Brenda Beden

Abstract

Computers have changed the way our society works. Everyday life is somehow effected by a computer. It has changed the way many industries do their business. The business world is now a global community. The Graphic Arts industry has been impacted by these changes. With computers, documents are now found in digital form. Instead of being hand prepared, they are compiled within the computer realm. By using modems, these documents can travel from one location and be printed at several different locations, even world wide. As the computer evolves, it is also becoming more portable so that our mobile society is not tied to one location. Along with this mobility, there is a strong trend in communications that are mobile also. Wireless technologies are advancing at a rapid rate to keep up with customer demand. By combining these emerging technologies, is it possible that a person with some knowledge of computers and peripherals, desktop publishing, and digital photography can transmit documents using cellular communications from a field location to a digital press to produce a finished product? A digital camera was used to capture images for a test document. The images were then downloaded to a laptop computer. From there changes were made to the images that fit the parameters of the final output device. Using Quark XPress the test document was prepared. It included four of the images taken with the digital camera. When the document was complete it was saved to a PostScript file. The transmission of the file was possible by using a PCMCIA Fax/modem card installed in the portable computer. This was connected using a special cellular phone adapter with a Motorola Elite Cellular Phone. Two transmission tests were attempted. The first test used the internet as a means to connect to the file server at the Digital Publishing Center at Rochester Institute of Technology. The second test used Xerox proprietary software Launch to link the computer to the file server at Suttons' Printing in Grand Junction, Colorado. In test one, the transmission of the file was complete. Upon going to the Digital Publishing Center, the file was transferred from the file server to the job manager on the Docutech 9500. A proof was made and fifteen final copies were produced. In test two, the transmission was unable to be completed. The file server was accessed and logged on but the downloading of the file was never completed. The file server would disconnect shortly after the downloading process would begin. Test one results showed that it is possible to transmit a digital file using wireless communication and successfully print an acceptable quality product. Test two shows that it is possible that problems can occur so that transmission cannot be completed. This technology is still in its infantile stages. As these technologies continue to advance this type of transmission could become more common place, allowing printing to take place anywhere.

Library of Congress Subject Headings

Printing--Data processing; Digital printing; Photography--Digital techniques; Images, Photographic--Data processing; Wireless communication systems

Publication Date

11-1-1997

Document Type

Thesis

Department, Program, or Center

School of Print Media (CIAS)

Advisor

Schneider, Emery

Comments

Note: imported from RIT’s Digital Media Library running on DSpace to RIT Scholar Works. Physical copy available through RIT's The Wallace Library at: Z249.3| .B443 1997

Campus

RIT – Main Campus

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