Beginner's Course - AVS

Beginner’s Course

Table of Contents
Introduction …………………………………………………………………………… 1
Printer Functions and Applications ………………………………………………… 1
What is Print-Cut? …………………………………………………………………… 1
Workflow ……………………………………………………………………………… 2
1. Printer Preparation
Part Names and Functions ………………………………………………………… 3
Switching the Power On and Off …………………………………………………… 3
Loading Media ……………………………………………………………………… 4
Settings for the Media Heating System …………………………………………… 7
Printing a Test and Cleaning ……………………………………………………… 8
Feed Calibration …………………………………………………………………… 9
Performing Feed Calibration …………………………………………………… 10
Bidirectional Correction ………………………………………………………… 12
Necessity of Bidirectional Correction …………………………………………… 12
Performing Bidirectional Correction (Simple Setting) ………………………… 12
Cutting Adjustment ……………………………………………………………… 14
Setting the Output-Start Location ……………………………………………… 15
Canceling Output ………………………………………………………………… 16
Cutting Off Media ………………………………………………………………… 16
Other Settings …………………………………………………………………… 17
2. Output Data Preparation
Creating Output Data …………………………………………………………… 20
Creating Cut Data ………………………………………………………………… 21
3. Printing from Application
Output data from Illustrator to Roland VersaWorks ………………………… 22
A: Output data Using a Printer Driver (PS Driver) …………………………… 23
B: Output data Creating an EPS File from Illustrator ………………………… 27
4. Roland VersaWorks Settings
Basics of Roland VersaWorks ………………………………………………… 29
Job Settings and Printing ………………………………………………………… 32
5. User Maintenance
Printer Head Cleaning Using a Cleaning Stick ………………………………… 35
Replacing the separating knife ………………………………………………… 38
6. Ink and Media
ECO-SOL MAX INK Usage Conditions ………………………………………… 40
Media ……………………………………………………………………………… 41
ECO-SOL MAX INK and Media ………………………………………………… 42
ECO-SOL MAX INK Characteristics (Vinyl Media) …………………………… 42
Measures Against Warping and Shrinkage …………………………………… 43

Workflow
1. Printer preparation
2. Data creation
3. VersaWorks settings and printing
2

1
Printer Preparation
Part Names and Functions
Front cover
Open / close when loading media.
Keep this closed except when necessary.
Maintenance cover
You remove this when you
clean the print head.
Pinch rollers
These clamp the media when the
loading lever is lowered.
Loading lever
You operate this when you
load media.
Switching the Power On and Off
3
Side cover
You remove this when you perform
maintenance.
Operation panel
You use this to
perform various
operations and
settings.
Drain bottle
This collects drained ink.Discard
any collected fluid before it
overflows.
This is a main power switch and a sub power switch. Switch on both when using the printer.
Whenever output is finished, switch off the sub power only. The main power switch on the rear of the printer.
Leave it switched on at all times. It should not normally be switched off.
Main power
Sub power switch
Main power switch is on the rear of
the printer.
Leave it switched on even when the
printer is not in use.
Sub power switch is on the
operation panel.
Press to switch on. To turn it off,
hold down the switch for one
second or longer.

Loading Media
Left-hand
side
Media may be of one of two types: media wound onto a paper tube (called “roll media”) and media not rolled in
this way (called “sheet media”).
This section explains how to load media, using roll media as an example.
Never load media that weighs more than 30kg (66lb) (20kg (44lb) for the 30-inch model or 40kg (88lb) for the
VS-640 model).The machine may fail to withstand the weight and tip over or the media may fall.
1) Attach the media flanges to the roll media
Securely attach the media flanges to the core of the roll media.
Turn each knob clockwise all the way to keep the media flanges from falling out.
2) Place the roll media on the shafts of the printer
Place the roll media on the shafts and position its left and right edges to match the grit patterns. When the
position is set, make sure the media flanges are straight and secure the stoppers to fix the media.
Position the roll media so that its left and right edges are within the range of the grit marks.
Grit mark
More than 20mm
Media flange
Right-hand
side
Grit mark
Shaft
4
Expand the black part of the media
flange and fix it to the media by turning
the knob.
Grit mark
More than 20mm
Stopper
Make sure the media flanges
are straight.
Secure the
stoppers

Make sure that both edges of the media are aligned above the grit rollers (at the location of the blue sticker),
and place the pinch rollers over all grit rollers covered by the media. Be sure to place the left and right pinch
rollers (affixed with the blue stickers) at the edges of the media.
Arrange the middle pinch roller above all the grit rollers that lie between the left and right pinch rollers as
necessary.
10 mm
Grid roller position
5
10 mm
The middle pinch rollers can be attached by inserting from the orange area.
Middle pinch roller
Hold the media at the center and pull it out, being sure to keep it straight. Make sure all areas of the media are
taut.
Lower the loading lever to hold the media in place.
Loading lever
Position on the media,
10mm from the edge.

