On the front panel, make sure the

to load a sheet.

Sheet light is on, to indicate that you are going

SHEET

MEDIA SOURCE

3 Load the sheet as explained starting with step 4 on page 2–10.

2–24

450C/ 488CA

Working with media

Unloading media

Drying time

On some media types, the ink needs to dry before the print is unloaded. Since the printer knows which media type you are using, it allows the appropriate drying time to elapse before the printing process is complete. During the drying time, the appropriate media type light as well as the ready will flash. After the drying time is complete, the flashing will stop, and the to let you know you can unload the printed media. At any time you can terminate the drying time by pressing the Form Feed key.

T ypical Drying Times (minutes)

Print Quality

Fast Normal

HP Media T ype

HP Bright White Inkjet Paper 0 1.5

HP Translucent Bond 0 1.0

HP Natural Tracing Paper 0 1.0

HP Vellum 0 3.0

HP Coated Paper 0 0.25

HP Heavyweight Coated Paper 0 0.25

HP Matte Film Not recom-

HP Clear Film

HP High-Gloss White Film

HP High-Gloss Photo Paper

mende

Not recom-

mended

Load Media light comes on

or Best

4.5

3.0

MEDIA

Notice that you can unload some media types immediately.

2–25

Working with media

Unloading media

To unload a sheet at the end of a print

1 When the Load Media light comes on (not flashing), the print is finished.

LOAD MEDIA

2 Then simply pull the sheet downwards to remove it from the printer.

To unload a sheet under any other circumstances

Press Form Feed, wait for the sheet to be ejected and then simply pull it downwards to remove it from the printer.

FORM FEED

2–26

Working with media

Unloading media

To cut and unload a print from a roll

When the print is finished, the Ready light stops flashing and goes off.

Your printer includes a built-in cutter. The cutter automatically cuts the roll between prints, unless you have disabled it through software or the setup sheet.

MEDIA

CAUTION

While the cutter is operating, keep your fingers away from the media entry slot.

If the cutter has been disabled through software and you want to cut the roll:

1 Before cutting the roll, make sure that no other print has been sent to the printer. 2 Press the

Form Feed key. This activates the cutter.

FORM FEED

READY

2–27

2–28

Ways to control the print’s appearance 3–2 Page size 3–3 Rotating a print 3–7 Printing a mirror image 3–10 Changing the treatment of overlapping lines (Merge feature) 3–11 Changing the printer’s logical pen characteristics 3–12 Printing color drawings in monochrome 3–13 Choosing an appropriate print quality 3–15 Print quality recommendations 3–18

APPEARANCE

Controlling your print’s appearance

3–1

Controlling your print’s appearance

Ways to control the print’ s appearance

Ways to control the print’s appearance

Note: Throughout this chapter there are references to “pens”. The pens referred to

are not the printer’s physical print cartridges, but “logical” pens used in a software palette.

This chapter discusses the ways in which you can control the appearance of your prints, in terms of:

Page size Print orientation The treatment of overlapping lines Pen characteristics (widths and color/grayscale levels) Rendering color drawings in monochrome Overall print quality and resolution.

Apart from print quality, these controls are available using the Setup Sheet, an example of which is shown on page 1–21. Print quality can be changed from the front panel. This chapter explains the controls in the same order as in the list above.

Changing the settings of these controls using the Setup Sheet is explained on page 1–19.

It is also possible to override these settings within many applications and many software drivers. In some cases the printer is in control, in some cases the application or software driver is in control, and in other cases the printer interacts with the application or software driver. Whichever is the case in the circumstances is made clear in this chapter.

3–2

Terminology

Controlling your print’s appearance

Page size

The Page size option applies only when using roll media, and is used to define the way in which the printer emulates a sheet of media when printing. This section explains how to make sure that the printer prints your print in the page size you want.

Media

Page size

Margin

Printing area

Inked area

APPEARANCE

Page size This is what you can specify in your software; there it may be called “Page Size”,

“Media Size”, “Paper Size”, etc., and the options may include, for example, ISO A3, ANSI Letter, Architectural E, or Custom. If the driver’s setting is “default”, the setting you specified in the Setup sheet is used. Any other software setting overrides the Setup-sheet setting, unless the latter is Inked area and you are sending a file: in this case the Setup-sheet setting takes precedence.

