Konica Minolta IC-304 CREO, BIZHUB PRO C6500, BIZHUB PRO C6500P User Manual

IC-304 Print Controller for
bizhub PRO C6500 Printer

Version 1.0

User Guide

The essentials of imaging

English

731-00952A-EN Rev A

Copyright

Trademarks

FCC Compliance

© 2007 KONICA MINOLTA BUSINESS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Copyright © 2007 Creo Inc. All rights reserved.

This document is also distributed in Adobe Systems Incorporated's PDF (Portable Document
Format). You may reproduce the document from the PDF file for internal use. Copies produced from
the PDF file must be reproduced in whole.

KONICA MINOLTA, the KONICA MINOLTA logo, and The essentials of imaging are registered trademarks of
KONICA MINOLTA HOLDINGS, INC.

bizhub and bizhub PRO are registered trademarks of KONICA MINOLTA BUSINESS TECHNOLOGIES.

The Creo wordmark, the Creo logo, and the names of the Creo products and services referred to in this
document are trademarks of Creo Inc.

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Systems Incorporated.

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Pantone, Inc.

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Other brand or product names are the trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.

Any Creo equipment referred to in this document complies with the requirements in part 15 of the
FCC Rules for a Class A digital device. Operation of the Creo equipment in a residential area may
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Internal 731-00952A-EN

Revised January 2007

Contents

1 Welcome 1

Welcome to the IC-304 Print Controller User Guide...............................................................................2

Overview of IC-304 Print Controller ........................................................................................................ 2

Hardware and Software Components.............................................................................................. 3

Supported File Formats ................................................................................................................... 4

Workflow .......................................................................................................................................... 5

IC-304 Print Controller Network Printers ......................................................................................... 5

2 Getting Started 7

Turning On the IC-304 Print Controller ................................................................................................... 8

The Workspace ....................................................................................................................................... 9

The Printer Status Pane ................................................................................................................. 11

The Alerts Window ......................................................................................................................... 12

The Job Info Area........................................................................................................................... 12

The Preferences Window ...................................................................................................................... 14

The Resource Center ............................................................................................................................ 15

The Job Parameters Window................................................................................................................ 16

The Help Menu...................................................................................................................................... 18

Turning Off the IC-304 Print Controller ................................................................................................. 19

3 Working at a Client Workstation 21

Printing a Job from a Client Workstation .............................................................................................. 22

Defining a Printer in Windows............................................................................................................... 22

Defining a Printer - Windows XP.................................................................................................... 23

Printing From Windows.................................................................................................................. 26

Defining a Printer on Macintosh Client Workstations ........................................................................... 27

Copying the IC-304 Print Controller PPD File for Mac OS X (10.4) ............................................... 27

Setting the Network Printer for Mac OS X (10.4) ........................................................................... 28

Printing from a Macintosh .............................................................................................................. 30

Print Driver Software ............................................................................................................................. 31

Accessing the Print Driver Software .............................................................................................. 32

Disabling the Print Driver Software ................................................................................................ 39

Uninstalling the Print Driver Software ............................................................................................ 40

Using Hot Folders ................................................................................................................................. 40

Hot Folder File Formats.................................................................................................................. 42

Using Hot Folders From Your Computer ....................................................................................... 42

Web Center ........................................................................................................................................... 43

The Web Viewer ............................................................................................................................. 45

Downloads ..................................................................................................................................... 46

vi IC-304 Print Controller User Guide

4 Basic Workflows 47

Basic Job Workflow .............................................................................................................................. 48

Submitting...................................................................................................................................... 48

Processing ..................................................................................................................................... 48

Storage........................................................................................................................................... 49

Importing and Printing Jobs ................................................................................................................. 50

Importing Files ............................................................................................................................... 51

Resubmitting.................................................................................................................................. 52

Remote Scanning Application .............................................................................................................. 52

Setting Up Scan Boxes.................................................................................................................. 53

Managing Scanned Images ........................................................................................................... 56

5 Managing Jobs 59

Managing the Job Queues.................................................................................................................... 60

The Queues.................................................................................................................................... 61

Status Information.......................................................................................................................... 63

Suspending and Resuming Queues .............................................................................................. 64

Changing the Order of Jobs in the Queues ................................................................................... 64

Aborting a Running Job ................................................................................................................. 65

Batching Jobs ................................................................................................................................ 65

Moving a Waiting Job to the Storage Area .................................................................................... 66

