HP DesignJet Z6100 Poster Printing Instructions for Windows

Download and install the printer driver

Note: Downloading and installing the following printer driver only works for people running 32-bit Windows systems. There is no comparable version for 64-bit machines.

1. Obtain the printer driver

1. Create a a folder to store your files temporarily.
2. Download the Windows printer driver to your folder.

2. Obtain the PPD file

Download the PPD file, which contains information you need when you install the printer driver.

3. Install the printer driver using the PPD information

Open the folder where you saved the driver and PPD files and double-click the winsteng.exe icon to install the AdobePS printer driver. Choose options as follows or use the above tutorial to assist your installation of the driver:

1. Click Next on the Welcome screen.
2. Read and accept the license agreement.
3. Keep the default choice (Local Printer) for Printer Connection Type and click Next.
4. In the Local Port Selection dialog box, choose File: and click Next.
5. In the Select Printer Model dialog box, click Browse and find the folder where you saved the PPD file.
   HP DesignJet Z6100 should appear in the left pane. Click OK. HP DesignJet Z610 now appears in the list of printers. Click its name if it is not already highlighted and click Next.
6. In the Sharing dialog box, for Will this printer be shared with other network users? click Not shared and click Next.
7. In the Printer Information dialog box:
1. Leave the option Do you want to use this printer as your default printer? set to No. (Ordinarily, you will probably print to a different printer. If there are no other printers defined on your system, this option will be automatically set to Yes and grayed out—you won't be able to change it. This is because the first printer installed on a Windows system is automatically made the default. You may also type a different name for the printer, if you like. This is the name that will appear in the printer selection dialog of your applications.)
2. Click No for the option Would you like to print the test page?.
3. Click Next.
8. In the Setup Information dialog box, click Install to install the driver.
9. After the files are copied, in the Printer Configuration dialog box, you will be asked Would you like to configure your printer now? Click No and click Next.
10. In the Setup Complete dialog box, you can choose to view the ReadMe file. This file contains release notes for AdobePS. We recommend reading through it for information about known problems with applications you may use. Click Finish to complete the setup. You will be prompted to restart your computer.

After you have installed the HP DesignJet Z6100 printer driver, you will be able to select the HP Z6100 DesignJet printer from the application you use to create your poster. Selecting this printer allows you to save your project as a Postscript (PS) file. You can then convert the PS file to a PDF to preview it.

Create your poster

Design your poster project with the correct paper size using the application of your choice. Below is an example for creating a poster using PowerPoint. Although Powerpoint was not designed for poster production, many people have the program and are happy with its results. If you plan on using logos in your poster presentation, use the eps format for better printing quality. If you are using UD approved logos, download the eps version, and import the file to the graphics package you are using to lay out your poster.

The HP Z6100 prints documents that are converted to PostScript files as they pass through the Onyx RIP station. By saving your file in the .ps (PostScript) format, you will be able to view your project as it will look when printed.

PowerPoint 2002/2003 Page Setup Open a new PowerPoint document. From the File menu, choose Page Setup. Choose Custom and enter your poster's dimensions. Design your poster and save it in case you need to make revisions later. From the File menu, choose Print: Choose the HP DesignJet Z6100 from the printer list. Choose Printer Properties Advanced. Choose the paper size that matches your document or create a PostScript custom size. (hint: reverse the printing dimensions from the page set-up settings in the Custom Page size definition window--see illustration on following page Click OK to save your selection. Click OK. If you have a .pdf distilling program on your computer, select the checkbox next to Print to file and click OK.

PowerPoint 2007 Page Setup Open a new PowerPoint document. From the Design tab, choose Page Setup. Enter your poster's dimensions. Design your poster and save it in case you need to make revisions later. From the MS Office icon list choose Print: Choose the HP DesignJet Z6100 from the printer list. Choose Properties and Advanced. Choose the paper size that matches your document or create a PostScript custom size. (hint: reverse the printing dimensions from the page set-up settings in the Custom Page size definition window--see illustration on following page) Click OK to save your selection. Click OK. Download and install the MS add-in to Save As a .pdf file.

