Abstract: A page description file that is used for producing a printed publication is processed to generate data that comprise a database regarding a product. The data are used to produce a document from the database and, in response to producing the document, an order is generated.

Abstract: The present invention is useful for assembling a book. The inventive method includes the steps of specifying pagination information including an indication of whether a page is to be selectively included in the book, determining whether the page is to be assembled into the book based on the pagination information, and generating page description language instructions for production of the book in accordance with the pagination information.

Abstract: The present invention is useful for assembling a book. The inventive method includes the steps of specifying pagination information including an indication of whether a page is to be selectively included in the book, determining whether the page is to be assembled into the book based on the pagination information, and generating page description language instructions for production of the book in accordance with the pagination information.

Abstract: The present invention is useful for assembling a book. The inventive method includes the steps of specifying pagination information including an indication of whether a page is to be selectively included in the book, determining whether the page is to be assembled into the book based on the pagination information, and generating page description language instructions for production of the book in accordance with the pagination information.

Abstract: The present invention is useful for assembling a book. The inventive method includes the steps of specifying pagination information including an indication of whether a page is to be selectively included in the book, determining whether the page is to be assembled into the book based on the pagination information, and generating page description language instructions for production of the book in accordance with the pagination information.

Abstract: A method of printing using an electrically conductive ink, wherein the method includes the steps of providing a supply of the electrically conductive ink and providing a relief printing plate having a desired printing pattern formed thereon. The pattern includes at least two adjacent traces having a gap between the adjacent traces of less than about 40 microns and, optionally, at least one trace having a width of less than about 40 microns. The method further includes the steps of applying a controlled quantity of the electrically conductive ink to the relief printing plate and contacting the relief printing plate to a substrate to create an impression on the substrate. An apparatus for implementing the method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of calculating engraving parameters for a gravure cylinder at a desired raster, cell shape and stylus angle given an estimate of the engraving parameters. The method includes inputting a set of initial parameters including an initial raster, an initial cell shape, an initial stylus angle, an initial highlight width, an initial shadow width, an initial channel width and an initial space. The method proceeds by calculating an initial value of a cell volume from the initial parameters. Next, a set of new parameters are inputted including a desired raster, an estimate of a desired highlight width, an estimate of a desired shadow width, an estimate of a desired channel width and an estimate of a desired space. Then, a new value of the cell volume is calculated from the new parameters.

Abstract: A method of calculating engraving parameters for a gravure cylinder at a desired raster, cell shape and stylus angle given an estimate of the engraving parameters. The method includes inputting a set of initial parameters including an initial raster, an initial cell shape, an initial stylus angle, an initial highlight width, an initial shadow width, an initial channel width and an initial space. The method proceeds by calculating an initial value of a cell volume from the initial parameters. Next, a set of new parameters are inputted including a desired raster, an estimate of a desired highlight width, an estimate of a desired shadow width, an estimate of a desired channel width and an estimate of a desired space. Then, a new value of the cell volume is calculated from the new parameters.

Abstract: A method of calculating engraving parameters for a gravure cylinder at a desired raster, cell shape and stylus angle given an estimate of the engraving parameters. The method includes inputting a set of initial parameters including an initial raster, an initial cell shape, an initial stylus angle, an initial highlight width, an initial shadow width, an initial channel width and an initial space. The method proceeds by calculating an initial value of a cell volume from the initial parameters. Next, a set of new parameters are inputted including a desired raster, an estimate of a desired highlight width, an estimate of a desired shadow width, an estimate of a desired channel width and an estimate of a desired space. Then, a new value of the cell volume is calculated from the new parameters.

Abstract: The present invention comprises an apparatus and method for reproducing master and variable information on a display device, such as a computer network or a demand printer. The present invention develops first and second sets of template data representing associated first and second template pages, respectively, wherein each set of template data includes master data representing fixed information to be printed and area data representing an area of a page in which variable information is to be printed. A database is developed having a number of entries, each of which represents variable printed information and the display device is responsive to the sets of template data and the database to display the first and second template pages with selected variable information. The fixed and variable pages may be converted to TIFF format and imposed according to an instruction set. Alternatively, the fixed and variable pages may be “imposed-on-the-fly” as they are processed by a RIP.

Abstract: The present invention is useful for assembling a book. The inventive method includes the steps of specifying pagination information including an indication of whether a page is to be selectively included in the book, determining whether the page is to be assembled into the book based on the pagination information, and generating page description language instructions for production of the book in accordance with the pagination information.

Abstract: Pages described in a PostScript® file are interpreted by an interpreter and imposed and rendered on a flat by a raster output device. The PostScript® showpage operator is redefined (by redefining the EndPage and BeginPage procedures) to select the pages from the PostScript® file to be rendered on the flat and to properly position the selected pages on the flat. Non-selected pages in the PostScript® file (which will not be rendered on the flat) are interpreted by specifying the raster output device as a “pseudo null device,” which dictates that all graphics and font information from the non-selected pages will be processed without effectively transmitting the non-selected pages to a raster memory for rendering.

Abstract: In a method of imposing selected pages defined in a sequence of page descriptions included in a PostScript.RTM. file, the selected pages are interpreted by an interpreter and may be transmitted to a raster memory for rendering on a flat by an output device. If the current page is a selected page to be rendered on the flat, a virtual device is defined as the output device for the selected page such that the virtual device specifies an area in a raster memory for positioning the selected page on the flat, and the selected page is interpreted. If the current page is not a selected page, a next page is determined as selected page to be rendered on the flat, the virtual device is defined for the next selected page as the output device for the non-selected page, and the non-selected page is interpreted.

Abstract: A system for converting continuous tone values to output values controls adjacency effects by implementing a look up table which represents the continuous tone values as addresses in order to provide output patterns to a marking device. The output patterns, when rendered, have substantially the same densities as the corresponding continuous tone values. Alternatively, the look up table may store filter values of a filter which is used to filter the output values produced during conversion of continuous tone values to output values. The filter values are accessed by representing, as addresses, the output values corresponding to input values surrounding the input value undergoing filtering. As another alternative, the look up table may include a predetermined set of look up tables.

Abstract: In a method of imposing selected pages defined in a sequence of page descriptions included in a PostScript.RTM. file, the selected pages are interpreted by an interpreter and may be transmitted to a raster memory for rendering on a flat by an output device. If the current page is a selected page to be rendered on the flat, a virtual device is defined as the output device for the selected page such that the virtual device specifies an area in a raster memory for positioning the selected page on the flat, and the selected page is interpreted. If the current page is not a selected page, a next page is determined as a selected page to be rendered on the flat, the virtual device is defined for the next selected page as the output device for the non-selected page, and the non-selected page is interpreted. A PostScript.RTM. save operator is redefined in order to save a definition of the virtual device. A PostScript.RTM.

Abstract: An image described in a page description language program is processed by an external image processing module, which may perform screening or color correction on the image. The processed image is then returned to the page description language program to be incorporated into a raster description of an output page. An image operator contained in the page description language program is redefined such the image operator transforms the image for compatibility with the external processing module and then invokes the external module to process the image.

Abstract: A digital page imaging (DPI) system receives customer transmitted technical document files produced on a desktop publishing package and ensures that the documents are produced properly. The system provides an easy to use interface, reduces turnaround time in processing customer work, and eliminates errors associated with manual imposition processes. The DPI system consists of a work station, modem and related telecommunication link, a photo typesetter and a software package for automatically imposing flats for printing on the typesetter.