Deleting a Job ................................................................................................................................ 67

Managing the Storage Area .................................................................................................................. 68

Handling Jobs in the Storage Area ................................................................................................ 69

Previewing a Job .................................................................................................................................. 73

Navigation Buttons ........................................................................................................................ 73

Using the Preview Tools ................................................................................................................ 74

Viewing Pages in the Job Preview & Editor Window ..................................................................... 75

Editing an RTP Job ........................................................................................................................ 77

Job Accounting..................................................................................................................................... 80

Viewing the Accounting Information ..............................................................................................81

Printing and Exporting the Accounting Log ................................................................................... 83

Clearing the Information from the Accounting Viewer ................................................................... 85

Creating Virtual Printers ........................................................................................................................ 85

Job Report ............................................................................................................................................ 87

6 Production Printing 89

Imposition ............................................................................................................................................ 90

Imposition Workflows..................................................................................................................... 90

Printing with Page Exceptions .............................................................................................................. 98

High-Resolution Workflow .................................................................................................................. 100

Creo APR ..................................................................................................................................... 101

Export as PDF2Go ....................................................................................................................... 101

Fonts ................................................................................................................................................... 102

Contents

Font List ....................................................................................................................................... 102

Managing Fonts on the IC-304 Print Controller ........................................................................... 105

Downloading Fonts ...................................................................................................................... 105

Managing Paper Type Profiles............................................................................................................ 108

Printing on Tabs Using the Tabs Plug-In for Acrobat ......................................................................... 110

Managing Tabs in the Tab Printing Window ................................................................................ 116

7 Color Workflow 119

Calibration........................................................................................................................................... 120

Color Calibration Method............................................................................................................. 120

Choosing a Calibration Mode ...................................................................................................... 121

General Tips and Guidelines ........................................................................................................ 122

Calibration Process ...................................................................................................................... 123

Viewing Calibrated Media Type Information ................................................................................ 125

Color Tools.......................................................................................................................................... 126

Managing Profiles ........................................................................................................................ 126

Editing and Creating Spot Colors ................................................................................................ 129

Using the Gradation Tool to Adjust Color .................................................................................... 132

8 VI Workflow 139

VI Overview ......................................................................................................................................... 140

VI Document Formats ......................................................................................................................... 141

Creo Variable Print Specification ................................................................................................. 142

PPML............................................................................................................................................ 143

PostScript Files ............................................................................................................................ 143

Using Creo Variable Print Specification to Print a VI Job ................................................................... 144

9 System Administration 145

Setting Up and Configuring the IC-304 Print Controller ..................................................................... 146

Server Setup ................................................................................................................................ 147

Network Setup ............................................................................................................................. 150

Remote Tools Setup .................................................................................................................... 154

Security ........................................................................................................................................ 155

System Disks................................................................................................................................ 159

Scan Management ....................................................................................................................... 160

Connected Finishers .................................................................................................................... 161

Localization .................................................................................................................................. 162

Deletion Policy ............................................................................................................................. 163

Pre-RIP Preview ........................................................................................................................... 164

Print Queue Manager ................................................................................................................... 165

Default Image Size ....................................................................................................................... 166

Calibration Device ........................................................................................................................ 167

JDF Output Path .......................................................................................................................... 168

System Messages............................................................................................................................... 169

viii IC-304 Print Controller User Guide

Job History................................................................................................................................... 169

Messages..................................................................................................................................... 170

Backing Up and Restoring the Configuration .............................................................................. 173

A Setting Parameters 175

Setting Parameters in the Job Parameters Window........................................................................... 176

Print.............................................................................................................................................. 176

Imposition .................................................................................................................................... 179

Quality .......................................................................................................................................... 185

Color ............................................................................................................................................ 189

Finishing....................................................................................................................................... 193

Exceptions ................................................................................................................................... 197

Services ....................................................................................................................................... 199

Setting Parameters in the PPD File..................................................................................................... 203

Glossary 209

Index 223

Welcome

Welcome to the IC-304 Print Controller User Guide .........................2

Overview of IC-304 Print Controller ..................................................2

2 Chapter 1—Welcome

Welcome to the IC-304 Print Controller User Guide

Welcome to your IC-304 Print Controller for the bizhub™ PRO
C6500 Printer User Guide. This user guide provides you with
information about the bizhub PRO C6500 printer.

This user guide will help you operate the IC-304 print controller. It
can also be used as a reference guide for questions or procedures.
Study this user guide to take full advantage of the many unique and
advanced features of the IC-304 print controller.

