Plotting Trials, Tribulations, and Successes. Introduction The Illinois State Geological Survey...

Plotting Plotting Trials, Tribulations, Trials, Tribulations,

and Successesand Successes

IntroductionIntroduction

The Illinois State Geological Survey The Illinois State Geological Survey formed a Plotter Support Technical formed a Plotter Support Technical Team in May, 2003.Team in May, 2003.

Comprised of staff from IT, GIS, public Comprised of staff from IT, GIS, public outreach, mapping, and publications outreach, mapping, and publications sectionssections Sheena Beaverson, LeAnn Benner, Daniel Sheena Beaverson, LeAnn Benner, Daniel

Byers, Craig Gain, Steven Gustison, Byers, Craig Gain, Steven Gustison, Richard Hansen, Robert Krumm, John Richard Hansen, Robert Krumm, John McLeod, Daniel Nelson, Daniel ThurstonMcLeod, Daniel Nelson, Daniel Thurston


Goals of the Plotter Support Technical Goals of the Plotter Support Technical Team Team Develop a system to produce the best Develop a system to produce the best

possible outputpossible output Derive a minimum set of standard plotting Derive a minimum set of standard plotting

methodsmethods Educate plot users about these quick and easy Educate plot users about these quick and easy

methodsmethods Enforce software RIP/discourage plotter Enforce software RIP/discourage plotter

hardware RIPhardware RIP


Over the past year, the team has worked to Over the past year, the team has worked to address the goals outlined. Main questions: address the goals outlined. Main questions: Hardware and SoftwareHardware and Software

What do we have?What do we have? What do we buy next? What do we buy next? When can we drop hardware maintenance?When can we drop hardware maintenance?

Legacy PlotsLegacy Plots File formatsFile formats Page dimensionsPage dimensions

MediaMedia ‘‘Production’ paper vs. ‘Draft’ paper vs. other mediaProduction’ paper vs. ‘Draft’ paper vs. other media

Hardware Hardware Trials and Trials and

TribulationsTribulationsLarge-format printersLarge-format printers

Hardware at the ISGSHardware at the ISGS

Agency-wide useAgency-wide use 36-inch wide HP750c36-inch wide HP750c 36-inch wide HP750c+36-inch wide HP750c+ 54-inch wide HP3500cp54-inch wide HP3500cp 36-inch wide HP1055cm36-inch wide HP1055cm

Section-specific useSection-specific use 36-inch wide HP750c+36-inch wide HP750c+ HP DesignJet 488caHP DesignJet 488ca

Hardware at Other Hardware at Other SurveysSurveys

Gina Ross Gina Ross Kansas Geological SurveyKansas Geological Survey 60-inch wide HP5500ps60-inch wide HP5500ps 54-inch wide HP3500cp54-inch wide HP3500cp 36-inch wide HP1055cm36-inch wide HP1055cm

Kathy Campbell RousharKathy Campbell Roushar Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Wisconsin Geological and Natural History

SurveySurvey 42-inch wide HP550042-inch wide HP5500 36-inch wide HP2500cp36-inch wide HP2500cp 36-inch wide HP65036-inch wide HP650

Hardware at Other Hardware at Other SurveysSurveys

Paul Schruben Paul Schruben US Geological SurveyUS Geological Survey HP755cmHP755cm HP3800cpHP3800cp HP1055cmHP1055cm

Richard KochRichard Koch US Geological Survey, Western RegionUS Geological Survey, Western Region 54-inch wide HP3500cp54-inch wide HP3500cp

Hardware DiscussionHardware Discussion

RK: Good luck, Rich … PS: RK: Good luck, Rich … PS: Just curious. Where did you get my name/address?Just curious. Where did you get my name/address?

SB: I sent the inquiry to the Digital Mapping SB: I sent the inquiry to the Digital Mapping Techniques (DMT) email list. So, if you’ve Techniques (DMT) email list. So, if you’ve never attended a DMT conference, either never attended a DMT conference, either someone in Alabamasomeone in Alabama or that or that sneaky sneaky Dave SollerDave Soller decided you needed to be on the decided you needed to be on the list…list…

RK: It’s sneaky Dave Soller …RK: It’s sneaky Dave Soller …


Most ISGS plotters have been around for 5 to Most ISGS plotters have been around for 5 to 7 years. Maintenance costs are increasing.7 years. Maintenance costs are increasing. Need decision about future hardware purchasesNeed decision about future hardware purchases

With 4 different plotter types and state With 4 different plotter types and state budget constraints, keeping supplies in stock budget constraints, keeping supplies in stock is tricky.is tricky. Can one plotter answer all needs? Media widths, Can one plotter answer all needs? Media widths,

types.types. Given the time horizon, is it possible to purchase Given the time horizon, is it possible to purchase

identical models?identical models?


HP1055cm is not the plotter to buy for HP1055cm is not the plotter to buy for output on photobase media.output on photobase media. This will probably stop us from buying a This will probably stop us from buying a

second one.second one. HP plotters seem to be popular within HP plotters seem to be popular within

the geological surveysthe geological surveys Is anyone using other brands of plotters?Is anyone using other brands of plotters?

HP5500 appears to be the next choiceHP5500 appears to be the next choice 42-inch vs. 60-inch?42-inch vs. 60-inch?

