Roland VS-540 User manual

SPECIAL COLOR INK GUIDE
( Metallic Silver & White )
This document describes the characteristics of special color inks (white ink and metallic silver ink) for VS-
640/540/420/300, the important notes on the usage of these inks, and the maintenance and printing method
in using these inks. For other information, refer to the VS-640/540/420/300 Setup Guide and User's Manual.
When you use metallic silver ink and white ink, be sure
to read this rst.

Thank you very much for purchasing this product.
To ensure correct and safe usage with a full understanding of this product's performance, please be sure
to read through this manual completely and store it in a safe location.
Unauthorized copying or transferal, in whole or in part, of this manual is prohibited.
The contents of this operation manual and the specications of this product are subject to change without
notice.
The operation manual and the product have been prepared and tested as much as possible. If you nd any
misprint or error, please inform us.
Roland DG Corp. assumes no responsibility for any direct or indirect loss or damage which may occur
through use of this product, regardless of any failure to perform on the part of this product.
Roland DG Corp. assumes no responsibility for any direct or indirect loss or damage which may occur with
respect to any article made using this product.

1
Contents
Contents........................................................................................................1
Chapter 1 Getting Started ..................................................................................3
1-1 What This Document Assumes and Related Manuals ............................4
What This Document Assumes.................................................................................................... 4
Related Manuals ............................................................................................................................... 4
VersaWorks Online ........................................................................................................................... 4
1-2 Before Starting Operations .....................................................................5
Important: Characteristics of Inks and Important Notes.................................................... 5
Before Starting the Day's Work.................................................................................................... 5
1-3 Important Notes on Printing ....................................................................6
Using the Middle Pinch Rollers in Printing and Cutting..................................................... 6
Important Notes in Using Transparent Media........................................................................ 6
Important Notes on Using Media Take-up System ..............................................................6
Precautions when using an optional dryer............................................................................. 7
Chapter 2 Getting Ready....................................................................................9
2-1 Preparing VersaWorks .........................................................................10
Starting VersaWorks.......................................................................................................................10
Creating a Folder for Saving PS Files .......................................................................................10
2-2 Printer Preparations ............................................................................. 11
Making the Printer Settings and Loading Media ................................................................11
2-3 Creating Printing Data..........................................................................12
Basic Approach for Creating Printing Data ...........................................................................12
Creating Data for Printing ...........................................................................................................12
Blend Print and Layered Print (Metallic Silver and CMYKLcLm) ....................................18
Chapter 3 Printing.............................................................................................21
3-1 Print Job Setting...................................................................................22
Printing Only with Metallic Silver Ink ......................................................................................22
Blend Print (Metallic Silver + CMYKLcLm)..............................................................................24
Layered Print (Metallic Silver CMYKLcLm)........................................................................26
Layered Print (CMYKLcLm Metallic Silver)........................................................................28
Printing Only with White Ink (WMT Mode) ...........................................................................30
Printing Only with White Ink (W Mode)..................................................................................32
Printing with While, Metallic Silver, and CMYK Ink .............................................................34
Printing with White Ink and CMYKLcLm Ink (WMT Mode) ..............................................37
Printing with White Ink and CMYKLcLm Ink (W Mode) ....................................................39
3-2 Starting the Print Operation .................................................................41
Starting the Print Operation.......................................................................................................41
Printing a Metallic Color Chart..................................................................................................42
Chapter 4 Advanced .........................................................................................45
4-1 Performing Texture Printing..................................................................46
What is Texture Printing?.............................................................................................................46
Create The Texture Printing Data..............................................................................................46
Performing Texture Printing .......................................................................................................51
Printing a Texture Chart ...............................................................................................................52