This user guide is for IC-304 print controller operators and system
administrators and explains how you can quickly and easily print
from the IC-304 print controller or from a client workstation. Step­by-step procedures are included for new and occasional IC-304
print controller users. Detailed information is provided for users
who require in-depth knowledge of the IC-304 print controller.

Overview of IC-304 Print Controller

The IC-304 print controller is an on-demand prepress system that
uses Creo advanced prepress technologies, to drive a bizhub PRO
C6500 printer.

As an optimal digital color solution for printers, the IC-304 print
controller enables you to print from Windows®, Macintosh®, and
UNIX® client workstations. The IC-304 print controller processes
image files in page-description language (PDL) formats—for
example, PostScript®, PDF, and Variable Information—using RIP
(Raster Image Processor) technology. The system converts image
files into a suitable processed format for direct, high-quality digital
printing. The IC-304 print controller
process by allowing printing with preset workflows.

In combination with the bizhub PRO C6500 printer, the IC-304
print controller enables you to efficiently print flyers, brochures,
pamphlets, dummy catalogs, short-run trials, and print-on­demand publications. When installed as a fast network printer with
the IC-304 print controller, the bizhub PRO C6500 printer prints up
to 65 full-color/black and white A4 (210mm x 297mm)/ Letter (8.5
inches x 11 inches) pages per minute.

also streamlines the printing

Overview of IC-304 Print Controller 3

The IC-304 print controller combines RIP functionalities,
automation, control tools and special hardware development
capabilities with PC architecture.

Hardware and Software Components

The IC-304 print controller is a dedicated KONICA MINOLTA platform
that runs in a Microsoft Windows XP environment.

The IC-304 print controller includes:

• KONICA MINOLTA hardware, including the interface board

• KONICA MINOLTA software

• Windows XP® Professional operating system

• Adobe® Acrobat® 7.0

4 Chapter 1—Welcome

Supported File Formats

The IC-304 print controller supports the following file formats:

• PostScript (composite or pre-separated files)

• PDF

• EPS

• Creo VPS (Variable Print Specification)

• PPML (Personalized Print Markup Language)

• JPG

• Pre-separated formats

The IC-304 print controller can import and covert the following
GAP (Graphic Art Port) file types:

• Brisque Jobs

• TIFF

• TIFF IT

• CT / LW

Overview of IC-304 Print Controller 5

Workflow

The IC-304 print controller basic workflow is as follows:

IC-304 Print Controller Network Printers

The IC-304 print controller provides three default network printers,
known also as virtual printers.

Virtual printers are a function used for automating workflows,
which then define job streaming. They contain preset workflows
that are automatically applied to all print jobs processed with that
virtual printer. There is no need to reset job settings for each job,
thus increasing printing efficiency.

Note: By default, the job parameters set in the job (from the client
workstation) override the parameters set in the virtual printer. If you add or
edit a virtual printer, you can select the Override PPD parameters check box
to override the parameters set in the PPD file.

6 Chapter 1—Welcome

The three default virtual printers are:

• Store

Files are spooled directly to the Storage area and await operator
processing. You can only import PDL files (such as: PostScript,
PDF, VPS) to this virtual printer, not RIPped - processed files.

• Print

Files sent to this virtual printer are processed and printed
directly to the bizhub PRO C6500 printer via the IC-304 print
controller.

• Process

Files sent to this virtual printer are automatically processed.
After processing, the files are stored in the
IC-304 print controller until the print operator re-submits them
for printing.

With printing workflows tailored to your job requirements, the IC­304 print controller enables you to:

Storage area of the

• Define new virtual printers

• Choose from which virtual printer to print

For more information on creating and editing virtual printers, see

Creating Virtual Printers

on page 85.

Getting Started

Turning On the IC-304 Print Controller ..............................................8

The Workspace..................................................................................9

The Preferences Window ................................................................14

The Resource Center.......................................................................15

The Job Parameters Window ..........................................................16

The Help Menu ................................................................................18

Turning Off the IC-304 Print Controller............................................19

8 Chapter 2—Getting Started

Turning On the IC-304 Print Controller

1. Tur n on th e mo n itor.

2. Open the front panel of the IC-304 print controller, and then

press the power control button.

The power indicator on the front panel lights up and the
Windows operating system starts.The IC-304 print controller
splash screen appears followed by the workspace.

