Gerber OMEGA CP Reference guide

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Printed in USA

GSP, EDGE, and GRAPHIX ADVANTAGE are registered trademarks, and OMEGA, GERBER MAXX,

GERBER EDGE FX, EDGE Match, GerberColor, GerberColor Spectratone, GERBER SOLARA, GERBER

P2C, ImageRIP, Vantage Scan, SUPER CMYK, Gerber ColorID, MacImprint, Matched Technology

System, and ART Path are trademarks of Gerber Scientific Products. Adobe Illustrator and Encapsulated

PostScript are registered trademarks of Adobe Systems, Inc. Artifex, the Artifex logo, Ghostscript, and

the Ghostscript logo are registered trademarks of Artifex Software, Inc. CorelDRAW is a registered

trademark of Corel Systems Corporation. 3M and Scotchcal are registered trademarks of 3M. Hewlett-

Packard is a registered trademark and HPGL is a trademark of Hewlett-Packard Company.

MonacoEZcolor and MonacoSENSOR are trademarks of X-Rite, Inc. TrueType is registered trademark of

Apple Computer, Inc. registered in the USA and other countries. Microsoft and Windows, are registered

trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and other countries.

PANTONE® Colors displayed may not match PANTONE-identified standards. Consult current

PANTONE Color Publications for accurate color. PANTONE® and other Pantone, Inc. trademarks are

the property of Pantone, Inc. © Pantone, Inc., 2005.

Pantone, Inc. is the copyright owner of color data and/or software which are licensed to Gerber Scientific

Products. to distribute for use only in combination with Gerber OMEGA 2.5. PANTONE Color Data

and/or Software shall not be copied onto another disk or into memory unless as part of the execution of

Gerber OMEGA 2.5.

Variables

There are many variables in process reproduction of colors generated by the GERBER EDGE and

GERBER MAXX, any one of which may affect the quality of the Gerber simulations of PANTONE Colors,

including:

• Type of media/paper used

• Type of ink film used

• Effective final resolution

• Dot structures/halftones

For optimal results we recommend that the following materials be used:

1. 3M Scotchcal 220-10 or 225-10 Gloss White Vinyl

2. GerberColor SUPER CMYK Foils

THE PANTONE-IDENTIFIED COLOR DISPLAYED ON THE PRINT AND/OR COPY GENERATED BY

THIS SOFTWARE HAVE NOT BEEN EVALUATED NOR ARE THEY APPROVED BY PANTONE, INC.

TO BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH PANTONE, INC.'S COLOR VALUES OR STANDARDS. Consult

current PANTONE Color publications for accurate colors.

Book One: Welcome ................................................................................................................................1

Chapter 1: Introducing the OMEGA Programs...................................................................................3

Running in Demo Mode .......................................................................................................................................4

Chapter 2: Where to Get Help ...............................................................................................................7

About the manuals ................................................................................................................................................7

Warnings, cautions, notes, and tips.....................................................................................................................7

Keystroke and menu choice formats...................................................................................................................8

Accelerator keys.....................................................................................................................................................8

Context menus .......................................................................................................................................................8

Mouse terminology................................................................................................................................................9

Getting help right in OMEGA..............................................................................................................................9

Other Information on the OMEGA CD.............................................................................................................11

Specific technical support...................................................................................................................................12

Contacting Gerber Technical Support...............................................................................................................12

Gerber web site ....................................................................................................................................................12

Chapter 3: Opening and Closing Files................................................................................................13

Creating a new file...............................................................................................................................................13

Opening an existing file ......................................................................................................................................13

Adding a file to an open PLT file (Importing) .................................................................................................15

Adding multiple files to an open PLT file (importing)...................................................................................17

Placing multiple copies of a file in an open PLT file.......................................................................................18

Opening Gerber Clip Art (GCA) files ...............................................................................................................19

Closing files ..........................................................................................................................................................21

Chapter 4: Saving Files and Viewing Properties..............................................................................23

Saving PLT files....................................................................................................................................................23

AutoBackup feature.............................................................................................................................................24

Saving a file for the MAXX 2..............................................................................................................................24

Saving a copy of a PLT file .................................................................................................................................24

Saving plot files in an older OMEGA format...................................................................................................24

Saving files in formats other than PLT..............................................................................................................25

Viewing Document Properties...........................................................................................................................26

Tracking elapsed design time.............................................................................................................................27

Book Two: Understanding Composer Tools .....................................................................................29

Chapter 5: Setting Up Composer's Work Surface............................................................................31

Composer work surface......................................................................................................................................31

Window controls..................................................................................................................................................33

Sizing the work surface to the design ...............................................................................................................33

Using the Natural Layout option.......................................................................................................................35

Viewing the design..............................................................................................................................................36

Zooming in or out on the design .......................................................................................................................38

Setting Preferences using Tools > Options.......................................................................................................39

Chapter 6: Using Layers.........................................................................................................................55

Rules for designing with layers .........................................................................................................................56

Using the Layer Manager ...................................................................................................................................58

Using the Layer Menu.........................................................................................................................................66

Print Order and Layers Overview.....................................................................................................................69

