OmniDTF Software – Knowledge Base

Print Pro Queue Manager Deep Dive (video)

In the below video and the following step-by-step instructions, we demonstrate how to rip an image or Layout to get the ink cost without printing. We’ll also show you how to save the ripped Layout to a file, including all sizing and configuration settings, and also how to load a previously saved rip for immediate printing.

Rip Without Printing

Once you have images and Layouts fully configured and ready to print, it’s simple to rip them without printing. Features of Print Pro’s Queue Manager can then be used to do things like determine the cost of ink needed to print the rip or to save the fully configured rip and quickly load and print it in the future.

For a refresher on how to set up images and Layouts see the Setting Up a Print knowledge base article.

Here’s how to rip an image or Layout in Print Pro.

First complete your image(s) and Layout setup, including sizing and creating the white underbase choke for the images.
Place the image(s) onto a Layout if you want to rip the full Layout.
Select the image or Layout you want to rip by clicking on it.
Click on the Add Job icon in the Queue Manager toolbar — the 2nd icon from the left.
Right-click on the new item added under the Queue Manager’s Job Info heading, then click on Rip. You may instead select the new line, then click the Rip Job icon on the Queue Manager toolbar — the 8th icon from the left.
Queue Manager’s Status column will display “Ripping…” as it begins ripping the job. This message will change to “RipDone” when the rip is finished.

Viewing Ink Costs of a Ripped Job

Click on the ‘+’ symbol to the left of the ripped job’s name in Queue Manager’s Job Info column.
Scroll down the expanded view in the Job Info column to find the amount and cost of each ink color used in the design, as well as the total ink cost.

Saving a Ripped Job

Saving a ripped job is a two-step process. We first tell the software where we want the file to be saved, then we save it.

Review the Save Location for the ripped file in the far right column of Queue Manager. If you want to save the rip to the currently designated location, skip to step 5.
Under the Save Location heading, click on the line of the ripped job that you want to save.
Click on the ellipses (“…”) that appear at the right end of the line that you clicked on.
In the “Save As” window that appears, navigate to the folder where you want the rip to be saved, and click on the Save button. This does not save the rip. It simply lets you edit the filename to be used and saves the location where the rip will be saved when you do save the rip in the next step.
Click on the Queue Manager’s Save Job button (a disc icon) to save the rip to your designated location.

Loading a Saved Rip

Loading a saved rip is quick and easy. Since all image and Layout parameters were included when the ripped file was saved, once the rip is loaded it can be immediately printed.

Click on Queue Manager’s Load Job icon. The first icon from the left, with the appearance of an open folder.
In the File Open window that appears, navigate to the folder where the rip file you want to print was stored, then select the rip file and click Open.
When the saved rip appears in Queue Manager’s Job Info column, right-click on it and select Print or click on the Print Job icon in Queue Manager’s toolbar.
- If the print options are grayed out, ensure your printer is selected in Queue Manager’s Printer Name column.

OmniDTF Environment Options (video)

About Print Pro Environments

The Print Pro DTF Environments are used to select the resolution and an associated collection of presets for use to set up & print a layout. The different presets, at each resolution, are for working with different types of designs and color profiles, along with quality, speed, and cost requirements.

The below video provides an overview of the OmniDTF Environment types and the following article provides details about the intended use case for each of OmniPrint’s Environments for using Print Pro DTF with the OmniDTF system.

Your OmniDTF system’s Print Pro DTF Environments may be different from those listed below. If so, you can download and install these Environments from the related knowledge base article link at the bottom of this page.

720 x 1800

Included in version 4 Environment packs only.

This environment is used when print speed, low production cost, and high volume output are most important. 720 x 2400 or 720 x 3600 resolution Environments are better suited for printing demanding designs with intricate details that need to be reproduced as accurately as possible.

720 x 2400

This environment can be considered the base environment we recommend for printing on light or medium-color garments. Color accuracy is optimized rather than vibrancy. This Environment is recommended for all sorts of designs, including single-color text, muted tones, or any prints where details aren’t as important as printing speed, low production cost, and high volume output.

720 x 2400 HQ

This Environment is used for prints that require a more saturated color profile. It is also recommended for darker color garments (blacks, navy blues, grays) if the garment’s color is showing through on prints using the standard 720×2400 Environment.

