Abstract: In a system and method for facilitating recovery from an interrupted print job, marking sets are inserted into the print job to determine where such interruption occurred. The marking sets identify a location within the print job, and by providing such marking sets to a reading device, a print job control system communicatively connected thereto is able to determine which portion or portions of the print job failed to complete. Thereafter, the print job control system initiates reprinting of the portion or portions of the print job that were interrupted.

Abstract: The invention is an improved method of generating setup instructions for use with a printing system having connected thereto one or more finishing devices. The inventions involves printing a sheet of setup instructions which the operator carries to the finishing device to be setup, so that the operator may refer to the printed instructions while setting up the finishing device. The printed sheet allows more extensive, clear instructions to be communicated to the operator than is possible on the printer user interface. The method also involves automatically placing one or more print jobs on hold during setup, until the operator has finished setting up the system and released the job.

Abstract: An improved interface for use with a digital printer is presented. The interface utilizes information held by the raster imaging processor to allow an operator quick access to information about the print features of a print job and the ability to easily and quickly alter those print feature if necessary.

Abstract: The invention is an improved method of automatically laying out a print job to be printed on a printer having a multiplicity of available media sizes. The method utilizes the ability of the printer to print full-bleed on at least some of the four edges of the paper media, and includes automatically performing the calculations to determine the appropriate shift in the location of the print area on the paper media, as well as determining whether the print area must be rotated to obtain the best fit to the media, thereby minimizing the amount of post-printing trimming required. The invention is useful in simplex and duplex printing.

Abstract: A printing system comprises at least two input sources for storing a printable medium prior to printing. The printing system also includes at least two output destinations for holding or processing the printable medium after the printing. A user interface supports a user's selection of one of the output destinations for any sheet of a print job in at least one of the input sources prior to the printing. A central processing unit determines a pattern of media feeds for each output set to achieve a desired appearance characteristic for the output set or the print job associated with the output destinations. The central data processing unit creates media feed instructions based on the pattern of media feeds.

Abstract: A method is provided for substantially matching a first output produced by a first marking device with a second output produced by a second marking device. A first set of sample tone levels is produced using the first marking device. A second set of sample tone levels is then produced using the second marking device. The first and second sets of sample tone levels are then compared and one or more calibration set points are determined. A custom tone transfer function associated with the first marking device is generated in accordance with the calibration set points. The first output is then produced from the first marking device using the custom tone transfer function.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are economical methods and apparatuses for controlling a printer based on whether there are toner stations designated as “special toner stations.” Specifically, a printer running a print job is controlled based on whether a hold jobs mode is enabled only for the special toner stations. If the hold mode procedure is not enabled, printing is then allowed. If the hold jobs mode is enabled only for special toner stations, the identity of the installed toner is determined. Additionally, if the hold mode procedure is enabled, the print job is subjected to additional procedures before being allowed to print. These additional procedures may include determining if any predefined attributes exist for the job ticket and automatically applying these attributes, placing the print job into a “hold status,” permitting manual changes to be made to the print ticket, and forwarding notification of the print job upon its completion.

Abstract: Systems and processes to simplify and streamline the printing of documents containing both black and white and color pages. The invention uses a raster imaging processor to manage the organization and execution of the print job. In addition, the invention generates an operator instruction sheet to ensure proper completion of the print job.

Abstract: Methods and systems for generating a proof set of a digital print job and delaying the completion of the print job until the proof set is approved are presented. The invention further includes generation of a proof set that includes print feature information on a page basis printed on the proof set in a watermark font.

Abstract: A printer may detect a mismatch between print job attributes and available printer resources. The printer may then determine one or more options to correct the mismatch and may display these options on a user interface screen. The printer may then receive a selection of one of the options, for example from a printer operator. Based on the selection, the printer may take an action to resolve the mismatch.

Abstract: A printer may detect a mismatch between print job attributes and available printer resources. The printer may then determine one or more options to correct the mismatch and may display these options on a user interface screen. The printer may then receive a selection of one of the options, for example from a printer operator. Based on the selection, the printer may take an action to resolve the mismatch.

Abstract: A method is provided for substantially matching a first output produced by a first marking device with a second output produced by a second marking device. A first set of sample tone levels is produced using the first marking device. A second set of sample tone levels is then produced using the second marking device. The first and second sets of sample tone levels are then compared and one or more calibration set points are determined. A custom tone transfer function associated with the first marking device is generated in accordance with the calibration set points. The first output is then produced from the first marking device using the custom tone transfer function.

Abstract: Methods and systems for generating an electronic proof set of a digital print job and delaying the completion of the print job until the proof set is approved are presented. The invention further includes generation of an electronic proof set that is transmitted for approval via email.

Abstract: An improved interface for use with a digital printer is presented. The interface utilizes information held by the raster imaging processor to allow an operator quick access to information about the print features of a print job and the ability to easily and quickly alter those print feature if necessary.

Abstract: Methods and systems for generating a proof set of a digital print job and delaying the completion of the print job until the proof set is approved are presented. The invention further includes generation of a proof set that includes print feature information on a page basis printed on the proof set in a watermark font.

Abstract: Systems and processes to simplify and streamline the printing of documents containing both black and white and color pages. The invention uses a raster imaging processor to manage the organization and execution of the print job. In addition, the invention generates an operator instruction sheet to ensure proper completion of the print job.

Abstract: A printing system comprises at least two input sources for storing a printable medium prior to printing. The printing system also includes at least two output destinations for holding or processing the printable medium after the printing. A user interface supports a user's selection of one of the output destinations for any sheet of a print job in at least one of the input sources prior to the printing. A central processing unit determines a pattern of media feeds for each output set to achieve a desired appearance characteristic for the output set or the print job associated with the output destinations. The central data processing unit creates media feed instructions based on the pattern of media feeds.

Abstract: A multicolor printing method employing a color printer capable of printing non-overlapping red, green, blue and black colorants, includes the steps of: providing a digital color image having n-bit/color pixels; dividing the digital image into a plurality of pixel blocks; identifying pure red, green, blue, black and white pixels in each block and assigning such pixels to be printed with the corresponding colorant or white (no colorant); calculating percent red, green, blue, black and white for remaining pixels in each block; using the calculated percentages, assigning remaining pixels in each block to be printed with pure colorant or white according to a predetermined filling procedure; and printing the image using the assigned colorants.

Abstract: A multi color printing method employing a color printer capable of non-overlapping color printing using M colorants, where M is greater than two, includes the steps of: providing a digital color image having multi-bit color pixels; separating the digital color image into three multi-bit color primary components; converting each multi-bit component into a 1-bit component using a digital halftoning technique; assigning a single printer colorant to each output image pixel based on the 1-bit color components. The printer colorants are assigned by: dividing the image into n-tuples, each pixel in an n-tuple having a unique designation N; assigning N-member combinations of N-1 printer colorants and no colorant that appear as combinations of 1-bit color components; and setting an output to the Nth member of an N-member combination based on the corresponding combination of 1-bit color components. The image is then printed using the assigned colorants.

Abstract: An electrostatographic reproduction apparatus includes a digitizing tablet for designating an area to receive an annotation on reproductions of a document sheet original. An annotation stored electronically in the apparatus is printed using an electronic writer and the size of the annotation printed on a copy sheet is scaled approximately to the designated area.