In AutoCAD for DOS, however, the “User Size” is the printing area.

Margins These are fixed for the HP DesignJet 430, 450C and 488CA. The values are 17

mm on the leading and trailing edges and 5 mm on the sides.

Printing area This is the chosen page size minus the margins. For a table showing the printing

areas for standard media sizes, see page 10–7.

  This is the smallest rectangle that contains all the content of the drawing, while

maintaining its relative dimensions.

3–3

Controlling your print’s appearance

Page size

When do you need to adjust the page size in the printer?

Normally you don’t need to. The default setting in the printer is:

Software. Depending on the driver you are using, you may not need to change

the page size in the Setup sheet. The setting of the printer interacts with your application or software driver, and the printer uses any software value.

But if you wish, you can specify the page size either from your software or by using the printer’s Setup Sheet, as explained here.

If you want a printed page of the exact size that you have specified in your software, use the

With this setting, your application or your software driver is normally in control, but see the comment regarding this setting in the table on page 3–5.

See also the section on “Page size and clipped prints” on page 3–6. If you want your prints to be on a page meeting a specific standard (for

example, ISO or ANSI), but the actual size within that standard is not important, specify the

Software setting in the Setup Sheet.

Best option for that standard.

For example you may want a page size that conforms to the ISO standard, but not care whether the final page size is ISO A4 or ISO A3. In this case you should specify

Best within the ISO options.

With this setting, the printer interacts with your application, or software driver, and uses the smallest standard page size into which the inked area, plus margins, will fit.

If you want all your prints on the same size paper, regardless of your print size and software/driver settings, specify a discrete page size.

For example, you may want to print an ANSI A-size print in the corner of an ANSI D-size page, leaving the rest of the page blank. In this case, specify within the ANSI options.

With this setting the printer is in control of page size.

See also the section on “Page size and clipped prints” on page 3–6.

3–4

Th size

size

ARCH E1/E/D/C/B/A

yg gy

Controlling your print’s appearance

Page size

To adjust the page size in the Setup Sheet

Size in Setup Sheet Comments

Inked area The printed page size is the inked area plus

margins. For a definition of “inked area”, see page 3–3.

Software The printer looks to your software for a page

size instruction in HP-GL/2 (the printer’s graphics language instruction set). If it is there, the printer uses that page size plus margins. If not, the printed page size is the inked area plus margins.

ISO Best “Best ...” options

A0/A1/A2/A3/A4

ANSI Best

E/D/C/B/A

JIS Best

B1/B2/B3/B4

ARCH Best

E1/E/D/C/B/A

Oversize (No “Best” option)

Over A1/A2

e printer chooses the smallest page size (from the ISO-series: A4, A3 etc.) that will hold the inked area of the print. For example, if the inked area of the print is between A3 and A4, the printer chooses A3 as the page

Discrete options

ISO A0/A1/A2/A3/A4 ANSI E/D/C/B/A JIS B1/B2/B3/B4 ARCH E1/E/D/C/B/A Oversize A1/A2

The printed page size is exactly the size you specify. The largest discrete page size you can specify depends whether your printer is an E-size or a D-size model.

APPEARANCE

3–5

Controlling your print’s appearance

Page size

Page size and clipped prints

When setting your page size, be aware that with some combinations of page size and print size, the printer may print what it can, but may clip your print:

If you specify in your software a page/print size that is larger than the physical size of the media loaded in the printer.

A2 media in the printer

Clipped area

A1 page size in software

If you specify in software a page size setting that is too small for the print, the print will be clipped, even though the physical media size may be adequate.

If you specify a discrete page size in the Setup Sheet that is too small for the print, the print may be clipped, even though the physical media size may be adequate.

Page size specified in software

or in Setup Sheet

Clipped area

Physical roll media size

Full print size

3–6

Controlling your print’s appearance

Rotating a print

Can you rotate any drawing using the Setup Sheet?

No. The Rotate option available in the Setup Sheet is applicable only if the file contains no raster data.

The normal line drawings of most CAD software do not contain raster data, and therefore you can use this Microsoft Windows drivers supplied with this printer, your files do contain raster data and therefore you cannot use this

Rotate option. However, if you are using one of the

Rotate option.

