Brisque Impose Application Note #2
Preparing Pages with correct centering for the Brisque Impose workflow

Question:

I choose the centering option in Preps, but when I Preview, Improof or Expose my IMPO job, the pages appear off-center. How can I prevent this from happening?

Explanation:

In some instances, a document may not be centered within the PostScript page that contains the document. This may be caused either by inherent problems from within the layout application that was used to create the PostScript file, or the in the way the actual PostScript file was created.

Solution:

There are 2 alternative methods for creating centered pages:

1. PostScript files - Create centered pages (with bleeds) in FreeHand, PageMaker and QuarkXpress.
2. PDF files - Center the pages using the Super Crop Plug-In for Acrobat Exchange.

PostScript files - Create centered pages (with bleeds) in FreeHand, PageMaker and QuarkXpress

The following instructions will explain how to create centered PostScript pages in FreeHand, PageMaker and QuarkXpress.

The following table describes which ScitexBrisque28... PPD’s are required for FreeHand, PageMaker, and Quark Xpress. The following versions of these applications are supported by the PPD’s: FreeHand 5.0 5.5 7.0, PageMaker 5.0 5.5 6.0 6.5, and Quark Xpress 4.0 4.01.

Free Hand 5.0 5.5 7.0 and Adobe PageMaker 5.0 5.5 6.0 6.5

Both of these versions of FreeHand and PageMaker will center the documents within the PostScript pages.

Two problems may arise when defining either Metric or Custom Page Size parameters in the FreeHand and Quark Express applications.  We describe these prolems, and how to correct them.

Metric Page Sizes

Pages created in millimeters may pose a problem if the paper size chosen (when printing the document) is not in full points.

• If you are using standard sizes (A3, A4, A5, etc.), install one of the ScitexBrisque28... PPD’s described in the table above according to the platform you are working on. These PPD’s contains a list of Page Sizes, including Pages with the Extra suffix. The pages that contain the Extra suffix contain added room for the bleeds.
• When defining the Page Setup parameters in the respective applications, select a Page Size with the Extra suffix according to the size of the document. Your pages will now be centered.

Custom Page Sizes

Custom pages, created in millimeters, can be printed in two different ways:

Option 1:

1. Choose a US paper size (in inches), that is larger than the area of your document.
2. The FIT window in the Print Paper dialog will show you if your document will fit. If the Paper is too small, choose a larger size; your RIPped page may be a bit larger, however it will be centered.

Option 2:

The second option requires that you change your preferences to points, but will give you a final page size that is more exact.

1. In the Preferences parameters, change the Measurement Units to Points.
2. From the Paper Size menu choose Custom; the Custom Paper Size window appears.  The Paper Size is the final page size which contains both the document and the printers’ Marks.
   



3. Round off the Width and Height parameters (according to the size of the document), then add on 60 points (which provides space for the registration marks). The document can be printed, and the pages will be centered.

Quark Xpress 4.0 4.0x

Two issues must be considered when dealing with pages created via Quark Xpress 4.0 and 4.0x:  pages that contain bleeds, and metric pages.

1. Pages (either metric or US) that contain bleeds must be printed using Centered position.
2. In order for these pages to be properly centered, the right amount of extra space needs to be provided in the selected page size when the Quark document is printed. The size of the page needs to be the original document size plus 30 additional points for each direction.

US Standard Page Sizes

• If you are using US standard sizes (US Letter, Legal and Tabloid), install one of the ScitexBrisque28... PPD’s described in the table before according to the platform you are working on. These PPD’s contains a list of Page Sizes, including Pages with the Extra suffix. The pages that contain the Extra suffix, contain added room for the bleeds.

1. From the File menu, choose Print; the Print window appears:





2. From the Printer Description menu, select the ScitexBrisque28... ppd you installed in step 1.
3. From the Paper Size menu, select the Document Size followed by the Extra suffix, so that it fits the document you are printing.
4. From the Page Positioning menu, select Center.
5. Now you may print the document; the document will be centered and contain the bleeds.