2
Contents
Copyright and property of this Software and this manual belong to Roland DG Corp. No part of this publica-
tion may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any from or by any means, electron-
ic, mechanical, photocopy, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher.
VersaWorks is a registered trademark of Roland DG Corp.
Windows is a registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft® Corporation in the United States and/or
other countries.
Pentium are registered trademarks of Intel Corporation in the United States.
Macintosh is a registered trademark of Apple Inc.
Adobe, the Adobe logo, PostScript, PostScript 3, and Illustrator are either registered trademarks or trade-
marks of Adobe Systems Incorporated in the United States and/or other countries. ©2007 Adobe Systems
Incorporated. All rights reserved.
Other company names and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective
holders.
http://www.rolanddg.com/
Copyright © 2010-2012 Roland DG Corporation
Chapter 5 Maintenance ....................................................................................55
5-1 Maintenance ........................................................................................56
Message for Ink Circulation ........................................................................................................56
When Dot Drop-out Etc. Cannot be Corrected....................................................................56

Chapter 1
Getting Started
1-1 What This Document Assumes and Related Manuals.............4
What This Document Assumes ...................................................4
Related Manuals..........................................................................4
VersaWorks Online......................................................................4
1-2 Before Starting Operations ......................................................5
Important: Characteristics of Inks and Important Notes ..............5
Before Starting the Day's Work ...................................................5
1-3 Important Notes on Printing.....................................................6
Using the Middle Pinch Rollers in Printing and Cutting ...............6
Important Notes in Using Transparent Media ..............................6
Important Notes on Using Media Take-up System ......................6
Precautions when using an optional dryer...................................7
3

4
Chapter 1 Getting Started
Chapter 1 Getting Started
1-1 What This Document Assumes and Related Manuals
What This Document Assumes
Before performing any operations described in this guide, make sure that all the following preparations have
been complete.
Assembling and installing the VS-640/540/420/300 (it is called, "This machine" at the following) unit
 Installing VersaWorks on your computer, and connecting the computer to this machine via a network
Related Manuals
Read the following documentation for information about setting up this machine and VersaWorks.
Setup Guide
This manual covers details about how to use this machine, including how to set up the printer and where to
locate the printer, etc. Be sure to read this manual.
User's Manual
This manual describes operation methods in detail. After you have read Setup Guide, be sure to read this
manual.
VersaWorks Quick Start Guide
Chapter 1 of this manual,“Setting for VersaWorks,” provides you with instructions necessary to perform print-
ing with VersaWorks, including how to install the software. Be sure to read this chapter following the above
“User’s Manual.
You are also recommended to read Chapter 2, “Getting Started,” to become familiar with how to use this
program.
VersaWorks Online
This document describes the important notes to use the metallic silver ink and white ink as well as the basic
printing method using these inks. You can get the latest information about Roland VersaWorks and the in-
formation on printing methods requiring more complex settings by viewing VersaWorks Online. If you want
to learn more about the features of Roland VersaWorks, or if you want to use metallic silver ink and white ink
more eectively, be sure to visit VersaWorks Online.
URL : http://dg4.roland.co.jp/en/RVW2forWeb/index.html
VersaWorks Online can be displayed by clicking [help] - [VersaWorks Online] from the main menu.

5
Chapter 1 Getting Started
Chapter 1 Getting Started
1-2 Before Starting Operations
Important: Characteristics of Inks and Important Notes
The usage and handling of white ink and metallic silver ink involve some important considerations that do
not apply to ink of other colors. Be sure to familiarize yourself with the characteristics of the inks before you
use them.
White ink and metallic silver ink precipitate.
If they are allowed to stand, the precipitates in them may solidify and cause clogging of the print heads
or other malfunction. Be sure to observe the cautions in this manual.
Maintenance must be performed.
Always keep the main power switched on. If the main power is switched o, the automatic maintenance
function stops working, and it may result in malfunction.
We recommend that you operate the printer at least once a week.
If the printer is left unused for a long period of time, ink precipitation may occur, causing unstable ink
discharge, which may result in dot drop-out, etc. In such cases, the precipitated and solidied ink needs
to be cleared.
P. 56, "When Dot Drop-out etc. cannot be corrected"
Drying inks
After output, allow the ink to dry suciently. Note that white ink and metallic silver ink in particular require
printing at a high density, and so are more dicult to dry than CMYKLcLm inks.
We recommend to use an optional dryer.
P. 7, "Precautions when using an optional dryer"
We strongly recommend lamination.
Depending on conditions, the weatherability of metallic silver ink and white ink may be inferior to that of
CMYKLcLm inks. Therefore, laminating is strongly recommended.
Before Starting the Day's Work
Remove just the white and metallic silver ink cartridges, shake them gently, then reinsert
them.
You do not have to shake the cyan, magenta, yellow, black, light-cyan, and light-magenta ink
cartridges every day, but be sure to shake them when you install new cartridges for these
colors.
The ingredients in white and metallic silver inks tend to settle. Each day, before starting the day's operations,
be sure to carry out the above steps. Allowing the ink to stand without carrying out these steps can cause the
settled material to harden, resulting in malfunction or other problems.

