XEROX 7000AP, 8000AP User Manual
User Guide
English
731 00216A-EN
Spire CXP8000 Color Server for
Xerox DocuColor 8000 Digital
Press
version 1.0
www.creo.com
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Spire CXP8000 color server
version 1.0
User Guide
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Copyright
Trademarks
Copyright © 2004 Creo Inc. All rights reserved.
No copying, distribution, publication, modification, or incorporation of this document, in whole or part, is
permitted without the express written permission of Creo. In the event of any permitted copying, distribution,
publication, modification, or incorporation of this document, no changes in or deletion of author attribution,
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exploitation, or transmitted, in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or
otherwise, without the express written permission of Creo Inc.
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reproduce the document from the PDF file for internal use. Copies produced from the PDF file must be
reproduced in whole.
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The Creo wordmark, 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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registered in the U.S. Patents and Trademark Office and may be registered in other jurisdictions.
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XEROX®, The Document Company ®, the digital X®, and DocuColor are trademarks of XEROX
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Other brand or product names are the trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.
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FCC Compliance
The Creo equipment referred to in this document complies with the requirements in Part 15 of FCC Rules for a
Class A computing device. Operation of the Creo equipment in a residential area may cause unacceptable
interference to radio and TV reception, requiring the operator to take whatever steps are necessary to correct the
interference.
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Limitation of Liability
The product, software or services are being provided on an "as is" and "as available" basis. Except as may be stated
specifically in your contract, Creo Inc. expressly disclaims all warranties of any kind, whether express or implied,
including, but not limited to, any implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose and noninfringement.
You understand and agree that Creo Inc. shall not be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, special,
consequential or exemplary damages, including but not limited to, damages for loss of profits, goodwill, use, data
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Patents
access to or alteration of your products, software or data; (iv) statements or conduct of any third party; (v) any
other matter relating to the product, software, or services.
The text and drawings herein are for illustration and reference only. The specifications on which they are based
are subject to change. Creo Inc. may, at any time and without notice, make changes to this document. Creo Inc.,
for itself and on behalf of its subsidiaries, assumes no liability for technical or editorial errors or omissions made
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limitation, loss of use, loss or alteration of data, delays, or lost profits or savings arising from the use of this
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This product is covered by one or more of the following U.S. patents:
RE37,376
4,558,302
4,743,091
4,992,864
5,049,901
5,079,721
5,103,407
5,111,308
5,113,249
5,122,871
5,124,547
5,132,723
5,150,225
5,153,769
5,155,782
5,157,516
5,208,818
5,208,888
5,247,174
5,249,067
5,283,140
5,291,273
5,323,248
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Creo Inc.
3700 Gilmore Way
Burnaby, B.C., Canada
V5G 4M1
Tel: +1.604.451.2700
Fax: +1.604.437.9891
http://www.creo.com
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Internal 731 00216A-EN
Revised August 2004
5,325,217
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5,355,446
5,359,451
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5,367,360
5,384,648
5,384,899
5,412,491
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5,420,702
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5,854,883
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5,875,288
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5,969,872
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5,995,475
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5,998,067
6,003,442
6,014,471
6,016,752
6,031,932
6,043,865
6,060,208
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6,072,518
6,090,529
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6,477,955
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6,541,181
6,545,772
6,564,018
Environment Management System (EMS)
EMS Overview
Creo is committed to the Environment Management System (EMS). According to this policy, we are
committed to keeping customers and service engineers informed about the principles of handling
company products with an emphasis on environmental conservation.
The Triple-R principles are
reduce, reuse, and recycle.
Any item that can be recycled should be recycled and any item that can be reused should be reused, to
reduce the quantities of trash that cities must handle.
Recycling
Used items such as paper, plastic, electronic parts, and glass – should be sent for recycling.
Packaging Materials
Packaging materials should be kept at the customer’s premises. For disposal, they should be sent to a
plant for paper, carton, and wood recycling.
Product Recycling and Disposal
Xerox operates a worldwide equipment take back and reuse/recycle program. Contact your Xerox sales
representative (1-800-ASK-XEROX) to determine whether this Xerox product is part of the program.
For more information about Xerox environmental programs, visit www.xerox.com/environment.
If you are managing the disposal of your Xerox product, please note that the product contains lead,
mercury and other materials whose disposal may be regulated due to environmental considerations.
