Abstract: Methods, devices, and systems process print jobs and identify print job settings originating from sources other than the system's existing set of print queues. These methods, devices, and systems can then identify frequently occurring combinations of such setting values. With these combinations as input, they can create new, additional print queues (that are formed in addition to the existing print queues) that apply these frequently occurring setting values to additional print jobs that are subsequently processed through the additional print queues; or can create attribute subsets which can be presented as menu selections to simplify subsequent creation of print queues, or updating of print queue programming or individual job programming.

Abstract: An approach is provided for managing a printing system. The approach involves determining at least one printer of the printing system is capable of at least five-color printing. The approach also involves determining a print job to be processed by the printing system includes using a custom colorant. The approach further involves determining if the custom colorant is ready for use, if an alternative colorant is ready for use, or if any custom colorants or alternative colorants are within a predetermined proximity of the printer. The approach additionally involves causing a preview of an output of the print job to be rendered and displayed, causing the print job to be processed or held, and causing one or more colorants to be ordered or made ready for use if the print job is held.

Abstract: Disclosed is a processor-implemented method for limiting ink output of marked image data using a target printer. A processor determines a constrained output (CMYK) LUT node data set for outputting the image data using the target printer to thereby mark the image data using a limited amount of ink. The constrained set is determined by re-encoding an encoded emulation output data, i.e., constraining an initial LUT node data set for the target printer based on a second. ICC profile with a smaller gamut. This allows the printer to inherit the smaller gamut. By constraining the initial LUT as disclosed herein, the final, constrained set emulates the smaller gamut in the target printer without suffering from pathological outcomes. The method enables the printer to inherit a natural ink limit methodology for the output colors that is more relatively proportional, and in a single destination profile.

Abstract: A method for validating a splitting operation accesses a document and a catalog tree. The method selects a subset of the total pages in the document. The method splits a section of branches from the catalog tree using a splitter in a user device. Each branch corresponds to a page included in the subset. The method processes the subset using the branches to generate split output pages. The method analyzes each split output page to determine if the file split correctly. In response to a split failure, the method determines if the split failure is related to one of a structure error and a metadata syntax error. In response to a correct split, the method provides the print job to an associated output device in communication with the user device.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed toward method for enabling use of PDL metadata to drive printing outcomes. The method includes receiving a selection for a file in a first format. The method further includes parsing the file for metadata and displaying attributes included in the metadata. The method next assigns each attribute to a print-rendering condition. The method then provides the file in a second format.

Abstract: When at least one of the pages of a print job has a printing orientation setting and at least one of the pages of the print job lacks a printing orientation setting, methods and devices automatically apply user preferences to the pages of the print job that lack an orientation setting to produce a modified print job. When applying the user preferences, such methods and devices can set the printing orientation of the pages of the print job that lack an orientation setting to a most common printing orientation setting of other pages within the print job, if a “unified stack preference” is selected by the user. Alternatively, methods and devices can set the printing orientation of the pages of the print job that lack the orientation setting to an orientation associated with a highest processing speed if a “maximum throughput preference” is selected by the user.

Abstract: A method and system for selective application of AIE (Automatic Image Enhancement) based on the characteristic of an image. The image can be evaluated utilizing PDL data, object location data, image layering data, image overprint data and image raster data in combination with a weighting scheme to ascertain whether the image should be designated as a background or watermark. The designated images can be passed through a tag to a DFE (Digital Front End) application in order to determine the application of AIE to the images.

Abstract: A method for rendering a clear toner layer is disclosed for a received print job description that is provided in multiple channels, including a clear channel and a color channel. A program selection is executed for a multiple pass operation. Image processing is performed on the print job description to generate a ready-to-print file. A layer of an image is rendered in a first pass using a clear toner applying component and a pigmented toner applying component. The values of the color channel are modified, and the ready-to-print file is modified using the values. The modified ready-to-print file is saved in a ready-to-print format. A layer of the image is rendered in a select pass using only the clear toner applying component.

Abstract: Methods and systems receive a print job and determine whether the print job specifies one or more extended gamut color marking materials. The extended gamut color marking materials comprise marking materials having colorants other than standard colorants. The standard colorants consist of cyan, magenta, yellow, black (CMYK). When the print job does not specify one or more of the extended gamut color marking materials, the methods and systems determine whether the print job will perform better with one or more of the extended gamut colorants in addition to the standard colorants. The methods and systems print the print job use the extended gamut colorant(s) and the standard colorants when the print job specifies the extended gamut color marking material, and when the print job will perform better with one or more of the print system's extended gamut colorants in addition to the standard colorants.

Abstract: An approach is provided for managing a printing system. The approach involves determining at least one printer of the printing system is capable of at least five-color printing. The approach also involves determining a print job to be processed by the printing system includes using a custom colorant. The approach further involves determining if the custom colorant is ready for use, if an alternative colorant is ready for use, or if any custom colorants or alternative colorants are within a predetermined proximity of the printer. The approach additionally involves causing a preview of an output of the print job to be rendered and displayed, causing the print job to be processed or held, and causing one or more colorants to be ordered or made ready for use if the print job is held.