Understanding Print Order in Composer ........................................................................................................70

Outputting by layers to GSPPlot .......................................................................................................................72

Importing layers...................................................................................................................................................72

Chapter 7: Selecting the Elements of the Design ...........................................................................77

Selecting elements of the design........................................................................................................................77

Book Three: Creating the Basic Design Text and Shapes..............................................................83

Chapter 8: All About Text......................................................................................................................85

Entering text .........................................................................................................................................................85

Editing text..........................................................................................................................................................103

Using Change Case to alter the case of text....................................................................................................104

Spacing characters, lines and columns............................................................................................................104

Resetting the line spacing .................................................................................................................................107

Setting line length and column height............................................................................................................107

Arranging the text in the design......................................................................................................................109

Converting text to shapes .................................................................................................................................110

Working with Spell Check................................................................................................................................111

Chapter 9: Creating Shapes............................................................................................................... 119

Techniques for drawing on the work surface ................................................................................................119

Rectangles and squares .....................................................................................................................................119

Circles and ellipses ............................................................................................................................................120

Decorative borders.............................................................................................................................................120

Creating a surround shape ...............................................................................................................................122

Multi-sided shapes (stars and polygons)........................................................................................................124

Adding GerberCUT Targets.............................................................................................................................127

Freehand drawing..............................................................................................................................................129

Chapter 10: Sizing, Slanting, Flipping, and Rotating ................................................................... 133

Sizing ...................................................................................................................................................................133

Slanting................................................................................................................................................................135

Flipping or mirroring ........................................................................................................................................136

Rotating...............................................................................................................................................................137

Chapter 11: Grouping, Moving, Justifying, and Spacing............................................................. 141

Grouping and ungrouping ...............................................................................................................................141

Locking or Unlocking Objects..........................................................................................................................142

Moving objects on the work surface................................................................................................................143

Justifying.............................................................................................................................................................144

Adding and removing guidelines ...................................................................................................................145

Spacing ................................................................................................................................................................146

Chapter 12: Measuring and Dimensioning.................................................................................... 149

Measuring distance and angles........................................................................................................................149

Measuring the distance around objects ..........................................................................................................152

Determining the area of objects .......................................................................................................................152

Dimensioning Summary...................................................................................................................................153

Understanding Dimensioning..........................................................................................................................156

Dimensioning .....................................................................................................................................................157

The Dimensions Toolbar...................................................................................................................................158

Dimensioning Properties Toolbar ...................................................................................................................162

Book Four: Adding Color to the Design.......................................................................................... 167

Chapter 13: Current Style Affects the Color in the Design ........................................................ 169

Defining the current style .................................................................................................................................169

Setting the current style ....................................................................................................................................170

Setting the current style to none ......................................................................................................................170

Changing the current style using the Extract Style command ....................................................................170

Making a new current style without selecting an object ..............................................................................171

Assigning the current style...............................................................................................................................172

Creating filled text or objects without cutlines..............................................................................................172

Chapter 14: Making, Using, and Editing Palettes......................................................................... 175

Displaying palettes on the Composer work surface .....................................................................................175

Making a job palette using Gerber vinyl ........................................................................................................177

Using Palette Manager......................................................................................................................................179

Using Gerber palettes in Adobe Illustrator and CorelDRAW.....................................................................182

Chapter 15: Understanding Vinyl Colors ........................................................................................ 187

Displaying a vinyl palette.................................................................................................................................187

Assigning vinyl colors to objects .....................................................................................................................187

Selecting objects of the same vinyl color ........................................................................................................189

Chapter 16: Changing Vinyl Colors to Spot Foil Colors............................................................... 191

Posterizing methods..........................................................................................................................................191

Understanding the Posterize Selected Shapes dialog box............................................................................192

Posterizing a job.................................................................................................................................................195

Troubleshooting.................................................................................................................................................196

Chapter 17: Filling Objects with Colors for Printing.................................................................... 197

Where does the color come from? ...................................................................................................................197

Assigning attributes for printing .....................................................................................................................197

Filling with a clear fill........................................................................................................................................199

Filling with a spot foil .......................................................................................................................................199

Filling with a process foil..................................................................................................................................202

Filling with a gradient fill.................................................................................................................................204

Filling with Spectratone colors.........................................................................................................................207

Editing fill attributes..........................................................................................................................................209

Naming custom process colors ........................................................................................................................211

Changing from a spot fill to a process fill.......................................................................................................211

Automatically convert Process fills to Spot fills ............................................................................................212

Chapter 18: Choosing and Assigning Halftones........................................................................... 213

What is a halftone?.............................................................................................................................................213

Choosing the best halftone for the fill.............................................................................................................213

Non-Optimized Halftones Detected ...............................................................................................................216

Printing with Non-optimized Halftones when Auto-Substitution is On...................................................217

Assigning a halftone..........................................................................................................................................217

Editing halftones................................................................................................................................................218

Substituting halftones........................................................................................................................................218

Chapter 19: Choosing a Fill Color that Matches Printer Output............................................... 221

Printing EDGE Match Color Matching System charts..................................................................................221

Choosing and assigning an EDGE Match color.............................................................................................222

