Orion Plotter

The Orion Plotter is a HP DesignJet 5500ps model and is located in the Orion Design Studios at the Academic Village. This plotter allows for plots up to 60 inches wide.

Plotting with Photoshop:

1. Choose Image > Image Size and change the image size as desired (in inches)
2. Choose File > Page Setup > and select Printer in the bottom right of this box.
3. Select \\labprinters\orion_plotter in the name dialog box.
4. Click on Properties.
5. Choose the Paper/Quality tab. Select Advanced.
6. In the Paper/Output menu under Paper Size, select PostScript Custom Page Size.
7. If the "PostScript Custom Page Size Definition" box does not appear automatically, click on Edit Custom Page Size.
8. If your image will be 60" or less, set the Width value as the longer edge of your image. Otherwise, set the Height as the longer dimension. Set the width and height values to 0.5" greater than the document size, to ensure that clipping or scale reduction does not occur. (For example, if your document is 30" x 10", make the width 30.5" and the height 10.5".)
9. Set the Paper Feed Direction as "Long Edge First" if the width is larger than the height. Set the Paper Feed Direction as "Short Edge First" if the width is smaller than the height. Notice that the dimensions are displayed next to the Width and Height, e.g., (2.78, 60.00) (2.78.129.00). Click OK twice.
10. Click on the Page Layout tab in the "orion_plotter on laprinters Document Properties" box. Check Enable Scaling. Click on Scaling Options. Click on Percent and select 100%. Click OK, OK, OK, OK. (This will close all open printing windows.)
11. Choose File > Print with Preview... Ensure that the preview displayed here looks oriented and scaled correctly. When ready, choose Print.
12. \\labprinters\orion_plotter should be selected in the Name box. Click OK.

Plotting with MS PowerPoint 2007

This is accomplished by converting the slide you wish to print to a PDF.

NOTE: To avoid skewing, make sure to set the ratio of width and height of your document to correspond to what you want the plot ratio to be.

1. Select the Design tab and choose Page Setup.
2. Select your height and width as desired. Click OK.
3. Click on the globe in the top left of the page, then click on the right expansion arrow next to Save As and select PDF or XPS. Choose the location you would like to save the PDF and save it.
4. See instructions on “Plotting with Adobe Reader”.

Plotting with Adobe Reader

1. Choose File > Print. In the printer name drop down box choose \\labprinters\orion_plotter.
2. Click on Properties for the plotter.
3. Choose the Paper/Quality tab. Select Advanced.
4. In the Paper/Output menu under Paper Size, select PostScript Custom Page Size.
5. If the "PostScript Custom Page Size Definition" box does not appear automatically, click on Edit Custom Page Size.
6. If your image will be 60" or less, set the Width value as the longer edge of your image. Otherwise, set the Height as the longer dimension. Set the width and height values to 0.5" greater than the document size, to ensure that clipping or scale reduction does not occur. (For example, if your document is 30" x 10", make the width 30.5" and the height 10.5".)
   NOTE: If you need to find the document dimensions, right click the document anywhere and click on ‘Document Properties…’. The Page Size is displayed toward the bottom of the page in the ‘Description’ tab. This procedure requires you to close all print setup windows.
7. Set the Paper Feed Direction as "Long Edge First" if the width is larger than the height. Set the Paper Feed Direction as "Short Edge First" if the width is smaller than the height. Notice that the dimensions are displayed next to the Width and Height, e.g., (2.78, 60.00) (2.78.129.00). Click OK twice.
8. Click on the Page Layout tab in the "orion_plotter on labprinters Document Properties" box. Check Enable Scaling. Click on Scaling Options. Click on Percent and select 100%. Click OK, OK, OK.

Plotting with AutoCAD 2008

1. Choose File > Page Setup Manager…
2. Under ‘Page setups’ click on New…
3. Type in a name (e.g. 16x12), then click on OK.
4. Under Printer/plotter name box select \\labprinters\orion_plotter. Click on Properties.
5. In the ‘Access Custom Dialog’ click Custom Properties…
6. Choose the Paper/Quality tab. Select Advanced.
7. In the Paper/Output menu under Paper Size, select PostScript Custom Page Size.
8. If the "PostScript Custom Page Size Definition" box does not appear automatically, click on Edit Custom Page Size.
9. If your image will be 60" or less, set the Width value as the longer edge of your image. Otherwise, set the Height as the longer dimension.
   NOTE: If you need to find the document dimensions, right click the document anywhere and click on ‘Document Properties…’. The Page Size is displayed toward the bottom of the page in the ‘Description’ tab. This procedure requires you to close all print setup windows.
10. Set the Paper Feed Direction as "Long Edge First" if the width is larger than the height. Set the Paper Feed Direction as "Short Edge First" if the width is smaller than the height. Notice that the dimensions are displayed next to the Width and Height, e.g., (2.78, 60.00) (2.78.129.00). Click OK twice.
11. Click on the Page Layout tab in the "orion_plotter on labprinters Document Properties" box. Check Enable Scaling. Click on Scaling Options. Click on Percent and select 100%. Click OK, OK, OK, OK.
12. In the box titled "Page Setup - [Your_Profile_Name]", the name will be something similar to 'orion_plotter.pc3'. Click OK, then Close.
13. Select File > Plot. In the Page Setup section, under 'Name:', select the profile you just created in the last step.
14. To plot, choose File > Plot (or type Ctrl + P).
15. In the Page Setup section, under 'Name:', select the profile you just created.
16. Under Paper Size, select PostScript Custom Page Size. Click OK.