Abstract: In an example, there is provided a method including: receiving, at a processor, data specifying the shape of a blank to form a folded article; and determining, using the processor, based on the received data, a suction array layout to hold the blank against a media support, wherein the suction array layout conforms to the shape of the blank.

Abstract: According to one example of the present invention there is provided a method of printing, with a printer, an image on a substrate, the printer comprising a substrate support. The method comprises obtaining an image to be printed, determining an offset position of a substrate positioned on the substrate support relative to a predetermined reference printing position, and controlling the printer to print the image to be printed at the determined offset position.

Abstract: According to one example, there is provided a method of processing an image. The method comprises obtaining image data representing an image to be printed, determining, from the image data, pixel locations on a substrate where ink is intended to be deposited and pixel locations where no ink is intended to be deposited, and modifying the image data to define varnish to be deposited at at least some of those substrate pixel locations determined as where no ink is intended to be deposited.

Abstract: In an example, there is provided a method including: receiving, at a processor, data specifying the shape of a blank to form a folded article; and determining, using the processor, based on the received data, a suction array layout to hold the blank against a media support, wherein the suction array layout conforms to the shape of the blank.

Abstract: According to one example of the present invention there is provided a method of printing, with a printer, an image on a substrate, the printer comprising a substrate support. The method comprises obtaining an image to be printed, determining an offset position of a substrate positioned on the substrate support relative to a predetermined reference printing position, and controlling the printer to print the image to be printed at the determined offset position.

Abstract: According to one example of the present invention there is provided a method of printing, with a printer, an image on a substrate, the printer comprising a substrate support. The method comprises obtaining an image to be printed, determining an offset position of a substrate positioned on the substrate support relative to a predetermined reference printing position, and controlling the printer to print the image to be printed at the determined offset position.

Abstract: A device, method and system for receiving and submitting a substrate, the device including an XY table, the XY table having one or a plurality of sides for accepting a substrate, a set of manipulators coupled to the XY table, the manipulators configured to accept and register the substrate from the one or plurality of sides of the XY table, and a set of retractable dividers on the XY table configurable to register one or a plurality of substrates concurrently.

Abstract: According to one example, there is provided a method of processing an image. The method comprises obtaining image data representing an image to be printed, determining, from the image data, pixel locations on a substrate where ink is intended to be deposited and pixel locations where no ink is intended to be deposited, and modifying the image data to define varnish to be deposited at at least some of those substrate pixel locations determined as where no ink is intended to be deposited.

Abstract: A device, method and system for receiving and submitting a substrate, the device including an XY table, the XY table having one or a plurality of sides for accepting a substrate, a set of manipulators coupled to the XY table, the manipulators configured to accept and register the substrate from the one or plurality of sides of the XY table, and a set of retractable dividers on the XY table configurable to register one or a plurality of substrates concurrently.

Abstract: According to one example of the present invention there is provided a method of printing, with a printer, an image on a substrate, the printer comprising a substrate support. The method comprises obtaining an image to be printed, determining an offset position of a substrate positioned on the substrate support relative to a predetermined reference printing position, and controlling the printer to print the image to be printed at the determined offset position.

Abstract: The efficiency of an acousto-optic modulator or deflector is increased by re-using the undiffracted beam, causing the same light beam to travel multiple times through the modulator. In order to maintain the bandwidth of the modulator, the multiple passes are made co-axial. A polarizing beam combiner and a waveplate are used to transmit the incoming beam but reflect the beam on the second pass. The gain in the efficiency of the modulator is particularly large for low efficiency modulators.

Abstract: A high resolution two-directional optical scanner, comprising a source of very high frequency light pulses, a first acousto-optic cell for diffracting the light pulses towards an image plane so as to form on a predetermined area thereof a line of pixels corresponding to the data, and a second acousto-optic cell intermediate the first acousto-optic cell and the image plane for intercepting the light pulses diffracted by the first acousto-optic cell and diffracting them towards the image plane in a second direction perpendicular to the line of pixels at an angle dependent on a scanning signal fed to the second acousto-optic cell. The invention is particularly suited for use with flat bed plotters and reduces the need to transport the plotter bed mechanically in order to achieve scanning normal to the direction of each complete scan line.

Abstract: An optical system for focusing a light beam on to an image plane particularly suited for compensating for manufacturing tolerances associated with laser diodes having variable divergence and astigmatism characteristics. The system comprises a collimation lens for collimating the light beam so as to produce a collimated beam in a first plane and an optical shaper having an axis perpendicular to the first plane for correcting distortions associated with the collimated beam and spatially displaced from the collimation lens so as to form the collimated beam on to the image plane. Preferably, the optical shaper includes a pair of cylindrical lenses separated from each other a predetermined distance so as to minimize astigmatism and divergence of the beam.