Abstract: To generate a proof of a printable item, a data structure is provided that maps a set of spot colors into a respective set of color values based on measurement data provided by a measurement device of colors printed by a printing system from the spot colors.

Abstract: Methods and arrangements are provided for generating, rendering and/or printing documents from a variable-data printing document template which defines multiple document versions, each document version may be selectable in response to input selection data. There is provided a way of producing of variable-data publishing (VDP) documents for Digital Publishing (DP) that rely upon complex document designs containing copy-holes which may be expressed according to a set of options, one of which being non-existence of the copy-hole.

Abstract: A method, system and a computer program product for generating, rendering and printing documents 100,110,120 from a variable-data printing document template 130 which defines a document defining a layout of nested document portions 150 comprising content which is variable in response to input data 140. There is provided a way of expressing and treating nested flows, thus enabling the creation of complex document designs for Variable Data Publishing material used in Digital Publishing.

Abstract: An example method includes receiving an alert initiated by an operator through a detector associated with a station in a production workflow; presenting, responsive to the alert, a user interface to the operator; receiving from the operator, via the user interface, information related to an issue; and identifying a production workflow factor based at least in part on the information related to the issue received from the operator.

Abstract: Devices and methods for using an electronic device for a print job ticket. Such an electronic device may include a network interface, a display, and an input device. The network interface may receive an assignment of the electronic device to a print job from a print service provider controller, receive workflow instructions associated with the print job from the print service provider controller, and send job status information associated with the print job to the print service provider controller. The display may display a representation of the workflow instructions and a user-selectable representation of the job status information. The input device may register a user selection of the representation of the job status information.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods and systems for aggregating print jobs of different lengths and/or customers to decrease the need for rewinding and splicing operations. An exemplary embodiment provides a method that comprises identifying individual label-printing jobs (1-8) that can be aggregated onto a roll of substrate (302), and forming an aggregated label-printing job (300). In the aggregated label-printing job (300) a longest print job (8) is imposed adjacent to a first end of the roll of substrate (302), and one or more shorter print jobs (2, 5, 7) are imposed adjacent to the longest print job (8) in the direction of a second end of the roll of substrate (302).

Abstract: In one example, the system discloses a profiler which calculates a “time-to-print” a first print job and a “time-to-process” a second print job. A scheduler schedules the second print job, for printing after the first print job, if the “time-to-process” the second print job is?the “time-to-print” the first print job. In one example, an article discloses instructions to predict a “time-to-print” a first print job, a “time-to-process” a second print job, and then schedule the second print job, for printing, if the “time-to-process” the second print job is?the “time-to-print” the first print job. In one example, the method discloses receipt of a set of print jobs having a first printing schedule, and then re-scheduling the print jobs so as to ensure that a next print job from the set is ready for printing right after a prior print job from the set has finished printing.

Abstract: A method for controlling printing of a print job involves portioning the print job into a plurality of parts via a partition manager, and converting each part of the print job into respective binary image data parts via a Raster Image Processor (RIP) manager. The method further involves controlling a rate of aggregation of the converted parts via a throttle control manager. The rate of aggregation is controlled by monitoring parameters of a printing system used to perform the printing of the print job, determining that at least one of the monitored parameters reaches or exceeds a predefined threshold, and manipulating the rate of aggregation of the converted parts in response to the determining according to a throttle mode predefined for a particular set of monitored parameters.

Abstract: A system includes an estimator to analyze an input file that describes a print job, to analyze local feedback data that describes local capacity to process the print job by a local print preprocessor, and to analyze remote feedback data that describes remote capacity to process the print job by a cloud-based print preprocessor, wherein the estimator determines a time estimate for the local print preprocessor or the cloud-based print preprocessor to process the print job based on the analyzed input file, the analyzed local feedback data, or the analyzed remote feedback data. A scheduler receives the time estimate from the estimator to determine whether to route the print job to the local print preprocessor or the cloud-based print preprocessor to process the print job.

Abstract: Devices and methods for tracking the status of a print job using electronic devices on a print service provider (PSP) production floor are provided. One such method includes reading a radio frequency identification (RFID) code from an RFID badge assigned to, attached to, and traveling with a print job through production using an electronic device and sending an indication of the RFID code a PSP controller. In response, workflow instructions may be received from the PSP controller. The electronic device may display a representation of the workflow instructions and a user-selectable representation of job status information. When the representation of the job status information is selected, the electronic device may send an indication of the job status information to the print service provider controller.