6
Chapter 1 Getting Started
Chapter 1 Getting Started
1-3 Important Notes on Printing
Using the Middle Pinch Rollers in Printing and Cutting
Since metallic silver ink and white ink are dicult to dry, the middle pinch rollers will smudge the printed
surface when printing and cutting are performed. Thus, when you perform printing and cutting using metal-
lic silver ink and/or white ink, secure the media in place using only two pinch rollers on the right and the left.
However, some types of the media may partially oat and it may cause bad eect on printing, feeding and/
or cutting. Use the media after conrmation of the nature of your media.
Important Notes in Using Transparent Media
Loading transparent media
Set the [EDGE DETECTION] menu item to "DISABLE". Transparent media cannot be loaded unless this set-
ting is made.
Ensure a margin of at least 75 mm from the leading edge of the media to the printing- or cutting-start
location.
Important notes on the amount of media remaining
When you use transparent media, the presence of media cannot be detected. In such cases, printing opera-
tion does not stop when the media runs out, and there is a chance that the platen or the like may become
soiled with ink or that ink may get inside and damage the machine. If media runs out while printing is in
progress, immediately press to stop printing.
Using the middle pinch rollers
The middle pinch rollers scratch media slightly, and on transparent media such scratches can be very no-
ticeable. Also, the middle pinch rollers will smudge the printed surface when transparent media is pulled
back after printing. When you use transparent media, secure the media in place using only two pinch
rollers on the right and the left.
Automatic crop-mark detection
Automatic crop-mark detection does not work with transparent media. In such cases, perform alignment
manually.
"User's Manual"
Important Notes on Using Media Take-up System
Since metallic silver ink and white ink are dicult to dry, if you use the media take-up system (at your option),
media and/or the printed surface may be smudged depending on the type of media you use. If you use the
media take-up system leaving the middle pinch rollers removed, some types of the media may not be taken up
normally and/or cause bad eect on printing, feeding and/or cutting quality as well as partial oat of the media.
Be sure to use the media take-up system on conrmation of the nature and compatibility of your media.

1-3 Important Notes on Printing
Chapter 1 Getting Started
Precautions when using an optional dryer
Use an optional dryer we recommend.
Contact your authorized Roland DG Corp. dealer for recommended dryer models.
Select “ENABLE” in the [OPTION DRYER] menu.
This setting is required to operate the printer together with an optional dryer.
Chapter 1 Getting Started
7

8

Chapter 2
Getting Ready
2-1 Preparing VersaWorks..........................................................10
Starting VersaWorks..................................................................10
Creating a Folder for Saving PS Files .......................................10
2-2 Printer Preparations..............................................................11
Making the Printer Settings and Loading Media........................11
2-3 Creating Printing Data ..........................................................12
Basic Approach for Creating Printing Data................................12
Creating Data for Printing..........................................................12
Blend Print and Layered Print
(Metallic Silver and CMYKLcLm)...............................................18
9

10
Chapter 2 Getting Ready
Chapter 2 Getting Ready
2-1 Preparing VersaWorks
Starting VersaWorks
On the computer you are using, start VersaWorks. For information on how to start the program, see the Roland
VersaWorks Quick Start Guide. After starting the program, go to the upper left of the main screen and check to
make sure that "Model (or Nickname) of Your Printer" is displayed, and that "Status" is set to "Ready to Print."
Creating a Folder for Saving PS Files
Before you actually print an image you draw using application software such as Adobe Illustrator, it is necessary
to save the image as a PS le(s). And then, you can print the image by loading the PS le(s) on VersaWorks.
Because of this, you should create a folder for saving PS les in advance. It is recommended to locate the folder
in the root directory on your computer's local disk.
Procedure

Open [Computer] ( or [My Computer]), and then open [Local Disk (C:)].

