Abstract: A customized envelope security tint design is generated based on user-supplied information. When ordering envelopes online, a user is provided with the option of entering characters for use as a custom security tint. A preview image of a custom tint design is displayed to the user for review. The user can place an order for production of envelopes having the custom design printed as the envelope security tint.

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: Shiny or reflective portions of a product surface, such as areas covered by foil, are represented to a user viewing a product image by a looped animation that simulates the visual effect of light on those reflective portions. The animation comprises a sequence of images generated by applying a gradient function to an image of the areas corresponding to the reflective portions of the product. To generate the individual images for use in the animation, the gradient function is applied at different offset positions relative to the product image.

Abstract: Method for producing multiple small custom envelope jobs using a sheet fed envelope machine. Multiple different envelope jobs are provided as stacks of sheets of envelope stock to a high volume envelope machine for processing into folded envelopes. Each envelope job stack includes a first sheet that, when processed by the machine, yields an envelope with visually distinctive edges. At the output of the envelope machine, the group of envelopes in an envelope job is indicated by the distinctive envelopes formed from first sheets.

Abstract: Automated electronic document design systems and method for designing and modifying product templates. When a user initiates a product design session, a product template is presented for user editing and a product description identifier is assigned to the product being designed. Document templates are assembled from individual composite elements. The individual identifiers of the component elements that make up the template being viewed by the user are associated with the description identifier. Tools are provided to allow a user to change one or more of the composite elements of the template. When a user changes an element, the identifier of the newly selected element is associated with the description identifier. Component elements of one template can be individually used, as appropriate, to prepare customized templates for another part of the same document or for different documents.

Abstract: System and method for automated scheduling and creation of gangs of individual jobs for production. Individual jobs and related production parameters and order information are retained electronically in a database of pending jobs awaiting production. Based on production capacity at the production facility and the production parameters of the individual pending jobs in the database, a plurality of gang shells having defined production parameters, but not having specific individual jobs associated therewith, are defined and used for scheduling equipment and personnel at the production facility during a work shift or other desired period of time. The specific individual jobs for a gang are selected from the database relatively shortly prior to the gang's scheduled production time.

Abstract: In a method and system for facilitating evaluation of the production accuracy of an envelope machine for producing folded envelopes from sheets of envelope stock, a guide of the same size as the envelope stock has indicia printed thereon corresponding to the locations of desired envelope folding operations. By processing a guide with the machine to form an envelope, the deviation of the actual folding location from the desired folding location can be evaluated by reference to the indicia and corrective machine adjustments can be made. Additional indicia printed on the guide facilitate further evaluation, such as accurate cutting of the envelope stock.

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: A system and method renders an image on a server and displays it on a client. A server sends to a client a web page that includes a design document encoding graphic elements that characterize a design image. The client receives edits to the graphic elements, and sends the design document back to the server. The server then uses the design document to render an image, and sends to the client the rendered image for display in the web page. The web page may contain an IFRAME markup tag to define an area in which to display the rendered image. The server may use a database to store the rendered image and use it in completing a customer order.

Abstract: Methods and computer programs for automatically creating a text layout in an electronic design for a product to be printed. A number of defined text elements are available for user text entries. The product layout is based a user-selected image, if any, and on the text elements having user-supplied text content. Text elements without text content are disregarded. Positioning of user text entries is determined based on the size of the text entries, defined text element spacing distances, and defined positioning rules. Creating a layout incorporating user-supplied text entries and/or image may include cropping or resizing of other design elements in the product design and wrapping of relatively long text entries onto multiple lines.

Abstract: Methods for creating a customized document using downloadable product design tools executing in the user's browser. A template for a partially completed product design is selected byte user and downloaded to the user's computer for editing by the user at the user's computer using the downloaded design tools. While viewing the product design template, the user can enter text or other content into the template and modify template elements. The completed product design can be uploaded to the server for production of the corresponding printed product.

Abstract: Automated electronic document design systems and methods for appropriately sizing and positioning uploaded user images into predefined image areas in a product design being created in a Web environment. For an image that is not to be cropped when incorporated into the design, the image is sized to fit within the selected image area and positioned in the image area according to a predefined anchor location. The aspect ratio of the original image is maintained. For an image that is available for cropping when incorporated into the design, the image is sized and cropped to create a version of the image that fills the image container.

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: A number of geographically dispersed automated product design systems and support systems are connected to a network. A user of a design system requesting assistance in using the design system is connected to an operator of one of the support systems. A display and control connection is established between the user system and the support system such that the operator of the support system can monitor and control the user system. A discussion connection is established between the user of the user system and the operator of the support system such that the user can submit inquiries to and receive responses from the operator while the operator is viewing the information being displayed to the user at the user system.

Abstract: Method, system and computer code for editing text in a document displayed in a World Wide Web browser. User edit requests intended to modify a font parameter of one or more characters within a text box are replaced by a predefined substitute edit request prior to updating of the document DOM. The DOM is then accessed and modified appropriately to remove the DOM components related to the substitute edit and insert the appropriate components to achieve the requested edit.

Abstract: Automated electronic document design systems and methods for combining identified images and layouts into electronic product templates for displaying to a user. A plurality of images and a plurality of layouts are retained. Stored images are identified based on keyword input by the user. Stored layouts contain one or more image containers and are identified based on product type and number of layout images input by the user. Images and layout image containers are designed to use pre-determined standard sizes to facilitate modularity and the ready combination of images and layouts.

Abstract: Electronic document design methods and computer programs allowing a user to separately control and modify layout and the design components of an electronic document. A number of possible document layouts and possible document designs are stored. A document is based on the combination of one of the stored layouts and one of the stored designs. While the user is viewing the electronic document, controls are available to the user allowing the user to view and select among alternate layouts and designs for that document. Color schemes and font schemes for the document may also be separated controlled.

Abstract: Computer-implemented methods for assembling multiple individual print jobs into an aggregate print job for printing in a print run quantity. Individual print jobs and a print quantity indicating the number of copies of the individual print job to be primed are stored. Individual print jobs are retrieved and assigned to one or more individual print job positions in an aggregate print job layout based on the number of copies of the individual print job to be printed. A retrieved individual print job having an associated print quantity that equals the print run quantity of the aggregate print job is assigned to a single position in the aggregate print job layout. A retrieved individual print job having an associated print quantity that is a multiple of the print run quantity is assigned to that multiple number of positions in the aggregate print job layout.

Abstract: Method, system, and computer code for preparing markup language documents containing multi-line text elements for WYSIWYG printing. The document is rendered in a prepress server system by a duplicate of the browser that was used to prepare the document in the client system. User-imposed line breaks are identified by reviewing text elements for break characters. Browser-imposed line breaks are identified by comparing spatial location information from the browser for each sequential pair of characters in a text element. The collective line break information is used to ensure that the line breaks viewed by the user are maintained when the document is converted to a prepress system.

Abstract: Systems and methods for facilitating a WYSIWYG relationship between character strings when rendered on a relatively low resolution device, such as a computer monitor, and the same character strings when rendered on a relatively high resolution device, such as a laser printer or commercial offset printing press, involve determining the difference in the widths of each character string when rendered in both the low resolution format and the high resolution format and inserting or deleting space as required between the individual characters in the character string such that the widths of the low resolution and high resolution strings are substantially equalized.