Metric Page Sizes (Custom and Standard)

Quark Xpress has bug that causes metric pages (A3, A4, A5, etc.) to not center properly within the actual Postscript page size. If you need to center the page exactly within the crop marks, then you should use the following workaround:

Converting the working dimensions from millimeter to points

Pages that are created in millimeters (such as A3, A4, A5 and custom size) need to be converted into whole points in order for Quark to perfectly center the page within the crop marks. The following table displays width and height dimensions for the standard metric pages sizes, converted from millimeters to whole points:

	MM		POINTS
Name	W	H	W	H
B1	707	1000	2004	2835
B2	500	707	1417	2004
B3	353	500	1001	1417
B4	250	353	709	1001
B5	176	250	499	709
A0	841	1189	2384	3370
A1	594	841	1684	2384
A2	420	594	1191	1684
A3	297	420	842	1191
A4	210	297	595	842
A5	148	210	420	595

If your document size does not appear in the table, you need to manually convert the dimensions of the page size to points with the following formula:

x [mm] * 2.8346 = y [points]

After you use the formula to covert to points, round off the result to the nearest whole point.

For example, 150mm = 150 * 2.846 = 425.19pt. Then after rounding off, the final point value is 425pt.

Creating a new metric document (such as A3, A4 A5 and custom).

1. From the File menu, choose New; the New Document window appears:
   



2. From the Size menu, select Custom.
3. In the Width and Height fields, type in the point values that you calculated previously, followed by pt (for example, 595pt and 842pt for an A4 page).  There is no need to change the Preferences parameters from mm to points.

After you have converted your document from millimeters to points, and the page size is a standard size, may use the document as you would for a US Standard page size (such as US Letter, Legal and Tabloid).  However, if the page size you defined is not a standard size, continue to the next step.

Printing a custom sized page (non-standard size):

1. From the File menu, select Print; the Print window appears:
   



2. From the Printer Description menu, select the ScitexBrisque28... ppd you installed on your system.
3. From the Paper Size menu, select Custom.
4. In the Paper Width and Paper Height fields, enter the width and height of the document in points, and add an additional 60 points to each value.
   

   Note:

   If the Document Measurement preferences are defined as millimeters, you do not need to change the Preferences to points. Enter the sizes in points followed by pt (as shown in the figure).

Quark Xpress 3.31 3.32

Two issues must be considered when dealing with pages created via Quark Xpress 3.31 and 3.32: pages that contain bleeds, and metric pages.

1. Pages (either metric or US) that contain bleeds must be printed using Centered position.
2. In order for these pages to be properly centered, the right amount of extra space needs to be provided in the selected page size when the Quark document is printed.  The size of the page needs to be the original document size plus 30 additional points for each direction.

US Standard Page Sizes

US standard pages sizes that contain bleeds must be printed using Centered Registration Marks.  In order for these pages to be properly centered, the right amount of extra space must be provided in the selected page size when the Quark document is printed. The size of the page must be the original document size plus 30 additional points for each direction.

1. Install the ScitexDolevPS_L2C.PDF file for standard page sizes (US LetterExtra, LegalExtra and TabloidExtra).
2. In the Page Setup window, from the File menu, select Page Setup; the Page Setup window appears:
   



3. From the Printer Type list, select Scitex Dolev PS L2C.
4. From the Paper Size menu, select the Paper Size that suits the document you are printing.

Because of a rounding-off bug (from millimeters to points) in Quark Xpress 3.31 and 3.32, metric pages (A3, A4, A5, etc.) to not center properly within the crop marks. To center the pages exactly within the crop marks, you need to either create the document in whole points, or convert them from millimeters to points.

You do not need to work in points in order to change the dimensions of the document. In the Document Information window, enter the size values in points, followed by pt. Quark Xpress will then convert the point values into the Document Measurement units defined in the Preferences window.

