Abstract: Automated systems, methods and tools that automatically extract and select portions of an image to automatically generate a premium finish mask specific to the image which require little or no human intervention are presented. Graphical user interface tools allowing a user to provide an image and to indicate regions of the image for application of premium finish are also presented.

Abstract: Systems, methods and tools facilitate efficient and convenient e-commerce based group ordering. A group order organizer tool allows a group order organizer to create and configure a group order, specify group members, specify and configure information to be solicited from group members, and customize various details of the group order. The group order tool automatically generates member-specific group order notification documents containing member-specific input controls to allow individual group members to input solicited information. Group order notification and management tools send out the group order notification documents to the group members and manage the responses.

Abstract: Systems and methods for pre-aligning print head(s) to alignment adapter(s) to increase print resolution of printed matter, and to reduce offline time of a printing system due to print head alignment, include the use of an alignment adapter to which a print head is pre-aligned and which includes precision alignment features which precisely engage cooperating precision alignment features on the print head carriage mounting plate of the print head carriage. Print head(s) can be pre-aligned and fine-tuned to alignment adapter(s) even while the printing system is still in print production. Pre-aligned print head/alignment adapter assemblies can then be quickly mounted on the print head carriage using the cooperating precision alignment features of the adapter and print head carriage mounting plate. Duplicate sets of print head mounting sockets can include print heads aligned at different relative offsets (e.g., half a pixel) to increase the print resolution.

Abstract: Systems and methods for pre-aligning print head(s) to alignment adapter(s) to increase print resolution of printed matter, and to reduce offline time of a printing system due to print head alignment, include the use of an alignment adapter to which a print head is pre-aligned and which includes precision alignment features which precisely engage cooperating precision alignment features on the print head carriage mounting plate of the print head carriage. Print head(s) can be pre-aligned and fine-tuned to alignment adapter(s) even while the printing system is still in print production. Pre-aligned print head/alignment adapter assemblies can then be quickly mounted on the print head carriage using the cooperating precision alignment features of the adapter and print head carriage mounting plate. Duplicate sets of print head mounting sockets can include print heads aligned at different relative offsets (e.g., half a pixel) to increase the print resolution.

Abstract: Systems and methods for pre-aligning print head(s) to alignment adapter(s) to increase print resolution of printed matter, and to reduce offline time of a printing system due to print head alignment, include the use of an alignment adapter to which a print head is pre-aligned and which includes precision alignment features which precisely engage cooperating precision alignment features on the print head carriage mounting plate of the print head carriage. Print head(s) can be pre-aligned and fine-tuned to alignment adapter(s) even while the printing system is still in print production. Pre-aligned print head/alignment adapter assemblies can then be quickly mounted on the print head carriage using the cooperating precision alignment features of the adapter and print head carriage mounting plate. Duplicate sets of print head mounting sockets can include print heads aligned at different relative offsets (e.g., half a pixel) to increase the print resolution.

Abstract: Systems and methods for pre-aligning print head(s) to alignment adapter(s) to increase print resolution of printed matter, and to reduce offline time of a printing system due to print head alignment, include the use of an alignment adapter to which a print head is pre-aligned and which includes precision alignment features which precisely engage cooperating precision alignment features on the print head carriage mounting plate of the print head carriage. Print head(s) can be pre-aligned and fine-tuned to alignment adapter(s) even while the printing system is still in print production. Pre-aligned print head/alignment adapter assemblies can then be quickly mounted on the print head carriage using the cooperating precision alignment features of the adapter and print head carriage mounting plate. Duplicate sets of print head mounting sockets can include print heads aligned at different relative offsets (e.g., half a pixel) to increase the print resolution.

Abstract: Integrated printed product design, production, and mailing services systems, methods and user interfaces which allow businesses and consumers to quickly design a product for a mailing campaign, provide/select/purchase a mailing list, and simply order an integrated mailing services product which includes the production, addressing, application of postage, and mailing of the printed advertisement product to the set of desired recipients.

Abstract: Methods and systems for processing images for insertion into a selected image container of a document template include processing the received image to determine whether the received image contains any printer control marks and providing an indication if the received image contains one or more printer control marks.

