risdPRINTS Tips & Tricks
Printing Tips & Tricks
Below we've compiled a list of suggestions and solutions for a few common issues and print errors.
Unable to download Printer Drivers or risdPrint Queues
If you're receiving an error when clicking the link to download the printer drivers or risdPRINT queues make sure you are either on-campus connected to RISD-Wifi, Eduroam - OR - off-campus connected to RISD's Virtual Private Network (VPN).
Double Check your Print Destination and Cost
Always make sure you're selecting the correct printer and double-check what the print job will cost you before you commit to paying for the print job.
Printing from Web Browsers
We encourage risdPRINTS users to not print directly from any Web Browsers.
Always save your print jobs as PDFs - then print.
Adobe Illustrator File Errors
Printing directly from Illustrator may cause errors and unexpected print issues. We suggest placing your Adobe Illustrator file in an Adobe InDesign file or PDF file to print.
Color Issues
Make sure to choose the RGB colorspace for your documents.
Reduce the file size
When printing images from Illustrator, Photoshop, or any image editor that is NOT AutoCAD, it’s important to reduce file-size as much as possible.
Steps to avoid unnecessarily large files:
1. There is no need to design your images at a DPI higher than 160. The printed image will not look any different, nor suffer a quality loss if your image is printed at 800 DPI or 120 DPI. Editing an image at 800 DPI (or another high DPI) is unnecessary because the printer nor your eye will distinguish it from a file with a resolution of 120 DPI. It will slow down your computer and just cause headaches.
Steps to reduce file size on export, and generally make plotting smoother:
1. File -> Save As… -> PDF (Photoshop PDF, Illustrator PDF…)
2. This does NOT flatten your image – you will greatly reduce file-size further by: a. Uncheck “Preserve Editing Capabilities” b. Uncheck “Layers” These may seem like innocuous check-boxes, but they reduce file size DRAMATICALLY. Even removing editing capabilities can take a file from 650 MB to 20 MB.
3. Be sure to click the Compression tab on the left, and then tell the file to use Bicubic Downsampling to reduce any file larger than 120 DPI – TO 120 DPI. This will guarantee the proper DPI to keep your file small!
Remember, your digital file must travel from the computer, to the Pharos print server, to the plotter. The larger your file, the longer it will take to transfer, and the longer it will take for the plotter to process. As a rule of thumb, try to keep your plot files under 50 MB. And remember, even if your file IS under 50 MB, if the resolution is higher than 120 DPI, the plotter will take a very long time to process the image. Their internal computer always expands your data to its maximum DPI.
BEB Print Center - Setting up your work for the BEB Plotters:
Files must be sent in PDF format. Other file formats will result in error codes on the plotter, and your job won’t be released.
Workflow to save a PDF:
Illustrator: File—> Save As—> Adobe PDF—> Save Photoshop: File—> Save as—> Photoshop PDF—> Save InDesign: File—> Export—> Adobe PDF—> Export
The plotter prints to a maximum of 36” wide. The height of your plot can vary, & does not have a limit!
Your PDF will save to the size of your artboard, which can be edited at any time within the program you are using for your work.
Did you get an error message on your computer?
See detailed printing instructions to make sure you are going through the correct steps.
Reprints and Refunds
Contact the lab monitor, Department Technician or printcenters@risd.edu to see if you may request a reprint. If a reprint is not possible a refund may be issued according to the risdPRINTS reprint /refund policy.