Skip the FTP queue and send print jobs straight from Print Operator Console to your RIP — faster, more reliable, and fully under your control.
What is Direct-to-Print?
Direct-to-Print lets your operators send jobs directly from the Print Operator Console to your printer’s RIP software — completely bypassing the traditional FTP transfer. This means no more waiting for file transfers, no risk of your production queue getting stacked, and faster turnaround from job receipt to print.
With Direct-to-Print, the plate files (PDF) and machine instructions (JDF) are downloaded and delivered to the configured press in seconds — giving operators full visibility into the process and the flexibility to reassign jobs to different machines when needed.
Key Benefits
⚡ | Faster Production Starts | Jobs go directly to the RIP — no FTP delays or queuing. Your operators can start printing within seconds of sending a job. |
🛡️ | Reduced Risk of Stacked Production | By eliminating the FTP step, you remove the most common point of failure that causes jobs to stack up and delay your production schedule. |
🎯 | Full Operator Control | Operators can see download progress in real time, choose which press to send jobs to, and even reassign plates to a different machine on the fly. |
🔄 | Flexible Press Assignment | Need to move a job to another press? Operators can redirect plates to any pre-configured machine — the system automatically re-imposes for the target press. |
📂 | Multiple File Source Options | Choose where plate files come from: a local folder, SFTP, or direct S3 cloud storage download — whatever fits your infrastructure best. |
👁️ | Real-Time Download Visibility | Watch plate files download in real time from the Print Operator Console. No guesswork about whether files have arrived. |
How to Set Up Direct-to-Print
Setting up Direct-to-Print involves configuring your machines in Work Settings and ensuring your Workflow Builder is properly set up. Follow the steps below to get started.
Step 1: Open Work Settings
Navigate to Work Settings by clicking the icon in the top-right corner of your screen, or go through the main menu.
Step 2: Go to Machine Configuration
In Work Settings, open the Machine Configuration tab. You’ll see the RIP Machine Configuration section — this is where you configure machines for Direct RIP submission from the Print Operator Console.
Step 3: Select Your Source Type
Choose where GelatoConnect should get the plate files from. You have three options:
Source Type | Description |
Local Folder | Files are stored on a local network folder accessible by the machine. |
SFTP | Files are fetched from a remote SFTP server. |
S3 Storage | Files are downloaded directly from Amazon S3 cloud storage. |
Step 4: Define File Paths
Set two important paths:
Download Location: The folder path where plate files will be downloaded to.
External Location: The network path that the DFE (Digital Front End) uses to access the files. Leave this empty if the DFE has direct access to the download folder.
💡 Tip: If your DFE software can access the download folder directly, you can leave the External Location field empty. |
Step 5: Add Connected Machines
In the Connected Machines section, click “Add Machine Instance” and select the machine from your machine park using the dropdown list. You can configure RIP destinations for each machine you add.
Step 6: Configure the Workflow
Make sure the corresponding workflow in Workflow Builder includes the “Create Configuration File” step with the correct DFE details. This ensures jobs are routed properly to the configured machines. You must also have a “Printing” step configured in the workflow.
If you want to enable the operators to move plates from one press to another, ensure this is also configured in the workflow. Operators will be able to move it to those presses that workflow is configured for.
Using Direct-to-Print as an Operator
Once setup is completed, you’ll be able to send jobs to print directly from the Print Operator Console. Here’s how it works:
Sending a Job to Print
Open the Print Operator Console and locate the job you want to print.
Click Send to Print on the selected plate.
The machine will be selected by default as the first one configured in the workflow (e.g., Indigo 12000).
Watch the download progress at the top of the console. The system will download both the PDF (print file) and the JDF (machine instructions).
Once complete, the job status changes from Pending to Sent to Print. The printer is now ready to produce.
Moving a Job to a Different Press
If your workflow has been configured with multiple possible machines, you can reassign a plate to a different press at any time:
Click the option to Move to a Different Press on the job.
Select the target press from the dropdown. Only machines defined in the workflow will appear (e.g., if Indigo 12000 and Indigo 7000 are configured, you’ll see both).
Confirm the move. The system will automatically cancel the original plate and create a new re-imposed plate for the target press.
💡 Tip: Moving a plate to a different press triggers automatic re-imposition. A new plate will appear once the imposition is complete. |
Good to Know
The machine options available in the “Move to Different Press” dropdown are defined by your workflow configuration — only pre-configured machines will appear.
Each download includes both a PDF file (the print content) and a JDF file (machine instructions), ensuring your press receives everything it needs.
The download folder and file locations can be verified from Work Settings at any time.
If you encounter any issues, check that your Machine Configuration, Source Type, and Workflow Builder settings are all aligned.
📹 Watch the full walkthrough: