Abstract: A method of creating an authenticatable sheet of material, includes measuring at least one physical property of the sheet of material; marking an edge of the sheet of material with indicia arranged to form a unique code identifying the sheet of material, wherein the sheet of material includes a first surface, a second surface disposed opposite the first surface and an edge extending between the first surface and the second surface and peripherally about the sheet of material; and recording the measured physical property in a measure database indexed by the edge code. To verify the validity of a sheet of material, the edge code is read, the same physical property is measured and the measured value is compared with the previously stored value extracted from the measure database. If the two are substantially equal, the sheet of material is authentic.

Abstract: A method for creating a composite work of fine art, that is the combination of two works of fine art. Generally, the first work of fine art will provide the setting and will include a figure (e.g., a person,, an animal, or an inanimate object) to correspond to all or a portion of a figure in the second work. After the first and second works are created as works of fine art, typically hand-created paintings, they are digitized and imported into image editing software. There, the works are conformed and the second image is pasted into the first. The final product is then printed as a work of fine art; as a lithograph, print, or as having the appearance of a hand-created painting.

Abstract: In a color management method for a printing press, colorimetic values of a first patch for generating a profile printed by the printing press are measured, so that a printing press profile representing a color reproduction characteristic of the printing press is generated from the measured colorimetic values of the first patch and a dot area percent of each ink color predetermined in correspondence with the first patch. Colorimetic values of a second patch for determining stability of the printing press printed by the printing press are measured. The measured colorimetic values of the second patch is compared with colorimetic values, in the printing press profile, having a dot area percent substantially equal to a dot area percent of each ink color predetermined in correspondence with the second patch. A warning is generated on the basis of a comparison result. A color management apparatus for a printing press is also disclosed.

Abstract: Image data is converted into dot density data representing dot creation densities of variable size dots. The procedure converts the image data into data representing the sum of dot creation densities of a small size dot and a large size dot as the dot density data of the small size dot. The procedure also converts the image data into data representing the sum of dot creation densities of a medium size dot and the large size dot as the dot density data of the medium size dot. The procedure respectively specifies the on-off state of the small size dot and the on-off state of the medium size dot, based on the dot density data of the small size dot and the dot density data of the medium size dot. In the case where both the small size dot and the medium size dot are in the on state in an identical pixel, the procedure specifies creation of the large size dot, in place of the medium size dot and the small size dot.

Abstract: To provide a synchronous control apparatus in a rotary press having a plurality of multicolor printing units to print the synchronous control apparatus including a printing image allocation setting section for allocating printing images which printing couples are to print, a drive unit for driving the printing couples, an inking transmission unit, a first moving unit for moving blanket cylinders of two sets of printing couples, a second moving unit for making it possible to supply ink, slave control sections for controlling rotation of the drive unit, a transmission unit related to the printing couples and inking devices, operation control sections for controlling operations of the first moving unit and second moving unit according to output signals of the slave control sections, and a master control section connected to the printing image allocation setting section and each of the slave control sections via a network.

Abstract: In a print position setting method, a sequence of the following operations of printing a toner mark 4 by the obverse side printer, of detecting the toner mark 4 by a mark sensor 9, and feeding a printing sheet a distance ranging from a toner mark detecting position 12 to a page leading edge position 6 when the printing operation starts, is automated.

Abstract: A sensor for detecting movement of a sheet of media including a light emitting element and a light sensing element for detecting at least part of the light emitted from the light emitting element and reflected by the sheet, the light sensing element providing an output. The sensor further includes a processor receiving the output of the light sensing element and detecting movement of the sheet based upon the output.

Abstract: A method for detecting faults during transport of a web in a web-fed printing machine, wherein web speed is determined by contact-free measurement, in accordance with the Doppler principle, includes the steps of: by applying microwaves, determining a first local speed of the web at a first measurement position; by applying microwaves, determining at least a second local speed of the web at a second measurement position spaced apart from the first measurement position in a direction of web transport; determining an actual value from the first local speed and at least the second local speed; determining any deviation of the actual value from a predefined desired value; and comparing the deviation of the actual value from the predefined desired value with a predefined threshold; a detecting device for performing the method; and a printing machine including the detecting device.

Abstract: A printing press may be provided with a first rotatable printing roller that prints ink of a first color on a web of material and causes a first pair of registration marks to be periodically printed in the first color on the web, a second rotatable printing roller that prints ink of a second color on the web of material and causes a second pair of registration marks to be periodically printed in the second color on the web, a third rotatable printing roller that prints ink of a third color on the web of material and causes a third pair of registration marks to be periodically printed in the third color on the web, an imaging device positioned to detect the registration marks printed on the web that generates image data representing the registration marks, and a controller operatively coupled to the printing rollers and the imaging device.

Abstract: A method of producing screen data for imaging units of a printing machine includes the steps of breaking down raw image data into a plurality of partial images, respectively, corresponding to one printing ink; outputting the partial images to a plurality of screen processors, respectively, corresponding to the number of colors to the printed; and processing the partial images simultaneously for forming screen data by the screen processors for output to a respective one of the imaging units; and a system for performing the method.