720 x 2400 – Full Underbase

In this Environment a full white underbase layer is printed, even on black parts of the image. The other 720 x 2400 Environments print a relatively thin white underbase on black parts of the design, which is normally desired since the black and white inks can interact with each other causing undesirable results.

This environment is intended only for edge cases and shouldn’t be used unless black ink on prints is drying before the DTF Powder is applied to it, making it difficult for the transfer to properly adhere to a garment.

This Environment should only be used if you are personally transferring the film prints onto garments. It is not recommended for use when shipping prints on film to clients to transfer themselves. As referenced above, we have seen issues with black & white ink interacting and causing issues with separation from film & ink bubbling, so the use of this Environment requires careful analysis of the transfer to ensure suitable quality.

720 x 3600 Resolution Environments

These higher-resolution Environments are suited for printing more intricate designs where quality and fine detail is preferred over production speed, despite the slightly higher ink cost.

720 x 3600 – Light

This Light Environment version is designed for white or light-colored garments that can work well with less ink in the white underbase since there is less need to mask the underlying garment color.

720 x 3600

This standard high-resolution Environment is for use with the entire color range of garments. This Environment is recommended when color accuracy is preferred over color saturation, along with the greatest level of detail reproduction from design to print.

720 x 3600 HQ

This high-resolution Environment is for generating prints when a more saturated color profile is desired. This Environment is also recommended for darker color garments (blacks, navy blues, grays) if a garment’s color is showing through the print when using the standard 720 x 3600 Environment.

720 x 3600 – Full Underbase

Included in version 3 Environments packs only.

In this Environment, a full white underbase layer is printed, even on black parts of the image. The other 720 x 3600 Environments print a relatively thin white underbase on black parts of the design, which is normally desired since the black and white inks can interact with each other causing undesirable results.

Ethernet Configuration for OmniDTF (video)

The OmniDTF printer uses the TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) over an Ethernet connection to communicate with your PC. This requires a one-time configuration in Windows, which OmniPrint Training sets up for you during your initial training session.

The following information will help you to perform that same configuration if you should ever need to update your PC’s Ethernet adapter or if you’ve installed the OmniDTF UI and Print Pro software onto a new PC.

Your OmniDTF printer and its software implementation are not designed to communicate over the Internet or any other network. We use a simple point-to-point connection between one PC and the printer, directly connected with a single Ethernet (“RJ45”) cable.

There are two pieces of software where we configure TCP/IP parameters: Microsoft Windows (Control Panel) and Print Pro. We’ll cover both in that order.

Microsoft Windows

Windows Control Panel’s Network and Sharing Center is where any Ethernet adapters to be used in a Windows PC are configured. Use the steps in the below video or the following written instructions to configure an Ethernet adapter for use with the OmniDTF.

Run Windows Control Panel.
Click on Network and Sharing Center.

If you don’t see Network and Sharing Center in Windows Control Panel, it is because Control Panel is in the Category View mode. In that case, first click on Network and Internet, then click on Network and Sharing Center.

Select Change adapter settings
Double-click on the Ethernet adapter to be used (or right-click on the adapter and select Properties).

Your Ethernet adapter may have a different description than the Ethernet 4 pictured above. Don’t be concerned if there is a red ‘x’ on the adapter, which simply means that it isn’t currently connected to anything.

The ExpressVPN TAP Adapter does not represent a physical (actual) Ethernet hardware port and is not usable. This is strictly a “virtual” adapter built into Windows for creating VPN connections and has no purpose for the OmniDTF.

Double-click on Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) (or single-click on it and then click the Properties button).
Click the Use the following IP address radio-button (if it isn’t already selected) and enter the following, then click ‘OK‘.
IP address: 192.168.127.12
Subnet mask: 255.255.255.0

The Windows Control Panel Ethernet configuration is now complete!

Print Pro

Also, Print Pro needs to know the IP address to use for its communication with the OmniDTF printer. Follow the steps in the below video or the following written instructions to set that up.

Run the Print Pro program.
From the Home tab, click on Printer Name Mapping.
Double-click on the first cell space under the Physical Printer Port heading.
Click on the drop-down lists’s down-carat symbol (downward pointing triangle) at the right end of the cell/box.
Select “127.0.0.1,9100 (TCP/IP ,RAW)”.
Double-click on the first cell space under the Printer Model heading.
Click on the drop-down list’s down-carat symbol.
Select “Omni DTF”
Double-click on the first cell space under the Printer Name heading.
Type “OmniDTF” into the cell (or your preferred name for the printer).
Confirm that your settings look like the image below, then click on the green checkmark icon to save the settings.

