HELIOS ImageServer User manual
5 Using ImageServer 2.5
5.1 General remarks
Fig. 13 shows a list of all OPI-related tasks. The current chapter describes the use of OPI. It gives directions for inducing OPI to automatically generate layout files. Furthermore, it explains how to choose layout settings for layout files to be used in layout applications, and how to set up print dialogs.
For output purposes, please select a printer queue on which OPI (and color matching, if required) have already been activated (compare 4.5 "Printer queue settings").
Fig. 13: OPI-related tasks with highlighted tasks described in this chapter

5.2 Notes about layout generation
The automatic generation of layout files is volume dependent. If you have retouched your high-resolution original image files using an image processing application, you have to make sure that you save them on a volume on which Create Layouts is enabled (see also 4.4 "Volume settings"). OPI will not generate layouts for files you save on your local hard disk.

Important: You should always select unique file names for your high-resolution original images, at least if you want to save them in the same folder. Different extensions will not do. For example, if you save "flowers.psd" (Photoshop) and "flowers.tif" in the same folder, they both will produce a "flowers.tif" layout image. The contents of this layout may show either the content of "flowers.psd" or "flowers.tif". Furthermore, if you want to share your volume with PC clients, you should always stick to the 3-character file name extension.

The generation of layouts will take a few moments, it starts after a user-defined time delay. This is - by default - after a delay of 30 seconds (compare Layout Delay: in 4.3 "OPI server settings") before the OPI server starts generating them.
Layout files are either gathered in a "layouts" folder or marked by the ".lay" extension, depending on your server settings (compare 4.3 "OPI server settings"). In any case, they are kept in the folder that contains the high-resolution original images. ImageServer 2.5 always generates layouts, even if the resolution of the original image is smaller than the default layout resolution. The layout then inherits the resolution of the original.
The layout images are not protected any more. The "layout" command line (see 6.2 "The "layout" program") understands the option ProtectLayouts to turn the protection back on.
5.2.1 Notes for Photoshop 6/7 users
Since text layers are vector-based in Photoshop 6/7 you have to consider the following before saving your high-resolution originals. The file format of the high-resolution image determines whether the vector-based text layer in the document is maintained in the layout file, although the preview in the Finder shows it anyway. The following table gives an overview:
Format Preview Layout image
PSD ok ok
TIFF ok ok
EPS ok missing text
DCS1 ok missing text
DCS2 ok missing text
It is recommended to stick to the Photoshop native (PSD) format when vector-based text is employed within the document. Photoshop itself issues a warning message when saving the high-resolution file to a format other than Photoshop:

When saving the file to EPS-format Photoshop issues the following warning message:
Files with vector data will be rasterized by Photoshop when opened.

Note: You can switch off the Include Vector Data option
in the EPS-Options dialog. Then the layout file, generated by the ImageServer, will contain the (rasterized) text.

In Photoshop 6/7, we recommend to activate the checkbox Always Maximize Compatibility for Photoshop (PSD) Files in the Preferences dialog in order to provide a better PSD file compatibility with the ImageServer.
5.3 Defining folder specific OPI settings
Usually, all OPI settings that define the attributes of layout files are server or volume specific (compare Fig. 5 and 7 in chapters 4.3 "OPI server settings" and 4.4 "Volume settings"). It is, however, possible to specify alternative settings for individual folders, by simply changing the folder name from a Macintosh computer or Windows PC.
The "%" character always introduces a new specification. You can add three different definitions following that sign, namely: resolution, file format, and color space.
Resolution
File format

Note: As a workaround you can use the "layout" command (compare 6.2 "The "layout" program") to create TIFF layouts from an EPSF image.

The e flag will produce EPSF layouts.
The j flag in a path name behaves like the %t syntax but creates a JPEG layout file instead of a TIFF layout file from a raster-based high-resolution original image.
The g flag in a path name behaves like the %t syntax but creates a PNG layout file instead of a TIFF layout file from a raster-based high-resolution original image.
The n flag, in place of the t, e, j or g flag resets the behavior to default.
Flags:
%t TIFF
 %e EPS
 %j JPEG
 %g PNG
 %n Neutral
m or p for the type of EPSF previews (with m for Macintosh-only, and p for cross-platform/PC).
Flags:
%m Macintosh-only
%p Cross-platform/PC
Example: Folder_name%80em

will produce 80 dpi Mac style EPSF layouts.
Color space
Flags:
%b Grayscale
%r RGB
%c CMYK
%l Lab
General
General flags:
%u Ignore spot colors (see page 30)
%v Enable spot colors (see page 30)
%x Ignore masks (see page 28)
%y Enable masks (see page 28)

Important: The chosen parameters in a folder name affect all subfolders, i.e. they are automatically valid for that complete directory tree.