Abstract: A method and system for determining chromatic content of a page of an electronic document. Object level color analysis is performed on a page of the electronic document to determine whether the page is chromatic, achromatic or has highlight color, based on the object level color analysis. The page is then classified as chromatic, achromatic or highlight color, based on the results of the determination.

Abstract: Methods and systems receive a print job and determine whether the print job specifies one or more extended gamut color marking materials. The extended gamut color marking materials comprise marking materials having colorants other than standard colorants. The standard colorants consist of cyan, magenta, yellow, black (CMYK). When the print job does not specify one or more of the extended gamut color marking materials, the methods and systems determine whether the print job will perform better with one or more of the extended gamut colorants in addition to the standard colorants. The methods and systems print the print job use the extended gamut colorant(s) and the standard colorants when the print job specifies the extended gamut color marking material, and when the print job will perform better with one or more of the print system's extended gamut colorants in addition to the standard colorants.

Abstract: A system for adjusting page placement on a continuous feed duplex print engine. A processor receives, from a print engine, ejector data regarding first and second defective ink ejectors including respective transverse positions for the ink ejectors. A memory element stores the ejector data. The processor: receives print data regarding first and second pages to be printed on the first and second sides, respectively, of the continuous sheet, including transverse positions for respective pixels on the pages; creates, using the print data, first and second logical pages for the first and second pages; and, creates, using the ejector data, first and second logical sheets including the first and second logical pages by transversely positioning the first and second logical pages such that the first and second defective ink ejectors and the positions for the respective pixels on the first and second pages are out of alignment in the process direction.

Abstract: A system and method allows a user to display the appearance of an image when printed on one of a plurality of configurable color printers. The configurable color printers include at least one replaceable colorant. The system and method take the effect of the currently mounted colorant into account when generating the displayed image. The displayed image can be used as a soft proof for printing purposes.

Abstract: A method for forming a variable data job includes a fixed original image provided by original image data in a first multiple channel color plane and content provided by variable image data in a second multiple channel color plane. The original image data is converted to fixed image data in a clear channel color plane. Raster image processing is performed on the fixed image data to translate the fixed image data into a first ready-to-print file. The ready-to-print file is saved in a memory as a post-RIP file. The variable image data is subsequently provided in at least the second multiple channel color plane. Image processing is performed on the variable image data to obtain a second ready-to-print file. The post-RIP file is merged with the second ready-to-print file for forming the variable data job. The variable data job is printed to render output.

Abstract: A method for selecting a printing device for printing a proof is provided. The method entails providing a production printer and a plurality of remote proof printers and computing a native color gamut covered by the production printer and the plurality of remote proof printers. The method includes calculating a gamut intersection volume between the production printer and the plurality of remote proof printers and comparing the gamut intersection volume between the production printer and the plurality of remote proof printers. The method further include presenting a rating of the plurality of proof printers, the rating configured to provide data pertaining to the gamut intersection volume difference between each of the plurality of proof printers and the production printer.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed toward method for enabling use of PDL metadata to drive printing outcomes. The method includes receiving a selection for a file in a first format. The method further includes parsing the file for metadata and displaying attributes included in the metadata. The method next assigns each attribute to a print-rendering condition. The method then provides the file in a second format.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described that facilitate generating a ready-to-print binary dual-plane HLC image for output to an HLC device. A print-ready highlight color (HLC) image can be generated without digital front end (DFE) processing. For example, according to one or more aspects, a color scanner can be employed to produce a two-plane binary TIFF image. One plane contains black (e.g., achromatic) content, while the other contains highlight color content. Black pixels are identified and/or determined using neutral pixel and neutral window detection. Background pixels are mapped to white for both planes. Pixels that are non-neutral and non-background are designated as color pixels. After separation into a neutral plane and an HLC plane, the planes are processed into binary data for printing.

Abstract: A computer implemented method is provided for printing a highlight color print job in a system including a local printing system with a computer. The computer communicates with multiple client printing systems by way of a network. The method includes determining, with the computer, that the highlight color print job cannot be processed at the local printing system because a selected highlight colorant is unavailable. Information from one of the multiple client printing systems indicating that the one of the multiple client printing systems is qualified to successfully process the highlight color print job within a selected time interval is obtained. The highlight color print job is then forwarded to the one of the multiple client printing systems qualified to successfully process the highlight color print job within the selected time interval.

Abstract: A system for adjusting page placement on a continuous feed duplex print engine. A processor receives, from a print engine, ejector data regarding first and second defective ink ejectors including respective transverse positions for the ink ejectors. A memory element stores the ejector data. The processor: receives print data regarding first and second pages to be printed on the first and second sides, respectively, of the continuous sheet, including transverse positions for respective pixels on the pages; creates, using the print data, first and second logical pages for the first and second pages; and, creates, using the ejector data, first and second logical sheets including the first and second logical pages by transversely positioning the first and second logical pages such that the first and second defective ink ejectors and the positions for the respective pixels on the first and second pages are out of alignment in the process direction.