Syracuse Architecture Technology Printing & Plotting
Printing & Plotting links: Description | Equipment | Pay-per-plot system | How to plot | Plot room schedule | Alternatives
Pay-per-plot system
How the print system works
- The printing system requires a SUSOA Network Account.
- Printing in the lab is controlled by a small program called Ppopup. Ppopup runs on each lab computer in the system tray in the lower right corner of the screen. The icon is a small printer (Figure 1). When a student clicks the print button, a popup window will appear showing the cost for the print job and the balance in one's printing account. This window does not appear until after the print job has been transferred to the server, which may take some time when printing large files.
Figure 1
- During printing, the cost of each print job is automatically subtracted from one’s printing account. Once the account balance reaches zero, more money must be added to continue printing.
- If a student's account balance is too low to pay for the job, the job will be deleted automatically. A small popup bubble should appear with an alert.
- If one prints to a paper size that is not supported by the printer, the job will be deleted automatically. A small popup bubble should appear with an alert. Check the equipment list to find out the supported paper sizes. Common errors include printing to legal size (8.5" x 14") paper, which is not supported.
- The file size for a print job should be kept small (<10 mb). Large file sizes (>250 mb) sent to the printers are automatically deleted. Learn how to optimize your prints before sending them.
- Ask the on-duty plot monitor for help if you are having trouble printing.
- Every student account receives a $25 credit at the beginning of the school year. This allows for immediate start-up, and compensates for potential plotter or printer errors over the course of the school year.
How to check your account balance
- While logged into a lab computer, look for a small dollar sign icon (Figure 2) in the system tray in the lower right corner of the screen. Hover over this icon with the mouse to display the account balance.
Figure 2
How to add money to your account
- Inside the Plot Room in Slocum (Room 013) is a cash pay station. The pay station accepts the following bills: $20, $10, $5, $1. The pay station is connected to a computer. Login to the pay station computer using your lab account, then add money using the pay station. After adding money, click the Transfer button on the computer, then click the Finish button to logout. The funds will immediately be credited to your plotting account. This fall we plan to phase out the pay station in favor of a web page that accepts credit and debit cards.
Refunds for printing problems
- Each student starts off the school year with a $25 credit to compensate for times when the printer jams, runs out of ink or toner, or crashes in the middle of the print job. If a student feels that the $25 credit has already been used for legitimate printer malfunctions, they may apply for a refund of a print job that failed to print because of a printer problem. Refunds are not given for jobs that are sized or rotated incorrectly, nor for problems with color, fonts, etc. Students must know how to use the software to send the job correctly. Students are encouraged to do a small test print if they are in doubt. If the School determines the refund is warranted, it will credit the account for the print.
- To receive credit, you must have satisfied the previous point, and the incident must have been recorded in the Bad Plot Log, which is maintained by the on-duty plot monitor. Email Andy Molloy (awmolloy@syr.edu) to request the refund. Students requesting a refund cannot keep the failed printout, if it exists.
Refunds for unused printing account balance
- If you are returning to the School next semester or school year, the balance in your account will roll over, so you will not lose the amount credited to your account if you don’t ask for a refund.
- Graduating architecture students may request a refund of the unused printing account balance.
- To request a refund, email your request to Andy (awmolloy@syr.edu) at the end of the semester. Within approximately 1-2 weeks, the credit will be posted to your bursar account. You can then log into your bursar account and click the link to request a refund. This will take you to a form to fill out. You can specify an address and the bursar will send you a check.
| Black & White Laser | Print size | Cost | |
Bowser, Bowser2 |
Letter |
$0.04 per sheet |
|
11” x 17” |
$0.08 per sheet |
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| Color Laser | Print size | Cost | |
Koopa, Koopa2 |
Letter |
$0.30 per sheet |
|
11” x 17” |
$0.60 per sheet |
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| Color Inkjet | Print size | Cost | |
Pidgit |
Letter |
$1.00 per sheet |
|
11” x 17” |
$1.50 per sheet |
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| Plotting | Type | Cost | Examples |
Zelda |
B/W |
0.25 per sq foot |
Arch C (18”x24”) - $0.75 |
Ostro, Ostro2, Ostro3, Princess, Samus, Yoshi |
Color or B/W |
$1.16 per sq foot |
Arch C (18”x24”) - $3.48 |