Abstract: A method for preparing a variable data print file for printing includes receiving a variable data print file that includes at least one repeating portion and at least one repeat length embedded in at least one data structure in the variable data print file, each repeat length is associated with a different repeating portion of the variable data print file, wherein either a) the at least one repeat length is a plurality of repeat lengths with at least two of the repeat lengths being different in length or b) the variable data print file further includes at least one non-repeating portion; reading the at least one repeat length from the data structure in the variable data print file; and using the at least one repeat length to determine an order in which pages from the at least one repeating portion are submitted for processing in preparation for printing.

Abstract: A method for modifying a printable file includes receiving the printable file; identifying an element representing one or more text characters in the printable file; tagging the element; and incorporating metadata in the printable file, wherein the metadata is associated in the printable file with the tagged element and includes the one or more text characters. A method for using a printable file including at least one tagged graphics object that represents one or more characters and associated metadata includes receiving the printable file; and performing an activity using the printable file and the metadata within the printable file.

Abstract: A method for printing a product that includes a graphic that is tessellated includes receiving or generating the graphic and a tessellation pattern for the graphic; determining a first repeated swath using at least the graphic and the tessellation pattern, wherein the product to be printed includes at least two instances of the first repeated swath, wherein the first repeated swath includes i) at least two full copies of the graphic, ii) at least two partial copies of the graphic; or iii) at least one full copy and at least one partial copy of the graphic; generating raster data of the first repeated swath; and printing the product using the raster data of the first repeated swath to print the first repeated swath at least twice.

Abstract: A method for configuring a raster image processor (RIP) for a digital printing system includes receiving a file for a print job; receiving or determining job characteristics of the print job or the file for the print job; receiving or determining hardware characteristics of hardware upon which the RIP is operating; inputting the job characteristics and the hardware characteristics into a trained artificial intelligence (AI) module; and selecting, using the trained AI module, a configuration or settings for the RIP for processing of the file based on the plurality of job characteristics and the plurality of hardware characteristics.

Abstract: A method and system for producing a plant-based image includes receiving a source image; screening the source image into a set of picture elements; and producing raster data indicating at least a type or density of seeds or plants to plant for each picture element.

Abstract: A method for printing a document includes receiving the document, the document including at least one element to be printed using a combination of a spot color and a print effect; receiving a spot color emulation definition for the spot color and the print effect, the spot color emulation definition including a spot color name, an indication of a device-independent color space, values for the spot color in the device-independent color space, and an additional ink parameter indicating at least one additional ink to produce the print effect; and printing the document using the spot color emulation definition.

Abstract: A method for generating or enhancing a shell for a printed three-dimensional (3D) object includes converting a 3D print file representing the 3D object to at least one vector file representing the 3D object; using a vector trapping algorithm on the at least one vector file to generate or enhance the shell in the at least one vector file; processing the at least one vector file with the shell to produce at least one rasterized vector file; and printing, using the at least one rasterized vector file, the 3D object with the shell.

Abstract: A method for preparing a select graphic for printing using a digital printing device includes receiving the select graphic, at least one position for printing the select graphic, and a select spot color name for the select graphic, wherein the select spot color name represents a tone printable using at least one colorant of the digital printing device; generating a select spot color separation for the select graphic using a halftone screen to produce the tone represented by the security spot name, wherein the halftone screen is selected for printing the select graphic without a discernible dot pattern upon unmagnified viewing; and preparing raster data incorporating the select spot color separation for printing the select graphic at the at least one position on the item.

Abstract: A system for monitoring an inkjet printing device and predicting failures or maintenance needs. The system includes one or more memory devices; a print analysis engine stored in the one or more memory devices to monitor the print output from the inkjet printing device, operation of the inkjet printing device, or any combination thereof; and one or more processor devices to perform actions, including: monitoring print output from the inkjet printing device, operation of the inkjet printing device, or any combination thereof; based on the monitoring, predicting a failure or maintenance need of the inkjet printing device; based on the prediction, suggesting or performing maintenance on the inkjet printing device to address the predicted failure or maintenance need; and, after maintenance has been performed, monitoring the print output, operation of the printing device, or any combination thereof to determine whether the predicted failure or maintenance need has been resolved.

Abstract: A method for printing a variable data document includes receiving the variable data document which has a specified or estimated repeat length L; receiving or selecting a designated queue size (DQS) and a parameter Q representing a number of repeated pages to be provided in a chunk; arranging at least a portion of the variable data document into at least one cycle of chunks for processing using raster image processors (RIPs), wherein each of the at least one cycle of chunks contains R chunks and each chunk of a first cycle of the at least one cycle of chunks has a size C determined using DQS, Q, and L; and processing, using the RIPs, the portion of the variable data document into rasters for printing by providing at least one chunk of the at least one cycle of chunks to each of the RIPs.