The presence of lead and mercury is fully consistent with global regulations applicable at the time that
the product was placed on the market. For recycling and disposal information, contact your local
authorities. In the United States, you may also refer to the Electronic Industries Alliance web site:
www.eiae.org.
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Contents
1 Welcome 1
Welcome to the Spire CXP8000 Color Server User Guide.......................................................................... 2
Overview of Guide.................................................................................................................................... 3
Overview of Spire CXP8000 Color Server .................................................................................................. 4
Hardware and Software Components ................................................................................................6
New Features..................................................................................................................................... 6
Features............................................................................................................................................. 8
Supported Formats .......................................................................................................................... 10
Workflow ........................................................................................................................................ 10
Data Flow ........................................................................................................................................ 12
Spire CXP8000 Color Server Network Printers .................................................................................. 13
2 Getting Started 15
Turning On the Spire CXP8000 Color Server ........................................................................................... 16
Opening the Workspace From the Start Menu ................................................................................. 17
Logging On ..................................................................................................................................... 18
The Workspace....................................................................................................................................... 19
Customizing the Workspace View.................................................................................................... 20
The Server and Printer Monitors....................................................................................................... 21
The Settings Window ............................................................................................................................. 25
The Resource Center .............................................................................................................................. 26
The Job Parameters Window .................................................................................................................. 27
Handling Conflicts .................................................................................................................................. 31
Basic Job Workflow ................................................................................................................................ 31
Submitting....................................................................................................................................... 32
Processing ....................................................................................................................................... 33
Storage............................................................................................................................................ 34
Resubmitting ................................................................................................................................... 35
Turning Off the Spire CXP8000 Color Server........................................................................................... 36
3 Working From a Client Workstation 37
Default Network Printers ........................................................................................................................ 38
Setting PPD File Parameters .................................................................................................................... 39
Working From Windows Client Workstations.......................................................................................... 48
Defining a Printer on Windows Client Workstations ......................................................................... 48
Printing From Windows ................................................................................................................... 64
Working From Macintosh Client Workstations ........................................................................................ 65
Defining a Printer on Macintosh Client Workstations ....................................................................... 66
Printing from a Macintosh ............................................................................................................... 75
Spire Web Center ................................................................................................................................... 76
The Web Viewer .............................................................................................................................. 78
viii Spire CXP8000 Color Server User Guide
Downloads ...................................................................................................................................... 83
Links................................................................................................................................................ 84
Using Hot Folders ................................................................................................................................... 85
Hot Folder File Formats .................................................................................................................... 86
Hot Folders and Brisque or Prinergy jobs (GAP Formats) ................................................................... 86
Using Hot Folders from Client Workstations..................................................................................... 86
LPR Printing with the Spire CXP8000 Color Server .................................................................................. 91
Setting up an LPR Printer in Windows NT 4.0................................................................................... 91
Setting up an LPR Printer in Windows 2000 and Windows XP.......................................................... 97
Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP Command Line .......................................................... 105
Setting up an LPR Printer in Macintosh OS X (10.2)........................................................................ 106
Using the Choose Spire Over IP Utility to set up an LPR Printer in Macintosh OS 9 .......................... 108
Printing from Linux ........................................................................................................................ 114
Defining a Printer on UNIX Client Workstations ............................................................................. 117
UNIX Connectivity ................................................................................................................................ 118
Installing the SFU 3.0 Software ...................................................................................................... 118
Increasing NFS Performance Using the Windows Registry............................................................... 121
Creating a File-name Translation File.............................................................................................. 121
Configuring NFS Server Settings with SFU...................................................................................... 123
Setting Up Windows SFU for Brisque ............................................................................................. 124
Brisque Workstation Installation and Configuration Procedures...................................................... 132
Configuring and Setting up NDS .......................................................................................................... 136
Defining NDS Printer Queues in the NDS Tree....................................................................................... 137
Using the Novell NetWare Administrator Application ..................................................................... 137
Using the NDS PConsole................................................................................................................ 149
Configuring IPX Printing ....................................................................................................................... 150
Installing the Printer Drivers on a Novell Client Using the Adobe PS Application .................................... 152
4 Basic Workflows 153
Importing and Printing Jobs.................................................................................................................. 154
Importing Files............................................................................................................................... 154
Reprinting Jobs..................................................................................................................................... 156
Basic Settings ....................................................................................................................................... 156
The Print Settings Tab.................................................................................................................... 157
