Printing separations at full resolution

[WPS23]

We recently got a new laser printer at my shop (Xerox Phaser 5500N) and I'm unable to print color-separations for my printers at full resolution (1200x1200). Quark and InDesign claim that it's printing at 600 dpi (which is not even the resolution I want) yet by eye I can count the individual dots. I have great eyesite but not 600dpi eyesite! : )

Anyone know the anwer or can point me in the right direction?

I'm learning but not yet knowledgable on printer drivers, but the fact that I can print out composites at 1200x1200 makes me think that I have the right drivers. Are there separate drivers for color-separation printing?

Thanks in advance for anyone that can help.

[jimking]

In InDesign, bring up your print dialog box. Under output click your color tab. A drop down window will appear giving you the option to print as a composite gray, cmyk, rgb and also seperations and in-rip seperations. If seperations are grayed out then it must be the driver or perhaps the printer is not a postscript printer which I doubt.

[WPS23]

"Separations" is not grayed out. I can print separations, just not at the laser printers full resolution.

And I just found out that I can print seps at full 1200x1200 dpi from Photoshop so I "must" (I use "must" loosely here as someone might prove me wrong) have the right drivers.

I can't print full resolution color-separations from Quark, InDesign, or Illustrator.

[rickself]

In INdesign - Does the separation list show 1200?
When you click separations, can you also click "custom" when you click each color? Adjust the resolution there?

[urstwile]

Just out of curiosity, why are you trying to print out seps at full rez?

[htmldude]

if you go under the "output" tab in your print box you should be able to change the output print resolution in "screening" options. my setup lets me choose about five different options for various line screen/dpi combos. i dont know if it matters or not but i always set "transperancy flattener" under the "advanced" tab to high resolution too.

hope this helps.

[JesterBlaze]

FYI - I'm the original designer who started this thread. WPS23 is the account I created at work.

In INdesign - Does the separation list show 1200?
When you click separations, can you also click "custom" when you click each color? Adjust the resolution there?

No, there's only 1 option when printing seps and I'm going from memory here but I think it's (60 lpi/600 dpi). Ditto with "customizing" each color.

Just out of curiosity, why are you trying to print out seps at full rez?

While it bothers me extremely we sometimes print jobs using graphics that aren't the highest quality. If the customer doesn't choose to pay for us to improve or recreate their art then there's only so much I can do. If I design something myself I fear a situation where I or someone else makes a mistake outputting plates and the printers just let it slide since their samples don't show any better.

Equally out of curiosity, are there any reasons against printing at the highest resolution possible? (I get the feeling I'm gonna get nailed with responses asking this)


if you go under the "output" tab in your print box you should be able to change the output print resolution in "screening" options. my setup lets me choose about five different options for various line screen/dpi combos. i dont know if it matters or not but i always set "transperancy flattener" under the "advanced" tab to high resolution too.

hope this helps.

My response to rickself covers the first part. I also have the "transparency flattener" set to the highest option as well.


Thanks for the responses.


Also, I should've stated this in the first post but I am able to print out many different resolutions (much higher than the 1200 x 1200 that I'm looking for here) on other output devices including the old laser printer we just got rid of, just not this specific printer (the Xerox Phaser 5500N).

[panzer]

have you the postricpt drivers installed not the plc 9OR SUMMAT LIKE THAT) drivers

you should have hi def for seperationa

you sure it hasnt got 1200 for sep ?

[Broacher]

I think you misunderstood urstwhile's question. Why seps? Why not stick with the 'normal' composite workflow? I don't see how separating things will really make resolution problems more obvious to the customers.

[urstwile]

I guess I'm confused, because the only time I print separations is to see what's happening on each plate (something InDesign's separation preview comes in really handy for). But the resolution is not the key focus for me, it's the correct things landing on each plate, and tracking down spot colors I might have overlooked somehow.

[Virgo Nightingale]

The only instance I can think of that you'd need full res separations is if the printer doesn't accept digital files at all and will make films from your seps. We have one client (a broker) who still deals with some of these printers (and I think he's their last client left), so I have to print good separations from time to time.

[urstwile]

Yup, forgot about that option, it's been so long since I've had to do that.

[Virgo Nightingale]

We've nicknamed this broker "Patches the Cat" because he constantly has us making patches for old projects that still go to these printers. :eek:

[urstwile]

Patches! Yikes, I think it's been at least ten years since I've even heard that. Although the Chinese restaurant we order from all the time is quite a liberal user of them, you can see all the cut marks all over the menu.

[Virgo Nightingale]

I'm actually on here right now because I'm procrastinating... I'm supposed to be working on one of his infamous patches right now... :rolleyes:

[upekkharich]

No, there's only 1 option when printing seps and I'm going from memory here but I think it's (60 lpi/600 dpi). Ditto with "customizing" each color.
5500N).


the 60 lpi halftone line-screen is the problem - set it to 150-175 lpi
then the halftone dots will be much much smaller and closely emulate the halftone-screening of any printer you are likely to use