The Print Pro Ethernet configuration is now complete!

OmniDTF Printhead Alignment (video)

You will occasionally want to adjust the printhead alignment of your OmniDTF printer, to maintain ideal horizontal & vertical registration between the color and white layers of your prints. This adjustment does not involve manually repositioning the printheads. Instead, it is done using the OmniDTF UI software.

View the below video or read the following instructions for each step of the printhead alignment process.

Print Speeds

There are three Print Speed settings for the OmniDTF: Production, Normal, and High Quality. All printhead alignment adjustments are made for a given Print Speed, so alignments should be made with the Print Speed being used when printing selected as the Print Speed for the alignment. The Print Speed currently selected for printing is shown (and may be changed) on the Settings tab.

The default Production speed is recommended and delivers the fastest output at any resolution & ink volume selected from Print Pro’s Environment options.

Alignment Types

There are four types of alignments that can be done. We’ll explain and detail the process for each following the list of types below:

Head Vertical Distance Adjustment
Head Horizontal Distance – Left Adjustment
Head Horizontal Distance – Right Adjustment
Bidirectional Adjustment

To get started, all printhead alignment adjustment types are found under the Align tab of OmniDTF UI program.

Head Vertical Distance

This adjustment, labeled Head Vert Distance Adjust in the software, aligns the white printhead with the CMYK printhead as the film moves forward while printing. (This “vertical” movement of the film is considered the Y axis, while the carriage’s left & right motion is considered the X axis.)

If you know that your printer’s vertical registration is off, be sure to first check the tension of the feed roller knobs on the back of the printer and make sure the left and right sides are at their minimum tension/friction settings before making a vertical printhead alignment adjustment. This mechanical adjustment is critical and may cause random vertical registration issues that cannot be resolved by this software alignment of the printheads.

Select your Print Speed to match that on your Settings tab (or the speed you want to now align for if you’re running alignments for multiple speeds.)
Select the Head Distance option on the left side of the Align screen.
Click the N Check button under the Head Vert Distance Adjust heading when you’re ready to print the test pattern.

The test pattern prints a series of black & white horizontal line segments above numbered labels. The numbers range from -14 to +14, in increments of 2 and with zero in the center position.

Vertical alignment test print example — *Vertical Alignment test print example (partial)*

Yes, it’s a bit of an eye test, but our task is to identify the column number whose line segments show the black & white portions in best alignment with each other, resulting in a single straight horizontal line. In the above example, the best column is ‘+4’.

In the ‘+2’ column the white segments are slightly below the black segments, and in the ‘+6’ column the white segments are slightly above the black segments. As you look to the left of the ‘+2’ column you can see that the white segments keep getting further below the black segments and to the right of the ‘+6’ column the white segments keep getting further above the black segments.

So, our takeaway from the evaluation of the test print is that the column with the best alignment is ‘+4’.

Now let’s return to the OmniDTF UI software’s Head Vert Distance Adjust section and note the current value of H2. In our screenshot from step #2 above, the value of H2 is “1453” and the number we got from evaluating the test print in step #3 was ‘+4’, so we add ‘4’ to ‘1453’ and enter the result of 1457 into the H2 field.

If the column number from step #3 had been a negative number (‘-4’, for example), we would have subtracted ‘4’ from ‘1453’ and entered ‘1449’ into H2.
Click the Save button in the top right corner of the OmniDTF UI window to make the alignment adjustment.
Repeat step #3 above to print another test pattern. This should result in the best-aligned column sitting in the ‘0’ position. If this is the case, the vertical distance adjustment is now completed. If not, repeat steps 3 – 5 to ensure that the best alignment is in the ‘0’ position

Left Horizontal Distance

There are two horizontal distance adjustments under the Head Horz Distance Adjust heading. This is because your OmniDTF prints bidirectionally, so the white and CMYK printheads need to be aligned in both printing directions. The Left Adjust is used for the horizontal alignment when the carriage is moving from right to left, and the Right Adjust for when the carriage moves from left to right.

The process and test patterns for both the Left and Right printhead horizontal distance alignment adjustments are identical, so we will detail the process just once. The instructions will call out the Left Adjust button and H2 field, and you will follow these same steps modified for the Right Adjust button and H2 field for the Right Horizontal Distance Adjustment.

