Category: IC Plotter Printing

Inkjet & Plotter Printing | Paper Resource List

This resource list is updated regularly. If you do not see one of these options in the drop-down menu while submitting a job, please write in the paper option on the form. Imaging Center staff will connect with you if that paper is no longer in stock.

Plotter Printer: Epson SureColor T5270D/T7270D

Standard Paper(s)
24# Bond Paper: 36″ & 42″ rolls
45# Bond Paper: 36″ & 42″ rolls
8 mil UV Microporous Photo Paper – 36″ & 42″ rolls

Specialty Paper(s)
Epson Backlit Transparency Paper: 36″ roll

For more information on our plotter printer, please visit HERE.

Inkjet Printer: Epson SureColor P5000

Standard Paper(s)
Enhanced Matte: 17″ roll
Watercolor – Radiant White: 13″ x 19″ sheets
Premium Luster: 16″ roll

Specialty Paper(s)
Exhibition Canvas Matte: 17″ roll
Hot Press Natural: 17″ roll

For more information on our desktop inkjet printers, please visit HERE.

Inkjet Printer: Epson Stylus Pro 9900

Standard Paper(s)
Enhanced Matte: 24″, 36″, & 44″ rolls
Doubleweight Matte: 24″ roll
Premium Luster: 24″, 36″, & 44″ rolls
Premium Semimmate: 24″, 36″, & 44″ rolls

Specialty Paper(s)
Exhibition Canvas Matte: 24″ & 36″ rolls
Cold Press Bright: 24″ roll
Exhibition Canvas Satin: 24″ roll

For more information on our wide format inkjet printers, please visit HERE.

Plotter Printing | Copier & Scanner Functions

The T5270D plotter is a dual-roll plotter printer and copier with a multi-function scanner. The T5270D can scan or copy up to 35.75” wide and 96″ in length.

General Information

Original files to be copied must be a minimum size of 12” × 18”. Any files that are 12” × 18” or smaller can be scanned in the 24-hour lab (on the 2nd floor) on a flatbed scanner at no cost.

By default, the Imaging Center will copy/print your image in the center of the paper roll. We can not determine the white border on your image. If you need a 1” white margin on each side of your image, save that within your file. You will be charged accordingly.

To drop off materials, please make an appointment via our Calendly. Files will be shared with the student via a shared Google Drive folder labeled Imaging Center – Scanned Files.

Scanned images will only remain on Imaging Center servers for three (3) weeks. The IC is not responsible for the loss of images scanned after three (3) weeks. 

Scanned images will be named: IC_lastname_scan.pdf/.jpg.

The Imaging Center does not resize any copy or scan requests. IC Techs will copy or scan images “as is”. The student will be responsible for resizing or color correcting each file.

Material to be copied or scanned must be submitted either rolled or wrapped in plastic.

Only paper-like materials will be accepted. Original material must be clean and free of dust, tears, and staples. See below for more information.

The standard turnaround time for the plotter/scanning process is 1 (one) full business day. Please be aware during midterms and finals, turnaround times can increase.

Accepted Media Types

  • Plain paper
  • Recycled paper
  • Tracing paper
  • Blueprint paper
  • Matte paper
  • Newspaper
  • Photo paper

Unaccepted Media Types

  • Documents with creases or wrinkles
  • Bound books
  • Documents with carbon backing
  • Documents with photos, stickers, labels attached either by tape or glue
  • Loose Leaf paper
  • Transparent paper
  • Cardboard
  • Plastic
  • Foam
  • Wood

Epson T777D & T7270D

Students will be able to receive proof-of-concept or draft-quality large format prints at a reasonable price. Plotter prints are not considered final, production prints. Paper and print quality are suitable only for draft printing.

The plotter printer is a dual-roll plotter printer and copier with a multi-function scanner. It can print up to 43.75” wide on the short side of your piece. Printing on the plotter is a great option for prototype printing, 1st critique, graphic, or poster-type work . 

Turnaround Times

Your print job will be completed in the order it was received. 

The standard turnaround time for the plotter inkjet printers is approximately 1-2 full business days. This does not include weekends or holidays.

At this time, there are no “Rush” options available. Please be aware that during midterms and finals, turnaround times can increase up to 2-3 business days. 

Information on test strips can be found HERE.

