Abstract: Systems and methods are presented in which a print job is segmented into multiple parts or chunks prior to facilitate raster image processing by including in each of the parts the print job preamble, one or more page portions, and only those resources required for the page portions, and the generated chunk files are provided to one or more raster image processing components for rendering or printing.

Abstract: Apparatus are provided, including a document application and a bleed creation mechanism. The bleed creation mechanism includes an image extender to automatically determine non-blank extended image information based on a location of a blank perimeter area of a page description language (PDL) file. The image extender further populates the blank perimeter area with the non-blank extended image information.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described that facilitate identifying objects in a document (e.g., a PDF document) for automatic image enhancement (AIE). A PDF document is “chunked” or segmented into chunks, and boundaries between chunks are identified as real or imaginary. Chunks sharing imaginary boundaries are combined, while real boundaries are retained, to generate “de-chunked” objects. These objects are then classified, and an AIE application is executed on objects meeting pre-specified classification criteria. In this manner, objects of r which AIE is not desired are not subjected to the AIE application, thereby saving time and processing resources associated with enhancing the document.

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 method of automatic proofing a document submitted for printing on a press having a digital front end includes inputting the document into a raster image processor to produce a post-RIP file. A copy of the post-RIP file is saved as a proofing file in a proofing file storage location and notification is transmitted electronically to each approver that the proofing file is available for review. The computer system monitors the proof decision status of the proofing file. If the proof decision status indicates that the proofing file is approved, the computer system automatically releases the post-RIP file to print.

Abstract: A method for processing a print job including both monochrome and color pages may include receiving values for characteristic parameters, selecting an optimization criterion and determining a process mode that corresponds to a minimum value of the selected criterion. The characteristic parameters may include printing operations, non-automated processing operations and the print job. The optimization criterion may be selected from at least one of a completion time and/or a process cost.

Abstract: Offline proofing systems and methods for color image processing may include receiving a digitized image document to be press printed in a job, determining job status as corresponding to one of a color managed proof and a color managed press, installing a proofer profile as an output profile and a press profile as a simulation profile in response to the job status corresponding to the color managed proof, printing the job by the proof printer as a proof copy in response to the color managed proof, installing the press profile as an output profile and discarding the simulation profile in response to the job status corresponding to the color managed press, and printing the job by the press printer as a press copy in response to the color managed press. The color managed press may be based on a customer contract approval. The proofer profile may correspond to a proof printer and the press profile may correspond to a press printer.

Abstract: Methods and systems for selecting a printing device are disclosed. A print job may be received. A computing device may produce a first color transformation for the print job using at least a color gamut error profile for a first printing device to determine a first value and a second color transformation for the print job using at least a color gamut error profile for a second printing device to determine a second value. One of the printing devices may be selected for the print job based on at least the first value and the second value. The print job may be transmitted to the selected printing device and printed using the selected printing device.

Abstract: Methods and systems for selecting printing materials are disclosed. One or more performance criteria and a print job may be received. At least one performance criterion may be used to measure a capability for a plurality of sets of printing materials. A computing device may evaluate the print job with respect to the one or more performance criteria in order to produce evaluation information. A first set of printing materials may be selected from the plurality of sets of printing materials based on the evaluation information. An indication of the first set of printing materials may be provided.

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.

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 printer or other marking device forms a first desired image in a first area, such as a main image area, of a first substrate; forms a first portion of a set of test patches in a margin area of the first substrate; forms a second desired image in a first area, such as a main image area, of a second substrate; and forms a second portion of the set of test patches in a margin area of the second substrate. A measuring device such as a spectrophotometer may be used to measure each test patch, and based on the measured values, a color calibration is performed for use in a subsequent marking operation. The color calibration may include generating or modifying a tone reproduction curve based on the measured values. The margin areas may be later trimmed off, thereby removing the portion of the substrates on which the test patches are formed.

Abstract: Methods and systems of assessing color gamut requirements for a print job and a printing device are disclosed. A print job including one or more input color spaces may be received. A computing device may produce a color transformation for each input color space using at least a color gamut error profile. The computing device may further produce result information based on the one or more color transformations. Result information may be provided to a user.

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: A method of conditional content printing may include receiving a job, wherein the job includes a base layer and a first conditional content layer. One or more printing parameters may be received. The job may be automatically processed by a resource based on the one or more printing parameters to produce a first document and a second document. Both the first document and the second document may include the base layer. The first document may include the conditional content layer. The second document may not include the conditional content layer. A sheet may be printed for the first and the second document. The sheet for the first document may include the base layer and the first conditional content layer. The sheet for the second document may include the base layer.

Abstract: A document specification is examined to determine if it matches the device color characterization of a rendering device such as a printer. If it matches, then the document can be faithfully rendered by the device. Otherwise, the document specification must be transformed before rendering. A match can be detected by discovering a appropriate metadata within the document specification or within the document color characterization. Alternatively, a device signature can be used instead of a metadata.

Abstract: A computer implemented method is provided for automatically aggregating multiple print jobs.

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 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: 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.