Folder name syntax
The folder name has to end in % followed by none or more digits for the resolution followed by the other options in the order as listed in the table. Upper or lower case does not matter for the options. Other characters or spaces in the option string are not allowed.
1.
Resolution (in dpi)
2.
u, v
3.
x, y
4.
e, t, j, g, n
5.
m, p
6.
b, c, r, l

Fig. 14 shows an example of folder specific OPI settings:
The "test-images%0" folder will prevent the OPI server from creating layout images from the high-resolution originals you might move to that folder because of the appendix "%0".
The folder named "test-images%36mb" is for high-resolution images you want to substitute with 36 dpi layouts containing Macintosh previews in Grayscale color mode for printable and screen EPSF and TIFF previews.
Fig. 14: Defining folder specific OPI settings

5.4 Tagging images with ICC profiles
For high-quality color matching the OPI server needs an ICC input profile for each image (image profile) and an ICC output profile (printer profile) for the printer queue.
The "Tagger" program serves to tag high-resolution original images with an ICC image profile and thus allows correct color data transformation (for details about color data transformation with ICC profiles you may compare Fig. A-3 in A 2 "Colors, color matching, proof printing - basic concepts").
Please note that for tagging, both the images and the profiles have to be available on the server. The volume on which tagging is to be accomplished must have enough disk space available - at least as much space as the largest image would need (e.g. 20 MB if the largest image needs 20 MB), because the "opisrv" might duplicate data temporarily.
, Mount the "HELIOS Applications" volume, open the "MacOS" folder and then "OPI Tools". Double-click the "Tagger" program icon as shown in Fig. 15.
Fig. 15: Opening the "Tagger" program

The "Tagger" program lets you create so-called ICC info files that contain tagging instructions for all images in a given folder, or lets you tag single images individually.
Creating an ICC info file
For creating a new ICC info file you have to open the dialog shown in Fig. 16.
-> Select File and New from the program menu.
Fig. 16: Setting General options for a new ICC info file

The dialog shown in Fig. 16 lets you set general tagging options as well as special options for all the different file formats that are supported by ImageServer 2.5 (e.g. TIFF, EPSF).
You need to decide for each single file format whether you want to tag the profiles by reference or embed them into the image file.
Then, you can select an RGB and a CMYK profile for the specific file format.
The Overwrite existing profiles check box should be used carefully. Whenever you save an image that already contains an image profile in the folder that contains this particular ICC info file (or if you move the image to that folder) the old profile will be overwritten.
By checking Update Folder Contents, you bring the contents of the respective folder up-to-date, i.e. current ICC profile settings are applied immediately to the respective images (though "immediately" means that the "opisrv" needs some time to apply the changes).
-> First of all, you should set the "General" options as shown in Fig. 16. This is sensible, e.g., if you want to use the same CMYK (or RGB) profile for different file formats. You can then select individual profiles for the specific file formats or just choose General from the pop-up menu. Fig. 17 shows an example.
Fig. 17: Setting TIFF options for a new ICC info file

Note: General is the default setting in the pop-ups for the different file formats unless the file format denies tagging of a particular profile type. E.g., PICT images cannot be tagged with a CMYK profile.

