Troubleshooting Files for Print
General Print Trouble SolutionsIllustrator
InDesign
Photoshop & U4ia
Plotting
Errors
General Print Trouble Solutions
Q: How do I decrease my file size so that it will print quickly and correctly?
A: Open your file in Acrobat Professional and choose File > Save As > Optimized PDF. Make sure the optimization preset is set to "NewschoolPDF." To further streamline your file, choose Tools menu > Protection & Security > Sanitize Document to remove file settings or hidden data that may prevent it from printing properly.
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Q: When I print to color my first page prints fine but the rest of the pages print as thumbnails images...Why?
A: You have improperly selected Choose paper source by PDF page size in the Acrobat Print window. Please deselect this print option and resubmit your file. Note that this error does not constitute verifiable technical error and therefore may not be considered for reimbursement.
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Q: May I print to PDF to format my file?
A: The "Print to PDF" function is not available on the current Mac OS supported in the Academic Technology labs. If you are working on a Windows station you may select the "Adobe PDF" Printer in your print window to print to PDF. If working on a Mac, please "Save As" a PDf, and optimize your file in Acrobat Pro.
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Q: After optimizing in Acrobat I still can't print… what else can I do?
In the Print window, click the Advanced button and check the box labeled "Print As Image." Click OK and submit your file to print.
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Q: How do I reduce the dpi of an Illustrator file for print jobs?
A: Go to File > Print > Output > Set to "Adobe PDF" under the printer dialog box> change the dpi to 300dpi.
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Q: I saved as a PDF and my Illustrator file still won't print. Why?
A: Your file may still have some Illustrator properties that aren't being read by the printer. Save a copy, choose Adobe PDF, and deselect "preserve Illustrator editing capabilities". You will still be able to edit your original Illustrator file. Open the PDF in Adobe Acrobat Pro and choose File > Save As > Optimized PDF. Print the optimized PDF from Acrobat Pro.
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Q: How do I create outlines for my type in Illustrator?
A: Go to Type > Create Outlines. Outlines should only be created once you are done with the work. Once the outlines are created the text is not editable, so remember to save a copy of your original file before creating type outlines.
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Q: How do I flatten my artwork to prepare my Illustrator file for printing?
A: Go to Window > Layers. In the layers palette, click on the arrow in the upper right corner, select "Flatten artwork". You won't be able to make changes after flattening, so save a copy of your file before flattening.
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Q: How do I embed images in Illustrator?
A: Embedding images should only be done when you are done with the file and no further changes will be made. Once the image is embedded it cannot be changed. Go to Window > Links to open your Links palette. Select the image you want to embed. In the links palette, click on the arrow in the upper-right corner, select "Embed Image".
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Q: How do I convert my InDesign file to a PDF for printing?
A: Go to File > Export. In the Export dialog box, change "Save as type:" to "Adobe PDF" and select Work In Progress as your save location. In the Export Adobe PDF dialog box, make sure that "Adobe PDF Preset" is set to "NewschoolPDF." Open the resulting file with Adobe Acrobat Pro and print.
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Q: How can I do Indesign Booklet Printing:?
A: Follow these steps:
MAC & PC
1. Create file in Indesign. Under File select Adobe PDF Presets > NewSchoolPDF
3. Export File as NewSchoolPDF
4. Save File to Works in Progress as PDF. Open File With > Adobe Acrobat Pro from the Works in Progress
6. File > Print
7. Select Printer
8. Subset select > Booklet Printing
9. Set up Booklet Printing and click Print
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Q: What is the best way to print a Photoshop file in the lab?
A: We recommend that you save a copy as "NewSchoolPDF" and print the PDF from Acrobat.
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Q: How do I flatten my image in Photoshop?
A: Go to Layers > Flatten Image. You won't be able to make changes after flattening, so save a copy of your file before flattening.
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Q: How do I print in U4ia?
A: 1. Go to Edit > Object Information, check that the image is only one layer/raster and the correct size, maximum 8" x 10" (10" height").
2. If there is more than one layer, merge your artwork. Go to Edit > Cutout, select the area to print using the square shape on the regions menu that pops up.
3. If the file dimensions are too large, scale it down. Go to Design > Fancy Copy. Click Pick, select the image to be scaled, then type in 8" x 10" for width and height. If your page is set up with the 10-inch side as the width, "rotate" it by typing 90 in the angle window. Click Accept. Press File > Print. Set pages to 1. Select your printer and press Print.
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Q: How should I bring images into Autocad?
A: Go to Insert > Raster Image and select the image. Common image file types like .jpg, .pict, .gif, .tif, etc. can be inserted. Inserting an image that is larger than 300dpi can make the file slow to handle.
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Q: If my document doesn't plot correctly, is there anything else I can try?
A: Make sure that all of your settings are correct. If it still does not plot correctly, you can try creating a PDF first by selecting Adobe PDF as your printer, and reformatting your file. Then send your file to the plotter using Adobe Acrobat Pro.
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Q: What does it mean when I get this message, "Print job 'File Name' failed: Unable to select a printer: Printer 'I421-B&W2-Printer' is in error state 'Error,Job restarting,Error,Offline" ?
A: The printer you have selected is down. Select a different printer and resend.
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Q: What does "Print job 'File Name' failed: You do not have permission to use this Printer" mean?
A: You have selected a printer to which you do not have access because you are not enrolled in that department. For example, photo printers in rooms i930 and i405 at Arnhold Hall, 55 West 13th Street are only available to credit students and faculty in the Photo department.
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Q: What does "Processing Job" mean at the printer?
A: When the printer says "Processing Job", it means that it is currently working on outputting a print job. Please be patient while the printer finishes as larger files take more time to process.
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Q: When trying to print, why would I get a weird, coded error message on my station or at the printer?
A: The two most common causes of these errors are:
1. Too much complex data in the file, or too many fonts.
2.
Too many objects in an Illustrator document, such as hundreds of vectors, or too many layers in a Photoshop document overwhelms the printer with too much complex data. Often, grouping objects or flattening the image will fix this. Fonts can become corrupted, when a computer crashes, for example.
To troubleshoot font problems, try using a basic font like Courier and see if the error is corrected. If it is, then one of your fonts is probably the root of the problem.
Converting your file to an optimized NewSchoolPDF document can usually correct these problems. Another solution that often works is to copy and paste the entire document/image into a new document. The original document may be corrupted.
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Q: If my job isn't printing, what can I do to check?
A: Ask the lab staff to check the printer queues. Sometimes a large job or multiple jobs sent prior to yours can cause delays. Sending your file repeatedly in these instances, however, only makes things worse. Send your job only once.
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Q: No jobs are going from my Mac to the printer and there are "!"s next to the printer names. What can I do?
A: If you encounter this problem, please report the issue to an AT staff member, and move to another station.
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Q: When I send my job to print, I get an error message "does not match printer attributes." What does that mean?
A: You are printing to an unsupported page size. See Black & White, Color, or Plotter FAQs for lists of supported paper sizes.
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Last updated 09/01/2011