How to Use the LFR Plus Film Recorder

The Lasergraphics LFR Plus is a high resolution film recorder. This device allows you to print data/photos to film just as you would to a printer. Once the film is printed, it can be developed normally to slides, prints, etc.

Printing to Film

Introduction

Follow these step by step instructions when using the film recorder. If you have never used the film recorder before, it is recommend that you read all of the instructions in this section before you begin.

The steps to film recording are as follows:

Selecting the Correct Film - The Lasergraphics LFR Plus film recorder uses slide film. Film recorder film is packaged as Fuji FujiChrome, Kodak EliteChrome, or something similar, and can be purchased at camera shops or the OSU Bookstore. 100 speed is the film of choice.
Make sure the Film Recorder is on – There is a power switch on the backside of the recorder above the power cable.
Loading the Film into the Recorder - The camera back on the LFR works just like a normal 35mm camera. To load the film, pull enough film to reach partly around the film wind reel. Then, simply close the camera back. You should hear the film load like a normal camera, except that it will advance the entire roll. If it doesn't, open the camera, pull a little more film towards the film wind reel, then close the camera.
Opening the Print Queue - The next step in the film recording process is starting the film recorder print queue. The Forestry Department uses a program called WinRascol32.

Start WinRascol32 by selecting:
Start | Programs | WinRascol32 | WinRascol32

Once the program starts you should see a window with an empty list. This is the print queue.
Printing Slides - Now that you have opened the print queue, you can print your slides. To print slides, you need to open the document to be printed in the application that created it (i.e. PowerPoint, etc.). Make sure to check over each slide to ensure there are no formatting errors.
Note: It is important to check the options in "Page Setup" to make sure they are correct before attempting to print slides. Pay special attention to the orientation (portrait or landscape) and paper size. To go to "Page Setup" in your program, click File | Page Setup.

To print a slide or slides, select Print from the File menu of the application where your slides are (not the WinRascol Window). A print dialogue box will appear. In the Printer... option at the top of the dialogue box, select the Personal LFR Plus printer. Make sure you DO NOT select Personal LFR Plus (BLL).

Next, you will need to check the film recorder properties.

To open the film recorder properties, click on the "Properties" button in the print dialogue. This will open the Personal LFR Plus properties window.

Once the Document Properties window opens, you will see the layout tab. Choose the correct orientation of your slides. Then click on the “Advanced” button.

Under the Advance tab, select the following settings:
Make sure the paper size and orientation match the settings in "Page Setup."

Note: If you are using Microsoft Powerpoint, use the LFR Powerpoint Slide 3.0- 7.5x11.25in for the Page Size in the LFR Properties (where you are right now).

Also: If you want to use the same settings for all of your slides, you only need to configure the printer properties once. If you want to change the properties for a slide or series of slides, you will need to change the film recorder properties again before you print that slide or series.

You may wish to change the following basic options to fit you particular application:
For more information on these options, click on the associated links. To change other options, see Printing Properties.

Once you are done changing the film recorder properties, click the "OK" button. You will now see the "Print" dialogue box again.

Caution: Please do not delete print queues. If you need to stop the queue, press the RED button at the top of the WinRascol32 window. This will stop the print queue. If you wish to restart the queue, press the GREEN button. Note: You can not delete jobs that are printing unless you stop the queue first by pressing the RED button.

Click OK to begin printing to the film recorder. A print job will automatically be generated, and sent to the queue. The print queue (WinRascol32) will then print the slide when the film recorder is ready. You can check the status of the film recorder by opening the WinRascol32 window.
Removing the Film and Developing it - After you have printed all of your slides to film, you have to remove the film and develop it. If you used the entire roll of film the recorder will rewind the roll automatically. If not, you need to rewind the film by pressing and holding the rewind button on top of the camera until you hear the film begin to rewind. After the film is finished rewinding, open the camera and remove the film. Develop the film into slides.

Film Recorder Properties - Printing Properties

Paper Size

The paper size in adjustable in both your application and in the Lasergraphic printer properties.

For best results you should use LFR Standard Slide - 11in x 7.33in.

It is important to make sure that the page size in the printer properties is the same as the dimensions in page setup of your application. It is also important to make sure that the orientation is the same as well.

Orientation

The orientation of a frame describes whether is printed in landscape or portrait format.

Since film slides are always viewed in landscape form, it is best to set this setting to landscape. It is also important to make sure the orientation in page setup of you application program matches.

It is also important to make sure the page size setting in the film recorder print properties matches those in your application.

Copies

The number in the copies property designates the number of duplicate of each slide that will be printed.

For example, if you have a roll of 12 exposures, print 4 slides, and set copies to 3, then you will get three exposures of the first slide followed by three of the next and so on.

Recorder Resolution

Recorder resolution describes exactly how many individual dots will be used to produce a slide.

The Lasergraphics Personal LFR Plus film recorders offer two sizes, 2k and 4k.

The actual resolution for 2k is 2048 pixels wide by 1365 pixels high.
The actual resolution for 4k is 4096 pixels wide by 2731 pixels high.

We recommend using 4k resolution because it has 4 times as many pixels as 2k resolution and doesn't take much longer to expose.

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