Chapter 20: Making and Using GerberColor Spectratone Colors............................................. 225

Making a Spectratone chart of all possible colors in inventory...................................................................225

Making a Spectratone chart of some colors in inventory .............................................................................226

Printing a chart of Spectratone tints................................................................................................................228

Filling objects with Spectratone colors............................................................................................................229

Chapter 21: Assigning PANTONE Colors ........................................................................................ 231

Using ColorID to choose software simulations of solid PANTONE Colors..............................................232

Chapter 22: Strokes ⎯ Adding Print Thickness to the Outline of Objects ............................ 233

What is a stroke? ................................................................................................................................................233

Adding strokes to an object..............................................................................................................................233

Editing stroke attributes....................................................................................................................................236

Global stroke width editing..............................................................................................................................237

Converting strokes to shapes with Expand Strokes......................................................................................238

Book Five: Making the Design Print and Cut Correctly............................................................... 241

Chapter 23: Before Printing or Cutting, Check the Design ........................................................ 243

Using the Select and View menus to check a job...........................................................................................243

Checking and selecting vinyl colors................................................................................................................244

Checking and selecting fills and strokes by color .........................................................................................244

Checking and selecting fills and strokes by color type.................................................................................245

Checking and selecting fills and strokes by halftone type...........................................................................245

Checking and selecting which objects will cut, print, or both.....................................................................246

Checking and selecting images and image templates ..................................................................................247

Checking and selecting overlaps, overprints, or primer ..............................................................................247

Checking and selecting Small Text by color type..........................................................................................247

Checking and selecting open shapes...............................................................................................................247

Checking and selecting Locked Objects..........................................................................................................247

Checking and selecting Clipping Paths ..........................................................................................................248

Checking and selecting dimensions ................................................................................................................248

Selecting stacked objects on the work surface ...............................................................................................248

Chapter 24: Five Steps to Successful Output................................................................................ 249

Overview: 5 steps to successful thermal printer output...............................................................................249

1. Check and assign the vinyl color.................................................................................................................249

2. Check and assign fills and strokes...............................................................................................................250

3. Check and assign or remove object cut lines..............................................................................................250

4. Check and rearrange objects in the stacking order ...................................................................................250

5. Combining and filling groups for printing ................................................................................................251

Chapter 25: Solving Printing and Registration Problems........................................................... 253

Check the job ......................................................................................................................................................253

Poor print-to-cut registration ...........................................................................................................................253

Poor print-to-print registration........................................................................................................................254

Changing the vinyl and foil print order .........................................................................................................262

Printing a light color over a darker color........................................................................................................264

Changing the darkness of prints......................................................................................................................264

Correcting colors for images ............................................................................................................................265

Book Six: Color Management and Importing/Exporting Files .................................................. 267

Chapter 26: Practical Hands-On Color Management .................................................................. 269

Step 1: Setting up Color Management ............................................................................................................269

Step 2: Setting up Image Thumbnail ...............................................................................................................271

Step 3: Assigning the vinyl family...................................................................................................................272

Chapter 27: Importing Files into Composer .................................................................................. 273

Understanding the Import dialog box ............................................................................................................273

Choosing the best import filter ........................................................................................................................276

Understanding graphic file formats................................................................................................................277

The role of Color Management when importing files ..................................................................................279

Importing common file types...........................................................................................................................280

Importing Raster file filters - TIF, BMP, JPG, GIF .........................................................................................280

Importing Adobe format files (AI 7.0 or higher, PDF, EPS, or PS) .............................................................282

Importing AI 1.1 thru 8.0 and CMX 5.0/6.0 files for vinyl printing ...........................................................289

Importing AI 1.1 thru 8.0 and CMX 5.0/6.0 files for vinyl cutting .............................................................290

Importing AI 8.0 or earlier, CMX (5.0/6.0), or EPS files...............................................................................292

Defining a Cut Contour in other software......................................................................................................299

Importing CorelDRAW clipart ........................................................................................................................300

Importing CorelDRAW Drawing Format (CDR) files ..................................................................................301

Using the Clipboard to import data into Composer.....................................................................................301

Importing other file types.................................................................................................................................302

Importing Gerber Clip Art (GCA) file ............................................................................................................302

Importing DXF files using the (GSP) AutoCAD Drawing Interchange Filter...........................................303

Importing AutoCAD Drawing Format (DWG) files.....................................................................................304

Importing Adobe Acrobat Portable Document Format (PDF) ....................................................................304

Importing Microsoft Windows Metafile (WMF) ...........................................................................................305

Chapter 28: Exporting Files from Composer................................................................................ 307

Exporting all or portions of a file.....................................................................................................................307

Exporting to a Hot Folder.................................................................................................................................310

Exporting common file types ...........................................................................................................................311

Exporting to BMP, GIF, JPG, or TIF file formats ...........................................................................................311

Exporting to Adobe Illustrator – AI or EPS format using the GSP filter....................................................312

Using the Clipboard to Export Data from Composer...................................................................................317

Exporting to an Encapsulated PostScript File (EPS) or Adobe Illustrator File (AI)..................................317