To rotate a print using the printer’s Setup Sheet

Providing your print file does not contain raster data, you can rotate a print using the Setup Sheet, without changing the drawing in your software.

The available options are:

Auto rotate (roll media only). With this setting, the printer will automatically

rotate a print by 90_, providing it will fit on the available media, if this will save media.

Rotate off. With this setting, the printer will print as requested by your

software, without adding any rotation. This is the default.

Rotate 90_. With this setting, the printer will rotate all prints by 90_,

counterclockwise relative to the drawing’s orientation in your software:

Rotate off Rotate 90_

APPEARANCE

3–7

Controlling your print’s appearance

Rotating a print

Exactly what is rotated?

With roll media, both the drawing and the page orientation are rotated.

Rotate off Rotate 90_

Notice that the narrow margins are always at the side, regardless of the orientation.

With sheet media, the drawing is rotated, but the page orientation specified in your software is retained. (You should always load sheet media in the same orientation as you have specified in the software.)

Rotate off Rotate 90_

3–8

Controlling your print’s appearance

Rotating a print

The Rotate feature and clipped prints

With either roll or sheet media, if you rotate to landscape a print whose original orientation was portrait, the media may not be wide enough for the drawing, which may be clipped. For example, rotating by 90_ a portrait D/A1-size print on D/A1-size media will probably result in a clipped print. Clipping does not occur

Auto rotate, which checks whether the rotated print will fit.

with

How does Rotate interact with your software?

The printer adds the rotation setting to any rotation angle you specify in your software.

For software applications which, like the printer, rotate counterclockwise (for example, CorelDRAW!) the result is the sum. For example, if your software specifies 180_ rotation, and you set final rotation will be 270_.

For software applications which rotate clockwise (for example, AutoCAD) the result is the difference. For example, if your software specifies 90_ rotation, and you set

Rotate 90_ in the Setup Sheet, there will be no rotation.

Rotate 90_ in the Setup Sheet, your print’s

APPEARANCE

Auto rotate behaves in the same way, if media could be saved.

Note that Auto rotate will rotate a print to save media, even if you have chosen a best-fit page size in the Setup Sheet (see page 1–19). However the effects may not be what you expect.

Note that the Windows driver deactivates rotation.

3–9

Controlling your print’s appearance

Printing a mirror image

You can print a mirror image of a drawing, using the Setup Sheet, without changing the drawing in your software.

The available options are:

Mirror off. With this setting, the printer will print as requested by your

software, without adding any mirroring. This is the default.

Mirror on. With this setting, the printer will produce a mirror image of a

drawing, relative to the drawing’s orientation in your software:

Mirror off Mirror on

3–10

Controlling your print’s appearance

Changing the treatment of overlapping lines (Merge feature)

The Merge feature provides two alternative settings for the treatment of overlapping lines in the Setup Sheet:

450C/488CA

430

Merge off.

A subsequent line hides a previous line where they overlap.

Merge off.

A subsequent line hides a previous line where they overlap.

Merge on.

Overlapping lines and area fills are merged.

Merge on.

Overlapping lines and area fills are merged.

APPEARANCE

You can set this feature from your software in some applications, for example in AutoCAD.

3–11

Controlling your print’s appearance

Changing the printer’s logical pen characteristics

The characteristics of the printer’s logical pens, referenced by your software, can be set either by software or by the settings for pens 1 through 8 in the Setup Sheet. The default is to use settings from the software.

Sometimes you may, for example, want to produce a set of drawings all with the same pen settings, but without having to change the software settings for the individual drawings. In this case you can choose to provide the pen settings from the printer.

450C/488CA

430

If you want to provide your own settings in the printer and use those, use the

Settings

section in the Setup Sheet and select Use settings from tables below.

Pen

Using this option, you can specify the Width and Color/Grayscale of logical pens 1 through 8.

Item Available options

Pens 1 through 8. Width (mm) 0.13, 0.18, 0.25, 0.35, 0.50, 0.70, 1.00

Note that 0.13 mm is a one-pixel line width and renders

some colors as a dot pattern. Grayscale (%) 100, 80, 60, 40, 20, 10, 5 Color Black, Red, Green, Yellow, Blue, Magenta, Cyan

For the HP DesignJet 430, only pen Width and Grayscale are available.

Once you have chosen your pen settings, you can change back to

from software

and your settings will be saved for future use if you require.

