Abstract: Methods and systems herein provide for securely advancing continuous form media including pre-printed sensitive elements. A command is identified for advancing the media without imprinting on the sensitive elements. A security image is identified for voiding the sensitive elements. The security image is then imprinted on the sensitive elements as the media is advanced to void the sensitive elements. Embodiments include detecting a Non Process Run Out (NPRO) command at a printer for advancing the media without imprinting the sensitive elements, and imprinting the security image onto the sensitive elements as the media is advanced to void the sensitive elements. Further embodiments include detecting that a print job includes a blank logical page for advancing the media without imprinting the sensitive elements, and imprinting the security image onto the sensitive elements as the media is advanced to void the sensitive elements.

Abstract: Methods and structures for improved font management providing for selection of one or more subsets of a selected typeface font in a font management program. A user is presented with information identifying one or more subsets of related code points in a selected typeface in a font management program. By selecting one or more subsets from the presented information, the user may reduce wasted presentation or management of code points in the typeface that are not presently of interest to the user. For example, when managing a Unicode typeface, a user may be prompted to select one or more language subsets prior to printing/displaying a matrix of the glyphs of the selected typeface. The presentation of glyphs or other code point information may then be limited to only the selected one or more subsets.

Abstract: A print controller and associated methods are disclosed. Some print jobs received in the print controller are stored in a rasterized or ripped job spool. The release of these jobs is coordinated by a control system in the print controller. The control system processes an algorithm to determine a sequence of releasing one or more print jobs stored in the rasterized job spool. The control system generates a job despool token and transmits the job despool token to a rasterized job handling system through the data stream of the raw print jobs (such as through the interpreter). The job despool token follows the normal data stream of print jobs through the print controller to the rasterized job handling system. Responsive to receiving and processing the job despool token, the rasterized job handling system releases the print job from the rasterized job spool to a print queue.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and media are disclosed for testing the accuracy of a print verification system (PVS) in test mode, wherein a PVS is often used to validate the accuracy of printed output. One embodiment includes receiving, by an application, an output from a print verification system associated with the application, wherein the output comprises one or more defects. The embodiment also includes receiving, by the application, a list, such as a copy, of seeded defects for the output, wherein the list is uploaded to and saved by the application. In addition, the embodiment includes matching, by the application, the one or more seeded defects in the list that correspond to the one or more defects in the output. Finally, the embodiment includes displaying, by the application, results of the testing after the matching.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus for improved ease and flexibility in defining attribute values for jobs in a workflow processing system. The job attributes are presented to a user grouped or organized by their relationship to various elements of the workflow model used to process the job type. Further, default values for job attributes may be flexibly defined based on elements of the workflow model that utilize the job attribute and/or based on dynamic computations of functions involving the various job attributes and other parameters.

Abstract: Embodiments herein provide for color conversion in production printing systems. The color conversion system includes a processor operable to receive a print job and convert the print job into a full sheetside bitmap comprised of an array of color pixels. The full sheetside bitmap is destined for color conversion via an ink limitation algorithm. The color conversion system also includes an image identification module operable to identify a portion of the print job for a level of color accuracy and to designate that portion of the print job for color conversion via a color accuracy algorithm. The processor is operable to convert a color value of the identified portion of the print job using the color accuracy algorithm. The processor also converts color values of the remainder of the print job using the ink limitation algorithm.

Abstract: In summary, the present invention provides a method, apparatus and program product for calculating an estimate of the amount of toner coverage required for printing print data defined in a compressed data stream. The estimate is obtained with reduced processing by obtaining coverage data from a partially decompressed formed of the data stream and using this to obtain the coverage estimate, thus removing the need to do a full de-compression of the data stream. For example the coverage data is a count of toned pixels for at least one intensity level.

Abstract: In summary, the present invention provides a method, apparatus and program product for calculating an estimate of the amount of toner coverage required for printing print data defined in a compressed data stream. The estimate is obtained with reduced processing by obtaining coverage data from a partially decompressed formed of the data stream and using this to obtain the coverage estimate, thus removing the need to do a full de-compression of the data stream. For example the coverage data is a count of toned pixels for at least one intensity level.

Abstract: Methods and systems herein provide for color conversion. Such color conversion includes a method of optimizing gray component replacement in a color image that includes receiving a color image from an input imaging device (e.g., a digital camera, scanner, etc), determining a color gamut of an output imaging device, such as a printer, and generating a CIELab to CMY numerical model to convert the color image to a color space within the color gamut of the output imaging device. The method also includes generating a CMYK to CIELab numerical conversion model, removing a portion of CMY color values generated from the CIELab to CMY numerical conversion model, and replacing the removed portion of the CMY color values with black color values. The method also includes optimizing CMYK color values via a multidimensional optimization using the CMYK to CIELab numerical model.

Abstract: Methods and systems herein provide for printing a plurality of variations of a test image utilizing different values of a print quality parameter for print quality analysis of a printer. A print quality parameter is selected that modifies a print quality of the printer when printing a test image. A range of values for the print quality parameter is defined to utilize when printing the test image. A plurality of variations of the test image are printed based on the range of values defined for the print quality parameter, which allows for an analysis of the print quality of the printer by the user.