Abstract: Design images are inserted into scene rendered animations to depict and preview a design at different lighting angles. In an embodiment, the scene rendered animations use real images (i.e., photographs) of real finishes (such as foil, spot gloss, vinyl, etc.) that will be used in the secondary finish regions of a physical product incorporating the design. The animation facilitates an accurate rendering and depicts a natural appearance of the product as light moves across the product in an animated sequence. Because the appearance of the secondary finish is both natural and accurate, the simulated depiction of the product provides a more realistic expectation of how the final product with the design implemented thereon will look, thereby improving the matching of user expectations with the realities of the physical product.

Abstract: Computer-implemented electronic document design systems and methods allowing a user to integrate user-specific location maps into custom printed products. During the creation of an electronic design of a product intended for subsequent printing, user-provided location information is received by a server computer and used to generate a user map suitable for high quality printing. Lower resolution display and thumbnail versions of the map suitable for displaying to the user of the client system are generated.

Abstract: While a user is viewing in a first display area a portion of an electronic document intended to be printed to produce a printed product, presenting to the user in a second display area a representation of the physical outline of the printed product and an indicator that indicates to the user the size and location of the electronic document portion relative to the printed product. When the user positions a cursor in the second display area, a second indicator image, visually distinctive from the first indicator image, is displayed. The user can position the second indicator at a desired location relative to the representation and request that the portion of the electronic document at that second indicator location be displayed in the first display area.

Abstract: Methods and systems for tracking product groups associated with orders through an automated packaging system are presented.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for automatically generating embroidery designs. A described method includes segmenting image data into a plurality of objects including a first object, recursively generating fragments from the first object to generate an order in which the fragments are to be sewn, the order to reduce thread cuts or increase path connectivity between the fragments, and generating an image output file representative of an embroidery design based on the fragments and the order.

Abstract: Computer-implemented systems and methods for automatically creating a second customized product design incorporating information from a first customized product design. Information from a first custom product design is automatically combined with additional automatically selected content to create a new custom product to be promoted to the customer. When possible, information known about the customer, such as the customer's geographic location or business interests, is used to select the additional content for incorporation into the design.

Abstract: Methods and computer programs for automatically creating a text layout in a markup language design for a product to be printed. A number of defined text elements are available for user text. The layout is based on the text elements having user text content. Text elements without text content are disregarded. Positioning of the text elements is determined based on the height of the text elements, defined text element spacing distances, and a defined positioning order. Creating a layout may include positioning design elements relative to the text elements. Font sizes and spacing distances are automatically reduced if necessary to create a suitable layout.

Abstract: Pallets for flat-printing multiple areas of a 3-dimensional object, especially in a single print job as received by the printing system, and methods for printing the same.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus for embroidery thread color management are disclosed. An example method comprises determining a first number of thread colors to be used by first designs assigned to a first embroidery machine, determining a second number of thread colors to be used by second designs assigned to a second embroidery machine, determining a difference between a first production time for the first embroidery machine and a second production time for the second embroidery machine, identifying which one of the first designs would increase the second number of thread colors by the smallest number when that one of the first designs is added to the second designs, and moving the identified one of the first designs to the second designs.

Abstract: An original design image is processed to create a modified design image for blending with an image of a product to create a combined image representing the result of printing the design image onto the product. To create a modified design image, both the alpha value and color of pixels in the original design image are modified. The modified alpha value and the modified color of a pixel are determined as a function of the amount of gray in the original color of the pixel. The modified pixel color is calculated by subtracting the level of gray in the original pixel color from each of the three original component color values and increasing any remaining color component values as a function of the modified alpha value of the pixel.

Abstract: Techniques for generated variable density mono-color under-print layer(s) for printing underneath an image on a substrate to improve the appearance of the printed image.

Abstract: A method for producing a printed product with raised print includes receiving a prepress format document containing a plurality of flat ink color separations and at least one raised print color separation, printing onto a substrate the flat ink color separations using flat ink and the at least one raised print color separation using dimensional ink, allowing the flat and dimensional ink to dry, heating the inked substrate to a temperature that causes the applied dimensional ink to become sticky, applying thermographic powder to the heated inked substrate such that the thermographic powder sticks to the sticky dimensional ink, removing the thermographic powder from regions of the substrate where the dimensional ink is not applied, reheating the sheet to melt the thermographic powder, and cooling the sheet to result in a print product having both flat and raised printed content.