Use settings

Note. If you want to produce black and white drawings instead of grayscale, then, unless your driver has an option for this, choose

Use settings from tables below

and set all 8 pens to Black/100% Grayscale. If you are using one of the Windows drivers supplied with the printer, you must set this in the driver since the driver overrides the Pen Settings in the Setup Sheet.

3–12

Controlling your print’s appearance

Printing color drawings in monochrome

You can successfully print color drawings in monochrome with the HP DesignJet 430, 450C or 488CA.

430

450C/488CA

If you send a color file to the HP DesignJet 430 and your software settings are for printing in color, the printer will automatically convert the print to grayscale.

However, if your printer is set to Setup Sheet grayscale levels used. If you want to control these yourself, you must select

Use settings from tables below and set them in the Setup Sheet, as described on

page 3–12.

The default setting with the HP DesignJet 450C and 488CA is to print color as color. However, you may want to print a color drawing in monochrome. For example:

You may want a draft where color is not important, perhaps to check that the print is not going to be clipped

You may want a version for photocopying in monochrome.

Pen Settings (see page 3–12), you will have no control over the

Use settings from software (the default) in the

To switch from color to monochrome

With the HP DesignJet 450C and 488CA, if your application or software driver has a color/mono setting, use this, since the Setup Sheet setting is normally overridden by software. If not, you can set the printer to print in monochrome by selecting

Print color as grayscale in the Color/Mono section of the Setup Sheet.

APPEARANCE

You can force a color print to monochrome, regardless of the application/driver setting (except with the supplied Windows driver), by additionally setting the Pen

Settings

The Setup Sheet setting also affects the printer’s internal demonstration prints.

Note that if there is no color information in your print file, the printer will print only a black-and-white print, not grayscale.

to Use settings from tables below (see page 3–12).

3–13

Controlling your print’s appearance

Printing color drawings in monochrome

Important points about monochrome printing

The monochrome print will render colors as grayscales. If you want your print printed in only black and white, then you should set all your logical pens to black, either in your software (easily achieved in CAD software by using a pen number that is 100% black) or in the Setup Sheet (see page 3–12).

With monochrome printing, you have the option to choose between 300 and 600 dpi resolution (see page 3–15).

450C/ 488CA

430

– With the HP DesignJet 450C and 488CA, the resolution on glossy media is

always 300 dpi. This is because, with the printing is performed using the cyan, yellow and magenta cartridges; the black cartridge is not used.

– With the HP DesignJet 430, glossy media is not supported.

For 600 dpi addressable resolution, you must set the appropriate options (for example, “color as grayscale” or “all as black” and “best” or “normal”) in the driver.

Glossy media type selected, all

3–14

430

Controlling a print’s overall appearance

Choosing an appropriate print quality

You can control the overall print quality of your print from the printer’s front panel.

Resolution

Print Quality Speed Ink Used

Fast Highest Least 150 x 300 dpi.

Normal Normal

Best Lowest

Note that glossy media types are not supported on the HP DesignJet 330.

Note that glossy media types are not supported on the HP DesignJet 430.

Most

Monochrome Color

600 x 600 dpi.

(450C and 488CA: except for glossy media types, on

which the resolution is

always 300 dpi.)

450C/ 488CA

300 x 300 dpi.

APPEARANCE

Alternatively, you can specify the print quality setting from your software printer driver. In this case, the driver’s setting is used for the next print. During the print, the front-panel setting changes temporarily to that from the driver, and then resumes its previous setting again.

The exact printing process used by the printer varies not only with your print quality setting, but also with your specification of the media type (see page 2–3). Recommended combinations of print quality and media type are given in the table on page 2–5.

Recommended media types for various applications are given in the table on page 2–6.

General tips By choosing Fast, you will get draft-quality output in the shortest time. By choos-

Normal, and a suitable media type, you will get high-quality output in a

ing reasonable time. By choosing Best, you will get the highest possible quality for the media type, but the printing time will be longer.

3–15

Controlling a print’s overall appearance

Choosing an appropriate print quality

To change the print quality on the front panel

Use the front-panel Print Quality key to toggle between the three print quality settings.

PRINT QUALITY

For details of each print quality level, see the table on the previous page.

The setting also affects the printer’s internal demonstration prints.

