Abstract: A system and method for converting a first print file having embedded job ticket data generated in a first format into a second print file of a second format while preserving the embedded job-ticket data. A computer system and a computer program are configured to convert the first print file to the second print file by translating the first print file to the second print file, searching the first print file for the embedded job ticket data and associated page ranges, and inserting the embedded job ticket data and associated page ranges identified by the searching into the translated second print file. A printing system includes a digital frontend, an image output terminal, and an interpreter unit. The interpreter unit is configured to parse the second print file for the inserted job ticket data and program a print job based on the parsed job ticket data.

Abstract: A method and system for determining chromatic content of a page of an electronic document. Object level color analysis is performed on a page of the electronic document to determine whether the page is chromatic, achromatic or has highlight color, based on the object level color analysis. The page is then classified as chromatic, achromatic or highlight color, based on the results of the determination.

Abstract: A system and method of job programming in a computer system for programming print jobs for pad printing. Parameters are programmed by a user for printing a pad, and the programming involves one or more of the following programming steps: programming a slip sheet parameter, programming insert sheet parameters, and for each first sheet insertion point, an insertion frequency, and programming cover sheet parameters. The slip sheet parameter includes at least a yes value or a no value. The insert sheet parameters include one or more first sheet insertion points and, for each first sheet insertion point programmed, an insertion frequency.

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 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: 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: The invention generates a page description language compliant data stream, that has been pre-designed and pre-processed to create unique and predictable page element ordering, overlay layout, and for splitting large page elements into multiple independent elements. In this way, multiple processors can be used to render the document without merging the data stream.

Abstract: A system and method for converting a first print file having embedded job ticket data generated in a first format into a second print file of a second format while preserving the embedded job-ticket data. A computer system and a computer program are configured to convert the first print file to the second print file by translating the first print file to the second print file, searching the first print file for the embedded job ticket data and associated page ranges, and inserting the embedded job ticket data and associated page ranges identified by the searching into the translated second print file. A printing system includes a digital frontend, an image output terminal, and an interpreter unit. The interpreter unit is configured to parse the second print file for the inserted job ticket data and program a print job based on the parsed job ticket data.

Abstract: A system and method of job programming in a computer system for programming print jobs for pad printing. Parameters are programmed by a user for printing a pad, and the programming involves one or more of the following programming steps: programming a slip sheet parameter, programming insert sheet parameters, and for each first sheet insertion point, an insertion frequency, and programming cover sheet parameters. The slip sheet parameter includes at least a yes value or a no value. The insert sheet parameters include one or more first sheet insertion points and, for each first sheet insertion point programmed, an insertion frequency.

Abstract: A raster image path architecture having the capacity for supporting the rendering and output of a device-independent grayscale raster image, while also offering the capacity for supporting the rendering and output of a device-dependent binary raster image, thus offering the advantages of outputting a device-independent grayscale raster image while preserving the performance and image quality advantages of a conventional binary raster image path architecture.

Abstract: A raster image path architecture having the capacity for supporting the rendering and output of a device-independent grayscale raster image, while also offering the capacity for supporting the rendering and output of a device-dependent grayscale raster image, thus offering the advantages of outputting a device-independent grayscale raster image while preserving the performance and image quality advantages of a conventional binary raster image path architecture.

Abstract: Structuring a raster image data file includes accessing image data containing set-up information and image data, determining a structure of the image data, sequencing contents of the image data file such that different parts of the set-up information are grouped together, segmenting the image data, and constructing an output image data file. The structure of image data may include one or more layers. The set-up information may be sequenced to precede the image data. Therefore, segmented image data can be distributed to more than one processor and sequentially processed and reproduced. This results in shortening the printing time.

Abstract: A programmable display controller for use in a digital imaging system has a video control register, a data access controller and a programmable modulator. The programmable display control is designed to be used with a digital imaging systems, such as digital cameras, having a variety of display different devices that require respective different control signals, different image signal modulations, and so on. The video control register stores video mode bits indicating the type of video signal to output. The data access controller has a buffer for requesting image data and storing the requested image data in the buffer. The programmable modulator, in response to the video mode bits, generates a video signal from the image data stored in the buffer. In some embodiments, a decoder detects and decodes a link code in received image data. An address generator is responsive to the decoder and outputs a link address corresponding to the decoded link code for fetching image data that is stored at the link address.

Abstract: A programmable image transform processor has a programmable addressing and arithmetic blocks. In the programmable addressing block, an input address generator has an input addressing microsequencer and an input addressing memory that stores an input addressing procedure. The microsequencer executes the input addressing procedure to generate addresses from which to request image data. In the programmable arithmetic block, an arithmetic block memory stores an image processing procedure and a microsequencer executes the image processing procedure using the image data to generate transformed image data.

Abstract: A print controller which produces a device specific raster for its printer and also produces a rasterized output in portable and more editable form for export and re-use as an input by other printers which may have different parameters. If the input is in a device independent color space, the rasterized export also will be in a version in a device independent color space, typically CIELAB. If the input is in a printable device dependent color space such as CYMK, the output will be an more editable rasterized version in the same color space, with any printing hints that were in the original will be included in the output. In any case, an override can be provided to change the default selection to any other user-identified version. An example of a device independent color space is CIELAB, of a device dependent version applicable for a number of printers with similar parameters is SWOP CMYK, and of a device dependent version is a printer specific CMYK.

Abstract: A programmable timing generator for a digital imaging system has a first clock generator and a second clock generator. The first clock generator includes a programmable microsequencer and generates a plurality of first clock signals in response to the microsequencer. The second programmable clock generator is responsive to the microsequencer and generates second clock signals. The first clock signals have a lower frequency than the second clock signals. In a typical implementation, the second clock signals are called horizontal clock signals, which are used for clocking rows of pixel data out of a digital image sensor, while the first clock signals are called vertical clock signals that are used for shifting pixel data one position in vertical shift registers in the digital image sensor. The horizontal or vertical clock signals can also be used to control the image capture operation of the digital sensor, with the programmable microsequencer being used to control the image capture exposure time.

Abstract: A print controller which produces a device specific raster for its printer and also produces a rasterized output in portable and more editable form for export and re-use as an input by other printers which may have different parameters. If the input is in a device independent color space, the rasterized export also will be in a version in a device independent color space, typically CIELAB. If the input is in a printable device dependent color space such as CYMK, the output will be an more editable rasterized version in the same color space, with any printing hints that were in the original will be included in the output. In any case, an override can be provided to change the default selection to any other user-identified version. An example of a device independent color space is CIELAB, of a device dependent version applicable for a number of printers with similar parameters is SWOP CMYK, and of a device dependent version is a printer specific CMYK.

Abstract: A compressed I/O bus system for a general-purpose computer multiplexes 32 bit data and addresses on 32 of 42 dedicated parallel signal paths, and optimizes the bus structure by mapping bus requests made by peripheral devices to "high" memory portions of system RAM not dedicated to other purposes. In one aspect a bus controller is programmable to select translation routines stored in system RAM, allowing various models and types of CPUs to be supported. In this aspect, supported CPUs are interchangeable in the system. In another aspect a default interface attaches to the compressed I/O bus of the invention, and translates bus states between the optimized compressed bus and one of an ISA bus or an EISA bus.