The file format behavior may be different for different file formats. As mentioned above, the PICT format e.g. does not allow tagging with a CMYK profile.
Saving an ICC info file
If you have set up tagging for all file formats you can save your new ICC info file.
-> Press the Save button to open the dialog that lets you select the destination folder (Fig. 18).
Please note that there are a few important things you should know about saving:
Fig. 18: Saving an ICC info file

The ICC info file can be re-edited at any time. You just have to double-click the file icon to open the "Tagger" program (compare Fig. 19).
Fig. 19: Folder with "!iccinfo.oic" file

Tagging
single images
You may also tag single images one by one with the "Tagger" program. The procedure is similar to that described above.
-> Select File and New from the program menu to open the ICC info file dialog.
-> Select the file format of the image you want to tag and choose the correct profile. Then press the Tag Image button to open the dialog that lets you select the desired image file.
The "Tagger" program internally creates an ICC info file but does only use it for tagging the image and then deletes it immediately.
About tagging layout images
The "Tagger" program may only be used for tagging high-resolution original images. If you happen to tag a layout image this will be silently ignored because layouts are tagged automatically by the OPI server. The rules for layout tagging are as follows:

Note: For details about color spaces of layout images please refer to 3.5 "How the ImageServer modifies color modes".

Information about tagged profiles
You may use our "oiimginfo" UNIX program to find out whether or not a specific image is already tagged with a profile. See 6.6 "The "oiimginfo" program".
5.5 Refreshing layouts using the "touch" program
The "touch" program is a Macintosh and Windows tool that has automatically been added to your "HELIOS Applications" ("HELIOS_APPS") volume during the installation ("opitouch", the UNIX version of this program, is explained in 6.3 "The "opitouch" program").
The program is meant to help you generate new layouts. This might be necessary either
Usually, a layout file is generated shortly after you have saved a high-resolution original image on the server. The layout file will then bear the attributes that are currently defined in the "EtherShare Admin" dialogs. If you change the settings in these dialogs, the existing layouts will not be updated automatically.
In case you decide to update an old layout, you can open your high-resolution original image file and save it once again. Alternatively, you can use the "touch" program for that purpose. This is much more convenient, because the program simulates the saving procedure without opening any image processing application.
-> Mount and open your "HELIOS Applications" volume (PCShare: "HELIOS_APPS"), open the "MacOS" folder (PCShare: "Windows") and then "OPI Tools".
-> Drag the "touch" (PCShare: "Touch.exe") program icon onto your local desktop.
-> Just drag the image file(s) you want to re-layout onto the "touch" icon (Fig. 20).
Fig. 20: "touching" an image

The "touch" program will - after a delay of 30 seconds (default) - automatically enforce the generation of new layout files.

Important: You may select several images at a time and drag them onto the "touch" icon. Do not drag and drop complete folders!

Using "Touch.exe" under Windows
Under Windows, only a certain amount of files can be dragged onto the "Touch.exe" icon at a time, otherwise Windows will issue an error message. In this case do the following:
-> Start "Touch.exe" and drag all selected files into the program window. You may also copy the selected files in the Explorer and paste them into the program window.
Please note that the time the server needs for the generation of new layouts, depends on the number of layout jobs and processes.

Note: The "touch" program can also be used for tagging high-resolution images.

5.6 ICC-rendering intent settings (EtherShare Admin)
This new feature offers different "strategies" for rendering an image file from one color space to another. There are 5 settings (Automatic, Perceptual, Relative Colorimetric, Saturation, Absolute Colorimetric), which are freely selectable from EtherShare Admin's Printer > ICC Intents menu (Fig. 21):
Fig. 21: EtherShare Admin "ICC Intents" dialog window

Note: Please keep the intent setting Automatic unless you have a special reason to change it. Your profiling software will explain the intents meanings.

5.7 OPI print options - include or omit images
OPI print options in the print dialog are application specific. QuarkXPress, e.g., offers three different options, namely Include Images, Omit TIFF, Omit TIFF & EPS (Fig. 22 and 23).
Fig. 22: OPI print options (QuarkXPress 3/4)
Fig. 23: OPI print options (QuarkXPress 5)

Include
Images
If you select this option, the PostScript job that is sent from your Macintosh to the server, will include the image data and all OPI comments that describe these images. Once the job has arrived on the server, OPI will replace the image data by the high-resolution originals - or by the low-resolution images in case you print layouts (compare paragraph Print Layout Images in chapter 4.5 "Printer queue settings").
Omit TIFF
Activating this option will reduce the data that are sent from your Macintosh to the server. The PostScript file will no longer contain the image data of the TIFF files. The OPI comments, however, are still included. The OPI server now does not replace images (that are coming from the layout application), but fills blanks. The resulting printouts will be complete and correct.
It may be sensible to activate this option whenever documents contain a lot of TIFF images and thus become rather large (even with layout files).
Omit TIFF & EPS
(See also Omit TIFF) With this option, you remove the image data of TIFF and EPSF files from your PostScript file. Thus, the job that is sent to the server becomes even smaller.