Abstract: Processing print jobs on a computer which comprises generating a first print ready job file by a first print module based on an input print job file and generating a second print ready job file by a second print module based on the input print job file. The first print ready job file is compared to the second print ready job file, and if there is at least one difference between the first print ready job file and the second print ready job file, the input print job file is forwarded to a PSP (printer service provider) that is configured with the first print module or the second print ready job file is forwarded to a PSP that is configured with the second print module.

Abstract: A system includes an estimator to analyze an input file that describes a print job, to analyze local feedback data that describes local capacity to process the print job by a local print preprocessor, and to analyze remote feedback data that describes remote capacity to process the print job by a cloud-based print preprocessor, wherein the estimator determines a time estimate for the local print preprocessor or the cloud-based print preprocessor to process the print job based on the analyzed input file, the analyzed local feedback data, or the analyzed remote feedback data. A scheduler receives the time estimate from the estimator to determine whether to route the print job to the local print preprocessor or the cloud-based print preprocessor to process the print job.

Abstract: To generate a proof of a printable item, a data structure is provided that maps a set of spot colors into a respective set of color values based on measurement data provided by a measurement device of colors printed by a printing system from the spot colors.

Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for imposing a print job. In one example, the system discloses a computer programmed with executable instructions which operate a set of modules, including an imposition sequence module 104 which calculates a time to process the print job 102 relative to a processing operation 117, and an imposition module 114, 116, or 118 which variably imposes the print job 102 based on the time to process. In one example, the method discloses how to balance a print job 102 workflow relative to a processing operation 117, and impose the print job 102 based on the workflow balancing.

Abstract: The present invention is drawn to an article of manufacture and an associated method for providing layout flexibility. The article of manufacture includes a computer readable storage medium with a computer readable program code capable of accepting an optimal layout and a first modified layout, each within a visual frame of a graphic art program. Each of the optimal layout and the first modified layout include a plurality of visual elements and a variable data element. The computer readable program code is further capable of determining dimensional and layout parameters associated with each of the optimal layout and the first modified layout. Further, the computer readable program code is capable of interpolating variations between the optimal layout and the first modified layout for modifications of the variable data element ranging from the optimal layout to the first modified layout.

Abstract: A method separates a print job into a print product and a sequence of tasks. The method estimates a time to setup a machine before executing a task and a time for the machine to execute the task. Machines are identified that have a potential bottleneck due to multiple concurrent printing requests being made to a machine. A workflow sequence is generated to complete the print job.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods and systems for ganging print jobs (102-112) that use different dies. An exemplary embodiment provides a non-transitory, computer-readable medium that includes code configured to direct a processor to identify individual label printing jobs (102-112) that are similar, but use different dies. A combined, or ganged, print job (506) is then formed from the individual label printing jobs (102-112), wherein the ganged print job (506) uses a multi-format die (300).

Abstract: A method for controlling printing of a print job involves portioning the print job into a plurality of parts via a partition manager, and converting each part of the print job into respective binary image data parts via a Raster Image Processor (RIP) manager. The method further involves controlling a rate of aggregation of the converted parts via a throttle control manager. The rate of aggregation is controlled by monitoring parameters of a printing system used to perform the printing of the print job, determining that at least one of the monitored parameters reaches or exceeds a predefined threshold, and manipulating the rate of aggregation of the converted parts in response to the determining according to a throttle mode predefined for a particular set of monitored parameters.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods and systems for aggregating print jobs of different lengths and/or customers to decrease the need for rewinding and splicing operations. An exemplary embodiment provides a method that comprises identifying individual label-printing jobs (1-8) that can be aggregated onto a roll of substrate (302), and forming an aggregated label-printing job (300). In the aggregated label-printing job (300) a longest print job (8) is imposed adjacent to a first end of the roll of substrate (302), and one or more shorter print jobs (2, 5, 7) are imposed adjacent to the longest print job (8) in the direction of a second end of the roll of substrate (302).

Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for identifying a record template within a file having reused objects. The method discloses: identifying, in the input file, a reused object and a set of pages upon which the reused object is located; computing a page distance between at least two adjacent instances of the reused object; generating an object recurrence pattern for the reused object; and reconstructing a record template, based on the object recurrence pattern, thereby identifying the records in the input file. The system discloses a processor, a profiler module, a pattern identification module, and a template reconstruction module for effecting the method.