Notes:

• If the workspace doesn’t appear automatically, select Start> IC-

304>IC-304 from the Windows Start menu.

• By default, the Auto Log On check box is selected in the

Preferences window. This option enables you to open the
workspace without having to go through the IC-304 print
controller logon process each time. If you want each user to
have to log on to the IC-304 print controller, clear the

check box, and then assign each user an access level and

On

password.

For more information about designating access levels, see

Security

on page 155.

Auto Log

The Workspace 9

The Workspace

After you turn on the IC-304 print controller, the workspace
automatically appears.

1
2
3

4

5

Table 1 describes the IC-304 print controller workspace.

Table 1: IC-304 print controller workspace

Item Name Description

1 Title bar Displays the name of your server and the access level with

which you logged on

2 Menu bar Consists of the

File, Manage, Queues, Too ls , Info, and Help menus.

Click a menu name to open the corresponding menu.

6

10 Chapter 2—Getting Started

Table 1: IC-304 print controller workspace

Item Name Description

3 Toolbar Consists of shortcut buttons for the Import window, Resource

Center, Calibration, Spot Color Editor, Gradation, and Alerts

4 Printer Status Displays messages about the current printer state and your

printer configuration. You can also find information about the
paper in each tray, the connected finishing devices, toner
availability, and disk space and network details.

5 Queues Consists of the

processed. After a file has been processed successfully, it
moves either to the
area.

6 Storage The

Storage area contains files that:

• were successfully printed

• were held, were aborted, or failed during processing or

printing

• were sent directly from the client workstation to the Storage

area or were imported to the

Process Queue, which lists the files to be

Print Queue (the upper area) or to the Storage

Storage area

The Workspace 11

The Printer Status Pane

The Printer Status pane displays information about the current
printer status—for example, Printing.

The printer icon displays the current printer configuration,
according to the connected feeders and finishers.

Click

Trays , Finishers, Toners, or Server to display information about

the size and type of paper in each tray, the connected finishing
devices, the available toner, and disk space and network details.

Under
recently calibrated. Progress bars display information about
incoming and outgoing jobs.

If there is a problem with one of the printer components or with the
server, a red indicator appears in the printer icon and next to the
relevant component—for example, if a tray is empty

Server, you can also view the date that the printer was most

.

12 Chapter 2—Getting Started

The Alerts Window

The Alerts window lists all of the alert messages that are generated
during the workflow.

To open the Alerts window:

On the toolbar, click Alerts.

¾

The Job Info Area

The window has two view options:

• All: To view all messages

• Selected: To view alerts related to a selected job. This is the

default view.

The

Job Info area displays a small image of each page in the

selected processed job. The

Job Info area also contains the

The Workspace 13

following information:

• Job’s title

• File type

• Paper size

• Print range

• Total number of pages in the job

• Total number of copies to print

• A box to enter the required page number and arrow buttons to

browse through the pages of your job

To open the Job Info area:

Right-click a job in the Process Queue or Print Queue, and select

¾

Job Info.

14 Chapter 2—Getting Started

The Preferences Window

You can set all system preferences in the Preferences window.

To open the Preferences window:

From the File menu, select Preferences.

¾

The window is divided into two areas:

• Administrator: All users can view these settings, but configuring

these settings depends on the access level defined for each
user.

• General: All users can view these settings, but only an

administrator or operator can configure the settings.

Note: If you log on to the IC-304 print controller as a guest, the Preferences
window is unavailable.

For more information about setting system preferences, see

Setting Up and Configuring the IC-304 Print Controller

page 146.

on

The Resource Center 15

The Resource Center

The Resource Center enables you to add, remove, and manage
external resources for the IC-304 print controller.

To open the Resource Center:

On the toolbar, click Resource Center .

¾

The Resource Center provides access to the following resources:

• Virtual printers, in which you can create, edit and remove virtual

printers, see

• Fonts, see

page 105

• Profile Manager, see

Creating Virtual Printers

Managing Fonts on the IC-304 Print Controller

Managing Profiles

• Backup & Restore configuration, see

the Configuration

• Paper Type Profiles ID, see

page 108

on page 173

Managing Paper Type Profiles

on page 85

on

on page 126

Backing Up and Restoring

on

16 Chapter 2—Getting Started

The Job Parameters Window

The IC-304 print controller enables you to edit imported PDL files
and change the job settings—for example, paper size, imposition,
and color settings—in the job parameters window.

¾ In the queues or Storage area, double-click the job whose

parameters you want to view.

