TIFF Direct connectivity is the new JDF bi-directional connectivity between Prinergy and CTP devices via XPO or Print Console including support in Device Track. TIFF Direct allows TIFF files to be pre-generated, but also provides a JDF/JMF communication channel between the CTP device and Prinergy. The CTP device communicates its capabilities in JMF format and the values for the different parameters are reflected in the job ticket options per device. Printing progress is monitored in Prinergy Device Track. You get the flexibility of indirect, file-based output, but you also get status reporting that you can track and record via the JDF/JMF backchannel.

Configure plating devices using TIFF Direct connectivity so that Prinergy can send output to it.

For more background and troubleshooting information related to TIFF Direct connectivity, please refer to Partner Place Answer 74065.

Ensure that:

• The plating device is connected to a Prinergy server. For instructions, see the server documentation.
• The plating device's control software is installed on the output device’s PC controller (Xpo) or on a separate computer station (Print Console). For instructions, see the server documentation or contact your service representative.
• The HiRes Render JTP has been added to the Prinergy server.
• The ColorFlow software is installed on the appropriate Prinergy servers. Your service representative does this as part of the Prinergy installation.
• If your Prinergy server is on a network that uses a proxy server, you must bypass the proxy server in order to connect devices to Prinergy.
  To do so, go to Control Panel > Internet Options > Connections > LAN Settings, and select the the Bypass proxy server for local addresses check box.
  Note: You can also access this check box from the Tools menu in your Internet Explorer browser (Tools > Internet Options > Connections > LAN Settings).

1. In Prinergy Administrator, from the Managed Connections menu, select Add, and then select Kodak Output Device.
2. In the Add Kodak Output Device dialog box, perform the following steps:
   1. in the Server name box, type the device name or IP address.
   2. If necessary, change the values in the Device speed (separations/hour) and/or Default capacity range (hours) boxes.
   3. Click Add.
      The device is added to the list of devices in the Managed Connections tab in the right pane
3. In the device control software, define the plate types to use with the Prinergy system.
   See the documentation for the device control software.
4. In your imposition software, add the output device and set the device configuration, if necessary.
   See the documentation for the imposition software.
5. Configure a final output process template for use with Print Console or Xpo:
   1. In Workshop, from the Tools menu, select Process Template Editor.
   2. In the Process Template Editor, double-click the final output process template you want to edit or create a new final output process template.
   3. In the Output To list box, select TIFF Direct.
   4. In the Device section of the process template, in the Device Name box, select the connected CTP device.
   5. In the Layout section of the process template, from the Name list, select the required media size.
      • If your impositions from Preps are imposed to the press sheet size, select Center along width and Shift along height, and enter the distance from the plate to the press sheet edge for that press.
      • If your impositions from Preps are imposed to the plate size, there's nothing more to do in this step.
   6. If using ColorFlow Color Relationship Management, in the ColorFlow Color Relationship Management section of the process template, select the correct snapshot, color setup and other appropriate settings for ColorFlow.
   7. In the Render section of the process template:
      1. Make sure that the selected JTP is a proofing device JTP or JTP pool. 
      2. The Device Resolutions box shows the available device resolutions that the device control software sends to Prinergy. Select the appropriate one—for example, 2400x2400 dpi.
   8. In the Calibration & Screening section of the process template:
      1. In the Curve Source setting, select ColorFlow Approved Snapshot, ColorFlow Current State or Harmony. (If ColorFlow Color Relationship Management is being used, these choices will not be available and the Print Curve and Plate Curve boxes will display ColorFlow Value.
      2. In the Print Curve and Plate Curve boxes, select the calibration curve to use.
      3. In the Screen Ruling box, select the screen ruling to use.
   9. In the Device section of the process template, in the Device Name box, select the connected CTP device.
   10. From the File menu, select Save to save your settings for the final output process template. Give the process template a unique descriptive name.
   11. Repeat steps 4 to 7 for every plate size you want to output to, selecting the appropriate plate size from the Name box in the Layout section.
6. Test each output to ensure it is working correctly by sending an imposition to it. For more information on importing an imposition, see the Prinergy Workshop User Guide.

Notes: 

• If you are using TIFF Direct and want to resend a job to output with different output process template settings, you should create separate output process templates for each case with different file naming conventions (Processed File options section > Use Custom File Naming check box and Filename Template box) and/or different device paths (Device section > Device Path).
• If you are using both TIFF Direct and standard TIFF connectivity, you should create separate output process templates for each type of connectivity with different file naming conventions (Processed File options section > Use Custom File Naming check box and Filename Template box) and/or different device paths (Device section > Device Path).

• Print Console does not require any setup for enabling JDF connectivity. Once the JDF/JMF license is applied to CFL license manager, Prinergy JDF connection can be established to Print Console. Once you see the JDF client connection icon below, you can create a TIFF Direct template in Prinergy for sending JDF jobs.

• Refer to the Xpo 4.2.0.043 for Magnus Q800 CR 4.1 - Release Notes for Xpo TIFF-Direct configuration.