Abstract: A process for mounting a printing plate on a carrier sheet, including disposing registration indicia on the plate, placing the carrier sheet on a cutting table of a cutting system, mounting the plate to the carrier sheet, detecting absolute coordinates of the registration indicia; and cutting the carrier sheet along a cut line having absolute coordinates generated based upon the detected absolute coordinates. A related system includes the cutting system with the cutting table, a camera for detecting the registration indicia, a processor, a cutter, a controller, and a computer memory programmed with instructions for instructing the controller to detect the indicia, calculate the absolute coordinates for the cut line based upon the detected absolute coordinates and stored relative coordinates for the cut line, and cutting the carrier sheet along the cut line. Computer readable media containing such programmed instructions is also disclosed.

Abstract: A mounting unit, or printing system including a mounting unit, for mounting printing plate segments on a carrier sheet. The mounting unit includes a base for receiving the carrier sheet, at least two cameras, a controller for positioning the cameras relative to the base, and a computer connected to the controller and cameras. The computer is configured to receive a mounting file including a printing plate segment identifier, information regarding alignment of registration marks relative to the carrier sheet; and image data corresponding to a characteristic pattern associated with each printing plate segment. The unit is configured to display a composite image depicting the image data corresponding to the characteristic patterns in a predetermined arrangement of printing plate segment locations and orientations overlaid on an image of the carrier sheet from one of the at least two cameras.

Abstract: A method and system for creating a printing plate from a vector format image file having image and non-image areas. A boundary in vector coordinates is identified via a user interface that defines each image area corresponding to an image patch. The image file is raster image processed (RIPped) to create RIPped image information associated with the vector coordinates corresponding to the image patches. The RIPped image information and associated vector coordinates are processed to create RIPped image patches, register marks attached to each RIPped image patch, and the RIPped image patches with register marks and corresponding vector coordinates stored in a processing file. The system includes a computer memory, an interface for providing the image file, a user interface, and a computer processor configured to perform the method.

Abstract: A method and system for creating a printing plate from a vector format image file having image and non-image areas. A boundary in vector coordinates is identified via a user interface that defines each image area corresponding to an image patch. The image file is raster image processed (RIPped) to create RIPped image information associated with the vector coordinates corresponding to the image patches. The RIPped image information and associated vector coordinates are processed to create RIPped image patches, register marks attached to each RIPped image patch, and the RIPped image patches with register marks and corresponding vector coordinates stored in a processing file. The system includes a computer memory, an interface for providing the image file, a user interface, and a computer processor configured to perform the method.

Abstract: A method for mounting one or more printing plate segments on a carrier sheet. The method comprises importing a file into a computer associated with a mounting unit. For each printing plate segment, the file includes a printing plate segment identifier, information regarding alignment of registration marks relative to the carrier sheet; and image data corresponding to a characteristic pattern associated with each printing plate segment. A composite image depicting the image data corresponding to the characteristic patterns is then displayed on a display in the predetermined arrangement of one or more printing plate segment locations and orientations. A mounting unit and a printing system and computer readable media programmed with instructions for performing the method are also described.

Abstract: A method for mounting one or more printing plate segments on a carrier sheet. The method comprises importing a file into a computer associated with a mounting unit. For each printing plate segment, the file includes a printing plate segment identifier, information regarding alignment of registration marks relative to the carrier sheet; and image data corresponding to a characteristic pattern associated with each printing plate segment. A composite image depicting the image data corresponding to the characteristic patterns is then displayed on a display in the predetermined arrangement of one or more printing plate segment locations and orientations. A mounting unit and a printing system and computer readable media programmed with instructions for performing the method are also described.

Abstract: A process for mounting a printing plate on a carrier sheet, including disposing registration indicia on the plate, placing the carrier sheet on a cutting table of a cutting system, mounting the plate to the carrier sheet, detecting absolute coordinates of the registration indicia; and cutting the carrier sheet along a cut line having absolute coordinates generated based upon the detected absolute coordinates. A related system includes the cutting system with the cutting table, a camera for detecting the registration indicia, a processor, a cutter, a controller, and a computer memory programmed with instructions for instructing the controller to detect the indicia, calculate the absolute coordinates for the cut line based upon the detected absolute coordinates and stored relative coordinates for the cut line, and cutting the carrier sheet along the cut line. Computer readable media containing such programmed instructions is also disclosed.

