FAQ & Help: Quick Start Guide

Quick Start Guide: ImageNest RIP Version 3.0

Step 1. Add Images to Layout for Printing:

Add Images Icon: To add images to the layout click the add images icon that is in the top left section of the toolbar and will bring up the dialog seen on the right.

• Selecting Images: The add images dialog is a standard Mac dialog that will allow you to navigate to any folder or device to select images. Multiple images can be selected by using the shift key and clicking on any image you wish to add to the layout.

• Auto-sizing Images: Choose the size you want your images to be. The "Original Size" setting will leave them untouched. You can create your own custom preset sizes by selecting the "Customize" option in the auto sizing pull down menu.

• Resize Images: When you resize an image you have a choice of “Resize to Fit” or “Resize to Fill”

•Resize To Fit: When using the “Resize to Fit” files will automatically have their aspect ratio maintained and if they do not fit into the specified selection made in the “Fit to Size” dialog they will be scaled to as close to the selected size as possible while maintaining aspect ratio. The file will not be cropped in any way.

Example: Original Image 8 by 10
Fit to Size 5 by 7
Final Size 5 by 6.5 (since an 8 by 10 picture can not be perfectly fit into 5 by 7)

Resize To Fill: When "Resize to fill" is used, a files aspect ratio may not be in correct proportion to the specified size. When not in perfect proportion a file can be cropped at the edges. The user than has the option to move the picture within the outlines of the "Fill" box to line it up any way they wish. The amount cropped is small and the user always has control over what part of the images is cut off. Use the “Hand” tool in the “Image Selection Options” dialog to move an image inside of its box.

Example: Original Image 8 by 10
Fit to Fill 5 by 7’
FInal size: 5.6 by 7 image centered in a 5 by 7 box. Image can be moved within the box to choose what parts will be cropped off when added to the layout.

Step 2. Set your layout preferences:

• Image Selection Option: The Image Selection options allow users two very different ways of moving images. The “Arrow” option allows for images to be moved in the layout. The “hand” option is only used when “Fit to Fill” was selected to size a file. It will allow users to move an image within its bounding box. When an image was sized with “Fit to Fill” and the “Hand” option is active the outline of an images bounding box will turn green.

• Printer: Choose the printer you wish to print to. Any printer that you have installed will be available

• Page Size: Select the page size that you wish to use. Any default page sizes that where installed by your printer will be available as well as any custom sizes you may have created. If using Roll paper make sure you have roll selected and read the instructions below on Paper Style.

• Color Handling: On OSX 10.4 and 10.6 or below “Printer Manages Color” is the only option. On 10.5 or higher there is an option for ImageNest to perform all color management before sending a job to the printer. You must first switch to 64 bit mode. Instructions for switching to 64 bit mode can be found here: Switching to 64 bit mode:

• Printer Profile: On OSX 10.5 a printer profile can be chosen in order to apply color management prior to printing.

• Nesting Method: Better Fit is generally the best selection. It will fit images in the layout as efficiently as possible and will save the most paper but options for manual layout, fewest cuts, and single image per page are also available

• Nest Spacing: This control allows a user to space in between image in the layout.

• Image Alignment: The image alignment dialog controls how images are aligned when manually moved.

• Images Can Overlap: Checking this box will allow an image to be manually placed on top of another image. The “Image Overlap” icon on the toolbar controls which image is on top. Images can be moved from the top to the bottom and vice versa by using the ‘Image Overlap” icon.

• Grid Spacing: The layout Grid lines are drawn according to the grid spacing.

• Cut Marks: Cut marks can be applied to your images to help line them up with your cutter and to add whitespace as a border to your images. You can choose three styles of cut marks and the horizontal and vertical offset the cut marks will have from your images. The spacing dialog allows a user to specify how far cut marks are offset from images. - (negative) numbers will place the cut marks inside an image. + (positive) numbers will place them outside an image.

• Border Size: The border size dialog allows a user to specify how far cut marks are offset from images. - (negative) numbers will place the cut marks inside an image. + (positive) numbers will place them outside an image. The fill color dialog will fill in the blank area with a color of your choosing.

• Annotations: The annotations feature allows users to print job data and meta data with an image.

Step 3. Print Driver Configuration:

Setting up an Epson print driver

Setting up a HP print driver

Setting up a Canon print driver