Agfa Jeti Tauro H2500 - Single and Multiple Sheet Mode

The Tauro-H-2500 engine can operate in either Single Sheet or Multiple Sheet mode. In Multiple Sheet mode, CalderaRIP must send the list of sheets, their sizes, and their precise locations. This document creation is done in the Compose module, following this workflow:

1. Open the Compose module
2. Create sheets
3. Place images in the sheets
4. Create a Compose document
5. Print it.

Additionally, there are two different Multiple Sheet modes. The first is the “N-Up” mode, which allows for free placement of sheets, while the second is the “ABF” mode (Automatic Board Feeder), where placement is fixed. In ABF mode, you will select an “ABF configuration,” activating specific pins in the ABF system for the job, and the sheets must be aligned with these pins.

Working with N-Up and ABF modes

By default, multiple sheet mode options are not displayed in Compose. Follow these steps to display them:

1. Open Compose then, in the Page Format area, select the Tauro-H-2500:
   
2. In the Loading field, select ABF or N-Up:
   
3. You will notice that the "Color Bar" field has been replaced by a new field labeled "ABF Config." Here, select "None" to use N-Up mode, or choose one of the specified configurations to enable ABF mode:
   

N-Up mode

1. As seen previously, in Compose, set the "ABF Configuration" to "None" to use the N-Up mode:
   
2. You can now create sheets of any size and quantity. First, select the Rectangle tool from the Objects panel on the right, and draw a rectangle. Each rectangle will represent a sheet:
   
3. Typically, these rectangles would be printed in light blue; however, in the case of the Tauro-H-2500, they will be ignored by the RIP and used solely for sending the list of sheets to the controller.
   

     Info

   Please note that placement is not entirely free; all sheets must be aligned to the top, meaning their Y0 position in the Position area must be set to zero. This alignment is required by the printer engine.

   
4. Next, drop your files and position them within the sheets. To facilitate sheet placement, you may want to use the buttons in the Alignments area. For instance, to center an image on a sheet, select both the image and the sheet, then click “Center Horizontally” and “Center Vertically.” Additionally, there are other useful functions available in the right-click menu, such as Arrange, Resize to, and Align.
5. When you are done, click on Create.
   

     Info

   Do not adjust neither the height nor the width before that, it will be done automatically.

   
6. You can find your Composed document in the ImageBar. Drag it into the Print module. Before launching the print, ensure that you have selected either ABF or N-Up for the Loading option:
   
7. Also, in the Page Setup, ensure that the job Orientation is set to "No Rotation" and the Scale is set to 100%.
   

     Info

   Using Annotations or any type of crop marks is not possible, as there will not be a sheet placed under the graphics.

   
8. Finally, perform the printing.

ABF mode

The use of ABF mode is quite similar to N-Up mode for most steps. Here is the complete procedure:

1. In Compose, set the "ABF Configuration" to one of the available options (any of them, except "None"):
   
2. The appropriate number of sheets is automatically placed on the page at predefined locations, linking the Composed document to the corresponding "ABF configuration", which is sent to the controller during the RIP along with the sheet list.
   While sheet positioning is fixed (or more exactly, constrained) in ABF mode, their sizes can be modified. The templates are created with arbitrary sizes that you may wish to modify. When doing so, please ensure that one side of the sheet (either left or right) remains fixed, as it will be aligned to the pins.
   Additionally, remember that sheets must always be top-aligned. There is no visual indicator to show which side is fixed and which is free (this depends on the "ABF configuration"), but you can refer to your printer's operation manual for more information.
   
3. Next, drop your files and position them within the sheets. To facilitate sheet placement, you may want to use the buttons in the Alignments area. For instance, to center an image on a sheet, select both the image and the sheet, then click “Center Horizontally” and “Center Vertically.” Additionally, the right-click menu offers other useful functions, such as Arrange, Resize to, and Align:
   
4. When you are done, click on Create.

     Info

   Do not adjust neither the height nor the width before that, it will be done automatically.

   
5. You can find your Composed document in the ImageBar. Drag it into the Print module. Before launching the print, ensure that you have selected either ABF or N-Up for the Loading option:
   
6. Also, in the Page Setup, ensure that the job Orientation is set to "No Rotation" and the Scale is set to 100%.
   

     Info

   Using Annotations or any type of crop marks is not possible, as there will not be a sheet placed under the graphics.

   
7. Finally, perform the printing.

Saving N-Up or ABF configurations

Creating and adjusting sheets for every job can be time-consuming, so you may want to export a Sheet Setup as a template. The procedure varies slightly between N-Up and ABF modes.

Export and Load a N-Up configuration

1. In Compose, once the N-Up template is ready, click on the Export button on the bottom of the module:
   

2. Next, select "Save Document as Template" on the right side of the window. Browse to the desired location to save your template, enter a file name, and click Save when you are ready:

   
3. The template file is created. You can now import it to Compose when you want by using the Import button and browse to the location of your file.

Export and Load an ABF configuration

1. In Compose, once the ABF template is ready, click on the Export button on the bottom of the module:
   

2. Then, select "Save Document as Template" on the right side of the window. Browse to the desired location to save your template, enter a file name (ensure the file extension is ".abf," e.g., "My ABF-template.abf" as shown in the example below), and click Save when you are ready:

   
3. The template file is created. Copy it to this folder, where all the other ABF configuration files are located: /opt/caldera/lib/DRIVERS/MISC/Tauro_ABF:
   
4. Then restart Compose. Your template should be available in the list of the "ABF configurations":