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Plotting Trials, Tribulations, and Successes

Plotting Trials, Tribulations, and Successes. Introduction. The Illinois State Geological Survey formed a Plotter Support Technical Team in May, 2003. Comprised of staff from IT, GIS, public outreach, mapping, and publications sections

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Plotting Trials, Tribulations, and Successes

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  1. Plotting Trials, Tribulations, and Successes

  2. Introduction • The Illinois State Geological Survey formed a Plotter Support Technical Team in May, 2003. • Comprised of staff from IT, GIS, public outreach, mapping, and publications sections • Sheena Beaverson, LeAnn Benner, Daniel Byers, Craig Gain, Steven Gustison, Richard Hansen, Robert Krumm, John McLeod, Daniel Nelson, Daniel Thurston

  3. Introduction • Goals of the Plotter Support Technical Team • Develop a system to produce the best possible output • Derive a minimum set of standard plotting methods • Educate plot users about these quick and easy methods • Enforce software RIP/discourage plotter hardware RIP

  4. Introduction • Over the past year, the team has worked to address the goals outlined. Main questions: • Hardware and Software • What do we have? • What do we buy next? • When can we drop hardware maintenance? • Legacy Plots • File formats • Page dimensions • Media • ‘Production’ paper vs. ‘Draft’ paper vs. other media

  5. Hardware Trials and Tribulations Large-format printers

  6. Hardware at the ISGS • Agency-wide use • 36-inch wide HP750c • 36-inch wide HP750c+ • 54-inch wide HP3500cp • 36-inch wide HP1055cm • Section-specific use • 36-inch wide HP750c+ • HP DesignJet 488ca

  7. Hardware at Other Surveys • Gina Ross • Kansas Geological Survey • 60-inch wide HP5500ps • 54-inch wide HP3500cp • 36-inch wide HP1055cm • Kathy Campbell Roushar • Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey • 42-inch wide HP5500 • 36-inch wide HP2500cp • 36-inch wide HP650

  8. Hardware at Other Surveys • Paul Schruben • US Geological Survey • HP755cm • HP3800cp • HP1055cm • Richard Koch • US Geological Survey, Western Region • 54-inch wide HP3500cp

  9. Hardware Discussion RK: Good luck, Rich … PS: Just curious. Where did you get my name/address? SB: I sent the inquiry to the Digital Mapping Techniques (DMT) email list. So, if you’ve never attended a DMT conference, either someone in Alabama or that sneaky Dave Soller decided you needed to be on the list… RK: It’s sneaky Dave Soller …

  10. Hardware Discussion • Most ISGS plotters have been around for 5 to 7 years. Maintenance costs are increasing. • Need decision about future hardware purchases • With 4 different plotter types and state budget constraints, keeping supplies in stock is tricky. • Can one plotter answer all needs? Media widths, types. • Given the time horizon, is it possible to purchase identical models?

  11. Hardware Discussion • HP1055cm is not the plotter to buy for output on photobase media. • This will probably stop us from buying a second one. • HP plotters seem to be popular within the geological surveys • Is anyone using other brands of plotters? • HP5500 appears to be the next choice • 42-inch vs. 60-inch?

  12. Software Trials and Tribulations File output and RIP

  13. Software at the ISGS • 2 Operating systems (UNIX and PC) • 9 software packages to generate for-plot files • 15 to 20 file formats within production paths • 5 methods to RIP (Raster Image Processor) files • 6 custom programs to ‘streamline’ plot submissions • 9 common plot file production paths • (not to bad, considering variables multiply to 256)

  14. Software at Other Surveys • Randal C. Phillips • Colorado Geological Survey • Wasatch SoftRIP • Gina Ross • Kansas Geological Survey • ArcPress • As far as Onyx software, I do not like it all. I tested it for a month. Not only it does not handle Postscript 3 well but the service is terrible.

  15. Software at Other Surveys • Paul Schruben • USGS • Onyx Postershop RIP. • We haven't set up ICC color profiles. • Kathy Campbell Roushar • Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey • ONYX software with the 5500 and the 2500 • We have not mastered all nuances

  16. Software at Other Surveys • Rich Koch • USGS • Most plots go to the plotter to be RIP'd • Use Onyx Postershop for "Print-on-Demand" production, where we don't want to have to RIP the file each time a plot is requested. • I have only tried messing with color calibration a couple times and was not especially successful.

  17. Software Discussion • Getting consistent output from different plotters is a challenge. • Color palette and saturation levels • We need ‘magic bullet’ in RIP software • ArcPress not feasible with ISGS production process • ImageReady is a no • Onyx was a no, but further inquiries, and a trip to some software consultants, brought it back to the testing phase.

  18. Software Discussion • Onyx is our RIP choice. It the industry leading RIP and, when installed correctly and properly set up, it works fine.

  19. Software Discussion • Onyx (after proper set up) • Fast and consistant • pretty good color adjustment tools • a good preview application • control over scaling,rotation, output device, etc. • accepts .ps files, tiffs, pdfs and other formats • best format is a device independent postscript file • Can be used with any plotter • Contains the color model, profile and rendering intent. • Pdfs work but, will give varying color output

  20. Legacy Plot Files Trials and Tribulations File output and RIP

  21. Legacy Plot Files at the ISGS • 15 to 20 file formats within production paths • 12 legacy file formats in ‘plot on demand’ archive • With respect to Onyx (any RIP software) • We have legacy files that will need to be re- constructed to get the best color management. • We get an interpretation of what Onyx thinks we want. • Need a file that tells Onyx exactly what we want • Device independent file with embedded color profile.

  22. Sucesses Near-term Solutions and Long-term Planning

  23. Near-Term Solutions • Discontinue maintenance contracts for HP750c plotters on June 30, 2004 • Ordering supplies for HP750c plotters designated as lowest priority • Load draft (cheaper) media on HP750c plotters

  24. Near-Term Solutions • Extend maintenance contract for HP3500cp • Route all Photo base output to HP3500cp • First purchase priority is Onyx for software RIP and a robust computer for file spooling and queuing • Minimum output requirement is to achieve similar results from HP1055cm and HP3500cp

  25. Long-Term Planning • Delay purchase of new plotter until concrete decision emerges in team discussions. • Remember not to break any popular file submission routines until something better is fully tested. • Allow plotter hardware RIP on 1055cm until ‘magic’ software is found, installed, and tested.

  26. Long-Term Planning • DMT Presentation to foster discussion among peer group • Find the HP representative at DMT and become his best friend • (Hi Randy, what’re doing for dinner?)

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