Abstract: A print signal generation system for generating print bit map data corresponding to a desired image where the print bit map data is utilized by a digital printing device to print the desired image. The system includes region parameter data, a first data generation system and a second data generation system in operative communication with the first data generation system. The region parameter data includes region data defining a partitioning of the desired image into a plurality of regions and expansion data. The first data generation system generates transaction data associated with the desired image and using the transaction data in combination with the region parameter data to generate print instruction data. The second data generation system receives the print instruction data from the first data generation system and expands the print instruction data based upon the region parameter data to generate the print bit map data.

Abstract: There are provided a printing method and apparatus as well as provide a label-producing method and apparatus that are capable of adding an amusing effect and topicality resulting therefrom to printing personally performed by a user. A predetermined print instruction is issued to print a desired image entered intentionally, on a printing medium. When the predetermined print instruction is issued, the desired image is printed, and if a predetermined condition which cannot be intentionally set by an instruction of a user is satisfied at the same time, an unintended image which cannot be generated intentionally is also printed together with the desired image.

Abstract: A portable, on-line barcode printer has a very small number of variable function keys, each of which is actuable to perform a large number of non-data entry functions for monitoring various components, performing diagnostic testing and setting up the operation of the printer. A display is positioned in association with the function keys and provides both a message section for displaying a text or pictorial message in association with a current mode of operation and an icon section for displaying an icon in association with each of the function keys wherein each icon symbolizes a non-data entry function selectable by actuation of the associated key in the current mode. A controller enables one or more of the function keys in each of a plurality of modes in the printer and controls the message and icon set depicted in each mode so as to change the function of each of the variable function keys.

Abstract: A print controller which produces a device specific raster for its printer and also produces a rasterized output in portable and more editable form for export and re-use as an input by other printers which may have different parameters. If the input is in a device independent color space, the rasterized export also will be in a version in a device independent color space, typically CIELAB. If the input is in a printable device dependent color space such as CYMK, the output will be an more editable rasterized version in the same color space, with any printing hints that were in the original will be included in the output. In any case, an override can be provided to change the default selection to any other user-identified version. An example of a device independent color space is CIELAB, of a device dependent version applicable for a number of printers with similar parameters is SWOP CMYK, and of a device dependent version is a printer specific CMYK.

Abstract: A method of creating an authenticatable sheet of material, includes measuring at least one physical property of the sheet of material; marking an edge of the sheet of material with indicia arranged to form a unique code identifying the sheet of material, wherein the sheet of material includes a first surface, a second surface disposed opposite the first surface and an edge extending between the first surface and the second surface and peripherally about the sheet of material; and recording the measured physical property in a measure database indexed by the edge code. To verify the validity of a sheet of material, the edge code is read, the same physical property is measured and the measured value is compared with the previously stored value extracted from the measure database. If the two are substantially equal, the sheet of material is authentic.

Abstract: Computer controller mixing of customer-selected colorants, including inks, for printing machines includes an ink supply station with a color matching control computer program, an ink mixing station, cleaning and waste disposal stations, for automatically emptying and cleaning ink mixing station components, which are integrally connected to a print engine, and scheduling of colorant changes to maximize use of a particular colorant and minimize colorant changes.

Abstract: The present invention is intended to automatically adjust cutting and printing registers based on the detection of predetermined marks for different colors in a rotary press using a paper web, thereby eliminating the need for skill of an operator and reducing time for adjusting cutting registers. A driving reference setting section, a feedback signal output section, a mark detecting section and a register correction value output section are provided and a control section for controlling the driving section of the printing mechanism effects control so that the driving reference phase is synchronized with the feedback phase of the a plate cylinder driven by each driving means.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing mailing-ready printed products, that consist of at least one sheet printed on at least one side and mailed in a closed state, printing data, originating from a client, are transmitted through a network to a printing facility. The transmitted printing data are printed onto the at least one sheet. A mailing-ready printed product is produced from the at least one printed sheet. The envelope for the mailing-ready printed product is produced from at least one printed sheet folded so as to form an envelope without producing waste portions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of detecting a rear edge of a recording medium using a passage detection lever for swinging in association with a passage of the rear edge of the recording medium, and a detection sensor for detecting swinging movement of the passage detection lever. The present invention comprises the steps of detecting a conveying quantity of the recording medium at a prescribed interval recording a past data of the conveying quantity and determining a position of the rear edge of the recording medium based on the recorded past data with consideration of a physical returning time starting from a point of time when the rear edge of the recording medium passes the passage detection lever and causes the swinging of the passage detection lever to a point of time when the detection sensor detects the swinging movement.

Abstract: A document printer is provided comprising a printer housing, a user interface and an internal printer controller positioned within the printer housing. The internal printer controller is programmed to designate a document format according to a format command entered at the user interface. A data stream input port is in communication with the internal printer controller and is operative to receive a data stream. A document construction module is in communication with the internal printer controller. The document construction module enables the internal printer controller to (i) extract predetermined data fields from the data stream according to the designated document format and (ii) convert the extracted data fields to document data. A document data printing mechanism is responsive to the internal printer controller and is operative to print the document data in the designated document format.