Abstract: Methods and systems herein provide for calibration of a production printing system that accommodates a plurality of different print paper types, including new paper types with no ICC profiles or optical density curves on file. One exemplary method includes printing test patches of primary colors on a first print medium, measuring colors of the test patches printed on the first print medium to determine an optical density of the first print medium, and comparing the optical density of the first print medium to a plurality of optical density curves to identify a comparable optical density curve of a different print medium. The comparable optical density curve is one of a plurality of optical density curves installed on the production printing system. The method further includes automatically selecting the comparable optical density curve to calibrate the production printing system to the different print medium for use in printing to the first print medium.

Abstract: Methods and systems herein provide for color conversion. Such color conversion may be performed via a color conversion system that includes a converter operable to receive image data and convert color values of the image data to a color space for printing. The system also includes a color identification module operable to identify color regions in the image data for color component limitation and approximate color values in the color regions. The color identification module incorporates color limitations during these approximations computes numerical models based on the approximations that are used by the converter to convert the image data to the color space.

Abstract: Methods and systems herein provide for color conversion in the real domain from an input color space to an output color space using a color conversion table that includes color values defined in the output color space corresponding to color values in the input color space, a table of scaling factors, and a conversion engine operable to group the real domain image data into blocks of pixels. The conversion engine, for each block of pixels, converts a color value in the block of pixels from the input color space to the output color space according to the color conversion table, computes differences between the color value and color values of pixels in the block, scales the computed differences according to the table of scaling factors, and adds the scaled differences to the converted color values to convert the pixel color values to the output color space.

Abstract: Improved printing architectures and associated methods are disclosed for printing enclosures in substantially real-time for insertion with a document in a mail piece. The printing architecture allows for virtual enclosure bins in place of or in addition to actual enclosure bins. When a virtual enclosure bin is referenced in a document print job, an enclosure image is identified for the virtual enclosure bin and is printed in substantially real-time to generate an enclosure. The enclosure for the virtual enclosure bin may then be inserted with the document in the mail piece.

Abstract: Methods and systems herein provide for color conversion of image data to another color space, such as that of a printer. Such color conversion includes linearly processing the color conversions when using radial basis functions for the conversions. One color conversion system herein includes a modeling module operable to generate a numerical model according to a radial basis function for converting the color values in the image data to the color space. The numerical model includes error approximations operable to form the radial basis function into a linear process. The system also includes a color converter operable to convert the color values in the image data to the color space based on the numerical model.

Abstract: Methods and systems for coordinating sharing of resources among a plurality of tasks operating in parallel in a document presentation environment while host communications and task processing may be performed asynchronously with respect to one another. A mapped resource manager manages activation (addition) and deactivation (deletion) of resources shared by a plurality of tasks operating in parallel to assure that each task may continue processing with a consistent set of files as resources despite changes made by other tasks or by operator intervention.

Abstract: Methods and systems herein provide for calibrating for a plurality of different paper types. In one embodiment, a system for calibrating a printer includes a measurement module operable to detect colors printed on a first tangible medium by the printer and convert the detected colors to a detected color characterization. The system also includes a storage module operable to store a calibration file. The calibration file includes color characterizations of a plurality of different tangible mediums and each color characterization includes color measurements for one of the plurality of different tangible mediums obtained from the printer via the measurement module when the printer is calibrated. The system also includes a calibration module operable to compare the detected color characterization to at least two color characterizations of the calibration file and determine an adjustment to an output color scheme of the printer based on the comparison to calibrate the printer.

Abstract: Printing systems, print controllers, and associated methods of partitioning sheetside bitmaps are disclosed. A print controller in one embodiment connects to a plurality of printhead controllers that are operable to control a plurality of printhead arrays. The print controller includes an interpreter system operable to receive a print job, and to convert an image in the print job into a full sheetside bitmap comprised of an array of pixels. The print controller also includes a partitioning system operable to process the full sheetside bitmap to identify the pixels in the full sheetside bitmap designated for printing on each of the printhead arrays, and to generate a partitioned sheetside bitmap for each printhead array that contains essentially the pixels designated for printing on the printhead array. The print controller further includes an interface system operable to transmit the partitioned sheetside bitmaps to the printhead controllers associated with the printhead arrays.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus herein provide for automated calibration of multiple printheads used in a multi-pass printing system. Aspects hereof print a plurality of gray scale printed patterns each printed pattern corresponding to a gray scale value for each of the multiple printheads. The printed patterns are then measured to determine the intensity (e.g., optical density) of each of the printed patterns. A measurement function is derived from the measured intensity and gray scale levels used to print each pattern. Calibrated transfer functions are then determined from the measurement function and target function where each calibrated transfer function relates, for a corresponding printhead, an input gray scale level of a pixel in an image to be printed to a calibrated gray scale level to use for the corresponding printhead when operating in multi-pass mode.

Abstract: In summary, the present invention provides a method, apparatus and program product for calculating an estimate of the amount of toner coverage required for printing print data defined in a compressed data stream. The estimate is obtained with reduced processing by obtaining coverage data from a partially decompressed formed of the data stream and using this to obtain the coverage estimate, thus removing the need to do a full de-compression of the data stream. For example the coverage data is a count of toned pixels for at least one intensity level.