Abstract: A softproofing system and method render an input document for display on a monitor to faithfully represent projected output from a target print engine, where the displayed document representation rendering is modeled to include internal print engine specific enhancements or characteristics of the target print engine. The system and method identify the target print engine and print engine specific rendering characteristics from the specified content, such as an input file, which may be a raster image or an electronic file in a PDL format. Specific print engine characteristics may include halftone screen identification, error diffusion identification, halftone dot shape, write white, write black, anti-aliasing, line width compensation and specific tone reproduction curves.

Abstract: What is disclosed is a novel system and method for selecting a printer in a document reproduction environment comprising a plurality of networked printing devices. In one embodiment, a document is received which is to be printed and a set of image quality requirements specific for the document are determined based on the document's image content. A threshold quality expectation level is set for the document based on the set of image quality requirements. Device specific image quality metrics are obtained for each of the networked printing devices and then compared with the threshold quality expectation level. A printing device which best exceeds the threshold quality expectation level is selected as a result of the comparison. The document is sent to the selected networked printing device. If none of the networked printing devices is found to meet the threshold then an operator is signaled that the document cannot be printed.

Abstract: A system and method for processing digital photo product templates to enhance a personalized photo product and to enable greater flexibility when selecting options for the photo product template. One or more photo product templates can be defined as a series of objects, some of which are capable of being colorized by a user. Color sets applicable to the photo product template can be displayed based on a predefined set of colors and/or a user-defined “seed color”. The selected color sets can be automatically applied to the photo product template utilizing a predefined rank. The color sets can be ranked and complementary color set suggestions provided based on the evaluation of the colors in an image.

Abstract: An apparatus and associated method move a web of “input continuous media” along at least one media path of a continuous printing device. The method prints markings on the input continuous media to create a web of “printed continuous media” using at least one printing engine of the continuous printing device. The method holds the printed continuous media on at least one output media roll of the continuous printing device after printing the markings on the input continuous media. The output media roll is supported by an output media roll support. The method also determines when the output media roll comprises a “completed printed roll” of printed continuous media and is ready to be cut by a cutter of the continuous printing device, and the output media roll is ready to be removed from the output media roll support.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for printing a plurality of documents juxtaposed for imposition on a print media sheet without gutters. The document images are rasterized and a band of single or multiple pixels is selected along the image margins and compared to determine if adjacent bands are within a predetermined tolerance value. If so, the images are juxtaposed without a gutter; and, if not, one image is rotated 180° and the comparison repeated. If the comparison still is not within a predetermined tolerance value, the juxtaposed images are imposed with a gutter.

Abstract: A method is provided for enabling adaptive print job content processing as a function of the electronic format and content of files, received by a digital print production environment providing access to a display in the form of a user interface able to select job content processing options. The method includes receiving a print job in one or more electronic format files, with the print job including supplementary information for one or more electronic format files. Depending on the electronic format of the files, job programming options are structured, with options including parameter(s), parameter value(s), and parameter selectability. Programming options are presented on the user interface for review and possible modification by an operator. A determination is made as to whether any operator modifications have been indicated. If operator modifications have been indicated, the parameter value(s) affected are adjusted.

Abstract: This invention relates to a methods and a printing system in which queues across one or more printing devices, such as printers, copiers, and the like, are automatically kept synchronized. The queues are placed into one or more pools. In some embodiments, one queue in a pool is designated as a master queue. Changes to the queues in the pool are then controlled and propagated from the master queue. In other embodiments, various queues in a pool are designated as peers. Any change to a queue, such as a change to, a subset of print job parameters, in the pool is then propagated to its peers.

Abstract: A method and system for automatically generating page exception programming based on user-defined rules is disclosed. A page specific metadata in a PDL file can be evaluated against specific rules to automatically create page exception programming. An embedded PDL device control instructions can also be evaluated and converted into page exception programming thereby producing an integrating representation of all page exception programming for a print job. The PDL page extracted as an exception page can then be displayed on a graphical user interface which provides an operator to confirm pages for editing.

Abstract: A method is provided for managing a print job in a distributed printing system including a first printing system having a first default operating mode with a first rated output and a second printing system having a second default operating mode with a second rated output. The method includes determining that the second printing system has the capability to operate in an adjusted operating mode with an effective output that differs from either the first rated output or the second rated output. In practice the print job is split into first and second job portions in such a way that when (a) both the first and second print job portions are communicated to the distributed printing arrangement, (b) the first print job portion is printed at the first printing system in the first default operating mode, and (c) the second print job portion is printed at the second printing system in the adjusted operating mode, printing of the first and second print job portions end substantially simultaneously.

Abstract: There is provided a computer implemented method of automatically aggregating multiple print jobs. The method includes: storing, in memory, a first print job group complying with a first set of print job aggregation criteria and a second print job group complying with a second set of print job aggregation criteria. A print job is received and at least a part of the received print job is aggregated with the first print job group to form a first aggregated print job set if the received print job complies with the first set of print job aggregation criteria and one of a set of release criteria is met. At least a part of the received print job is aggregated with the second print job group to form a second aggregated print job set if the received print job complies with the second set of print job aggregation criteria and one of a set of release criteria is met.