The Paper Stock Tab ...................................................................................................................... 166
The Print Quality Tab ..................................................................................................................... 175
5 Managing Jobs 185
Overview.............................................................................................................................................. 186
Managing the Job Queues.................................................................................................................... 186
The Queues Window ..................................................................................................................... 188
Status Information......................................................................................................................... 190
Batching Jobs ................................................................................................................................ 191
Changing the Order of Jobs in the Queues .................................................................................... 192
Suspending and Resuming Queues ................................................................................................ 192
Contents ix
Aborting a Running Job ................................................................................................................. 193
Moving a Waiting Job to the Storage Window............................................................................... 194
Viewing and Editing Job Parameters .............................................................................................. 195
Running a Rush Job ....................................................................................................................... 195
Deleting a Job................................................................................................................................ 196
Managing the Storage Window............................................................................................................ 196
Discarding RTP Information............................................................................................................ 199
Handling Jobs in the Storage Window ........................................................................................... 199
Job Editor ............................................................................................................................................. 203
Navigation Buttons ........................................................................................................................ 203
Previewing the Job......................................................................................................................... 203
Viewing Pages in the Job Editor ..................................................................................................... 204
Editing an RTP Job ......................................................................................................................... 209
Job Accounting .................................................................................................................................... 212
Viewing the Accounting Information ............................................................................................. 213
Setting the Accounting/Message Viewer ........................................................................................ 215
Printing and Exporting the Accounting Log .................................................................................... 216
Managing Virtual Printers ..................................................................................................................... 218
Job Flow............................................................................................................................................... 222
Job Ticket Report.................................................................................................................................. 223
6 Production Printing 225
Imposition Workflow ............................................................................................................................ 226
The Imposition Tab ........................................................................................................................ 227
Imposition Templates..................................................................................................................... 238
Editing Imposition Jobs .................................................................................................................. 247
High-Resolution Workflow.................................................................................................................... 248
Creo APR....................................................................................................................................... 249
OPI ................................................................................................................................................ 252
Creo APR and OPI File Formats....................................................................................................... 254
Preparing to Print Using Creo APR or OPI ....................................................................................... 254
Printing with Creo APR or OPI........................................................................................................ 255
Sample Job: Printing a Brochure Using the Creo APR Workflow ..................................................... 256
PDF Workflow ...................................................................................................................................... 257
Export as PDF2Go .......................................................................................................................... 260
Page Exceptions.................................................................................................................................... 263
The Exceptions Tab ........................................................................................................................ 263
Using Page Exception Workflows ................................................................................................... 267
Dynamic Page Exceptions ..................................................................................................................... 275
Setting the Spire CXP8000 Color Server for Dynamic Page Exceptions............................................ 275
Adding Dynamic Page Exceptions in PostScript and Variable Print Specification Formats ................. 276
Adding Dynamic Page Exceptions in PDF........................................................................................ 277
Adding Dynamic Page Exceptions in VIPP Format ........................................................................... 279
Printing Tabs Using the Dynamic Page Exceptions Workflow .......................................................... 281
Tips and Limitations ....................................................................................................................... 284
The Finishing Tab.................................................................................................................................. 285
x Spire CXP8000 Color Server User Guide
Admin. Page.................................................................................................................................. 285
Slip Sheet ...................................................................................................................................... 286
Front Cover ................................................................................................................................... 288
Back Cover .................................................................................................................................... 289
Finisher.......................................................................................................................................... 291
Fonts.................................................................................................................................................... 294
Font List ........................................................................................................................................ 294
Managing Fonts on the Spire CXP8000 Color Server...................................................................... 297
Downloading Fonts ....................................................................................................................... 298
Substituting Fonts.......................................................................................................................... 302
7 Color Workflow 303
Calibration ........................................................................................................................................... 304
Guidelines for Successful Calibration ............................................................................................. 305
The Calibration Process.................................................................................................................. 305
Calibrating the DTP32HS Densitometer.......................................................................................... 306
Color Calibration Methods ............................................................................................................ 309
Calibrating the Spire CXP8000 Color Server................................................................................... 311
Reading Color Density Data ........................................................................................................... 325