On the [Organize] menu, click [New Folder].
(Or on the [File] menu, click [New], and then
click [Folder].)

Enter the name for the folder, and then
press the Enter key.
Here you name the folder "MT-WH_print", for ex-
ample.

Chapter 2 Getting Ready
11
Chapter 2 Getting Ready
2-2 Printer Preparations
Making the Printer Settings and Loading Media
When Using Transparent Media
When you are using transparent media, make the necessary printing settings on the printer and load the
media accordingly.
Procedure

Press and make the following settings.
[EDGE DETECTION] to "DISABLE."

Load transparent media into the printer.
When the media warps or partially oats, ensure a margin of about 200 mm from the leading edge of the
media to the printing- or cutting-start location.
Be sure to use the media clamps when you load media.
When Using Media Other Than Transparent Media
Load the media using the method described in the User's Manual.

12
Chapter 2 Getting Ready Chapter 2 Getting Ready
2-3 Creating Printing Data
Basic Approach for Creating Printing Data
When you're printing using metallic silver ink and/or white ink, you create the printing data using a spot
color.
When Using Metallic Silver Ink
When you print using metallic silver ink, you can create the printing data according to the two methods
below.
Specify the spot color so as to use only the metallic silver ink.
Specify the spot color named "RDG_MetallicSilver" to the areas you want to print using the metallic silver
ink.
Specify the spot color from the exclusive metallic color special colors library.
From the exclusive metallic color special colors library, select the special metallic color (spot color) to be
used which is the combination color of CMYKLcLm ink and metallic silver ink.
When Using White Ink
Specify the spot color named "RDG_WHITE" to the areas you want to print using the white ink.
Creating Data for Printing
Create the data for printing using the metallic silver ink and white ink.
The program used to create the printing data is Adobe Illustrator CS3, in this section. For detailed information
on drawing methods and how to work with palettes, refer to the documentation or online help for Adobe
Illustrator CS3. If you are using another version of Adobe Illustrator, operations may be somewhat dierent
from those explained here.
1. Open the exclusive swatch library.

At the swatch palette menu, select [Open Swatch Library], then [Other Libraries].
The "Select Library" window appears.
The swatch palette is displayed by going to the menu, selecting [Window], and then selecting
[Swatch].

Chapter 2 Getting Ready Chapter 2 Getting Ready
2-3 Creating Printing Data
13
 Open folders in the order of [Computer] (or [My Computer]) → [Local Disk (C:)] →
[Program Files] → [Roland VersaWorks] → [Swatch] → [Illustrator], then select "Roland
VersaWorks.ai"
Depending on the settings of your computer, the extension ".ai" might not be shown.
Click [Open].
The swatch library containing "RDG_MetallicSilver" and "RDG_WHITE" is displayed.

Open the same folders as in step  , and then select "Roland Metallic Color System
Library.ai."
Depending on the settings of your computer, the extension ".ai" might not be shown.
Click [Open].
The swatch library is displayed which is containing the "metallic color" created by mixing the metallic
silver ink and CMYKLcLm ink.
By saving the ".ai" le selected in steps  and  into the folder below, you can register each
swatch library to the Adobe Illustrator's library.
C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Illustrator CS3\Preset\Swatch
("C" is the name of your computer's local disk.)
Once the registration is performed, you can open the library directly from the swatch palette menu,
eliminating the need to search the le every time you start Adobe Illustrator.

2-3 Creating Printing Data
Chapter 2 Getting Ready Chapter 2 Getting Ready
Chapter 2 Getting Ready
14
2. Create the illustration, and specify the spot color that matches the color you want to print.

Create the illustration.
Be sure to draw the illustration in the CMYK mode.