Exporting to an AutoCAD Drawing Web Format (DWF)............................................................................319

Exporting to a DXF (GSP) AutoCAD Drawing Interchange File ................................................................320

Exporting to AutoCAD Drawing Interchange File (DXF)............................................................................321

Exporting to a Gerber Artwork Definition File (GAD).................................................................................322

Exporting to Hewlett-Packard Graphics Language (HGL)..........................................................................322

Exporting to IGES Drawing File Format (IGES)............................................................................................323

Exporting to a Z-soft PC Paintbrush Bitmap (PCX)......................................................................................324

Exporting to Adobe Acrobat File Format (PDF)............................................................................................326

Exporting to PhotoShop File Format (PSD)....................................................................................................328

Exporting to Microsoft Windows Metafile (WMF) .......................................................................................329

Exporting to WordPerfect Graphic File Format (WPG) ...............................................................................331

Chapter 29: Using File Converter .................................................................................................... 333

Choosing File Converter options.....................................................................................................................333

Importing multiple files (batch conversion)...................................................................................................334

Exporting multiple files (batch conversion)...................................................................................................334

File conversion troubleshooting ......................................................................................................................335

Chapter 30: Remapping Colors for Imported CMX Files ............................................................ 337

Understanding color models............................................................................................................................337

Book Seven: Adding Artwork and Other Files to the Design .................................................... 343

Chapter 31: Working with Images ................................................................................................... 345

Adding images to the design ...........................................................................................................................345

Saving an embedded image .............................................................................................................................350

Changing from a linked to an embedded image...........................................................................................350

Importing paths from an image.......................................................................................................................351

Viewing images in the design ..........................................................................................................................352

Editing images in Composer............................................................................................................................355

Updating an image file in OMEGA.................................................................................................................357

Filling images .....................................................................................................................................................358

Chapter 32: Converting Images to Cut Shapes ............................................................................. 361

Converting a color image to a cut shape ........................................................................................................361

Converting a black and white image to a cut shape .....................................................................................364

Chapter 33: Adding Cutlines to Artwork ........................................................................................ 367

Using Generate Decal Cut ................................................................................................................................367

Chapter 34: Using Clipping Paths .................................................................................................... 373

Understanding Clipping Paths ........................................................................................................................373

Chapter 35: Scanning Artwork.......................................................................................................... 379

Storing and outputting scanned images.........................................................................................................379

Methods of getting scanned data into Composer..........................................................................................383

Methods of vectorizing raster data..................................................................................................................385

Color Management and scanning....................................................................................................................386

Chapter 36: Digitizing Artwork ......................................................................................................... 387

Installing the tablet ............................................................................................................................................387

Understanding the digitizing process: an overview.....................................................................................388

Preparing artwork for digitizing .....................................................................................................................389

Using the digitizing puck .................................................................................................................................390

Using the tablet ..................................................................................................................................................391

Digitizing the artwork.......................................................................................................................................391

Digitizing: examples and tips...........................................................................................................................391

Digitizing shapes ...............................................................................................................................................393

Editing the digitized design .............................................................................................................................394

Digitizing exercises............................................................................................................................................395

Book Eight: Editing the Design and Shapes .................................................................................. 403

Chapter 37: Using the Edit Menu..................................................................................................... 405

Using Undo and Redo.......................................................................................................................................405

Copying parts or all of a design.......................................................................................................................405

Using Duplicate to copy and offset an object.................................................................................................407

Deleting parts of the design..............................................................................................................................407

Chapter 38: Detail Editing Segments and Points of Vector Objects........................................ 409

Selecting objects or parts of objects for editing..............................................................................................409

Copying and pasting segments........................................................................................................................411

Changing curves to lines and lines to curves.................................................................................................411

Aligning points...................................................................................................................................................412

Adding points to objects ...................................................................................................................................413

Deleting points from an object.........................................................................................................................415

Using the Move Tool (hook).............................................................................................................................416

Moving points ....................................................................................................................................................417

Moving segments...............................................................................................................................................419

Bending line segments ......................................................................................................................................421

Changing the flex of curves..............................................................................................................................422

Closing open points with the Move tool ........................................................................................................422

Automatically joining open shapes.................................................................................................................423

Dividing an object into multiple objects.........................................................................................................424

Making the corners of an object rounded using the Round Corner tool....................................................425

Sharpening the corners of an object using the Sharp Corner Tool..............................................................426

Changing the corners of an object with Fillet Corner...................................................................................426

Smoothing objects with the Smooth Path tool ...............................................................................................428

Freehand Drawing.............................................................................................................................................429

Designate the first point of a shape.................................................................................................................429

Chapter 39: Reducing the Number of Points with the Thin Command .................................. 431

Removing points................................................................................................................................................431

Smoothing jagged edges ...................................................................................................................................432

Controlling the number of points thinned .....................................................................................................433

Minimizing the error between remaining points after thinning .................................................................435

Book Nine: Adding Flair to the Design ........................................................................................... 437

Chapter 40: Outlining Objects .......................................................................................................... 439

Creating outlines................................................................................................................................................439

Hiding, encasing, and contouring objects ......................................................................................................441

Changing the spacing between multiple outlines.........................................................................................443

Adding and deleting outlines ..........................................................................................................................446

Editing outline settings for sharp corners ......................................................................................................447

Saving the outline for later use ........................................................................................................................447

Chapter 41: Adding Shadows ........................................................................................................... 449

Creating a shade or drop shadow ...................................................................................................................450

Creating a cast shadow .....................................................................................................................................451

Choosing the shadow output options.............................................................................................................451

Creating different types of jobs using Shadow..............................................................................................454

Editing or deleting Shadows ............................................................................................................................457

Viewing the Design ...........................................................................................................................................457

Exercises..............................................................................................................................................................457

Chapter 42: Distorting and Warping Objects ................................................................................ 463

Distorting an object............................................................................................................................................463

Warping an object..............................................................................................................................................464

Chapter 43: Fitting Text to a Path.................................................................................................... 469

Working with the Fit Text to Path dialog box................................................................................................469

Selecting, reverse selecting, and deselecting text ..........................................................................................470

Positioning text along the path ........................................................................................................................471

Changing the spacing of text............................................................................................................................473

Changing the height of text ..............................................................................................................................474

Reversing the path.............................................................................................................................................475

Hiding the path..................................................................................................................................................475

Changing the angle of the text .........................................................................................................................476

Slanting the text..................................................................................................................................................477

Fitting shapes to a path .....................................................................................................................................478

Using text as a path............................................................................................................................................478

Magnifying text using tools..............................................................................................................................479

Chapter 44: Creating Special Effects............................................................................................... 481

Using the Effects dialog box.............................................................................................................................481

Using Special ......................................................................................................................................................483

Using Stripes.......................................................................................................................................................485

Using Layers.......................................................................................................................................................488

Using Overlap ....................................................................................................................................................492

Using Contour....................................................................................................................................................494

Using Effects Library.........................................................................................................................................494

Book Ten: Repeating Text and Objects .......................................................................................... 499

Chapter 45: Repeating Objects ⎯ Text or Shapes....................................................................... 501

Repeating in a line, matrix, or diagonal pattern............................................................................................501

Changing the spacing, size, and alignment for repeats................................................................................502

Chapter 46: Merging Text and Numbers ........................................................................................ 507

Repeating and merging text .............................................................................................................................507

Repeating text with AutoNumbers .................................................................................................................511

Merging text with AutoNumber......................................................................................................................514

Book Eleven: Managing, Converting, and Designing Fonts ....................................................... 515

Chapter 47: Managing Fonts............................................................................................................. 517

Exploring the Font Manager program ............................................................................................................517

Viewing Gerber Fonts in Font Manager .........................................................................................................520

Renaming a Gerber font style...........................................................................................................................522

Chapter 48: Viewing and Printing Installed Fonts ....................................................................... 527

Opening Font View............................................................................................................................................527

Viewing the list of installed fonts ....................................................................................................................527

Printing the installed fonts ...............................................................................................................................531

Locating and copying characters in Font View .............................................................................................535

Chapter 49: Converting TrueType Fonts to OMEGA-Compatible Fonts .................................. 539

Using Font Converter........................................................................................................................................539

Fine-tuning the font...........................................................................................................................................543

Tips for working with TrueType fonts ...........................................................................................................548

Backing up fonts.................................................................................................................................................549

Chapter 50: Designing and Building Your Own Fonts ................................................................ 551

Introduction to font designing.........................................................................................................................551

Inputting the artwork........................................................................................................................................552

Building the font ................................................................................................................................................572

Accessing the font..............................................................................................................................................579

Creating Fonts: Exercises ..................................................................................................................................580

Book Twelve: Outputting the Job from Composer....................................................................... 591

Chapter 51: Sending the Job to a Plotter or Printer .................................................................... 593

Thermal printing and cutting the job..............................................................................................................593

Sending the job to an inkjet printer using Gerber ImageRIP.......................................................................595

Paper printing ....................................................................................................................................................595

Chapter 52: Sending the Job to a Person by E-Mail.................................................................... 599

Book Thirteen: Printing and Cutting the Job................................................................................. 601

Chapter 53: Opening and Closing GSPPlot.................................................................................... 603

Opening GSPPlot from Composer ..................................................................................................................603

Opening a GSPPlot from Windows.................................................................................................................606

Closing Windows...............................................................................................................................................606

Exiting GSPPlot..................................................................................................................................................606

Program Information.........................................................................................................................................607

Using the GSPPlot toolbar................................................................................................................................607

Viewing the GSPPlot toolbar............................................................................................................................607

Chapter 54: Setting Up the GSPPlot Window................................................................................ 609

Displaying the summary and status bars.......................................................................................................609

Displaying the rulers.........................................................................................................................................609

Modifying ruler properties...............................................................................................................................610

Managing windows...........................................................................................................................................612

Sizing the work surface.....................................................................................................................................613

Zooming in on the job .......................................................................................................................................613

Viewing the attributes of a job .........................................................................................................................613

Using the GSPPlot Options dialog box...........................................................................................................615

Chapter 55: Managing Files in GSPPlot.......................................................................................... 617

File types created in GSPPlot ...........................................................................................................................617

Opening existing job files .................................................................................................................................618

Closing job files..................................................................................................................................................618

Understanding Layers and Print Order in GSPPlot......................................................................................619

Saving all preferences........................................................................................................................................622

Saving files for future use.................................................................................................................................622

Viewing a spool file ...........................................................................................................................................626

Including special job instructions....................................................................................................................629

Chapter 56: Creating a Mirror Image and Reversing Print Order............................................ 631

Creating a mirror image....................................................................................................................................631

Printing a job on transparent material ............................................................................................................631

Printing a job on heat transfer paper...............................................................................................................632

Chapter 57: Multiple Copies in GSPPlot ....................................................................................... 633

Creating multiples of a job without panels ....................................................................................................633

Setting the distance between repeats ..............................................................................................................634

Creating multiples of a job with panels..........................................................................................................635

Viewing a job with repeats and copies ...........................................................................................................635

Chapter 58: Advanced Setup Options............................................................................................. 637

Changing the size of a job.................................................................................................................................637

Choosing specific layers, vinyls, or foils to be output ..................................................................................639

Altering Print Settings.......................................................................................................................................646

Changing the weed border...............................................................................................................................648

Substituting halftones........................................................................................................................................649

Automatically optimizing halftones for MAXX 2 .........................................................................................650

Printing with non-optimized halftones when Auto-Substitution is turned on........................................651

Optimizing the print registration of black......................................................................................................652

Chapter 59: Working with Oversized Jobs..................................................................................... 653

Creating panels ..................................................................................................................................................653

Modifying panel size.........................................................................................................................................654

Viewing panel size.............................................................................................................................................655

Selecting panels to output.................................................................................................................................655

Flipping panels...................................................................................................................................................658

Outputting each panel as a separate job.........................................................................................................658

Viewing panels...................................................................................................................................................659

Producing a job without gaps between panels..............................................................................................659

Ensuring print to cut registration with paneled jobs ....................................................................................660

Chapter 60: Conserving Vinyl and Foil........................................................................................... 661

Rotating the job 90

°

to conserve vinyl..............................................................................................................661

Saving vinyl by positioning the job when plotting .......................................................................................661

Changing the start and end position of a job .................................................................................................662

Saving vinyl by positioning the job when printing.......................................................................................664

Minimizing vinyl usage with Reduce Frame.................................................................................................665

Minimizing foil usage .......................................................................................................................................666

Displaying vinyl and foil information ............................................................................................................667

Displaying the foil settings...............................................................................................................................667

Chapter 61: Choosing the Plotter or Printer.................................................................................. 669

Installing a plotter or printer............................................................................................................................669

Choosing a plotter and printer.........................................................................................................................669

Choosing a print mode......................................................................................................................................671

Resolving an EDGE 2 or EDGE FX Print Mode conflict...............................................................................672

Selecting the material size.................................................................................................................................672

Changing plotter settings..................................................................................................................................673

Chapter 62: Cutting, Plotting, and Pouncing a Job ..................................................................... 681

Determining if there is sufficient vinyl for a job............................................................................................681

Minimizing tool travel during plotting ..........................................................................................................682

Cutting a job with multiple vinyls...................................................................................................................682

Plotting existing spool files...............................................................................................................................683

Double-cutting a job ..........................................................................................................................................684

Sending the job to a plotter...............................................................................................................................684

Chapter 63: Printing a Job on a Vinyl Printer............................................................................... 687

Sending the job to a vinyl printer ....................................................................................................................687

Output Job Settings............................................................................................................................................687

Printing existing spool files ..............................................................................................................................688

Printing Process Colors.....................................................................................................................................689

Using the GerberColor Backing and Finish dialog box................................................................................689

Applying Multi-Spot Gradient Boost..............................................................................................................695

Printing a light color over a darker color........................................................................................................695

Viewing and changing the heat setting of a foil ............................................................................................696

Double-Hit White foil on the MAXX...............................................................................................................697

Viewing and printing dimensions...................................................................................................................697

Chapter 64: Ensuring Print-to-Cut Registration........................................................................... 699

Calibrating the plotter to a printer ..................................................................................................................699

Configuring targets for accurate print-to-cut registration ...........................................................................703

Centering a job on the vinyl .............................................................................................................................710

Chapter 65: Gerber Queue Manager............................................................................................... 711

Installing output devices...................................................................................................................................712

Opening files for printing and cutting............................................................................................................712

Pausing and restarting a job.............................................................................................................................713

Displaying plotting information......................................................................................................................713

Removing jobs from Gerber Queue Manager................................................................................................714

Changing the job order .....................................................................................................................................715

Viewing plotter properties in GQMgr ............................................................................................................715

Viewing printer properties in GQMgr............................................................................................................716

Using GQMgr to manage the MAXX 2...........................................................................................................716

Book Fourteen: GSP Tray and Installing Hardware and Software ........................................... 719

Chapter 66: Using GSP Tray............................................................................................................... 721

Reviewing system information ........................................................................................................................722

Viewing and printing Gerber installed fonts .................................................................................................724

Preparing to install devices ..............................................................................................................................725

Viewing Gerber installed devices....................................................................................................................726

Installing a vinyl printer, plotter, router, or inkjet printer...........................................................................726

Using the Gerber Device Profile Manager......................................................................................................727

Viewing qualified material/foil combinations..............................................................................................732

Installing OMEGA Options..............................................................................................................................732

Book Fifteen: Networking.................................................................................................................. 733

Chapter 67: Setting Up the GSP Network ...................................................................................... 735

Checking security system requirements.........................................................................................................735

Establishing the network ..................................................................................................................................736

Connecting and sharing output devices.........................................................................................................736

Chapter 68: Sending Jobs Over the Network ................................................................................ 741

Using GSPPlot ....................................................................................................................................................741

Using Gerber Queue Manager .........................................................................................................................741

Using a dedicated server...................................................................................................................................744

Chapter 69: Network Troubleshooting ........................................................................................... 745

Book Sixteen: Matching Colors with ColorID............................................................................... 747

Ways to set up ColorID.....................................................................................................................................747

Ways to use ColorID..........................................................................................................................................747

Chapter 70: Using ColorID ................................................................................................................. 749

Using ColorID alone..........................................................................................................................................749

Using ColorID with a colorimeter ...................................................................................................................750

Opening ColorID ...............................................................................................................................................750

Assigning the colorimeter COM port..............................................................................................................751

Choosing the Source Palette.............................................................................................................................752

Choosing the Source Color...............................................................................................................................753

Choosing the matching palette ........................................................................................................................753

Selecting the matching color ............................................................................................................................754

Finding the color name .....................................................................................................................................755

Using the matching color..................................................................................................................................755

Chapter 71: Using the Matching Color in Composer.................................................................. 757

Opening ColorID from Composer...................................................................................................................757

Manually entering the color name in Composer...........................................................................................759

Adjusting for material availability ..................................................................................................................760

Matching and creating colors...........................................................................................................................760

Chapter 72: Additional ColorID Software Features ..................................................................... 763

Setting up an inventory.....................................................................................................................................763

Choosing the color match criteria....................................................................................................................765

Verifying foil color matches .............................................................................................................................766

Using GerberColor Spectratone II colors........................................................................................................768

Chapter 73: Introduction to Colorimeters...................................................................................... 773

Theory of operation...........................................................................................................................................773

Using the white standard..................................................................................................................................774

Calibrating the colorimeter to the white standard........................................................................................774

Illumination source and cleanliness................................................................................................................774

Measurement techniques..................................................................................................................................774

Chapter 74: CP320 Colorimeter Operations................................................................................. 777

CP320 features....................................................................................................................................................777

CP320 description ..............................................................................................................................................777

Connecting, charging, and turning on the CP320 .........................................................................................778

Calibrating the CP320........................................................................................................................................779

Using the CP320.................................................................................................................................................779

1

Book One:

Welcome

Thank you for purchasing OMEGA™, Gerber’s powerful, yet easy-to-use design and production

software for the signmaking and graphics industries.

This reference manual is divided into books and chapters, presenting information about the

hundreds of tools, commands, and features incorporated in OMEGA. If you review the Table of

Contents, you’ll see that the topics are short and task-oriented so that you can quickly find

information about the solutions that OMEGA provides for your design and production tasks

and problems.

There are three versions of OMEGA software, this manual is intended for use with all three as

well as with separately purchased options. Review the OMEGA Getting Started Manual for

details.

♦ OMEGA CP (Cut and Print) is the complete package for digital imaging and vinyl

cutting.

♦ OMEGA CS (Cut Solution) contains all the tools and features necessary for advanced

vinyl design and cutting.

♦ OMEGA LS (Layout System) provides design only. No output.

The first book introduces you to the OMEGA suite of programs and provides information on

where and how to get help. The following books and chapters contain all the OMEGA

programs and tools in a task-oriented presentation designed to solve any design and sign

making problems you encounter.

This book is divided into the following chapters:

Chapter 1, Introducing the OMEGA Programs describes the OMEGA suite of programs and

running in Demo Mode.

Chapter 2, Where to Get Help introduces you to this manual, the on-screen Help system, and

provides Gerber contact information.

Chapter 3, Opening and Closing Files explains these basic tasks and includes information on

adding PLT and GCA files to an open job.

Chapter 4, Saving Files details saving files in the PLT format, as well as other formats.

3

Chapter 1:

Introducing the OMEGA Programs

Welcome to Gerber OMEGA. This powerful and easy to use signmaking and graphics software

builds on the success of Gerber GRAPHIX ADVANTAGE® while incorporating many new

solutions for your design and production tasks and problems. To become more compatible with

standard Windows conventions, some tools work differently in OMEGA than in GRAPHIX

ADVANTAGE. Refer to “Convention changes from GRAPHIX ADVANTAGE to OMEGA” for

more information.

OMEGA is a 32-bit application that is fully integrated with other Gerber software, hardware,

and consumable products through the Matched Technology System™. Teaming OMEGA with a

plotter, scanner or digitizing tablet, and a thermal printer such as the GERBER EDGE FX® or

GERBER MAXX 2™, and Gerber materials opens the door for you to enjoy unmatched

productivity and quality jobs.