Printing the Job with the Calibration Table .................................................................................... 327
Default Color Flow ............................................................................................................................... 328
Color Mode................................................................................................................................... 332
RGB Workflow .............................................................................................................................. 333
CMYK Workflow ........................................................................................................................... 334
Spot Workflow .............................................................................................................................. 337
Destination Profile ......................................................................................................................... 338
Screening ...................................................................................................................................... 339
Calibration .................................................................................................................................... 341
Ink Saving (GCR)............................................................................................................................ 342
Color Adjustments......................................................................................................................... 344
Color Tools........................................................................................................................................... 346
Profile Manager............................................................................................................................. 346
Spot Color Editor and Workflow.................................................................................................... 351
Gradation Tool .............................................................................................................................. 354
8 Graphic Arts Workflow 365
Printing PrePress Files - GAP Files .......................................................................................................... 366
Importing GAP Files ....................................................................................................................... 366
Supporting GAP Files ..................................................................................................................... 366
GAP File Structure ......................................................................................................................... 367
Preflight Check..................................................................................................................................... 368
Preflight Report ............................................................................................................................. 369
Export as Creo Synapse InSite Job......................................................................................................... 373
Contents xi
9 VI Workflow 375
VI Overview .......................................................................................................................................... 376
VI Document Formats ........................................................................................................................... 377
Creo Variable Print Specification .................................................................................................... 378
VIPP............................................................................................................................................... 379
VIPP 2001 and PPML...................................................................................................................... 381
PostScript Files ............................................................................................................................... 381
Using Creo Variable Print Specification to Print a VI Job ........................................................................ 381
Useful VI Print Options................................................................................................................... 382
Managing VI Elements.......................................................................................................................... 385
Deleting VI Elements...................................................................................................................... 386
Archiving VI Elements .................................................................................................................... 387
Retrieving VI Elements ................................................................................................................... 387
Applying VI Structure to Large Files (Split to Booklets)........................................................................... 389
10 System Administration 391
Setting Up and Configuring the Spire CXP8000 Color Server ................................................................ 392
Server Setup .................................................................................................................................. 392
Network Setup .............................................................................................................................. 395
Remote Tools Setup....................................................................................................................... 399
Security ......................................................................................................................................... 402
System Disks.................................................................................................................................. 404
Backing up the Configuration ........................................................................................................ 405
Localization ................................................................................................................................... 409
Pre-RIP Preview .............................................................................................................................. 410
General Defaults............................................................................................................................ 411
Print Queue Manager .................................................................................................................... 411
Color ............................................................................................................................................. 413
Messages....................................................................................................................................... 416
View Configuration ....................................................................................................................... 418
System Messages.................................................................................................................................. 419
The Alerts Window ........................................................................................................................ 419
Job History..................................................................................................................................... 421
The Message Viewer...................................................................................................................... 422
Glossary 425
Index 437
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Welcome
Welcome to the Spire CXP8000 Color Server User Guide ....................2
Overview of Guide ..............................................................................3
Overview of Spire CXP8000 Color Server.............................................4
2 Chapter 1 – Welcome
Welcome to the Spire CXP8000 Color Server User Guide
Welcome to your Spire CXP8000 Color Server User Guide. This user guide
provides you with information about the Xerox DocuColor 8000 Digital
Press.
The Spire CXP8000 color server is a powerful, comprehensive color server
that provides high throughput and print predictability to digital
workflows. In combination with the Xerox DocuColor 8000 Digital Press,
the Spire CXP8000 color server effectively addresses the growth of ondemand printing needs and delivers the best output quality available.
Throughout this guide, we look forward to supporting you all the way
from prepress to print.
This user guide will help you operate the Spire CXP8000 color server. 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 Spire CXP8000 color server.
This user guide is for Spire CXP8000 color server operators and system
administrators. This guide explains how you can quickly and easily print
from the Spire CXP8000 color server or from a client workstation. Step-bystep procedures are included for new and occasional Spire CXP8000 color
server users. Detailed information is provided for users who require indepth knowledge of the Spire CXP8000 color server.
Overview of Guide 3
Overview of Guide
Table 1: Guide Overview
Chapter Contents Description
Chapter 1 Welcome This chapter introduces the guide and the Spire
CXP8000 color server features and workflows.
Chapter 2 Getting Started This chapter explains how to turn on the Spire
CXP8000 color server and provides explanations
about the Spire CXP8000 color server workspace and
main windows.
Chapter 3 Working from a Client
Wo r ks t a t io n
This chapter explains how set up Windows® and
Macintosh® client workstations and how to configure
LPR printing. It also explains how to setup and
configure Novell Directory Services.
