Creating a Printer (PRN) File

A question was raised in the Xara Conference in the XaraXone concerning printer files. The questioner was advised by his Mac-centric service (dis-service?) bureau to prepare a printer (PRN) file as his service bureau was having trouble printing his Xara EPS files from their version of QuackXpress. I know, it's Quark not Quack, I just couldn't resist. Sorry. Anyway, the idea was a good one and a good topic to cover here.

What is a Printer File

Before I answer that question let me explain what generally happens when you take your EPS files to the service bureau. The service bureau, usually Mac-equipped, will most likely place your file in a blank QuarkXPress page and output the file from there.

Why?

Because when they output your file in Quark, Quark RIPs your file. Does what? Quark Raster Image Processes your file. It turns all your nice vector and bitmap images into a rasterized image (in essence, a glorified, high-resolution bitmap) that their imagesetter can understand. Most of the time, Quark is very good at this. Especially if you're giving your service bureau an Adobe Illustrator file created on the Mac. With Windows files they sometimes have problems. And, rather than admit the problem lies with them for not understanding how Window's files work, they usually hem and haw and pass the blame onto you and make you feel like two cents (Canadian) waiting for change!

The solution for this is a PRN or printer file. You knew I'd get back on track didn't you? A PRN file is not unlike printing to your own printer, except instead of printing to the printer attached to your computer, you're printing to a printer — or more correctly — an imagesetter or other output device,  residing at your service bureau. And instead of relying on QuackXPress to RIP your file, you RIP it yourself when you create a printer file.

Here's how it works. You find out from your service bureau what kind of imagesetter or output device they plan to use to output your file. It will usually be a Linotronic, or an Agfa machine. You also get as much information from your service bureau as to what their requirements are. This is your chance to put them on the defensive. I'm not going to go through the list of questions here because it is well documented in Xara's Help file.

When you determine the output device they will be using, lets say a Linotronic 500, get out your Windows CD and have it in your CD drive at the ready. Go to Windows Printers section and Add a Linotronic 500 printer to your list of installed printers (Start > Settings > Printers). Windows will add the appropriate printer driver (a small software application that translates your hopes, fears and aspirations, to the selected device and tells said device what it is you want it to do — most likely to output your job!). Only instead of printing to the Linotronic 500 imagesetter from your LPT 1 parallel port (which you are probably using for your desktop printer anyway), you configure the printer to print To File. This instructs Xara, or any Window's application, to print to a file when the imagesetter is selected. The imagesetter then reads this file in the same manner your desktop printer would and outputs your job.

Sounds Simple Enough

Before you print to your Linotronic or other output device, print out the list in Xara's Help file under the section Printing: Producing a .PRN File. Go through this list with your service bureau and determine what settings you will need, for example, what size paper, what orientation (landscape or portrait), what screen resolution, (expressed in LPI or lines per inch), spot color or process (CMYK), and so forth.

Armed with this information, create your file. How? It's just like you were printing to your desktop printer. Well, kind of like printing to your desktop printer. OK, there are one or two similarities. Select the Printer in the Print dialog. Check the Print to File option. Click Properties and make the necessary settings using the information gleaned from your service bureau. After you close the Properties dialog click Options and make the necessary settings here such as Imagesetting, Output Printer's Marks and if so, which ones, PostScript 1 or 2 or Automatic, and separations (CMYK) and print spot colors as CMYK, emulsion side up or down. Your service bureau can tell you which settings to use. And when you've gone through the list, press Print and it's a done deal. Xara RIPs though your file with blinding speed and creates a PRN file that your service bureau will love.

TIP: If you just need a color print from your service bureau and they are having trouble with your Xara files, you can select a PostScript printer, and check the Print to File option and skip the rest of the checklist. This should create a simple PostScript file they can output from their end.