Hello,
We have been using the same cfg file for quite some time on a Gestetner (Ricoh) copier for 11x17 prints. Everything is shaded and weighted properly.
We recently got a new Canon copier to replace one of the Gestetners. When we use the same print cfg to send a print to the Canon it is generally much lighter and the difference between the lightest and darkest are all wrong. Its not a case of the printer just being lighter all-around. The border is still black as black can be.
What can I do to find out the source of this issue? Will we have to make a whole new cfg for each printer?
It is not usual to see differences between printers/plotters using the same CFG file. Normally that difference wouldn't be that great unless the newer Canon printer has a config option set that may be causing some of this (check the face plate on the printer). The pltcfg you've attached has some significant customizations to color tab, weight and line styles. I also do not have a copy of the pen table you guys are using but I'll assume via the name it isn't causing this issue. I suggest starting from a clean out of the box printer.pltcfg and see how it prints. From this print make adjustments as you need as some of the customizations you have for the Ricoh may not be needed for the Canon.
Your PLTCFG is set to plot weights by mm of width - this is good. But it also says to load a pen table named G:\Plotting\tables\pen\weights.tbl
If the pen table defines weights are defined in pixels or dots and not mm, that could easily be screwing it up. Before plt files supported physical widths, we used to have different plt files for every device. One device might plot 300 DPI and another 150 DPI and still another at 600 DPI. Send them a line 20 dots wide and you get 3 different widths. Send them a 1mm wide line and you get 3, 1mm wide lines
Charles (Chuck) Rheault CADD Manager
MDOT State Highway Administration
I have attached my weight table that is referenced. Can you confirm that it is set to use dots/pixels instead of mm? Is there any rule of thumb to convert one format to another?
This pen table only has 3 sections that are adjusting weight's CO16, CO14, and CO32. The weight adjustment is being done via index and you are selecting weight one in all 3 sections mentioned above.