Chapter 4 Basic Workflows This chapter explains how to perform basic
workflows in the Spire CXP8000 color server, such as
importing and printing jobs, and how to set basic
parameters in the Print Settings, Paper Stock and
Print Quality Tab.
Chapter 5
Managing Jobs This chapter explains how to manage jobs in the
Queue Manager and in the Storage window. It also
explains
how to export jobs to an InSite server and
how to use the Job Preview & Editor tool and the
Thumbnail window. A section about managing disk
space is also provided.
Chapter 6
Production Printing This chapter provides the workflows for imposition,
high resolution, PDF, and page exception (manual/
dynamic) print jobs. In addition it describes how to
select finishing options and work with fonts.
Chapter 7
Color Workflow This chapter explains how to work with color in the
Spire CXP8000 color server, and includes calibration
and RGB and CMYK workflows. It also explains how
to adjust colors, and to use color tools and post-RIP
controls.
4 Chapter 1 – Welcome
Table 1: Guide Overview
Chapter Contents Description
Chapter 8
Graphic Arts Workflow This chapter contains the graphic arts workflow,
which includes importing and supporting Graphic
Art Port (GAP) files, performing a pre-flight check,
and the Creo® Network Graphic Production
workflow.
Chapter 9
Variable Information
Wo r kf l o w
This chapter contains the procedure for printing
variable information jobs, from managing the VI
data to converting PostScript® files to VI by splitting
the file into a booklet.
Chapter 10
System Administration This chapter explains how to administrate your
system using the Administration window utilities.
Overview of Spire CXP8000 Color Server
The Spire CXP8000 color server is an on-demand pre-press system that
uses Creo Spire advanced pre-press technologies, to drive a Xerox
DocuColor 8000 Digital Press.
As an optimal digital color solution for printers, the Spire CXP8000 color
server enables you to print from Windows, Macintosh, and UNIX® client
workstations. The Spire CXP8000 color server 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 RTP (Ready-ToPrint) format for direct, high-quality digital printing. The Spire CXP8000
color server also streamlines the printing process by allowing printing with
preset workflows.
In combination with the Xerox DocuColor 8000 Digital Press, the Spire
CXP8000 color server enables you to efficiently print flyers, brochures,
pamphlets, dummy catalogs, short-run trials, and print-on-demand
publications. When installed as a fast, network printer with the Spire
CXP8000 color server, the Xerox DocuColor 8000 Digital Press prints up
to 80 full-color A4 (210mm x 297mm) or Letter (8.5 inches x 11inches)
pages per minute.
Overview of Spire CXP8000 Color Server 5
The Spire CXP8000 color server combines RIP functionalities,
automation, control tools and special hardware development capabilities
with PC architecture.
Spire CXP8000 color server for Xerox DocuColor 8000 Digital Press
WARNING: A shielded ethernet cable must be used from the Token Ring board
to the Token Ring Hub to maintain compliance with Council Directive 89/336/
EEC.
6 Chapter 1 – Welcome
Hardware and Software Components
The Spire CXP8000 color server is a dedicated Creo platform running in a
Windows 2000 environment.
The Spire CXP8000 color server includes:
• Creo hardware, including the interface board
• Software, including:
Creo Application Software
Windows 2000 Professional Operating System
Adobe® Acrobat® version 5.0
New Features
The new version of the Spire CXP8000 color server includes the following
new features:
• New GUI Design
The Spire CXP8000 color server graphic user interface has been
updated to a new design with new icons and a new feel that is moreuser-friendly. New features of the GUI include new options, such as
user profiles and preference settings.
• Security Features
New and improved security features in the Spire CXP8000 color server,
include access control, removable disk and disk wipe options.
• Client Tools
The following have been added for client workstations:
Font downloader for Windows fonts - The Spire CXP8000 color
server provides a special hot folder for downloading fonts from a
Windows client workstation. The hot folder is published in the
Spire CXP8000 color server
D:\HotFolders\HF_FontDownLoader.
Overview of Spire CXP8000 Color Server 7
You can use the HF_FontDownLoader hot folder to install new or
missing fonts to the Spire CXP8000 color server fonts dictionary.
The fonts are installed when you drag them to the hot folder.
XPIF support - The Spire CXP8000 color server can receive Xerox
Programming Information Format (XPIF), and automatically
convert this format to Spire CXP8000 color server job parameters.