Click the Left Adjust button to run a test print.

The test pattern prints a series of black & white vertical bars above numbered labels. The numbers range from -12 to +12 with zero in the center position.

The goal is to have the best-aligned set of black & white bars in the 0 (zero) position. So, our takeaway from the evaluation of the test print is that the column with the best alignment is ‘-11’.
Now let’s return to the OmniDTF UI software’s Head Horz Distance Adjust section and note the current value of H2. In our screenshot from step #1 above, the value of H2 (for the Left Adjust line) is “9”. The number we got from evaluating the test print was ‘-11’, so we sum together ‘9’ (or ‘+9’, to be exact) with ‘-11’ and enter the result of ‘-2’ into the H2 field…

…then click the Save button.
Repeat step #1 above to print another test pattern. This should result in the best-aligned column sitting in the ‘0’ position.

With the 0 (zero) position of the test print showing the black & white segments in perfect alignment, the Printhead Horizontal Distance Adjustment (for the leftward motion, in this example) is now complete.

Right Horizontal Distance

The exact same process as the Left Horizontal Distance Adjustment is used to check and adjust the rightward motion alignment.

Follow the instructions from the above Left Horizontal Distance Adjustment section, substituting the Right Adjust button to run test prints and the Right Adjust H2 field to enter updates to that value, as needed.

Bidirectional

Our final task is to align the printheads during bidirectional printing (both left and right.)

Select Bidirec Adjust from the options on the left side of the OmniDTF UI program.
Click on the N Check button to print a test pattern.

The Printhead Bidirectional Alignment Adjustment test pattern will print.

The vertical bar test pattern has top & bottom black segments and a grey middle segment.

Our task now is to identify the number under the test bar where the middle segment is best aligned with the top & bottom segments, creating a straight vertical bar with the right & left edges of each of the three vertical segments perfectly aligned.

In our example test print image above, the ‘+3’ column is vertically aligned.
Returning to the OmniDTF UI program, we take that value (‘+3’) and sum it with the number in the direct Value field (‘12.00’ in the above screenshot example.) 12+3=15, so we will replace the value of ‘12.00’ with ’15’.

…and then click the Save button in the upper right corner.
Click the N Check button again to print another test pattern and confirm that the vertical segments are perfectly aligned at the 0 (zero) position.

With the 0 (zero) position of the test print showing the black & gray segments in perfect alignment, the Printhead Bidirectional Adjustment is now complete.

Wrap Up

Congratulations! If you’ve been following along on your OmniDTF printer while reading this article you have now completed all four printhead alignment processes: the Vertical Distance, Left Horizontal Distance, Right Horizontal Distance, and Bidirectional Adjustments.

Remember that these adjustments are each made with a specific Print Speed setting, so if you print using different speed selections at different times then you’ll need to repeat this process for each speed that you use.

OmniDTF: Setting Up a Print (video)

Print Pro provides a rich set of features to set up a print job using one or more images to automate the creation of “gang run” layouts, making the most efficient use of your film effortless. This article is intended to supplement your Omniprint training as a handy reference to refresh your memory and to use as an annotated checklist of the process steps.

View the below videos or see the following instructions for all the basics of loading & configuring images, then creating and positioning the images onto a Layout.

Loading Images

Loading your images is the first step in creating a print job. You can either use the Print Pro ‘File Browser’ or click on the Print Pro printer icon in the top-left corner of the program’s window and select ‘Open…’ to navigate through the Windows file system and select image files to load.

The latter option is recommended because it lets you make your selection from thumbnails of images, rather than just their filenames.

Whether you’re printing a single design or multiple different images for a print job, you’ll want to load and configure each image individually.

Setting the Image Configuration

As each image is loaded, set the following parameters using the Q Rip tool.

If the Q Rip tool isn’t visible go to the Home menu tab, click the Panels item, then select QRip from the drop-down list.

Size the Image

Size the image in the Q Rip window, using the 3rd (bottom) option to rescale the image if needed, ensuring that the width does not exceed 14.25″.

When resizing, be sure the padlock icon option is checked to lock the aspect ratio and prevent distorting the image (see red box in the image).

Position the Image

The default settings of ‘Left’ and ‘Top’ are always used in the Q Rip tool (see green box in the above image.) Changing this setting has no effect on where the image will be positioned on the layout. This is because Print Pro will find the earliest (topmost) point in the layout where each image can fit as they are being added to the print job, maximizing the efficiency of linear film use.