Important: The Omit - options can only be used if all your images are stored on the OPI server. The options always work properly if you are using layout files only. In case you place high-resolution originals in your layout document, this might cause problems, because the OPI server - by default - does not replace high-resolution images and will not fill blanks either. If you select one of the Omit - options for high-resolution images, these images will be missing on the printout. (You can solve this problem by switching the Replace Images option to All on your OPI server - compare chapter 4.5 "Printer queue settings").

5.8 Using QuarkXPress with ImageServer 2.5
ImageServer 2.5 now supports bilevel and grayscale image background tinting of raster-based images used by QuarkXPress. To benefit from this functionality you must first copy the "HELIOS OPI TuneUp XT" module to the "XTension" folder:
-> Mount and open the "HELIOS Applications" volume, open the "MacOS" folder (PCShare: "Windows"), "OPI Tools" and then "HELIOS OPI TuneUp".
-> Then copy the "HELIOS OPI TuneUp XT" file from the appropriate folder ("XPress 3-4" or "XPress 5") into the "XTension" folder of your QuarkXPress application.

Note: The "HELIOS OPI TuneUp XT" for Windows is only available for QuarkXPress 5.

Once you have designed your QuarkXPress document, you can prompt information about the images you have placed in it.
-> For that purpose, select Utilities and Usage-) and then the Pictures tab from the QuarkXPress menu.
The Usage window will give you details you might need for setting up the print dialog for OPI. It tells you e.g., whether you have imported layout files only (this is indicated by the path and file name) and what kind of file formats you are dealing with. Fig. 24 shows an example document with the Usage window being displayed.
Fig. 24: Prompting information about included images

5.8.1 Print settings in QuarkXPress
-> Select File and Page Setup- from the menu.
"Document" tab
In the Document tab of the print dialog you can specify whether you want to print separations (Fig. 25). If you switch on Separations, please note that - in case you have selected a particular ICC printer profile for your printer queue - only CMYK and Multichannel (e.g. Hexachrome®) output profiles co-operate with this option. Other profiles do not allow printing separations and will cause error messages. In case you get such messages, please check the printer queue settings in the respective EtherShare Admin dialog (refer to 4.5 "Printer queue settings").
Fig. 25: Document tab in QuarkXPress Print dialog

"Setup" tab
he Setup tab lets you check paper settings for the document and select a printer type.
-> Select your current printer type from the Printer Description pop-up menu (Fig. 26). Generic Color may be selected if your printer type is not stated in the list and you plan to print colored images; but do not select Generic B&W.
Fig. 26: Setup tab in QuarkXPress print dialog

"Options" tab
In the Options tab of the print dialog, you may select OPI-specific settings for your print job (Fig. 27). Details about these settings are described in 5.7 "OPI print options - include or omit images".
Fig. 27: Options tab in QuarkXPress Print dialog

"OPI tab"
The OPI tab of the print dialog lets you specify whether to include the images of the document in the print job or not. This can be set for TIFF and EPS images separately (Fig. 28). You may additionally check Low Resolution to downscale high-res TIFF images in the document when printing out.
Fig. 28: OPI tab in QuarkXPress Print dialog

Printing separations may fail if you have placed RGB high-resolution images in your document, or if you have selected EBU RGB as default color space for layouts (compare 4.3 "OPI server settings"). This restriction is caused by QuarkXPress, because the software does not separate RGB images (even if the high-resolution originals are CMYK).
-> Click the Printer- button and select Color Matching from the printer driver's pop-up menu).
Setting up
color
matching
LaserWriter 8.x printer drivers contain two additional print options for color matching, namely ColorSync Color Matching and PostScript Color Matching (Fig. 29). They invoke either the Apple ColorSync system software or a PostScript Level 2 printer to perform color matching.
The results, however, will be rather poor in comparison to color matching with ImageServer 2.5. So, to avoid unpredictable color results, you should always select the standard Color/Grayscale setting in the Color Matching window as shown in Fig. 29. ImageServer will take care about all color matching tasks, provided that you have activated color matching on your current printer queue (see also 4.5 "Printer queue settings").
Fig. 29: Setting up options in the Color Matching window

Note: For further advice on the Print dialog, please refer to your LaserWriter driver documentation or to your QuarkXPress manual.

