File Setup
Understanding Options for Saving to PDF
Laying Out Documents for Print
Creating and Exporting Bleeds Using Adobe InDesign
Using Adobe InDesign's Print Booklet Plug-In
Creating a Cutting Path for the Roland
Alternative Resources
For a more in-depth understanding of this topic, we recommend the following School of Print Media class: Digital Asset Management. If you have questions, please consult your instructor or a DPC Customer Service Representative (CSR).
Defining Metadata
Metadata is literally “data about data”. It is structured information stored within a file that helps the user to describe, locate, and retrieve the file.
Advantages of Using Metadata in the DPC
By embedding metadata into your files, you can help to expedite the DPC job submission and processing times. By using our custom XMP File Info Panel, DPC Job Ticket, you will be able to fill out job tickets before uploading your files to SPM-Portal. When you use this custom XMP Panel in any of the Adobe Creative Suite applications, all of your job information will be saved within your file.
Using the Custom XMP File Info Panels (DPC Job Ticket)
Our custom XMP File Info Panel DPC Job Ticket can be found in Adobe Creative Suite on all CIAS computers, as well as Adobe Acrobat Professional.
Using Adobe InDesign, Illustrator, or Photoshop:
- Go to File → File Info.
- On the left side, select the DPC Job Ticket panel (Figure 1).
- Complete all required fields and click OK.
- Save as or export file to PDF (for more information, see the User Resource for Understanding Options for Saving to PDF).
- Log-in at SPM-Portal (spm-portal.rit.edu), upload your files using the normal procedure and review ticket fields.
Figure 1: DPC Job Ticket panel in Adobe CS
Using Adobe Acrobat:
- Go to File → Properties. (Figure 2)
- In this window, click Additional Metadata (Figure 3).
- On the left side, select DPC Job Ticket panel. (Figure 4)
- Complete all required fields and click OK.
- Save the file.
- Log-in at SPM-Portal (spm-portal.rit.edu), upload your files using the normal procedure and review ticket fields.
Figure 2: Finding metadata dialog box in Acrobat Professional
Figure 3: Metadata dialog box can be found under Additional Metadata
Figure 4: DPC Job Ticket panel in Adobe CS
Loading DPC Job Ticket Panel to Personal Computers
- Log-in at SPM-Portal (spm-portal.rit.edu).
- Select the Software Plug-Ins volume, and then, the DPC_File_Info_Panels folder.
- There are two versions of the file info panel — one is designed for Mac OSX (DPC_Job Ticket_OSX_vXX.txt) and the other is for Windows XP and Vista (DPC_Job Ticket_XP_ vXX.txt). Select Download on the panel that is appropriate for your operating system. (Figure 5)
- Figure 5: SPM-Portal volume for downloading the custom panel
- Note: The DPC Job Ticket Custom Info Panel can now be found in every Adobe Creative suite application.
Figure 5: SPM-Portal volume for downloading the custom panel
Saving and Applying Metadata Templates
If you are working with our DPC Job Ticket info panel, one way to speed up the process of adding and maintaining consistency in metadata is using saved metadata templates. Using saved templates will enable you to fill out job tickets without having to retype the information. Use the following instructions to save, apply, and batch append metadata templates.
Saving Metadata Templates
- With the custom XMP Panel (DPC Job Ticket) open, click the arrow in the upper right corner of the window (Figure 6).
- Click Save Metadata Template and re-name your template with a useful name (i.e. DigitalColor_LetterSize) (Figure 7).
Figure 6: Saving a metadata template
Figure 7: An example of using an appropriate filename
Applying Metadata Templates
- Before a file is exported as a PDF using Adobe InDesign, Illustrator, or Photoshop, go to File → File Info.
- With the custom XMP Panel (DPC Job Ticket) open, click the arrow in the upper right corner of the window. Select on the name of the template you would like to apply.
- To see the root of your template, select Show Templates. The template can then be used as is, or can be modified accordingly (Figure 8).
Figure 8: How to locate where the templates files are saved
Batch Appending Metadata Templates in Adobe Bridge:
- In Bridge, select the files you wish to append the to the metadata template
- Go to Tools > Append Metadata > select your template. (Figure 9)
Figure 9: Batch appending metadata templates in Bridge