Fig 1 – Illustrator File in the CMYK Color Space
Printing from Illustrator to Epson Inkjet Printers
Before you begin: Work locally. Always start by moving your file to the desktop. Opening and printing files from a USB (or other) drive can create problems.
All jobs sent to any lab printers (inkjet or laser) must be released in Papercut before they will be sent to the printer.
1. Prepare your document for print: Verify that your document is in the CMYK color space, check the file name at the top of the window.
Fig 1 – Illustrator File in the CMYK Color Space
Fig 2 – Set Document Color Mode
Document Color Mode
If you need to convert your document to CMYK, navigate to File>Document Color Mode>CMYK Color.
Fig 2 – Set Document Color Mode
Fig 3 – Set Artboard to Size of Desired Print
Artboard
Your artboard MUST BE THE SAME SIZE AND DIMENSIONS AS YOUR CUSTOM PAGE SIZE (the size you want to print). If you want to print only a portion of your document, change the size of your artboard to the size you want to print, and position your art on the artboard as you would want it to print.
Fig 3 – Set Artboard to Size of Desired Print
Fig 4 – Choose a Print Queue
Print Queue
2. Navigate to File>Print. Select a printer from the Printer dropdown menu. Choose a print queue in the CMYK color space.
Fig 4 – Choose a Print Queue
Fig 5 – Select Artboard Page Range
Page Range
3. The inkjet printers will accept only one page and one copy of a document at a time. If your document has multiple artboards, select only the artboard you want to print under the General heading. You will have to print each subsequent artboard separately.
Fig 5 – Select Artboard Page Range
Fig 6 – Media Size
Media Size
4. In the Media Size heading, check to make sure Media Size is set to Defined by Driver, and that the Orientation is set to Portrait.
(Do not use the auto rotate or landscape orientation buttons to rotate your document. It should always be set to portrait. If you wish to rotate the document, rotate it in Illustrator, not the print dialog.)
Fig 6 – Media Size
Fig 7 – Do Not Scale
Scaling
5. Under the Options heading in Scaling, Select Do Not Scale.
Fig 7 – Do Not Scale
Fig 8 – Page Setup
Page Setup
6. Take note of your Document size listed above in the print preview window. Your document size should be the same as your artboard.
Click the Page Setup button.
Fig 8 – Page Setup
Fig 9 – Manage Custom Sizes
Custom Sizes
7. Select the printer you are using from the Format For dropdown menu. In the Paper Size dropdown menu, select Manage Custom Sizes…
Fig 9 – Manage Custom Sizes
Fig 10 – Custom Paper Sizes
Custom Paper Sizes
8. Click the + button to create a new custom size. Title it appropriately.
Set the Width and Height to the size of your document.
Set Top, Left, Right, and Bottom to “0.”
Note: If you have chosen to print your document with printer’s marks (trim, bleed, registration, etc.) add an additional 1/2″ margin on all four sides to accommodate the marks. If you choose a paper size that doesn’t have extra margin for your marks, the printer will crop them out and not show the marks.
Fig 10 – Custom Paper Sizes
Fig 11 – Confirm Paper Size and Settings
Confirm Settings
9. Confirm that your new paper size is selected in the Paper Size dropdown menu and that your printer is selected in the Format For dropdown menu.
Click OK.
Fig 11 – Confirm Paper Size and Settings
Fig 12 – Media Size
Print Menu Preview
10. Check the preview in the Print Menu to be sure that your document is laid out correctly and not being cut off, and that the Media size and Document size are the same.
Fig 12 – Media Size
Fig 13 – Color Management
Color Management
11. In the Color Management heading, under Color Handling, choose Let Postscript printer determine colors and Perceptual for Rendering Intent. Verify that the Preserve CMYK Numbers checkbox is checked.
Fig 13 – Color Management
Fig 14 – Papercut Notification
Papercut
12. When your document has reached Papercut, you will see a pop-up notification window.
Follow the releasing prints from Papercut instructions to release your print.
Remember to check the print cost before releasing the print – it can be a great indicator if something is wrong with the size of your print.
Fig 14 – Papercut Notification