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: A softproofing system and method render an input document for display on a monitor to faithfully represent projected output from a target print engine, where the displayed document representation rendering is modeled to include internal print engine specific enhancements or characteristics of the target print engine. The system and method identify the target print engine and print engine specific rendering characteristics from the specified content, such as an input file, which may be a raster image or an electronic file in a PDL format. Specific print engine characteristics may include halftone screen identification, error diffusion identification, halftone dot shape, write white, write black, anti-aliasing, line width compensation and specific tone reproduction curves.

Abstract: What is disclosed is a novel system and method for selecting a printer in a document reproduction environment comprising a plurality of networked printing devices. In one embodiment, a document is received which is to be printed and a set of image quality requirements specific for the document are determined based on the document's image content. A threshold quality expectation level is set for the document based on the set of image quality requirements. Device specific image quality metrics are obtained for each of the networked printing devices and then compared with the threshold quality expectation level. A printing device which best exceeds the threshold quality expectation level is selected as a result of the comparison. The document is sent to the selected networked printing device. If none of the networked printing devices is found to meet the threshold then an operator is signaled that the document cannot be printed.

Abstract: Disclosed are a method and system of rendering clear texturing on a media substrate. According to one exemplary method, one or more parameters are provided by a user, via a UI (User Interface), to control the clear texturing process, wherein the parameters are associated with, but are not limited to, media sheet area coverage, object type the clear texturing process is to be performed on and maximum/minimum percentage of clear material to be used for rendering the clear texturing.

Abstract: A system for adjusting page placement on a continuous feed print engine. The engine includes: a feed system for displacing a continuous sheet of material in a process direction; and at least one printhead with a plurality of ink ejectors. The system includes at least one specially programmed computer with a processor and memory element. The processor receives ejector data regarding a defective ink ejector. The ejector data includes a position for the ejector in a transverse direction. The memory element stores the ejector data. The processor: receives print data including positions, in the transverse direction, for pixels on the page; creates, using the processor and the print data, a logical page; and creates, using the processor and the ejector data, a logical sheet by positioning the logical page in the traverse direction such that the ejector and the respective pixels are out of alignment in the process direction.

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 to schedule color print jobs to one or more configurable color printers is described. The method monitors the state of any printers in use and maintains a queue of print jobs. The print jobs are assigned priorities based on a set of system policies.

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 system and method for outputting finished image receiving medium in an image forming device are provided. The systems and methods include receiving an image forming operation in an image forming device. The image forming operation is evaluated to determine a number of pages required. Image receiving medium information relevant to an image receiving medium available to the image forming device may be accessed. Stacking thickness may be estimated based on the determined page count and the image receiving medium information. The image forming operation is processed based on the estimated stacking thickness. Processing may include comparing the estimated stacking thickness to an available stacker space and determining, from amongst a plurality of available stackers, a target stacker to deliver finished image receiving media to based on the results of the comparison.

Abstract: A system for adjusting page placement on a continuous feed print engine. The engine includes: a feed system for displacing a continuous sheet of material in a process direction; and at least one printhead with a plurality of ink ejectors. The system includes at least one specially programmed computer with a processor and memory element. The processor receives ejector data regarding a defective ink ejector. The ejector data includes a position for the ejector in a transverse direction. The memory element stores the ejector data. The processor: receives print data including positions, in the transverse direction, for pixels on the page; creates, using the processor and the print data, a logical page; and creates, using the processor and the ejector data, a logical sheet by positioning the logical page in the traverse direction such that the ejector and the respective pixels are out of alignment in the process direction.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods enabling a user to select optimal parameters for a printing job. The systems and methods disclosed are directed to facilitating the adjustment of printing parameters based upon at least the knowledge of a particular aspect of a printing environment (e.g., printer) and further including the ability to dynamically adjust parameters in relation to dynamically adjustable parameters, wherein the parameters may be determined as a function of other specified parameters.

Abstract: Systems and methods are presented in which a print job is segmented into multiple parts or chunks prior to facilitate raster image processing by including in each of the parts the print job preamble, one or more page portions, and only those resources required for the page portions, and the generated chunk files are provided to one or more raster image processing components for rendering or printing.

Abstract: A page exception icon is provided for programming a page exception during a document processing job. The page exception icon is pre-programmed by selecting at least one document job processing parameter from a plurality of document job processing parameters and storing the document job processing parameter in association with a name provided for the page exception icon. The page exception icon can be dragged and dropped onto objects representing pages of a document processing job to perform a page exception in accordance with the document job processing parameters pre-programmed for the page exception icon.

Abstract: What is disclosed is a novel system and method for selecting a printer in a document reproduction environment comprising a plurality of networked printing devices. In one embodiment, a document is received which is to be printed and a set of image quality requirements specific for the document are determined based on the document's image content. A threshold quality expectation level is set for the document based on the set of image quality requirements. Device specific image quality metrics are obtained for each of the networked printing devices and then compared with the threshold quality expectation level. A printing device which best exceeds the threshold quality expectation level is selected as a result of the comparison. The document is sent to the selected networked printing device. If none of the networked printing devices is found to meet the threshold then an operator is signaled that the document cannot be printed.

Abstract: There is provided a job control system for a document processing system having a document processing subsystem in which a job, including a set of image data and a job control ticket, is processed each time the job, along with the job control ticket, is submitted to the document processing system.

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 document analysis tool may generate a halftone image corresponding to the output of an image forming device and may display the generated halftone image for a document designer. The halftone image may include halftone dots displaced from each other, depending on a misregistration between image forming stations in the image forming device. Based on the quality of the displayed halftone image, the document designer may revise the document to account for the misregistration.

Abstract: A softproofing system and method render an input document for display on a monitor to faithfully represent projected output from a target print engine, where the displayed document representation rendering is modeled to include internal print engine specific enhancements or characteristics of the target print engine. The system and method identify the target print engine and print engine specific rendering characteristics from the specified content, such as an input file, which may be a raster image or an electronic file in a PDL format. Specific print engine characteristics may include halftone screen identification, error diffusion identification, halftone dot shape, write white, write black, anti-aliasing, line width compensation and specific tone reproduction curves.

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.