How to prepare jobs in PrimeCenter for printing in Digital Factory

Prepare your layouts in PrimeCenter, export them as print PDFs, and import them into Digital Factory (formerly CadLink) manually or through a queue hotfolder.

Before you begin

• Configure a queue in Digital Factory for your printer, media, and print mode.
• Review the queue’s import and layout settings so that they do not unintentionally modify the layout prepared in PrimeCenter.
• If using a hotfolder, enable it for the intended Digital Factory queue and ensure that PrimeCenter can access the folder.

1. Prepare your layout in PrimeCenter

1. Create a New recipe or open a ready-made recipe template.
2. In the Files tab, review the import settings and configure any required file preparation, such as bleed.
3. Open your artwork in the File manager.
4. Set the required quantities and insert the files into the Studio.
5. In the Layout tab, select the media and format, then configure the layout tools required for your job.
6. Click Generate.
7. Review the generated layouts, including the file arrangement, quantities, dimensions, and bleed.

For illustrated instructions, see First use of PrimeCenter V5.

2. Export the print PDF

1. Open Export settings at the bottom of the generated layouts panel.
2. In Print files, review the output folder and file naming settings.
3. Leave Print cut contours disabled unless you intentionally want the contours to appear on the print.
4. Select the layout to export and use the appropriate action:
   • Print to export the print PDF to the configured output folder.
   • Print to… to choose the destination folder when exporting.

Available export actions depend on your PrimeCenter package. For details and screenshots, see Exporting files for printing and cutting.

3. Import the PDF into Digital Factory

Option A: Manual import

1. In Digital Factory, select the queue configured for your intended printer and production settings.
2. Use File > Import file to import the print PDF exported by PrimeCenter.
3. Review the imported job before sending it to print.

Option B: Hotfolder import

Digital Factory can monitor a folder and automatically add incoming files to its queue.

1. In Digital Factory, confirm that Enable queue hot folder is enabled for the intended queue and that the correct folder is selected.
2. In PrimeCenter, select that folder as the print-file export destination, or copy an exported print PDF into it.
3. Check that the PDF appears in the intended Digital Factory queue.
4. Review the job before printing. 

4. Check and print the job

Before printing, verify:

• Dimensions: The imported layout matches the dimensions exported from PrimeCenter.
• Copies: The number of complete layouts to print is correct. Copies already arranged within the PrimeCenter layout should not be counted again as additional layout copies.
• Media and print mode: The selected settings match your production requirements.
• Import adjustments: No unintended scaling, cropping, rotation, or mirroring has been applied.
• Additional processing: Queue settings have not added unwanted marks or other layout changes.

Digital Factory provides a Leave as is (do not change on import) option under its import settings. Review this setting alongside rotation, mirroring, and white-space removal options when working with layouts already prepared in PrimeCenter.

Once the job has been checked, use Digital Factory’s print command or the output scheduling configured for your queue. Run a small test before using a new workflow for production.

Related documentation

• Digital Factory - File Menu
• Digital Factory - Settings Tab: hotfolders, import, and scheduling
• Digital Factory - Jobs Menu