Math 101

All of our inkjet printers are billed by the square foot. You are only charged for your image size and not the excess white paper. There are a few instances where the IC has sheets of inkjet media but the majority of all inkjet prints are printed on roll media.

This formula shows how to calculate the final price of your print job. All measurements must be in inches. 

Length” × Width” = Square Inches”

Square Inches” / 144 = Square Feet’

Square Feet’ × Paper Cost = Cost of Print

For example, if you wanted to print an 27” x 38” image on the Epson 9900 on Enhanced Matte.

Step 1: 27” × 38” = 1026”

Step 2: 1026” / 144 = 7.125 sq. ft.

Step 3: 7.125 (round up to 7.13) sq. ft. × $6.00 = $42.78

The total cost for this print job would be $42.78 before tax and $45.35 after tax.

To figure out the price of your poster with tax, multiple the before-taxed amount by $1.06. 

Calculator

Square Foot Calculator

Test Strip Package

The Imaging Center offers a FREE test strip package for our inkjet printers. This includes the Plotter/Graphic Inkjet printer and our Desktop and Wide-Format Inkjet printers. Test strips are highly recommended because they allow you to see exactly what the final print will look like. A test strip or hard proof is the most accurate kind of proof since it is an actual print made using the same materials that will be used to make the final print. Test strips should be checked for color accuracy, contrast, and resolution. 

If you would like to do a test strip, please fill out an Inkjet Test Strip form.

Test strips can take up to 1 business day. Once you are satisfied and “approve” your print, you may then submit the final order for the full-sized image. Remember to save your test strip file in the same exact way as your final image (.jpg test strip for a .jpg final print OR a .pdf test strip file for a .pdf final print).

Once a test strip has been approved, the file can be submitted for processing. Complaints will only be considered if a test strip was printed and approved by the customer. 

Test strips are FREE!! (within reason of course!). Students can print the same test strip for free on three different types of media.

Test strips should be no larger than 2” tall by the width of the document and contain areas of the file that offer the best representation of color and contrast. Please label the file test-strip.

Creating a Test Strip in Photoshop

From the toolbar, select the Crop Tool (c). You can specify the Crop options using the Control bar at the top.  

Choosing W x H x Resolution from the Aspect Ratio menu displays a Resolution field in the options bar and can auto-fill the Width and Height values.

Remember test strips can be 2” by the width of the document, in this case, 27”.

Creating a Test Strip in Illustrator

The quickest way to crop an image in Illustrator is to change the size of your artboard. 

Document Setup > Edit Artboards (Shift+O)

Enter the width and height of the test strip, in this case, 18” x 2”. You can also create a custom name for the test strip.  

File > Save As > Format > Adobe PDF (Print)        

General Information about Inkjet & Plotter Printing

All of the IC inkjet printers process through the same RIP software, Onyx Thrive.  

Each of our print media is color profiled with an i1Pro 2 Spectrophotometer utilizing the i1Profiler software. 

All inkjet printers are on a regular maintenance schedule with nozzle checks and print head alignments. The printers are color profiled at the start of each semester and are adjusted as necessary throughout. 

Crop “corners” can be requested for all inkjet print jobs, however, if you require true crop marks, you must export the file with crop marks.

By default, the Imaging Center will print your image in the center of the paper roll. We can not determine the white border on your image. If you need a 1” white margin on each side of your image, save that within your file in addition to crop marks. You will be charged accordingly.

If submitting a PDF with multiple pages, make sure to note the different image sizes on the print request form.

The Imaging Center may “gang files up” in order to provide quicker turnaround times and to save media. This will not affect your price quote as the IC bills by the square foot of the image. If files are “grouped together”, there will be at least .5” between each image.  

Remember to outline all of your type before saving/exporting your file as a PDF.

Turnaround Times

Your print job will be completed in the order it was received. 

The standard turnaround time for the plotter & inkjet printers is approximately 1-3 full business days. This does not include weekends or holidays.

At this time, there are no “Rush” options available. Please be aware that during midterms and finals, turnaround times can increase up to 2-3 business days. 

If you would like to do a test strip, please select the “Please print a test strip” option. Test strips can take up to 1 business day. Once you are satisfied and “approve” your print, you may then submit the final order for the full-sized image. Information on test strips can be found HERE

You will be notified via your CCS email when your job has been completed.