Abstract: A method of processing a print job in a document production environment includes receiving a job ticket having job ticket parameters, identifying a process plan template having processing instructions for processing the print job and performing a parameter value resolving process for each job ticket parameter. The resolving process may include identifying candidate values, identifying the source associated with each of the candidate values and determining whether a candidate value has a source having precedence. If a source has precedence, the corresponding candidate value may be selected as a resolved parameter value. A user may be presented with a representation of a set of the resolved parameter values and may be permitting to modify at least one of the resolved parameter values. A first portion of the print job may be processed using the identified process plan template, the resolved parameter values, and any user-modified parameter values.

Abstract: Method and systems of automatically creating a print-ready representation of a group directory are disclosed. A processing device receives a selection of a plurality of individuals having information residing in a database and a selection of a format for a group directory. The device determines one or more information fields associated with the selected format and transmits a request for information stored in the one or more determined fields and associated with the plurality of individuals to the database. The processing device receives the requested information, generates a template for each individual including at least a portion of the received information associated with the individual, and generates a print-ready representation of the group directory organized in the selected format and including the template for each individual.

Abstract: A system and method for generating a remote job submission accelerator report with respect to a network multi-function device. A multi-function device can be configured to receive a job from a mobile communication device via a submission path. A text representation with respect to the submission path and a spatial representation with respect to the text representation can be automatically generated. An accelerator report can be generated based on the text representation and the spatial representation and the report can be added to a cover page of the job. Such an approach effectively enables client-less job submission with respect to the multi-function device.

Abstract: This invention relates to a methods and a printing system in which queues across one or more printing devices, such as printers, copiers, and the like, are automatically kept synchronized. The queues are placed into one or more pools. In some embodiments, one queue in a pool is designated as a master queue. Changes to the queues in the pool are then controlled and propagated from the master queue. In other embodiments, various queues in a pool are designated as peers. Any change to a queue, such as a change to a subset of print job parameters, in the pool is then propagated to its peers.

Abstract: There is provided a system for scheduling two or more print job suites for shipment to two or more different physical destinations. The system includes a print job processing estimator for estimating a time required to process a first one of the two or more print job suites. The system further includes a print job production manager which uses the time estimated by the print job processing estimator to cause the first one of the two or more print job suites to be processed for shipment before a second one of the print job suites is processed for shipment.

Abstract: A raster image target tracking method, the raster image being a binary raster image or a targeted contone raster image, may include determining target information that corresponds to a target device for the raster image, saving the target information in a memory, comprising the raster image target device to a processing device by which the document is to be processed, and providing a warning message when the document target device does not correspond to the processing device. Also, a compound document analysis and target tracking method may include providing a compound document, analyzing each object of the compound document to determine target information, saving the target information in a memory, comparing the target devices of the respective objects to each other, and providing a warning message to a user when the target devices of the respective objects do not correspond to each other.

Abstract: Embodiments herein include a method that begins by receiving a print job for a customer from an intermediary program such as a print driver. The print job comprises instructions to print a document for the customer and includes, for example, data and print characteristics. The method then evaluates the colorspace of each page of the print job to determine whether any multi-color items are included within the print job. The method ignores classifications of the print job as either a multi-color print job (e.g., color print job) or a single color print job (e.g., black and white) from the print driver and, instead, classifies the print job as either a multi-color print job or a single color print job based only on whether the multi-color items are included within the print job. Then, the method provides the billing information for the customer to an appropriate entity that bills the customer.

Abstract: A method of preparing a document for printing may include determining a preferred image resolution for an image on a document. An electronic file may be received. The electronic file may comprise data representing a first embedded image having a nominal resolution. A job may be received. The job may comprise one or more operations to be performed on the electronic file. A computing device may determine an effective resolution for the first embedded image based on the nominal resolution and the one or more operations. It is determined whether the effective resolution for the first embedded image is greater than the preferred image resolution. The first embedded image may be downsampled based on a scaling factor. A printing device may process the job using the downsampled first embedded image.

Abstract: A method and system for inserting dividers in a rendering job. A group of individual files can be compiled into a single document. The individual files can then be arranged in a preferred order. One or more dividers can then be inserted in-between each of the individual files in order to thereafter generate a template that includes a print layout associated with the divider(s) and render a complete document, which includes the individual files in the preferred order with the divider(s) automatically inserted therein and including text strings thereof.

Abstract: A system for preparing documents for printing includes a stored object corresponding to an image having an effective resolution, as well as a computing device. The computing device is configured to receive an electronic file comprising data representing a plurality of embedded images wherein each embedded image has an effective resolution. The computing device determine whether an object associated with a first one of the embedded images is identical to the stored object. If so, it replaces the first one of the embedded images with the image corresponding to the stored object when the effective resolution of the first one of the embedded images and the effective resolution of the image corresponding to the stored object are within a preselected threshold.