You cannot change the print quality setting for a print already received by the printer.

3–16

Controlling a print’s overall appearance

Choosing an appropriate print quality

The setting of the following parameters in the HP DesignJet 430 define the printed output quality you get:

Driver setting

in software

Grayscale

Actual plot

content

Grayscale off Fast

Grayscale on Fast

Resolution

Enhancement

Quality Level

Normal Best

selected

Resolution

(dpi)

150 x 300 300 x 300 300 x 300

150 x 300 600 x 600 600 x 600

The setting of the following parameters in the HP DesignJet 450 and 488CA define the printed output quality you get:

Driver setting

in software

Color Color off Fast

Color Grayscale off Fast

Color Grayscale on Fast

Grayscale Grayscale off Fast

Grayscale Grayscale on Fast

Actual plot

content

Resolution

Enhancement

Quality Level

selected

Normal Best

Resolution

(dpi)

300 x 300 300 x 300 300 x 300

150 x 300 300 x 300 300 x 300

150 x 300 600 x 600 600 x 600

APPEARANCE

3–17

Controlling your print’s appearance

Print quality recommendations

We advise that where possible you don’t use very large area fills with the following media:

– Opaque Bond – Translucent Bond – Vellum.

This can cause cockle. In Glossy media use Cartridges almost empty of ink can cause some kind of banding in imaging

prints. When printing renders or GIS files in Best – Paper – Mono use the driver

setting Ret=Off in case you get banding in the printout. For printing imaging files on Coated media always use

you can get banding in the printout.

Best to obtain good quality.

Best quality , otherwise

3–18

To cancel a print 4-2 To copy a print 4-2 To advance the media 4-3

PRINT4MANAGEMENT

Managing your prints

4–1

Managing your prints

T o cancel a print / To copy a print

To cancel a print

T o cancel the current print while it is being received, or while it is printing, press

Cancel.

CANCEL

The canceled print stays in memory until you send another, and so you can subsequently use Reprint to print it again. Note that, for these purposes, any internal print (see chapter 5) counts as another print.

To copy a print

T o print another copy of the last print, press Reprint.

REPRINT

It will be printed with the same settings for original copy , even if you’ve changed them on the front panel.

The following prevents

Another file has already been sent to the printer (including internal prints, for example the Setup Sheet), or

You have switched the printer off and on again since first sending the print, or Your file contains HP RTL data (which is mostly used for images) and it does

not completely fit into the memory of the printer.

4–2

Reprint from working:

Media T ype and Print Quality as the

Managing your prints

T o advance the media

To advance the media

Pressing the Form Feed key advances the media out of the media exit slot, and if roll-feed paper is loaded, cuts the paper.

FORM FEED

You may want to do this:

When the printer is in continuous printing mode (that is, the automatic cutter has been disabled through the software), you have reached the end of a series of prints and want to cut the roll after the last one (see page 2–27), or

PRINT4MANAGEMENT

T o eject damaged media after clearing a media jam (see page 9–5).

There is no need to use

Form Feed to unload a printed sheet from the printer—see

page 2–26.

Don’t press

Form Feed while a file is being received by the printer, as this

terminates the data transmission (unless you are doing this as part of a troubleshooting routine—see page 9–9).

4–3

4–4

Their purpose and how to print them 5-2 Using the Black Cartridge Alignment Sheet 5-4 Using the Color Cartridge Test Sheet 5-8 Using the Print Quality Test Print 5-12

INTERNAL

PRINTS

Special internal prints

5–1

Special internal prints

Their purpose and how to print them

Various pre-defined prints are supplied with your printer. Y ou can print these by pressing keys, or combinations of keys, on the printer’s front panel.

Print Purpose To print it, press ... See page...

Setup Sheet To configure the

printer

Demonstration Print

To test the printer

the Setup key

1–19 and chapter 3

1–26

450C/488CA

Black Cartridge Alignment Sheet

Color Cartridge Test Sheet

5–2

To select the best alignment between the two horizontal cartridge movements.

To select the best performance and alignment of all cartridges

the Setup and Cancel keys simultaneously

5–4

the Setup and Form Feed keys simultaneously

5–8

the Reprint and Cancel keys simultaneously

Print See page...T o print it, press ...Purpose

Service Configuration Print

Print Quality Test Print

These prints are essentially for use by a qualified service engineer, if troubleshooting the printer.