Standard Metric Page Sizes

• If you have not done so already, install the ScitexDolevPS_L2C.PDF file for standard page sizes (A3Extra, A4Extra, A5Extra, US LetterExtra, LegalExtra and TabloidExtra).
• If you are working in millimeters, convert the document dimensions from millimeters to points.

The following table displays the millimeter:points conversions for standard metric page sizes.

	MM		POINTS
Name	W	H	W	H
B1	707	1000	2004	2835
B2	500	707	1417	2004
B3	353	500	1001	1417
B4	250	353	709	1001
B5	176	250	499	709
A0	841	1189	2384	3370
A1	594	841	1684	2384
A2	420	594	1191	1684
A3	297	420	842	1191
A4	210	297	595	842
A5	148	210	420	595

How to create a new document (such as A3, A4, A5 etc.)

1. From the File menu, choose New; the New Document window appears:



2. From the Size menu, select Custom.
3. In the Width and Height fields, type in the point values from the conversion-table, followed by pt (for example, 595pt and 842pt for an A4 page).  There is no need to change the Preferences parameters from mm to points.

Print the standard metric page size.

1. From the File menu, select Page Setup, the Page Setup window appears:
   



2. From the Printer Type menu, select CreoScitex Dolev PS L2C.
3. From the Paper Size menu, select the Paper Size that fits the document you are printing.

Custom Metric Paper Sizes

• If you have already not done so, install the Scitex PSBridge_L2.PDF.
• Convert the dimensions of the page size to points using the following formula:
  x [mm] * 2.8346 = y [points]
  After you use the formula to covert to points, round off the result to the nearest whole point.

For example, 150mm = 150 * 2.846 = 425.19pt. Then after rounding off, the final point value is 425pt.

You can now print the document.

Printing the document

1. Open the Page Setup window.

2. From the Printer Type menu, select CreoScitex PS Bridge L2.
3. In the Paper Width field, enter the width and height of the document in points, plus 60 additional points for the registration marks.
   

   Note:

   You do not need to be working in points to add the width in points. Enter in the width followed by pt (as shown in the figure above); the points value will be converted to the Document Measurements defined in the Parameters window.

PDF files - Center the pages using the Super Crop Plug-In for Acrobat Exchange.

The Super Crop plug-in for Adobe Exchange 3.0 or later enables you to crop the current page or all pages to a specified region, to the bounding box of the page or revert to the last saved version of a PDF. Cropping is the process of selecting part a page in a PDF document and discarding the rest of the page.

The Super Crop plug-in is available free of charge from the Adobe website: http://www-pac.adobe.com/prodindex/acrobat/30plugins.html#crop. Instructions for the installation of the plug-in are available on the same website.   The use of this plug-in is at your own risk, and CreoScitex takes no responsibility for any unwanted or irreversible effects that may be caused after its installation.

For the Super Crop plug-in to work, the input PDF file must include crop marks. First, open the PDF file in the Acrobat Exchange application. Then, to ensure that all PDF pages are centered for imposition, from the Acrobat Exchange menubar, invoke the Plug-Ins > SuperCrop > Crop Page(s) to Bounding Box command as displayed in Figure 1:

Figure 1:

The Bounding Box of a page is the smallest rectangular region that includes all the text and graphics on a particular page (the PS crop marks form the DTP Application are included). Cropping to the bounding box of a page eliminates extraneous white space at the margins of the page. The media box of a page is the original size of that page.

After selecting the Crop Page (s) to Bounding Box (as described in figure 1) a message appears (see Figure 2). Select ALL to crop all pages, and then Each  in the following dialog box (see Figure 3) to crop each page to its own bounding box. (The Biggest option is for cropping all pages to the largest bounding box of all pages).

Figure 2:

Figure 3:

One this process has been completed, all the pages are centered by their bounding box, and are ready to be imposed.