Note: In the queues, you can edit the parameters of jobs that have not
begun to run. If you want to edit the parameters of a running job, you must
first suspend the queue (click the suspend button).

The job parameters window appears.

Note: If you edit the parameters of a job in the Print Queue and the changes
require re-RIPing of the job, it automatically moves to the Process Queue.

The Job Parameters Window 17

Each area in the job parameters window—for example, Print,

Imposition, or Quality— has a set of related parameters and values

that you can select.

Table 2: Description of buttons in the job parameters window

This button Enables you to

Print

Imposition

Quality

Color

Finishing

Exceptions

Set print related parameters—for example,

Print range and Media Type. See

Print

on

page 176

Set parameters related to print layout—for
example,
See

Trim Size and Imposition Method.

Imposition

on page 179

Set parameters related to print quality—for
example,

Trapping and High Image Quality—

and improve the quality of printed jobs. See

Quality

on page 185

Apply last minute color corrections, or set
the output job to match other output

Color

devices. See

on page 189

Set parameters related to finalizing your
printed document—for example, define
settings for the front and back cover. See

Finishing

on page 193

Include special exceptions in a job—for
example, use a different media type for a
front and back cover. See

Exceptions

on

page 197

Services

Set parameters that will assist your job
workflow—for example, delete jobs, in the
change the location of the entire printed
image, or enter job information

. See

Services

on page 199

18 Chapter 2—Getting Started

The Help Menu

The Help menu enables you to access the user guide and provides
information about the current version of the IC-304 print controller
installed on your computer.

To open the About window:

¾

From the Help menu, select About.

The About window displays the following information:

• IC-304 print controller version number

• Date the version was installed

• Any Microsoft Windows® updates installed after the IC-304

print controller software was installed

• Any IC-304 print controller updates that were installed on top of

the version

Turning Off the IC-304 Print Controller 19

T

To open the user guide:

¾

From the Help menu, select Top ic s .

Turning Off the IC-304 Print Controller

1. From the File menu in the workspace, select Exit.

If there are jobs that are being processed or printed, the
following message appears:

There are currently jobs running, are you sure you want
to exit the application?

If there are no jobs being processed or printed, the following
message appears:

Are you sure you want to exit the application?

The IC-304 print controller workspace closes, and you return to
the Windows desktop.

2. Verify that the IC-304 icon does not appear in your taskbar.

askbar with IC-304 icon Taskbar without IC-304 icon

3. From the Windows Start menu, Shut Down.

4. In the Shut Down Windows dialog box, select Shut down.

5. When the Windows shutdown is complete, turn off the

monitor.

6. On the IC-304 print controller, click the power button behind

the front door.

The power LED on the front panel turns off.

Note: Some situations may require the power button to be depressed for
more than 4 seconds.

20 Chapter 2—Getting Started

Working at a Client Workstation

Printing a Job from a Client Workstation.........................................22

Defining a Printer in Windows .........................................................22

Defining a Printer on Macintosh Client Workstations......................27

Print Driver Software .......................................................................31

22 Chapter 3—Working at a Client Workstation

Printing a Job from a Client Workstation

To print a job from a client workstation, select one of the following
methods:

• Print the job via one of the IC-304 print controller network

(virtual) printers—for example,
The job is spooled and then processed or printed (according to
the selected job flow of the virtual printer). If you use this
method, you can print from any application —for example,
Microsoft Word— and use any file format from any client
workstation (Windows, Macintosh, or UNIX).

For more information about printing from a client workstation,
see "Printing From Windows" on page 26 and "Printing from a
Macintosh" on page 30.

• Drag the files to a hot folder.

The job is spooled and processed or printed (according to the
selected job flow of the corresponding virtual printer).

For more information about hot folders, see "Print Driver
Software" on page 31.

Print.

If you use the hot folder method, you can print most PDL files
on the IC-304 print controller— for example, PostScript, PDF,
EPS, and Variable Print Specification files.

Note: PDL jobs that are spooled to the IC-304 print controller must have
the appropriate file name extensions—for example, *.ps or *.pdf.

Defining a Printer in Windows

The IC-304 print controller can print from a Windows client
workstation that has one of the following operating systems:

• Windows NT® 4.0 Service Pack 6

• Windows 2000 Service Pack 4

• Windows XP Version 2002 Service Pack 1 and Service Pack 2

• Windows Server 2003 Standard

• Windows 2000 Server Service Pack 4