Color printing policies
How to output from your networked workstation
How to get copies from your original hardcopy
General considerations when choosing color

COLOR PRINTING POLICIES

In order to provide the fastest and most efficient service to the campus community and also remain cost efficient in the production of color output, please observe the following:

Limit quantity to less than 200 copies per original -
If larger quantities are needed, they should be printed another way, such as on the traditional black output copier, offset press, or outsourced.

Products that will not be printed on the color device -
Seminar manual covers, class handouts (excluding charts and graphs), products with a limited life - such as newsletters, departmental notices, interoffice materials, and other items of this type will be printed in black on the conventional copier in Printing Services.

Color device is to be used for official college use only -
Color printing, like all campus printing, is strictly for college-related use only.

Pickup of final output -
As with other printed materials, color output jobs will be placed for pickup in the vestibule in Printing Services. Jobs are not immediately printed and ready for pickup. The department's standard turnaround time policy of forty eight hours holds true for color output. Larger jobs may take longer, please plan accordingly.

HOW TO OUTPUT FROM YOUR NETWORKED WORKSTATION

There are two different ways to output your files to the color device - sending directly to the print queue and sending as an email attachment.

1. Sending directly to the printer:

With your file open, select FILE>PRINT.   At the print window, in the printer name area, scroll down and select the Fiery XP12 Color Server PCL5. Click PROPERTIES on the right side of the page. You will see the following screen:

This screen gives you the opportunity to make your final output specifications. The following areas provide the printer with the information necessary to output your job as you intended.

In the upper left, under COPIES, indicate the number of final copies required.

PAPER SOURCE is where you indicate the size of your piece. Letter, legal, and 11 x 17 are the standard paper sizes. AUTO SELECT at the Paper Source means the printer will get the paper from the appropriate drawer automatically. MEDIA TYPE lists the weight of the paper on which the file will be printed. Heavyweight is for 32 lb. to 110 lb. stock, Extra Heavyweight is for 110 lb. to 140 lb. stock. This is also the location to choose Transparency if that is the desired output medium.

FINISHING offers duplexing options - printing on both sides of the sheet.

The remaining screen, WATERMARKS, gives users the option to add the words "Confidential", "Copy", or "Draft" to a document as it is being printed.  New watermark text can be added as well. No user input is warranted unless a watermark is desired.

At any point during your selection process, you may click the HELP button in the lower right of your screen. This area gives you helpful information about all the available options.

After you click OK at the PRINT screen, your file goes to the Fiery server print queue. It is held there until a member of Printing Services personnel releases the file to the printer. Jobs are not immediately printed and ready for pickup.

2. Sending your file as an email attachment:

Send an email note to sfoster@vw.vccs.edu and attach your file to the note. Be sure to convey all the necessary information required for output.

The preferred way to submit files is directly to the printer using the first method described above.

HOW TO GET COPIES FROM YOUR ORIGINAL HARDCOPY

The DocuColor 12 device is a copier as well as a printer. If you require copies from your original, follow the procedures already in place for duplicating materials. Fill out a Printing Services Request form, attach your original, and drop in the in-box in the Printing Services vestibule. Allow forty eight hours turnaround time. Larger jobs may require more time.

GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS WHEN USING COLOR

The DocuColor 12/Fiery device has options previously unavailable to campus users. Printing color on both sides of the sheet, printing on heavier cover stock, and printing up to 11" x 17" size output are new features. In addition to color, the device can also output black only. Black output on the DocuColor 12 is digital, similar to laser output. This is an important feature if black and color are both to be used in one job, such as color on one side of the sheet and black on the other side.

COLOR ENHANCES THE MESSAGE - Charts and graphs are ideal uses for color. Conveying information in blocks of color clarifies the data. Outputting short run pieces of a promotional or recruitment nature, designed for a wide audience, is another good use of color.

OUTPUT VOLUME - The DocuColor 12 is designed to produce multiple copies. So whether you need 1 copy or 100 copies, the device will be able to handle the job. There is a point, however, where it becomes more cost efficient to print larger quantities another way. For this reason the output quantity limit is set to under 200 copies.

COST CONSIDERATIONS - The output cost-per-copy, while much less expensive than if purchased at a commercial copy center, is still an important consideration. The color print meter charge on the DocuColor 12 is $.143 per impression. If the sheet of paper is printed in color on both sides, the cost is doubled. So one piece printed in color on two sides would have a print cost of approximately 29 cents. Digital black output on the DocuColor 12 costs $.039 per impression. Meter costs are not currently charged back to individual departments. The charges are paid from the Printing Services budget. Of course this requires careful monitoring of costs in order to stay within budget.

Please call the department at 857-7228 if you have questions concerning this new color printer/copier service.

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