You may be asked to print one and read ou some details over the telephone.

Special internal prints

Their purpose and how to print them

–

the Print Quality and Media T ype keys simultaneously

5–12

CAUTION

the Form Feed and Media Source keys

simultaneously

Accuracy Calibration Print

the Form Feed and Reprint keys simultaneously

–

Except under direction of a qualified service engineer, you are advised not to press simultaneously any other combinations of keys.

INTERNAL

PRINTS

5–3

Special internal prints

Using the Black Cartridge Alignment Sheet

Some of the circumstances in which it is useful to use the Black Cartridge Alignment Sheet are explained in chapter 9, “Troubleshooting”. It tests the alignment between the two horizontal cartridge movements—movement to the right and movement to the left—and allows you to correct any misalignment. You should run the test after installing a new cartridge.

1 Load a sheet of A-size or A4-size plain paper, in portrait orientation. Make sure

you have selected this print, the printer sets the print quality level automatically.

Paper as the media type on the front panel (see page 2–3). For

Print will be on underside

For help on how to load a sheet, either refer to the pictures on the right-hand side of the printer’s media-entry slot, or see the section starting on page 2–9. Note that you cannot print the Black Cartridge Alignment Sheet on roll media. To load a sheet with the the roll-feed option installed, see page 2–24.

5–4

Special internal prints

Using the Black Cartridge Alignment Sheet

2 When you have correctly loaded the sheet (when the Ready light is on and steady),

press the

Setup and Form Feed keys simultaneously.

SETUP FORM FEED CANCELREPLOT

The Black Cartridge Alignment Sheet is printed. An example is shown on page 5–7.

3 When the Load Media light comes on (not flashing), the print is finished. Simply

remove the sheet from the printer.

INTERNAL

PRINTS

LOAD MEDIA

4 Follow the instructions on the sheet itself. As you will see, this involves you

identifying the straightest set of vertical lines in each of the two boxes.

5 If the straightest sets are already the current selection, indicated by thicker edges to

the ovals, you need do nothing more. If not, then mark the appropriate ovals, reverse the sheet as indicated, and reload it.

5–5

Special internal prints

Using the Black Cartridge Alignment Sheet

6 When the Ready light comes on, press Setup.

SETUP

READY

The printer now reads your marks and adjusts itself automatically.

7 When the

Load Media light comes on again, remove the sheet and make sure that

the printer has marked your selections with a check mark.

LOAD MEDIA

Three important points concerning the Black Cartridge Alignment procedure:

Always use the Black Cartridge Alignment Sheet immediately after printing it. Never re-use a Black Cartridge Alignment Sheet.

Any print that was in the printer’s memory before you printed the Black Cartridge Alignment Sheet has been lost and so, to print it, you must resend it.

5–6

Special internal prints

Using the Black Cartridge Alignment Sheet

4xx

INTERNAL

PRINTS

Setup

5–7

Special internal prints

Using the Color Cartridge Test Sheet

450C/ 488CA

Using the Color Cartridge Test Sheet

Some of the circumstances in which it is useful to use the Color Cartridge T est Sheet are explained in chapter 9, “Troubleshooting”. It achieves two objectives:

It tells you which cartridge, if any, is not performing correctly. It lets you check the alignment of the four cartridges to each other and, if

necessary, adjust it.

You should run the test after installing a new cartridge.

Three important points concern the Color Cartridge T est procedure:

Always use the Color Cartridge Test Sheet immediately after printing it. Never re-use a Color Cartridge Test Sheet.

Any print that was in the printer’s memory before you printed the Color Cartridge T est Sheet has been lost and so, to print it, you must resend it.

1 Load a sheet of A-size or A4-size plain paper, in portrait orientation. Make sure

you have selected this print, the printer sets the print quality level automatically.

For help on how to load a sheet, either refer to the pictures on the right-hand side of the printer’s media-entry slot, or see the section starting on page 2–9. Note that you cannot print the Color Cartridge Test Sheet on roll media. To load a sheet with the the roll-feed option installed, see page 2–24.

Paper as the media type on the front panel (see page 2–3). For

Print will be on underside

5–8

HP DesignJet 430, Designjet 450C, Designjet 488CA User's Guide

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual