Procedure for Configuring Printer Drivers

The Printer Properties dialog box can be accessed from Tools > Options....

1. Select Tools > Options... > General > Printers.

   The list of available printers is displayed in the Printer list area:
   
   

2. Right-click the printer of your choice then select Configure (or double-click the printer name).

The Printer Properties dialog box lets you define the configuration to be used for the driver.

You can define file format and compression options for Raster printers.

1. Right-click the RASTER printer in the list then select Configure (or double-click the printer name).

   
   
   

2. Click Advanced Configuration....

   
   
   

3. Select the format to be used from the Format list: TIFF, BMP, JPEG, WMF, etc.

   You can also set more precisely the desired DPI value using the Dpi box.

4. In the Options area, select the compression type:

   • No compression
   • Packbits
   • JPEG
   • HUFFMAN
   • Fax Group 4

   If you choose the JPEG type, the Quality slider is activated to let you specify the compression quality: the higher the rate, the better the quality.

5. When finished, click OK to validate and close the Advanced Configuration dialog box.

   See also Raster Format for more information on line ends.

The Raster printer is configured.

You can define text rendering and font substitution options for PDF printers.

1. Right-click the PDF printer in the list then select Configure (or double-click the printer name) to access the Printer Properties dialog box:

   
   
   

2. Click Advanced Configuration....

   
   
   

3. Optional: In the PDF Properties area, activate the Save as PDF/A-1b option to generate PDF files compliant with PDF/A-1b standards.

   Important: PDF/A standards require all used fonts to be embedded in the PDF file. But as some fonts cannot be embedded, they will be either discretized (in case of TTF/OTF fonts) or original fonts will be embedded (in case of standard Type 1 fonts). The sRGB color profile is embedded in PDF/A files. The selected conformance level is "1B" and colors are made device-independent by including "OutputIntent" in the PDF file.

4. In the Text Rendering area, activate the appropriate options:

   • Discretize all fonts: if this option is activated, all text strings will be tessellated.

     Activating this option grays out the options in the Font Substitution area because they are not relevant in that case.

     By default, this option is cleared.

   • Always subset TrueType and OpenType fonts when embedding: if this check box is selected, a subset of TrueType or OTF fonts is embedded in the PDF file.

     The size of many TTF or OTF font files is huge, for instance when they define an entire range of Unicode or CJK characters. This capability lets you remove outline information about glyphs which are not displayed and thus, lets you significantly reduce the file size while keeping the same visual result. For more information about TTF and OTF fonts, see Infrastructure User's Guide: Customizing: Fonts: About Fonts.

     By default, this option is activated.

5. In the Font Substitutions area, select a font then set the property of your choice by selecting the appropriate option:

   • Discretized: when the image suffers from a lack of points, points are distributed to fill the gaps and ensure linearity.
   • Not Substituted: the font is kept as is, it is not replaced by any font. The text with this font will be either embedded (if the Embed font option is selected), or linked (if the Embed font option is cleared) in the PDF file.
   • Substituted: lets you replace the selected font by a suitable replacement font you select in the list displayed to the right of the options. This list is activated as soon as the Substituted option is selected.

   Important: You need to define this property for each font used in the document to be printed.

6. Optional: Leave the Embed font option activated if you want the font file to be embedded.

   
   

   • If the check box is cleared, the font file will not be embedded but the font will be linked.
   • If the text contains non-ASCII characters (e.g. Japanese characters), then the font file will always be embedded.

   In case of font substitution, if the substituting font is one of the following standard PS fonts listed below, then the font file will not be embedded:
   

   • Times-Roman, Times-Italic, Times-Bold, Times-BoldItalic
   • Helvetica, Helvetica-Oblique, Helvetica-Bold, Helvetica-BoldOblique
   • Courier, Courier-Oblique, Courier-Bold, Courier-BoldOblique
   • Symbol, ZapfDingbats.

   Note that if the Discretized option is selected, the Embed font option is grayed out.

   Warning: Protected licensed fonts cannot be embedded.

7. Click OK to validate and close the Advanced Configuration dialog box.

The PDF printer is configured

You can define advanced PostScript generation options for PostScript printers.

1. Right-click the PostScript printer in the list then select Configure (or double-click the printer name).

   
   
   

2. Click Advanced Configuration....

   
   
   

3. Choose the level for PostScript generation by selecting the appropriate option.

4. To use the EPS format, select the Encapsulated PostScript check box.

   EPS does not contain page description directives and is designed for portable exchange between applications and platforms. It may also be included in a larger PostScript document.

The PostScript printer is configured.

You can define pen options for HPGL printers.

Note that you can also configure an HPGL printer via the HPGL2 advanced configuration options.

1. Right-click the HPGL printer in the list then select Configure (or double-click the printer name) .

   
   
   

2. Click Advanced Configuration....

   
   
   

   The Pens tab lets you create a mapping between the original document and the result in HPGL format by defining the width and color to be applied to pens that will be used. Each of the pens is associated to a color (RGB) and a thickness (in millimeters).

   To do so, the pens to be used are selected using the following priority order:
   

   • First, by their color in order to use a color matching (exactly or as close as possible) the one of the original document.
   • Then, by their width. The width that is used corresponds either to the real width (i.e. as defined in the model) of the element to be drawn or to the width of the pen, depending on the option you activate for Thickness Printing.

     The goal of this capability is to have the printing that best suits your device specifications with respect to the limitations inherent in HPGL printer language. Note that the smallest units that can be supported by HPGL are 40 units per millimeter (1016 per inch). As the accuracy cannot exceed this value, discrepancies might occur when comparing documents (32-bit/64-bit, for instance).

3. Select a pen from the list.

   As soon as a pen is selected, the other boxes displayed below are activated and you can then specify the color and the width to be applied to the selected pen.

   By default, each pen you select is already assigned a color and a width but you can modify them as needed using the Color list and the Width box.

4. Select the Enable check box if you want the selected pen to be used when printing. When a pen is active, it is identified by a "+" sign in the Enable column.

   Tip: If you are not satisfied with the parameters you defined, click Reset to recover the original parameters.

5. Access the Options tab

   
   
   

6. Indicate the location at which the pen will start using the Origin list.

7. Optional: Select the Relative Move Pen check box if you want the pen to move relative to current coordinates (this is the default).

8. Optional: Select the thickness to be used for printing by selecting one of these two options:

   • Model Thickness to print according to the model thickness (this is the default). Pens are parsed until a pen with a thickness matching exactly the one of the model is found.
   • Pen Thickness to print according to the pen thickness. Pens are parsed and the first pen whose color corresponds exactly or is as close as possible to the original color, whatever its thickness, is selected. For instance, if you define a pen as "Red" (RGB = 255-0-0) with a thickness of 0.18 mm, then each red curve in the model will be printed with a thickness of 0.18 mm and this, even though the original curve thickness in the model is 5 mm.

9. Click OK to validate and close the dialog box.

The HPGL printer is configured.

You can define media type and quality level options for HPGL2 printers.

1. Right-click the HPGL2 printer in the list then select Configure (or double-click the printer name).

   
   
   

2. Click Advanced Configuration....

   
   
   

   The Enable Cutter check box is selected by default and means that the media is cut after printing.

3. Select the desired Media Type (i.e. the type of paper to be used) from the list: paper, polyester film, etc.

4. Define the Quality Level using the slider.

5. Select the Restrict to HPGL check box if you want to use the printer for HPGL data only.

   Activating this option also activates HPGL Configuration... which lets you access the HPGL Configuration dialog box.

6. When finished, click OK to validate.

The HPGL2 printer is configured.

You can define media and quality options for HP DesignJet 1000 Series printers.

1. Right-click the HP DesignJet 1000 Series printer in the list then select Configure (or double-click the printer name).

   
   
   

2. Click Advanced Configuration....

   
   
   

3. In the Options tab, specify how the printer will be loaded using the Media Source list.

   For printers with an integrated multi-roll feeder, you also need to select the MultiRollFeeder check box option to specify the roll to be used: to do so, select the desired roll number from the Media Source list.

4. Use the Media Type list to indicate the type of media to be used.

5. Select the Quality Level to be used.

   By default, Best is selected.

6. Access the Advanced tab.

   
   
   

7. Optional: By default, all the options displayed are selected but you can deactivate them if needed:

   
   

   • Line Sharpening (RET) enhances detail in line drawing. It is especially useful for drawings with a lot of details.
   • Enable Cutter activates the cutter mechanism which cuts the media after printing.
   • Inked Area takes the first object encountered in the plot and places that object at the origin (0,0 coordinate). After the last object is printed, the printer adds the margin and the plot is complete. When this option is activated, white area around the plot, as well as page size information coming from the software is ignored. This option is recommended when using roll media and when centering is not important. This option also provides optimal paper usage.
   • Autorotate lets the printer decide at print time which orientation requires the least media for your drawing based on the "roll media" that is loaded.

8. When finished, click OK to validate and close the dialog box.

The HP DesignJet 1000 Series printer is configured.

You can define media and quality options for HP DesignJet 4000 Series printers.

HP DesignJet 4000 Series printer is now natively integrated in Dassault Systemes PLM solution thanks to the support of a dedicated driver. HP DesignJet 4000 Series printers allow you to rapidly produce higher-quality large-format prints, addressing demand for improved printing precision, especially for technical drawings.

For detailed information, you can browse the HP Internet site:

http://www.hp.com

1. Right-click the HP DesignJet 4000 Series printer in the list then select Configure.

   
   
   

2. Click Advanced Configuration....

   
   
   

3. Specify how the printer is loaded using the Source is list:

4. Use the Media Type list to indicate the type of media to be used.

5. Select the Print Quality to be used.

   By default, Normal (final) is selected.

6. Indicate the Resolution to be applied.

   By default, 600 is selected.

7. Access the Advanced tab.

   
   
   

8. Optional: By default, some options are selected but you can deactivate them if needed:

   
   

   • Optimize for Drawings/Text enhances detail in line drawing. It is especially useful for drawings with a lot of details.
   • Maximum Detail enables to view as much detail as possible by increasing both the printing and rendering resolution.
   • Disable Automatic Cutter deactivates the cutter mechanism which cuts the media after printing.
   • Remove Top/Bottom Blank Areas takes the first object encountered in the plot and places that object at the origin (0,0 coordinate). After the last object is printed, the printer adds the margin and the plot is complete. When this option is selected, white area around the plot, as well as page size information coming from the software is ignored. This option is recommended when using roll media and when centering is not important. This option also provides optimal paper usage.
   • Autorotate lets the printer decide at print time which orientation requires the least media for your drawing based on the "roll media" that is loaded.

9. When finished, click OK to validate and close the dialog box.

The HP DesignJet 4000 Series printer is configured.

You can define image storage, text rendering, and font substitution options for SVG printers.

1. Right-click the SVG printer in the list then select Configure (or double-click the printer name).

   
   
   

2. Click Advanced Configuration....

   
   
   

3. Use the Image Storage list to indicate if you want the image to be stored in an external JPEG file (with links to the SVG file) or to be embedded in the SVG document.

4. The Text list lets you specify whether the text should be rendered as a tessellated text or using system fonts:

   • Tesselated text means that all glyphs will be displayed as polygons. If you choose this option, skip the next step.
   • Use system font lets you replace the font of your choice by another one.

5. If you selected Use system font in the Text list, the Font Substitutions area is activated to let you replace the font of your choice by another one. To do so, first select a font in the list displayed to the left then select the appropriate option:

   • Discretized: means that when the image suffers from a lack of points, points are distributed to fill the gaps and ensure linearity.
   • Not Substituted: means that the selected is not replaced by another font, it is kept as is.
   • Substituted: means that the selected font is replaced by a suitable replacement font you select in the list displayed to the right. This list is activated as soon as the Substituted option is selected .

6. When finished, click OK to validate and close the dialog box.

The SVG printer is configured.