Finisher folding outside-in

I am pulling my hair out on this one. I have a document I need to print from InDesign. It is a 4 page A5 booklet. The document has two A4 landscape pages with front and back pages on page 1 and the two inside pages on page 2. I started off sending it to the fiery hold and setting top-top, single fold and heavyweight 1 paper - the folder sent the page out with the insides facing out. I then went into InDesign (after trying lots of other options within the Fiery) and printed the booklet, back-to-front. That made it fold the way I wanted it to, but then, later on it started folding outside in again - I do not know what has changed - why is it so complicated to do such a simple task?

 

What Printer is this?

 

Sorry, InterfaceP, I forgot to mention that. I'm using a DC242 with EX260 Fiery and Command Workstation 5.6. There's a whole lot of weird and frustrating things been happening today. I have a picture book of 220 A5 pages to print. I managed the job fine on a DC240 I had recently (but had to give it back) but now, on this 242 the same paper (Core Silk) is jamming regularly, always on multiple copies and usually at the same point ie, the third side, so one sheet has one side imaged and fixed (with heated roller) the second sheet in the queue has imaged and sealed - at the point where the first sheet is receiving it's second side, the whole queue jams up. I then decided to print from Indesign, printing only the odd sides first, then turn the pile over and print the evens onto them. After I realised I hadn't selected the reverse button, I ripped all the other side, reversed. Would you believe it, the Fiery decided to print a blank page first, which messed up my first four sheets (by the time I had realised and stopped the print). When I started again, I tested a single print onto a blank sheet - it worked fine - I tried the single print on the opposite side of the same sheet, just to make sure - still ok. I replaced the pile into the bypass tray and (just to make treble sure) I printed that same single sheet onto the first page in my pile - great, it worked perfect. I was now confident that everything was back as it should, so I started to print the rest, from page 5 - aaaargh!!! it printed another blank, so messed up the sequence for ANOTHER 4 pages - what the heck is going on?

I realise that my ramblings probably don't convey what the problem is or how it can be fixed, but without somebody standing next to me while it all happens, it is difficult to relate the whole frustrating incident.

Maybe I should just retire ;-)

 

Making a booklet is always a challenge, I would suggest that you save the set-up for the next time. I dont think you can fold more that 25 sheets in the booklet maker. Even the Light Production finisher max is 25 sheets. That may be the root of the issue.

Although I must admit your description is a little lengthy for my attention span.

 

Sorry for my lengthy description of the problem. I'll try to be a bit more brief and precise.

The 220 pages were not folded, just duplexed, but jamming when there were two pages in the system.

The folding job was only a single A4 sheet, folded to A5. I tried face up AND face down - no difference. Each item I saw which seemed to relate to 'folding', I tried on its own and then reversed it - nothing changed the way it folded.

 

So is the first problem with duplexing?

Is it folding at all or just the wrong way?

 

Yes, the first problem is with duplexing. There's so many anomalies with these Xerox machines. Paper thickness & type are all out of sync. If [Plain Paper 64-105] is chosen, the paper feeds perfectly (even though it's 150gsm silk) - but the toner doesn't stick very well. Whenever I choose [Heavyweight 1] the toner welds properly onto the paper, but it constantly jams. Another strange thing is, if the source of paper is tray 1 there are fewer jams (only it picks up two sheets, causing a jam) - if I use tray 6 High Capacity, which has a blower (to prevent double feeding), the paper jams almost instantly it is passing through the heated roller for the first pass.

I've discovered that [Heavyweight 1] causes the fold to go the wrong way (no information as to WHY) - so, again, if I fool the printer by telling it I have [Plain Paper] in the tray, it folds the correct way - it's so flaming stupid, I need to be able to print glossy booklets and there are so many options it is impossible to get it right first time, every time.

I could understand it if glossy paper just would not feed through AT ALL - then I would just have to either look at getting another machine which DOES accept glossy paper - or change my paper type and be content with that - but the machine DOES feed glossy paper through when you tell it it's something else - this must indicate that there has to be a setting somewhere which is needing adjusted accordingly.

Hope I've not over-elaborated again ;-)

 

Sounds odd.. What software version are you using?

Try swapping the rollers in tray 1 from tray 3. There are 3 and are easy to change.

In CWS you have the ability to change the fold position. I assume you have tried that?

 

Its the print orientation

Hi

by the sounds of it, it is because you are printing either face up or face down. you need to change it.

Sometimes too rotating 180 degrees helps too.

I hope this helps

 

DC242 folding wrong way

Hi Dino3, thanks for replying to my puzzle. I know that you would think, logically, that it HAS to be something as simple as orientation, but - I have tried every single possible combination of face-up, face-down, rotate 180 etc. it is doing my nut in, there is no LOGICAL explanation for why it is doing it. I even tried going back to my design package and physically altering the page sequence, so that page 1 came second - even then, it folded the wrong way. I do not have the machine on a service contract, so maybe that's a lesson for me

 

Sorry InterfaceP, I didn't see your post. I'm not sure about how to get into the folding position settings, I'll need to go and check that. Also, the roller swap, didn't know that was possible either, or that it would make a difference. The problem with buying a second hand machine is you never know what things the previous owner has done - I'll go check this out too. Thanks for your information and, again, my apologies for the late reply.

And, I'm using CWS 5 if that's what you mean by software.

 

Ok try this then. If it is a PDF that you are printing it has an option to create booklet. Use that and send the job already imposed and tell the machine to double side fold and staple. I have used this trick a few times now.