Specify each spot color that matches the color you want to print.
Desired ink or color Spot color name
Metallic silver ink RDG_MetallicSilver
White ink RDG_WHITE
Metallic color RVW-MT-Silver, RVW-MT-Bronze,
RVW-MT-TitanBlack, etc.
Using the metallic silver ink, you can perform the blend print and the layered print by combining the
ink with the CMYKLcLm ink.
P. 18,“Blend Print and Layered Print (Metallic Silver and CMYKLcLm)”
Areas where you want to use metallic color
From the metallic color special colors library (Roland
Metallic Color System Library), specify the color such as
"RVW-MT-Bronze"
Specify "RDG_WHITE" for
the areas where you want to
use white ink.
Specify " RDG_MetallicSilver " for the
areas where you want to use metallic
silver ink.

Chapter 2 Getting Ready Chapter 2 Getting Ready
Chapter 2 Getting Ready
2-3 Creating Printing Data
15
3. Create the PS (PostScript) le.

Select [Print] from the [File] menu.
Select [Roland VW].
When a nickname is set, or when more than one
printer is connected, select “Roland VW_(the nick-
name of the printer used for output).”
Click [Setup].
Click [Continue].

2-3 Creating Printing Data
Chapter 2 Getting Ready Chapter 2 Getting Ready
Chapter 2 Getting Ready
16

Turn on the [Print to le] option.
Click [Preferences].
Click [Advanced] in the [Layout] tab.
For Windows 2000: In the "Print" dialog box
(the window at the very top of this page), go
to the "Layout" tab and click [Advanced].
Click the down arrow to the right of the
[Paper Size] box, and then click [PostScript
Custom Page Size] from the list that ap-
pears.
For "Custom Page Size Dimensions,"
enter the values in the "Width" and "Height"
elds.
Enter values for the same size as the illustration you
created in step
2.
.

Chapter 2 Getting Ready Chapter 2 Getting Ready
Chapter 2 Getting Ready
2-3 Creating Printing Data
17

Click [OK] three times to close the "PostScript Custom Page Size Denition," "Roland
VersaWorks Advanced Options," and "Printing Preferences" dialog boxes.
The "Print" dialog box returns.

Click [Print].
Click [Print].

Specify the destination and le name for
saving,
Example: " C:\MT-WH_print " for the folder to save to,
and " mt-wh.ps " as the le name
Click [Save].
The CMYK layer of the image is saved as a PS le.

Open the folder you saved to and make sure the le has been created.
Select the folder you created in "Creating
a Folder for Saving PS Files" on page 10.
Assign the name you want. It may be a good
idea to assign a name that indicates that the
le uses white and metallic silver ink.

2-3 Creating Printing Data
Chapter 2 Getting Ready Chapter 2 Getting Ready
Chapter 2 Getting Ready
18
Blend Print and Layered Print (Metallic Silver and CMYKLcLm)
Using the metallic silver ink, you can perform the blend print and the layered print by combining the ink with
the CMYKLcLm ink. By this means, you can realize the metallic expressions that cannot be made only with the
CMYKLcLm ink. The printing methods are dierent between the blend print and the layered print, and so are
the metallic impressions of the CMYKLcLm colors. Select and use the types of printing to suit your taste.
P. 24, “Blend Print (Metallic Silver + CMYKLcLm),” p. 26, “Layered Print (Metallic Silver CMYKLcLm),” p. 28,
“Layered Print (CMYKLcLm Metallic Silver)”
* When you perform “Printing with White, Metallic Silver, and CMYK Ink” (page 34), the printing method is
limited to the blend print.
Blend Print
(Image of printing method)
In performing the blend print or the layered print, you can specify the colors from the metallic color
special colors library. However, if you specify the metallic colors with the same names for the blend
print and the layered print, the tones of the colors are dierent between them. We recommend that
you check the tones of the colors by performing the test printing or printing out the Metallic Color
Chart.
Seeing the metallic color chart for the layered print, you may feel a slight inconsistency between the
names and the tones of the colors. This is because the colors listed in the Metallic Color Chart are
named based on those for the blend print.
P. 42,“Printing a Metallic Color Chart”
The metallic silver ink and the CMYKLcLm ink are
blended to be a single layer for printing.
Media
Metallic Silver and
CMYKLcLm