3) Clamp the edges of the media with the media clamp.
Attach the media clamps at both edges of the media.
There are long and short media clamps. Ordinarily, the short media clamps are used, but when you’re printing
media that warps easily or you want to hold the media in place more securely, use the long media clamps to
secure the edges of the media in place.
Long media clamp
Short media clamp
Note: Ensure that you detach the long media clamps if you performing media cutoff.
Performing media cutoff with the long media clamps installed may cause the long media clamps to touch
the separating knife, resulting in damage or malfunction.
Finally close the front cover. The cutting carriage moves and the printable media width is displayed on the
display screen. When above settings end, the loading of the media is completed.
6
Move the media clamps
to the side of the pitch
roller

Feed Calibration
Media movement slightly distance changes depending on the media thickness and heater temperature. If this
movement distance shifts greatly, the bandings of the printed material become obvious, and in extreme cases
result in white gaps.
Feed calibration is a function to correct errors in the media feeding of the grit rollers caused by differences in
media thickness, material and shape (roller or offcuts).
Media feeding correction can improve dot location precision and printing quality.
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How to check the feed calibration easily
The correct feed calibration can be checked easily. As shown below, if you find the gaps or
overlaps in the test printing, then the feed calibration is required.
NG OK NG
9

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When changing the correction value, check the following settings in RVW.
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Ensure that [Use Printer Settings] is selected
from [Feed Calibration Controls] in [Printer
Controls].

2
Output Data Preparation
Creating Output Data
In inkjet output, the RIP takes care of color conversion before printing.The RIP and print management software
'Roland VersaWorks' included with the product makes it possible to process both RGB and CMYK data.
When designing bitmap, text or vector graphics, you can gain desirable output results by taking note of the
following points.
Here explanations are based on Illustrator.
1) Color mode in Illustrator
Make sure that you set the Illustrator color mode as [CMYK Color].
Bitmap data should be created using [RGB Color] and text and vector data should be created using [CMYK
Color]. However, data that has already been converted to the CMYK color format will be handled as such.
Illustrator data
RGB image data
CMYK text data
2) Outline text data
RGB
CMYK
Because of PostScript processing, text other than PS fonts will become corrupted.Ensure that you outline
text.
No outline
Outline present
RIP VP-540i
20
CMYK
Within Illustrator Output Result

3
Printing from Application
Output data from Illustrator to Roland VersaWorks
From Illustrator to Roland VersaWorks, there are two types of data out as bellows:
1. Output data using a print driver (PS driver)
2. Output data creating an EPS file
There are no differences with regard to print quality, but there are differences on printable area and file size.
The procedures and differences are described below.
A: Using a Printer Driver (PS Driver) and Printing
The size of Artboard is the printable area.
Artboard
B: Creating an EPS File from Illustrator and Printing
The size of Bounding box is the printable area.
Bounding box
Printable area = Artboard
File size - 208kb
Printable area = Bounding box
File size - 76 kb
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3) Roland VersaWorks settings
You can operate Roland VersaWorks easily by simply clicking the icons and files in the main windows.
Status Display
Indicates a normal connection
between the computer and
printer
Queue A(B) Properties
Configure default settings
of each queue folder
Preferences
Configure settings such as RIP
specification, window display
format, colorimeter, and internet
connection for updates
4) Toolbar overview
You can perform basic operations using the following toolbar buttons.
The most commonly used buttons are [Job Settings] and [RIPing and Printing].
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Multiple Printer Display
A maximum of four printers
can be connected
Printer Information
Check the printer information
such as the port number and
the remaining amount of ink
Job
Data loaded in RIP
Job toolbar
Perform operations such as
the printing and RIPing of Job
List items
Job Settings = Open the Job Settings window where layout and quality settings can be
configured
RIPing = Perform RIPing for the selected job
RIPing and Printing = Perform RIPing and printing for the selected job
Job Nesting = Concatenate a number of jobs into a single job (a nested job)
Print Control
/Save File
= Save the selected job as a rvw or prt format file
Cancel RIPing & Printing = Cancel RIPing, printing, or other processes
Metafile Deletion = Delete the metafile for the selected job, restoring the job to its original
state
Delete Job = Delete the selected job
Note: Data loaded into RVW is called a “Job”