Abstract: A method for processing a print job file using a printing system includes receiving, by the printing system, the print job file, the print job file including at least one placeholder element designated in the document using a pattern, a spot color, or a set of color values; receiving, by the printing system, missing content for the print job file; replacing, by the printing system, the at least one placeholder element with the missing content; and printing, by the printing system, the print job file including the missing content.

Abstract: A method for adjusting a modifiable printing parameter of each of a plurality of printing elements of a printing device includes printing a plurality of test charts for each of the printing elements at different values of the modifiable printing parameter; measuring a variance of a printing density for each of the test charts; analyzing the measured variances for each of the printing elements; individually selecting a value of the modifiable printing parameter for each of the printing elements based on the analysis; and applying the selected value of the modifiable printing parameter for each of the printing elements to the printing device. Software density compensation can be applied to further reduce the variance of the printing density.

Abstract: A method of processing a document for printing includes receiving a document; for at least one of the plurality of regions, determining a drop size for that region and determining whether the drop size for printing the region meets a threshold criterion and, if so, processing the region using a tile-based screen for halftoning and, if not, processing the region using an error diffusion screen for halftoning; and printing the processed regions. Another method includes additionally considering coverage level to determine whether to use a tile-based screen or error diffusion screen. Yet another method includes determining whether the region is within a threshold range of a drop step change.

Abstract: Information can be encoded into text of a printable document or other printed material. The text includes glyphs, where each glyph corresponds to a text character. Additional information can be encoded into the text by altering one or more of the glyphs to change a shape of the one or more of the glyphs, so that each of the altered glyphs still corresponds to the text character to which the glyph corresponded prior to alteration and the altered glyph further contains a portion of the additional information encoded by the changed shape.

Abstract: A method of determining multi-level printing parameters for a printing device includes identifying printing parameters for each of multiple colorant levels; providing at least one density measurement at a known coverage for each colorant level; providing an aim curve relating input tone value to printed density value; and identifying multiple test parameter sets. The method further includes, for each of the test parameter sets at each of multiple input tone values, determining a printed density value based on the parameters of the test parameter set and the density measurements, and determining an error value from differences between the determined printed density values and the aim curve. The method also includes selecting one of the test parameter sets using the determined error values; and communicating the selected one of the plurality of test parameter sets for receipt by the printing device for printing documents. Systems and software can employ the method.

Abstract: Access to protected content is based on a client device being within a region. The region may be a mobile or movable region, and/or a region that is in motion. In some embodiments, the region may be determined based on a distance from a position within the region, or based on a boundary about the position that need not be symmetrical. In some embodiments, the region is a three dimensional region. In some embodiments, being within the region is further based on the region being above a defined altitude. In further embodiments, a determination for access is based on whether the client device is detected to be in motion relative to the region.

Abstract: A method of presenting documents includes providing a single file comprising a plurality of documents, an identifier for each of the plurality of documents, an indicator for each of the plurality of documents to indicate in which one of a plurality of predefined sections that document belongs and to indicate a position of that document in that section, and a time indicator for each of the plurality of documents to indicate when that document was last updated within the single file if the document has been updated, wherein each document has been created individually and added to the single file.

Abstract: Access to protected content is based on a client device being within a region. The region may be a mobile or movable region, and/or a region that is in motion. In some embodiments, the region may be determined based on a distance from a position within the region, or based on a boundary about the position that need not be symmetrical. In some embodiments, the region is a three dimensional region. In some embodiments, being within the region is further based on the region being above a defined altitude. In further embodiments, a determination for access is based on whether the client device is detected to be in motion relative to the region.

Abstract: A method of printing a document includes providing a document to a printer for printing; sending a portion of the document from the printer to an external service provider for temporary storage; and storing the portion of the document on the external service provider. The external service provider comprises a computing device or a server. The method further includes requesting that the portion of the document be sent from the external service provider to the printer for printing; sending the portion of the document from the external service provider to the printer; and printing the portion of the document using the printer.

Abstract: Access to protected content is based on a client device being within a region. The region may be a mobile or movable region, and/or a region that is in motion. In some embodiments, the region may be determined based on a distance from a position within the region, or based on a boundary about the position that need not be symmetrical. In some embodiments, the region is a three dimensional region. In some embodiments, being within the region is further based on the region being above a defined altitude. In further embodiments, a determination for access is based on whether the client device is detected to be in motion relative to the region.