OMEGA is a suite of programs. To install OMEGA and connect your computer to other devices,

refer to the Getting Started with OMEGA manual. After OMEGA is installed in Microsoft®

Windows®, choose Start > Programs > GSP® OMEGA, then click an icon in

the list to open one of the programs described in the following paragraphs.

Art Path32 (Option) creates offset tool paths that a Gerber router uses to

output dimensional signs.

Composer is the design program used to create, edit, and fill text, shapes,

designs, and images. Composer also has the ability to import and export

individual files in many formats.

Use Font Designer to design and build your own fonts.

FastFacts opens a web link to the FastFacts area of www.gspinc.com (requires

an Internet connection). Please note that a copy of all FastFacts that are current

at time of software release also reside on the OMEGA CD and can be accessed

by browsing the OMEGA CD.

While Composer allows you convert individual files, the File Converter

program allows you to convert multiple files (batch conversion).

Font Manager allows you to view, add, and delete Gerber fonts using the

OMEGA font CD. This program also allows for font styles to be viewed and

changed.

The Font View program allows you to view the actual construction of every

character in each font and to paste characters into the Text box in the Text

dialog box.

4

Chapter 1:

Introducing the OMEGA Programs

Gerber ColorID™ is a separately purchased option and is a fast, efficient, and accurate way to

match a source color to another color.

GQMgr (Gerber Queue Manager) is a holding area for plot files and provides controls for

choosing the plotting and printing order.

The GSP Kern program allows you to kern specific pairs in Gerber fonts and save that kerning

for future use.

GSPPlot is used to plot, cut, and print jobs. It also provides limited job arranging and sizing,

and can install plotters and routers. (GSPTray is recommended for installation of hardware.)

Use GSP Setup to install software (options, libraries, and fonts) and tablets as well as to view

system information.

GSPTray provides easy installation or deletion of printers, plotters and routers and access to

Gerber installed fonts. Through GSPTray you can also display the system identification

information.

ImageRIP™ is a separately-purchased software option used to convert Gerber Plot (PLT) and

Gerber Artwork Definition (GAD) files - as well as many other file formats - to halftones so that

you can print jobs on a large format inkjet printer.

The Vantage Scan II program is used to convert black and white images into vector objects that

can be cut on a plotter or filled and printed.

PALman allows you to create and edit vinyl and foil palettes.

Sentinel Config is used to view and change the settings of your security key.

README displays the latest information about the current version of OMEGA. Review this

important information before using the software.

The Spectratone program is used to create a GerberColor Spectratone™ chart, which is a chart

of the spot colors available when you overprint two foils using a vinyl printer such as the

GERBER EDGE or the GERBER MAXX.

ThumbPrint allows you to output thumbnail representations of selected Gerber plot (PLT) files

to a paper printer.

TT Font Converter converts Windows TrueType fonts into vector-based Gerber fonts that can

be cut on a plotter or filled and printed to a printer.

SplView provides an accurate representation of an EDGE job's foil as it will be applied to the

vinyl. Each foil and cut information are shown as separations.

Running in Demo Mode

OMEGA offers a demonstration mode that allows the software to be loaded and used without a

security block. Demo mode allows virtually all Composer functionality, but jobs cannot be

preserved in any way. For example, jobs cannot be saved, exported or cut/copied using the

clipboard. The GSPPlot program will also run in Demo mode, but jobs cannot be output to a

plotter, Gerber printer, or saved to a spool file.

Demo mode can be used to learn OMEGA on a system that is not dedicated to shop design and

production. Demo mode does allow for paper printing from Composer. By allowing for paper

5

printing, an OMEGA shop can generate front office paper prints and customer proofs on a

system that is not dedicated to designing or outputting signs.

Before running in demo mode, OMEGA will always alert the user that the security key has been

removed or cannot be detected. A prompt is provided on screen that allows the user to re-check

for the security key, or run in demo mode.

Demo mode will start under the following conditions:

♦ If OMEGA is loaded and run without a security block. The demo mode message will

appear as soon as GSPTray begins upon system startup. Again, jobs cannot be

preserved in any way with the exception of paper printing.

♦ If the security block is removed from an OMEGA system that has been loaded and

running with a security block. The demo mode message will appear as soon as the

security key is removed. If the user wishes NOT to go into demo mode, they should be

sure the security key is properly installed, then click NO when prompted by the demo

mode message. OMEGA will search for the security key and resume normal operation

if the key is successfully found.

Returning to normal operation from Demo mode

If OMEGA is running in demo mode and the user wishes to return to normal operations with

an OMEGA security key, the user must close all OMEGA programs including GSPTray, install a

valid OMEGA security key, and then restart any OMEGA programs.

If a user attempts to load a newer version of OMEGA with an older security key, the install

program will prompt them for a password to upgrade. If the user chooses to load the newer

version of OMEGA over an older installation by removing the security key, then OMEGA will

load and run in Demo mode. An error message will occur if the older security key is reinstalled

on the newer OMEGA Demo mode system. OMEGA will not run with an older security key.

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