Abstract: A process for mounting a printing plate on a carrier sheet, including disposing registration indicia on the plate, placing the carrier sheet on a cutting table of a cutting system, mounting the plate to the carrier sheet, detecting absolute coordinates of the registration indicia; and cutting the carrier sheet along a cut line having absolute coordinates generated based upon the detected absolute coordinates. A related system includes the cutting system with the cutting table, a camera for detecting the registration indicia, a processor, a cutter, a controller, and a computer memory programmed with instructions for instructing the controller to detect the indicia, calculate the absolute coordinates for the cut line based upon the detected absolute coordinates and stored relative coordinates for the cut line, and cutting the carrier sheet along the cut line. Computer readable media containing such programmed instructions is also disclosed.

Abstract: A process for mounting a printing plate on a carrier sheet, including disposing registration indicia on the plate, placing the carrier sheet on a cutting table of a cutting system, mounting the plate to the carrier sheet, detecting absolute coordinates of the registration indicia; and cutting the carrier sheet along a cut line having absolute coordinates generated based upon the detected absolute coordinates. A related system includes the cutting system with the cutting table, a camera for detecting the registration indicia, a processor, a cutter, a controller, and a computer memory programmed with instructions for instructing the controller to detect the indicia, calculate the absolute coordinates for the cut line based upon the detected absolute coordinates and stored relative coordinates for the cut line, and cutting the carrier sheet along the cut line. Computer readable media containing such programmed instructions is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for mounting one or more printing plate segments on a carrier sheet. The method comprises importing a file into a computer associated with a mounting unit. For each printing plate segment, the file includes a printing plate segment identifier, information regarding alignment of registration marks relative to the carrier sheet; and image data corresponding to a characteristic pattern associated with each printing plate segment. A composite image depicting the image data corresponding to the characteristic patterns is then displayed on a display in the predetermined arrangement of one or more printing plate segment locations and orientations. A mounting unit and a printing system and computer readable media programmed with instructions for performing the method are also described.

Abstract: Creating one or more printing plate segments includes exposing a printing plate segment with imaging data to form an imaged plate segment, and marking the floor of the printing plate segment or the back of the printing plate segment with one or more registration marks according to marking data. The registration marks can be within the design area defined by the imaging data marked such that the registration marks are not visible on a print made from the imaged plate segment. Printing using positioned and mounted so-marked imaged plate segments produces a print without the registration marks visible on the print. Such plate segments can be unmounted and reused with the registration marks intact.

Abstract: Creating one or more printing plate segments includes exposing a printing plate segment with imaging data to form an imaged plate segment, and marking the floor of the printing plate segment or the back of the printing plate segment with one or more registration marks according to marking data. The registration marks can be within the design area defined by the imaging data marked such that the registration marks are not visible on a print made from the imaged plate segment. Printing using positioned and mounted so-marked imaged plate segments produces a print without the registration marks visible on the print. Such plate segments can be unmounted and reused with the registration marks intact.

Abstract: A method of modifying screened image data so that there is no visible seam when the image is printed repeatedly in a circumferential direction, for example using a drum output device. One version applicable to images screened using a supercell includes cutting the image so that the image size in the circumferential direction is an integral number of screen supercells. Another version includes displacing halftone dots in a neighborhood of the seam such that the seam is not visible in a repeated print.

Abstract: A method of modifying screened image data so that there is no visible seam when the image is printed repeatedly in a circumferential direction, for example using a drum output device. One version applicable to images screened using a supercell includes cutting the image so that the image size in the circumferential direction is an integral number of screen supercells. Another version includes displacing halftone dots in a neighborhood of the seam such that the seam is not visible in a repeated print.