Abstract: An improved method of Open Prepress Interface (OPI) processing of a page containing text and a picture. A low resolution Postscript Master is made from the text and a low resolution version of the picture, the result being sent to the OPI consumer. Here, processes that can be accomplished with the low resolution picture, such as location and cropping, are accomplished. Next, the low resolution picture is replaced with the high resolution version, and high resolution image processes are done, such as rotation and scaling for the intended printer. The result is stored. Finally, a printer's Postscript interpreter is used to generate a raster and the picture is printed.

Abstract: An electronic image processing apparatus has a controller and a plurality of resources in an arbitrary configuration. Each of the resources includes an associated processor storing data related to operational constraints of the associated resource and a bus interconnects the processors to the controller for directing the operation of the resources. The controller is adapted to operate independent of a particular configuration of the plurality of resources by receiving from each of the processors the data related to the operational constraints of each associated resource and interrogating each of the processors to determine the geometrical relationship of the interconnection of the resources.