Preview your poster

There are two options for previewing your poster:

• Ghostview

  Ghostview is a program that allows you to preview PostScript files. With Ghostview, you will get a general idea of what your poster will look like—colors and other features may not be exact. If you want to make changes to your poster, you must make them in the original application and then preview it again. If you do not have Ghostview or another PostScript viewing program, you can download a free copy:

Download and install Ghostview [tutorial]

1. Download and install the free Ghostview software at http://www.ghostscript.com to accurately preview your project.
2. Choose the the latest free (AFPL) release of Ghostscript, currently 9.05.
3. Save the Ghostscript and Ghostview executable files to a folder and then install them.

Preview your poster using Ghostview

1. Open the GSView program.
2. You may choose to register later by clicking "OK."
3. Use the "Media" menu to set your poster's size.
4. Choose open and browse to the .ps file you created, select, and open the file.

• Adobe Acrobat Reader

If you want an exact preview of your poster, you must convert your PostScript file to a PDF file and view it using Acrobat Reader.

• If you have Acrobat Distiller installed on your system, create the PDF file to preview it. Note: If you are using specialized fonts to produce your poster and those fonts are not installed on the HP Z6100, you must have Adobe Acrobat on your system and make sure that your fonts are embedded in the poster file.
• If you do not have Acrobat Distiller installed on your system, you can upload your PostScript file to Strauss to convert it to a PDF file:

  Convert a PostScript file to a PDF file [tutorial]

1. If you do not have access to a .pdf distiller, you may use Save As and name your Powerpoint file "name.ps" to create a PostScript file. Be sure to include the quotes in the filename. Save your file.
2. Verify that you have .ppt and .ps versions of your project saved.
3. Use the Secure Shell File Transfer program to upload your document to Strauss (see UDeploy and the Help page for instructions about installing Secure Shell software).
4. In the Secure Shell File Transfer program, click the New Terminal Window icon and, at the % prompt, type:
   distill yourfilename.ps
   You will see a process running that converts a copy of your document to a PDF file. After the window refreshes, the name of your new PDF file will appear in the remote window along with the name of your PostScript file.
5. Download the "name.pdf" file to your local directory.
   Important: If you have layered PDF files, choose the "compress" option in Acrobat before sending them to the printer.

Print your poster

Once you have previewed your file, you have two options for printing it:

• Bring it to the Smith print station to print it.
  or
• Print directly from your computer to the HP DesignJet Z6100 printer.
  
  If you wish to send your poster file directly from your PC, you will first have to create an LPR port on your system:

Create an LPR port for printing

Use the following directions or the accompanying tutorials to complete this step. If you already know what an LPR port is and how to create one, all you need is the HP Z6100's IP address which is 128.175.8.236; the printer is commonly named HPZ6100_DJRIP .

Establish an LPR port if you do not have one

1. Open the Control Panel and choose Add or Remove Programs.
2. Choose Add/Remove Windows Components in the bar at the left of the window.
3. Check the box next to Other Network File and Print Services.
4. Choose Next and OK.
5. Change the D to a C to direct the path to C:\I386.
6. Configuring will occur. Click Finish when it is complete.

Configure your LPR port

1. From the Start Menu or Control Panel go to Printers and Faxes.
2. Right click the HP DesignJet Z6100 and choose Properties.
3. Choose the Ports tab and click Add Port.
4. Choose the LPR type and click New Port.
5. Port definitions: IP address: 128.175.8.236; printer name HPZ6100_DJRIP
6. Click OK.

Once you have configured your LPR port, when you print your file to the HP Z6100, it will go directly to the printer queue.

Note: If your project is a landscape design and the page height is less than 42", turn transverse printing on. To do this:

1. From the File/Office button menu of your application, click Print.
2. Select the Hp DesignJet Z6100 printer and then click Properties.
3. In the Properties window, click the Advanced tab.
4. In the Advanced Document Settings window, under Printer Features, click Default next to Print Transverse.
5. Using the pull-down menu, select On and click OK.
6. Click OK to close the Properties window.
7. Click OK to print your poster.

After you send your poster to the printer, you will have to release the print job to have the poster printed.