Brisque Impose Application Note #3
Preparing PostScript Pages for Imposition Workflow
From PCs with Windows 3.xx and Windows 95

Question:

I choose the centering option in Preps, but when I Preview, Improof or Expose my layout, the pages appear off-center.

Explanation:

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

Solution:

The following will explain how to create centered pages (with bleeds) in Page Maker and Quark Xpress.

Aldus PageMaker Free Hand 5.0 and Adobe PageMaker 6.0/6.5

Both of these versions of PageMaker will center the document within the PostScript pages.

Metric Page Sizes

Pages created in millimeters can 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.) then it is recommended that you install the SXR8PS21C.PPD, which contains pages (named Extra) that contain added room for the bleeds and are in whole points. When choosing the PPD in the Page Maker printer PPD selection dialog, the nickname CreoScitex BrisqueC will display.

This PPD needs to be installed in the following path PM6\RSRC\USENGLSCH\PPD4

Custom Page Sizes

• Custom pages created in millimeters can be printed in two different ways.
• Choose a US paper size (in inches), that is larger than the area of your document.
• 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, but will be centered.
• The second option requires that you change your preferences to inches, but will give you a final page size that is more exact.
• Change the Measurement Units in Preferences to Decimal Inches.
• From the Paper Size pulldown menu choose Custom. The Custom Paper Size dialog will display. The values are determined by Page Maker as what is needed as a final page size that will contain the document and the Printers’ Marks.
• If the values displayed do not divide into units that are less more 1/8 of an inch (.125"), you will have to round them up to the next 0.125.

Quark Xpress

There are two issues in dealing with pages created in Quark Xpress, pages that contain bleeds and metric pages.

Pages (either metric or US) 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 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 60 additional points for each direction.

Standard Page Sizes

• You may use the SXDPSL2C.PDF for standard page sizes (A3Extra, A4Extra, A5Extra, US LetterExtra, LegalExtra and TabloidExtra).
• Copy the SXDPSL2C.PDF into the PDF sub-directory (located in the Quark Xpress Directory).
• Choose the Printer Name (Scitex Dolev PS L2 C) and select the Paper Size that fits the document that you are printing.

Custom Page Sizes

• If your document is not a size listed in the you will need to enter the dimensions of the page manually.
• Install the BRIDGE.PDF. Open the Page Setup dialog.
• Choose the Printer Type CreoScitex PS Bridge L2.
• In the paper width field, enter the width of the document in points plus 60 additional points for the registration marks.

Note:

You do need to be working in points to add the width in points. Enter in the width followed by pt (as shown).

To convert inches into points multiply the number of inches by 72. If you are using metric pages convert the width into inches (mm / 25.4 = inches) and then the inches into points. The dialog can only accept whole points, so round the result to the highest whole point.

A Note about Metric Page Sizes

• Quark Xpress has bug that cause metric pages (A3, A4, A5, etc.) not  to center properly within the crop marks.  If you need the page exactly centered within the crop marks, then you should use the following workaround:
• Pages that are created in MM (such as A3, A4 and A5) need to be converted into whole points in order for Quark to center the page perfectly within the Crop Marks.
• The following table shows the standard metric pages, converted into whole points.

	MM		Points
Name	W	H	W	H
4B	2000	2828	5669	8016
2B	1414	2000	4008	5669
B0	1000	1414	2835	4008
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

When creating a new document, enter the dimensions in points; enter the number followed by pt (i.e. 595pt and 842pt for an A4 page).  You don’t have to change the preferences mm to points.

After you have created your document and are ready to print follow the instructions below to set the page size and print.

1. Install the BRIDGE.PDF.
2. Open the Page Setup dialog.
3. Choose the Printer Type CreoScitex PS Bridge L2.
4. In the paper width field, enter the width of the document in points plus 60 additional points for the registration marks.

Note:

You need to be working in points to add the width in points.

5. Print the document using Centered Registration Marks.