5.9 Using PageMaker with ImageServer 2.5
If you are using PageMaker as a layout application you can check - before printing - the location and file format of every single image you have placed in your document. For that purpose, click on the respective image and then open the "Link info" window from the PageMaker Element menu. Fig. 30 shows one example.
Fig. 30: Prompting image information in PageMaker 6.0

When sending your document to an ImageServer printer queue you should check a few settings that may influence your printout if OPI is active.
-> Open the print dialog from the PageMaker File menu and set up the Print Options and Print Color window as described below.
Fig. 31: Setting up the PageMaker Print Options window

Image
replacement
In the Print Options window (shown in Fig. 31) the option Omit images acts like Omit TIFF (compare 5.7 "OPI print options - include or omit images"). All other options that can be selected from the Send image data pop-up menu include your images one way or the other. They only affect your output result if your document contains images that are not replaced and processed by OPI. EPSF images cannot be omitted in a PageMaker print job.
Please note that PageMaker 6.0 does not generate OPI comments for EPSF images. Imported EPSF high-resolution originals are therefore not replaced and processed by OPI even if you have set the Replace Images option to All on your printer queue. Imported EPSF low-resolution images are replaced and processed because they contain built-in OPI comments which have been created by ImageServer during layout generation.
Printing
colors and separations
In the Print Color window you decide whether you want to print Composite or Separations. For composite printing you should select the Color option as shown in Fig. 32. When printing separations, please make sure that you do not choose All to process. OPI will not recognize this setting when replacing images. So, if the images that are included in the final print job contain additional color channels, e.g. spot colors, these colors will not be separated into process inks and will be missing on the printouts.
Fig. 32: Setting up the PageMaker Print Color window

With ImageServer 2.5 you do not have to set up a color matching module using the CMS Setup- button in the "Print Color" window. In case you have already defined a CMS in PageMaker, these settings will be ignored by ImageServer.

Note: For further advice on the print dialog, please refer to your PageMaker manual.

5.10 Using FreeHand with ImageServer 2.5
You may place your images in a FreeHand document and then print to an OPI printer queue. In the following, we explain some important print options and describe how to set them up when using a LaserWriter driver.
-> First of all, you should check your software preferences (select File and Preferences- from the FreeHand menu) and make sure that Embed TIFF/EPS upon import rather than link is switched off (Fig. 33). This option "cuts" links and prevents image replacement. Thus, you cannot make use of ImageServer features such as e.g. color matching or downsampling.
Fig. 33: Import/Output preferences in FreeHand 5.0

, Fig. 34 shows the FreeHand Output Options dialog that can be opened using the Output- button in the "FreeHand 5.0" window of the print dialog. There, you may select either ASCII encoding, Binary data, or None (OPI comments only) for image data output.
Fig. 34: Setting output options when printing a FreeHand document

Image
replacement
The options ASCII encoding and Binary data include all images in a print job. The option None (OPI comments only) acts like Omit TIFF (compare 5.7 "OPI print options - include or omit images"). EPSF images cannot be omitted.
Please note that FreeHand 5.0 does not generate OPI comments for EPSF images. Imported EPSF high-resolution originals are therefore not replaced and processed by OPI even if you have set the Replace Images option to All on your printer queue. Imported EPSF low-resolution images are replaced and processed because they contain built-in OPI comments which have been created by ImageServer during layout generation.
Choosing a PPD file
The Print- button in the "FreeHand 5.0" window of the print dialog (Fig. 34) lets you access the Print Options dialog. There, you can set further print parameters, and select a PPD file for your output device. Please choose the same PPD file that has been activated on your spooler. A wrong PPD file setting may stop the print job.
Setting up
color
matching
For explanations on the Color Matching window of the print dialog, you may read paragraph Setting up color matching in 5.8 "Using QuarkXPress with ImageServer 2.5".

Note: For further advice on the print dialog, please refer to your LaserWriter driver documentation or to your FreeHand manual.

1
Formerly named EtherShare OPI

© 2002 HELIOS Software GmbH