SoftwareSoftware Trials and Trials and

TribulationsTribulationsFile output and RIPFile output and RIP

Software at the ISGSSoftware at the ISGS

2 Operating systems (UNIX and PC)2 Operating systems (UNIX and PC) 9 software packages to generate for-plot files9 software packages to generate for-plot files 15 to 20 file formats within production paths15 to 20 file formats within production paths 5 methods to RIP (Raster Image Processor) 5 methods to RIP (Raster Image Processor)

filesfiles 6 custom programs to ‘streamline’ plot 6 custom programs to ‘streamline’ plot

submissionssubmissions 9 common plot file production paths9 common plot file production paths

(not to bad, considering variables multiply to (not to bad, considering variables multiply to 256)256)

Software at Other Software at Other SurveysSurveys

Randal C. PhillipsRandal C. Phillips Colorado Geological SurveyColorado Geological Survey Wasatch SoftRIPWasatch SoftRIP

Gina RossGina Ross Kansas Geological SurveyKansas Geological Survey ArcPressArcPress

As far as Onyx software, I do not like it all. I As far as Onyx software, I do not like it all. I tested it for a month. Not only it does not tested it for a month. Not only it does not handle Postscript 3 well but the service is handle Postscript 3 well but the service is terrible. terrible.


Paul SchrubenPaul Schruben USGSUSGS Onyx Postershop RIP. Onyx Postershop RIP.

We haven't set up ICC color profiles.We haven't set up ICC color profiles.

Kathy Campbell RousharKathy Campbell Roushar Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Wisconsin Geological and Natural History

Survey Survey ONYX software with the 5500 and the 2500ONYX software with the 5500 and the 2500

We have not mastered all nuancesWe have not mastered all nuances


Rich KochRich Koch USGSUSGS

Most plots go to the plotter to be RIP'd Most plots go to the plotter to be RIP'd Use Onyx Postershop for "Print-on-Use Onyx Postershop for "Print-on-

Demand" production, where we don't Demand" production, where we don't want to have to RIP the file each time a want to have to RIP the file each time a plot is requested. plot is requested.

I have only tried messing with color I have only tried messing with color calibration a couple times and was not calibration a couple times and was not especially successful. especially successful.

Software DiscussionSoftware Discussion

Getting consistent output from Getting consistent output from different plotters is a challenge.different plotters is a challenge. Color palette and saturation levelsColor palette and saturation levels

We need ‘magic bullet’ in RIP softwareWe need ‘magic bullet’ in RIP software ArcPress not feasible with ISGS production ArcPress not feasible with ISGS production

processprocess ImageReady is a noImageReady is a no Onyx was a no, but further inquiries, and a Onyx was a no, but further inquiries, and a

trip to some software consultants, brought it trip to some software consultants, brought it back to the testing phase.back to the testing phase.


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


Onyx (after proper set up)Onyx (after proper set up) Fast and consistant Fast and consistant pretty good color adjustment tools pretty good color adjustment tools a good preview application a good preview application control over scaling,rotation, output device, etc.control over scaling,rotation, output device, etc. accepts .ps files, tiffs, pdfs and other formatsaccepts .ps files, tiffs, pdfs and other formats best format is a device independent postscript filebest format is a device independent postscript file

Can be used with any plotterCan be used with any plotter Contains the color model, profile and rendering intent. Contains the color model, profile and rendering intent.

Pdfs work but, will give varying color outputPdfs work but, will give varying color output

Legacy Plot FilesLegacy Plot Files Trials and Trials and

TribulationsTribulationsFile output and RIPFile output and RIP

Legacy Plot Files at the Legacy Plot Files at the ISGSISGS

15 to 20 file formats within production paths15 to 20 file formats within production paths 12 legacy file formats in ‘plot on demand’ 12 legacy file formats in ‘plot on demand’

archivearchive With respect to Onyx (any RIP software)With respect to Onyx (any RIP software)

We have legacy files that will need to be re- We have legacy files that will need to be re- constructed to get the best color management. constructed to get the best color management.

We get an interpretation of what Onyx thinks we We get an interpretation of what Onyx thinks we want. want.

Need a file that tells Onyx exactly what we wantNeed a file that tells Onyx exactly what we want

Device independent file with embedded color Device independent file with embedded color profile. profile.

SucessesSucesses

Near-term Solutions Near-term Solutions

and and

Long-term PlanningLong-term Planning

Near-Term SolutionsNear-Term Solutions

Discontinue maintenance contracts Discontinue maintenance contracts for HP750c plotters on June 30, for HP750c plotters on June 30, 20042004

Ordering supplies for HP750c Ordering supplies for HP750c plotters designated as lowest plotters designated as lowest prioritypriority

Load draft (cheaper) media on Load draft (cheaper) media on HP750c plottersHP750c plotters

Near-Term SolutionsNear-Term Solutions

Extend maintenance contract for Extend maintenance contract for HP3500cpHP3500cp

Route all Photo base output to Route all Photo base output to HP3500cpHP3500cp

First purchase priority is Onyx for First purchase priority is Onyx for software RIP and a robust computer for software RIP and a robust computer for file spooling and queuingfile spooling and queuing Minimum output requirement is to achieve Minimum output requirement is to achieve

similar results from HP1055cm and similar results from HP1055cm and HP3500cpHP3500cp

Long-Term PlanningLong-Term Planning

Delay purchase of new plotter until Delay purchase of new plotter until concrete decision emerges in team concrete decision emerges in team discussions.discussions.

Remember not to break any popular Remember not to break any popular file submission routines until file submission routines until something better is fully tested.something better is fully tested.

Allow plotter hardware RIP on Allow plotter hardware RIP on 1055cm until ‘magic’ software is 1055cm until ‘magic’ software is found, installed, and tested. found, installed, and tested.

Long-Term PlanningLong-Term Planning

DMT Presentation to foster DMT Presentation to foster discussion among peer groupdiscussion among peer group

Find the HP representative at DMT Find the HP representative at DMT and become his best friend and become his best friend (Hi Randy, what’re doing for dinner?)(Hi Randy, what’re doing for dinner?)

Plotting Trials, Tribulations, and Successes. Introduction The Illinois State Geological Survey...

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