UNIX connectivity – The NFS server enables the user to mount the
Spire shared/hot folder
• Color and Quality Enhancements
The following color and quality enhancements have been added:
Import RGB profiles – RGB source profiles can be imported via
Profile Manager
Destination profile – Mapping to destination profiles according to
paper sets
• Feature Enhancements
The following feature enhancements have been added:
Dynamic page exceptions - More dynamic page exception
commands within a job are supported, True Inserts within a job,
Plex SPD commands, and Support XRX commands in PDF files.
The
Preflight parameter enables you to check if your file includes
dynamic page exception commands.
Image position on a page level - The image position tool enables
you to shift an image on a specific page or range of pages.
Pre-separated files - The Spire CXP8000 color server now supports
pre-separated PostScript file and DCS file.These files are printed as
composite files.
APR enhancements - The HiRes Path dialog box now includes the
Search in the input folder check box. The Spire CXP8000 color
server first searches for high-resolution images in the same folder as
the PDL file, and then in the
D:\Shared\High Res folder.
8 Chapter 1 – Welcome
Features
The Spire CXP8000 color server provides the following:
• Creating jobs in RTP format
Using the Spire CXP8000 color server, RTP files can be created and
stored on the Spire CXP8000 color server itself. This enables you to
print RTP data at any time without further processing.
• Powerful document printing capabilities
In combination with the Xerox DocuColor 8000 Digital Press, the
Spire CXP8000 color server enables complete printing and processing
of documents, including the production of covers and pages on
different paper stocks.
• Enhanced job editing
The Spire CXP8000 color server enables you to edit jobs, both pre- and
post-RIP. Pre-RIP editing includes full Adobe Acrobat functionality
including: deletion, extraction, rotating, adding, and cropping of
pages. Post-RIP editing includes deleting job pages and merging pages
from different jobs to a new job. This minimizes the need to re-RIP
jobs.
• RIP - Adobe Postscript Level III and Extreme Certified technologies
The Spire CXP8000 color server uses the industry-standard Adobe RIP,
with enhancements for Continuous Tone and Linework. Data are
processed separately as Continuous Tone and Vector Data layers for
increased efficiency and merged during printing.
• Ready-to-Print job preview and editing
The Spire CXP8000 color server enables you to preview RTP jobs up to
pixel levels to see all job details and to verify job quality and content
post-RIP. It is also possible to view a thumbnail list of job pages, or the
actual raster pages.
• Job management
The Spire CXP8000 color server enables you to monitor job progress
during all stages of printing. Among other functions, you can promote,
demote, delete, monitor the import process, and estimate when a job
will be fully imported. You can also abort jobs during RIPing or
printing, as well as archive and retrieve jobs.
• Enhanced text and line art quality
You can choose superior text quality with the Creo proprietary
algorithm. This function enhances the quality of diagonal lines,
Overview of Spire CXP8000 Color Server 9
borders, blends, and small text. The Creo anti-aliasing causes blends to
appear smooth with no banding and diagonal lines to appear crisp
without jagged edges (do not use this option with VI jobs).
You can choose superior image quality with the Creo proprietary
smooth scale algorithm. This function improves the quality of images
containing various resolutions (such as images taken from the
Internet).
• Trapping - FAF (Full Auto Frame)
The Spire CXP8000 color server uses the well-known Creo algorithm
to trap job information easily. The FAF algorithm has been tailored for
digital printing.
• Imposition
The Spire CXP8000 color server offers a full suite of Imposition
functions, based on the well-known Ultimate Imposition engine. On
the Spire CXP8000 color server, imposition is robust with userfriendly operation. And only the Spire CXP8000 color server enables
imposition of Variable Information jobs.
• Color Management
The Spire CXP8000 color server has a number of color management
tools and utilities that will help you to improve the quality of your jobs.
The Spire CXP8000 color server enables you to modify color on-thefly, even for images that have already been RIPped. This functionality
includes application of brightness and contrast adjustments, as well as
changes to image gradation and calibration.
• Variable Information printing
The Spire CXP8000 color server enables processing of Creo Variable
Print Specification and Xerox VIPP file formats and PPML for efficient
VI (Variable Information) processing and printing. Repeated elements
are RIPped once and cached, so there is no need to continually re-RIP
them.