Create a White Underbase Choke

After configuring the image in Q Rip, click on the Image menu tab and then on the White Underbase Choke tool.
Image menu with White Underbase Choke option

Click the ‘OK’ button to accept the default Choke Width value of 2.0.
Create Choke dialog

The image is now configured and ready to be loaded onto a Layout.

If you want to print a Layout with a combination of various images on it, repeat the above steps to open a file, set image parameters, and create a white underbase choke for each image before proceeding.

Creating and Configuring a Layout

Now that any images that we want to print have been loaded and their parameters have been set, we’re ready to create the Layout that the images will be placed onto, using the following steps.

If the Page Layout window isn’t already open, select Open Layout from the Home toolbar

Create a New Layout

Whenever we create a new layout we must also tell the Print Pro software which Environment we want to use for printing the new layout. These Environments are a collection of “presets” that OmniPrint provides to simplify and streamline configuring print jobs.

See the Print Pro DTF Environments knowledge base article for more details about the recommended Environment selection for different situations.

Click on the Layout menu, then select New, then hover over Omni DTF and select the desired Environment from the list that appears.

The Layout window is then loaded and preconfigured with the parameters of the selected Environment.

Put Opened Image(s) onto the Layout

Images opened and configured using the above steps will appear as thumbnails with their filenames under the Page Layout window’s Opened Image(s) header.

Double-click on any item in the Opened Image(s) list to add it to the Layout.

You can repeat the above step any time to load more images from the Opened Image(s) list onto the layout, or to load more copies of a single image. But there’s a better way to load many copies of an image once it is on the layout.

Duplicating Images on a Layout

Once an image is on the Layout, you can create additional copies of that image on the layout by clicking the Ups option in the toolbar…

…then enter the number of additional copies you want to add to the Layout into the dialog box that pops up and click the green checkmark.

Ups copies dialog

The additional copies of the image will now appear on the Layout.
Ups copies on Layout
Note: You can scroll down in the Layout window if you want to confirm the number of copies if they don’t all fit in the window’s view. You can also zoom out and in on the layout by using Ctrl+’-‘ (to zoom out) and Ctrl+’=’ (to zoom in).

The ‘Ups’ feature for creating duplicate copies of any image on the layout defaults to copying the image most recently added to the layout. If you want to make copies of a different image (that is already on the layout), first hold down the Ctrl key and click on that image anywhere that it appears on the layout to select that image. Then click the ‘Ups’ button.

That’s how to load images, set their properties, select an Environment for and create a new layout, and place the images onto the layout in Print Pro!

Printing a Layout

To print the Layout, click the Print menu item, then select Print Layout from the toolbar, or just press Ctrl+’p’….
Print Layout menu selection

…and make sure your printer is selected in the Print dialog before clicking the ‘OK’ button.

Updating Print Pro DTF Environments for the OmniDTF

About Environments

Print Pro DTF Environments are collections of preset options used to select the printing resolution and other parameters when setting up a print job for the OmniDTF.

Here is the current set of Environments, as shown in Print Pro DTF by selecting the Layout tab, then clicking on New and hovering over Omni DTF.

Details on how to set up a Layout and recommended usage of the various OmniDTF Environments installed with these instructions are available from knowledge base article links at the bottom of this page.

To update the Environments in Print Pro for your OmniDTF printer, download the file at the bottom of this article and follow the instructions in the below video or the following written steps.

Video Demonstration

Installing the Environments

The installation process of the Environments is quick and easy.

Download the Environments file to the PC on which you’ve installed Print Pro.
- See the download link at the bottom of this article.
Extract the .kiee file from the downloaded zip file.
- Placing the file on the Windows Desktop is recommended to easily find the file. It can be deleted after this installation process.
Run Print Pro.
Select the Home tab, then click the Import button.
Select the .kiee file that was unzipped from the download, then click the Open button.
If prompted with a message of “Already ‘Omni DTF-720×3600’ environment exist.” (The actual environment name will vary), click the Yes button.
- If prompted to Select environment settings to use, select ‘Use new environment settings only’ and click OK.
Click OK on the “Media packages imported successfully” window.
Exit out of the Print Pro program, then restart it.

The OmniDTF Environments have now been updated and are ready for use.