5) Job settings screen
Double-click data loaded into the Job List on the Main Screen or click the [Job Settings] button after selecting
the data to open the Job Settings Screen.
Job Toolbar and Main Functions
Layout = Settings including media settings, scaling, position, number of copies and
orientation (rotation)
Quality
= Settings including media type, print quality and color management
Color Adjustment
File Format
Mark
Printer Controls
Cut Controls
Job Management
Clip and Tile
Variable Data
= Level adjustment and tone curve adjustment
= Settings for files such as EPS files, spot color and special color settings
= Settings for print details such as job information and crop marks
= Settings for media cutting, feed calibration and heater controls
= Settings for cutting parameters
= Settings for action after printing and action for incoming jobs
= Settings for clipping, tiling and overlap
= Settings for variable data printing
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Settings area
Job tool buttons
Job Settings Screen
Layout area
You can configure the following settings using the Job Toolbar.
It is possible to configure easily using 'Layout' for normal paper sizes and placements, and 'Quality' for printing
mode and color settings.

Media
1) Roland DG Media
Roland DG brand media developed specially for use with ECO-SOL MAX INK can not only be used for ICCbased
color profiles critical to color management, but also make high quality printing possible using waterbased
ink by conducting various print controls including variable dot control matched to media characteristics
by the Roland DG RIP software VersaWorks.
It is recommended that customers who require accurate color reproduction and high-quality images use Roland
DG media.
Also, the range consists of not only vinyl and tarpaulin but also a wide variety of indoor and outdoor media such
as PET, film and paper.
2) Non-Roland DG Media
ECO-SOL MAX INK can print on so-called commercial non-coated media.Non-coated media are generally
classified into the following two types.
Output quality varies depending on the media used.When using a non-Roland DG media for the first time, it is
recommended that you perform a print test and use the media once its compatibility with ECO-SOL MAX INK
has been confirmed.
Solvent Media
It is generally said that solvent ink can print onto any material, but actually the majority of specific purpose
media have undergone some form of processing for Solvent media. Therefore different media types are
compatible with different printers, and while there are media that are highly compatible with Roland DG ECO-
SOL MAX INK, there are also media for which compatibility is poor.
Marking Film
Solvent media and so-called marking film have different surface conditions resulting from differing
manufacturing methods. The marking film was not originally intended for printing, so it is highly likely that
the surface can become dirty and deteriorate. During printing, factors such as partial chipping and poor ink
adhesion mean that there are many cases in which satisfactory results cannot be achieved.
If using non-Roland DG media, it is recommended that you use solvent media as opposed to commercial
marking film.
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Marking Film Plasticizers
Over time, plasticizers and silicone may come to the surface of some marking films. Printing
under such circumstances causes the ink to be repelled and poorly adhere to the media surface.
It may be possible to print after wiping the surface with alcohol, but this is not practical. Ensure
that you take the utmost care when using marking film.
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ECO-SOL MAX INK and Media
ECO-SOL MAX INK is not an organic solvent and is environmentally friendly. However, as with other solvent
inks, it has the following characteristics, particularly with regard to vinyl media,
When using a non-Roland DG media for the first time, it is recommended that you perform a print test and use
the media once its compatibility with ECO-SOL MAX INK has been confirmed.
ECO-SOL MAX INK Characteristics (Vinyl Media)
1) Shrinkage
The solvent component of ECO-SOL MAX INK and the printer heater cause shrinkage mainly at the printed
portions of vinyl media.
2) Warping
When cutting the sheet along the printed surface or performing standard cutting, the cross section may warp as
shown in the figure.
Contraction of the media can cause the glued surface to rise and dry, weakening bond strength. If printing is
carried out under these circumstances, the printed surface may not adhere with sufficient strength.
Backing
Glue
Release paper
Contraction following cutting of the printed surface
48 hours later
Contraction
42
0.5 mm