The Spire CXP8000 color server also provides easy management of VI
elements, including previewing, deleting and updating. The Spire
CXP8000 color server also offers imposition for VI jobs, the only
digital solution in the industry with this capability.
• Creo workflow extenders
This is a set of Adobe Photoshop and QuarkXPress software plug-ins
and extensions that facilitate printing with the Spire CXP8000 color
10 Chapter 1 – Welcome
server. These extensions are located in the shared Utilities folder on the
Spire CXP8000 color server or on CD #3 supplied with the Spire
CXP8000 color server software kit.
Supported Formats
The Spire CXP8000 color server supports the following file formats:
• PostScript (composite or pre-separated files)
• PDF
• EPS
• Creo VPS (Variable Print Specification)
• VIPP (Variable Data Intelligent PostScript Params)
• PPML (Personalized Print Markup Language)
• GAP (Graphic Art Port) files (file formats from various prepress
systems, for example Brisque job and TIFF / IT)
• Creo CT & LW
Workflow
• JPG, TIFF
• Pre-separated formats
The Spire CXP8000 color server receives and processes files from the
following client workstations:
• Macintosh – running Mac OS 9.x or later and Mac OS X (10.1 and
later)
• Windows – running Windows 98, ME, Windows NT 4.0, 2000, and XP
• UNIX Workstations and Servers
Overview of Spire CXP8000 Color Server 11
The Spire CXP8000 color server basic workflow is as follows:
User activates Print in the DTP
(for example, Microsoft PowerPoint).
User selects one of the default Spire
File is sp ooled to th e Spire c olor server.
application
color se rver virtual p rinters
(for example, ProcessPrint).
File begins processing according to settings
predefined in the file or for the selected
After the job has completed processing, the
file is prin ted to th e Docu Color p rinter, an d
an RTP (Ready-to-Print) format of the job is
stored in the storage folder on the Spire
virtual printe r.
color server.
12 Chapter 1 – Welcome
Data Flow
PDL
Processing
Software
RTP
Printer Disks RTP
Decompress and
Page Assembly
(Hardware)
Image Delivery
(Printed Page)
The Spire CXP8000 color server Data Flow is as follows:
1. The input file arrives at the Spire CXP8000 color server from either a
client workstation, local hard disk, or external media and is submitted
to the Process queue.
2. The processing sub-system produces a RTP job from the input file.
3. The RTP job is stored on an image disk.
4. When printing starts, the RTP job elements on the disk are
decompressed and merged to the correct location on the page. This is
done using Creo hardware.
5. The image delivery sub-system converts the RTP information into the
print engine format.
6. The image delivery sub-system transmits the page information to the
print engine.
7. The page data is delivered to the Print Engine and the job is printed.
Overview of Spire CXP8000 Color Server 13
Spire CXP8000 Color Server Network Printers
For Macintosh and Windows networks, the Spire CXP8000 color server
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: The job (print) parameters set in the job (from the client) override the
parameters set in the virtual printer.
The three default virtual printers are:
• SpoolStore
Files are spooled directly to the Storage window and await operator
processing. You can only import PDL files (such as: PS, PDF, VIPP,
VPS) to the spool store, not RIPped - RTP files.
• ProcessPrint
Files sent to this virtual printer are processed and printed directly to
the Xerox DocuColor 8000 Digital Press via the Spire CXP8000 color
server.
• ProcessStore
Files sent to this virtual printer are automatically processed and stored
in RTP format. After processing, the files are stored in the Storage
window of the Spire CXP8000 color server until the print operator resubmits them for printing.
With printing workflows tailored to your job requirements, the Spire
CXP8000 color server enables you to:
• Define new virtual printers
• Choose from which virtual printer to print
For information on defining and editing virtual printers, see Managing Virtual
Printers on page 218.
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Getting Started
Turning On the Spire CXP8000 Color Server......................................16
The Workspace .................................................................................19
The Server and Printer Monitors ........................................................21
The Settings Window........................................................................25
The Resource Center.........................................................................26
The Job Parameters Window.............................................................27
Basic Job Workflow...........................................................................31
Turning Off the Spire CXP8000 Color Server .....................................36
16 Chapter 2 – Getting Started
Turning On the Spire CXP8000 Color Server
1. Tu rn on th e m o ni tor.
2. Press the power button on the front panel of the Spire CXP8000 color
server.
The power indicator on the front panel lights up. The Windows
operating system starts, and the Spire CXP8000 color server splash
screen appears.
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