HP printers - How to use Sandwich quality mode

The following information applies to various HP Latex models. Please refer to your printer's specific documentation for details on compatibility.

This article explains how to configure the Sandwich quality mode available on some HP printer drivers, such as the HP Latex 700W/800W used here as an example.

Keep reading for the step-by-step Sandwich instructions, or watch the following video for an overview of the complete white-ink printing workflow with HP Latex 700W/800W printers and CalderaRIP:

Sandwich Layer Sequences

Sandwich quality mode combines color and white ink layers in a single print.

Sandwich mode uses CalderaRIP’s Multilayer Manager. In this workflow, Side A and Side B identify parts of the multilayer sequence, not separate front and back printing operations.

The table below shows the 3-layer (3L) and 5-layer (5L) sequences used in this example. Choose a quality supported by your printer and substrate.

Before You Start

The example uses:

• A PDF file, City_WINTER_WhiteSpot.pdf, containing a spot color named White.
• A substrate preset named My custom film, compatible with the selected Sandwich quality.

Before configuring the job in the Print Module, prepare a compatible substrate preset on the printer. In this example, the custom substrate is created on the printer's panel. Follow your printer's documentation for its media-management procedure and available qualities. See HP support for details.

Considerations

• Other white-ink qualities: If you previously used SP, UF, or OF, remember to switch to the corresponding SA quality for Side A and SB quality for Side B when configuring a Sandwich job.
• Job sizes: Size requirements depend on the printer driver and version. For the HP Latex 800W example, CalderaRIP v18.2 removes the requirement for Side A and Side B to have identical job sizes. This change does not apply to every HP driver.
• Printing and cutting: If you are combining Sandwich printing with cutting, review the multilayer Print and Cut limitations for the version-specific size requirements and the restriction on enabling cutting in more than one layer.

Set Up the Sandwich Job

Load the file, create the Sandwich sequence, and configure Side A and Side B before printing. The values and numbered callouts below refer to the HP Latex 800W example.

Load the File

1. Open the FileManager module.
2. Load City_WINTER_WhiteSpot.pdf if it is not already in CalderaRIP:

Create the Sandwich Sequence

1. Open the printer’s Print Module.
2. Select your Media preset: "My custom film" in this example.
3. Select a supported Resolution, such as 600 in this example.
4. Open Layers management (1), click Add (2), and add a Sandwich sequence:

Configure Side A: Color and White

1. Select Layer 1-1: Sandwich (Side A) (2).
2. Select the corresponding Side A Quality, identified by SA (1). Use matching print settings for Side A and Side B, including passes and density.
3. Drag the Side A image from ImageBar into the Print Module.
4. Open Page Setup (3).
5. In the Main tab, set the image size and position (4) (5):
6. In the White tab, select Enable Separation. For the example PDF, choose Use a Spot Color (1). For other files, use the appropriate method described in Choose How to Generate White Ink.

With Auto detection enabled, detecting a spot color named "White" automatically selects "Use a Spot Color". Check the selected spot and the white separation before printing.

Configure Side B: Color

1. Select Layer 1-2: Sandwich (Side B) (1) and the corresponding Side B Quality, identified by SB (2). 
2. Drag the Side B image from ImageBar into the Print Module.
3. Open Page Setup (3).
4. In the Main tab, set the image size and position (4) (5):
5. In the White tab, disable the white separation (1). In this example, Side B prints color only:

Print and Check the Job

1. Click Print: 
   
2. Monitor the job in Spooler.
3. In this example, the optimization process starts automatically after you click Print and appears in Spooler:
    
4. Spooler displays the job while it is processing:
    
5. Once the job is complete, you can view the Side A details.
6. Use the arrows below the preview to switch between Layer 1-1 and Layer 1-2.
    
7. Switch to Layer 1-2 to view the Side B details:

Choose How to Generate White Ink

For this example, configure the white separation on Side A. Choose one method based on the file content and the area you want to print with white ink; the methods below are alternatives, not consecutive steps.

• The file contains a White spot: Select Use a Spot Color and choose the white spot, as shown in the main example.
• The file contains a CutContour: Select Fill a Contour and choose CutContour in the Contour field.
  
• White is required across the whole layer: Select Full Page coverage.
  
• White is required only where the image contains color: Select Generate from CMYK data and Generate where there is some ink. Transparent areas remain without white ink.
  

Using CutContour to define the white area does not replace the separate configuration needed to cut the job. If cutting is required, refer to the multilayer Print and Cut limitations.

Related Resources

• HP printer documentation
• Spot Inks in CalderaRIP
• How to synchronize profiles from my HP printer?
• Multilayer feature in CalderaRIP
• HP printers - How to copy a Side A calibration to Side B in EasyMedia. Use this procedure if you need to copy a Side A calibration to Side B. Check that it applies to your printer and selected quality.