WO2008008780A2

WO2008008780A2 - System and method for automatic normalization of print files

Info

Publication number: WO2008008780A2
Application number: PCT/US2007/073155
Authority: WO
Inventors: Daniel P. Herrera; Kelly J. Mckiernan
Original assignee: Expresscopy Acquisition Corp.
Priority date: 2006-07-13
Filing date: 2007-07-10
Publication date: 2008-01-17
Also published as: WO2008008780A3

Abstract

The present invention provides for a method and a system for preflighting digital files for a printing press. The method and system allow for automatic normalization of print files wherein the files are verified and processed to ensure, for example, the correct color, format, bleeds, size, and margins.

Description

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATIC NORMALIZATION OF PRINT FILES

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method and system for preflighting digital files for a printing press, and particularly to a method and system for normalization of print files.

BACKGROUND

All publications herein are incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication or patent application was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference. The following description includes information that may be useful in understanding the present invention. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art or relevant to the presently claimed invention, or that any publication specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.

Digital technology enables one to print documents directly from electronic files to paper or other print media. Digital printing allows the form and content of each consecutive print to differ. As such, digital printing technology can be utilized for personalization and customization of printed material.

The process of preflighting a print job helps to reduce the likelihood of failure of rasterization or output by examining the files that are to be printed. The preflight process may be used to verify, for example, that linked files are accessible to the application; that fonts are accessible to the system, not corrupt and/or in a compatible format; that image files are not corrupt, in a compatible format, and/or of the correct color format; that required color profiles are included; and that document size, margins, bleeds, marks and page information fit within the constraints of the output device such as a digital printing press. The preflight process may also be used to remove data that should not be printed during production of the finished piece and to store or compress files into an archive format.

The preflight process may be a time consuming and costly practice as many of the aforementioned tasks are manually identified, verified, and/or accomplished. Thus, there is a need in the art for an automated preflight system wherein one or more of these tasks are identified, verified and/or completed with limited or no human intervention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following embodiments and aspects thereof are described and illustrated in conjunction with compositions and methods which are meant to be exemplary and illustrative, not limiting in scope.

The present invention describes a method for preflighting a file, comprising: retrieving a file; normalizing the file to create a normalized file; sending the normalized file to a press software engine; converting the normalized file to a native file format; and sending the normalized file in the native file format to a printing press.

Normalizing the file may comprise processing the file through one or more modules selected from the group consisting of: a color module to ensure a correct color scheme and/or to ensure a correct amount of color, a sharpness module to ensure that an image on a print piece is in focus, a measurement module to measure the size of the file, the size of a bounding box, and/or the geometry of the bounding box, a determination module to determine whether the bounding box is large enough to house one or more print pieces, the number of print pieces, the orientation of the print piece and/or the print piece to be printed, and a format module to adjust or correct the formatting of an image.

In a further embodiment, the method may further comprise processing the file through a format conversion module to convert a received file format into a file format wherein the specifications may be manipulated.

In one embodiment, processing the file through the color module may comprise determining whether the file is in a correct color scheme; converting a file to the correct color scheme if the file is not in the correct color scheme; determining whether a further normalization is required; and sending the file for further normalization or to a press software engine.

In another embodiment, processing the file through the color module may comprise determining whether the file has a correct amount of color; adjusting the amount of color if a color adjustment is necessary; determining whether a further normalization is required; and sending the file for further normalization or to a press software engine.

In another embodiment, processing the file though the sharpness module may comprise determining whether the sharpness of the image requires an adjustment; adjusting the sharpness of the image if the sharpness requires an adjustment; determining whether a further normalization is required; and sending the file for further normalization or to a press software engine.

In another embodiment, processing the file through the measurement module may comprise measuring the size of the file; measuring the size of a bounding box; measuring the geometry of the bounding box; and sending information regarding size of the file, the size of the bounding box and/or the geometry of the bounding box to the determination module.

In another embodiment, processing the fife through the determination module may comprise determining whether the bounding box is large enough to house one or more print pieces; determining the number of print pieces; determining the orientation of the print piece; determining the print piece to be printed by the printing press determining whether a further normalization is required; and sending the file for further normalization or to a press software engine.

In another embodiment, processing the file through the format module my comprise determining whether a print piece is in a correct size for a print medium and/or a desired print product; determining whether the print price is in a correct orientation; determining whether a full bleed is selected; determining whether any part of the print piece will print on a reserved area; determining whether a further normalization is required; and sending the file for further normalization or to a press software engine.

In a particular embodiment, the method may further comprise scaling the print piece to a correct size. In another particular embodiment, the method may further comprise changing the orientation of the print piece to a correct orientation. In another particular embodiment, the method may further comprise scaling the print piece to a size larger than a print area to achieve a full bleed. In yet another particular embodiment, the method may further comprise modifying the print piece to not print on a reserved space. The present invention also provides for a system for preflighting a file, comprising: one or more computers adapted for retrieving a file, normalizing the file to create a normalized file, sending the normalized file to a press software engine, converting the normalized file to a native file format, and sending the normalized file in the native file format to a printing press; and a press software engine for converting the normaiized file to a native file format.

In one embodiment, the one or more computers adapted for normalizing the file in the system may comprise: one or more modules selected from the group consisting of: a color module adapted for ensuring a correct color scheme and/or for ensuring a correct amount of color, a sharpness module adapted for ensuring that an image on a print piece is in focus, a measurement module adapted for measuring the size of the file, the size of a bounding box, and/or the geometry of the bounding box, a determination module adapted for determining whether the bounding box is large enough to house one or more print pieces, the number of print pieces, the orientation of the print piece and/or the print piece to be printed, and a format module adapted for adjusting or correcting the formatting of an image.

In another embodiment, the one or more computers adapted for normalizing the file may further comprise a format conversion module adapted for converting a received file format into a file format wherein the specifications may be manipulated.

In another embodiment, the color module may be further adapted for: determining whether the file is in a correct color scheme; converting a file to the correct color scheme if the file is not in the correct color scheme; determining whether a further normalization is required; and sending the file for further normalization or to a press software engine.

In another embodiment, the color module may be further adapted for: determining whether the file has a correct amount of color; adjusting the amount of color if a color adjustment is necessary; determining whether a further normalization is required; and sending the file for further normalization or to a press software engine.

In another embodiment, the sharpness module may be further adapted for: determining whether the sharpness of the image requires an adjustment; adjusting the sharpness of the image if the sharpness requires an adjustment; determining whether a further normalization is required; and sending the file for further normalization or to a press software engine.

In another embodiment, the measurement module may be further adapted for: measuring the size of the file; measuring the size of a bounding box; measuring the geometry of the bounding box; and sending information regarding size of the file, the size of the bounding box and/or the geometry of the bounding box to the determination module.

In another embodiment, the determination module may be further adapted for: determining whether the bounding box is large enough to house one or more print pieces; determining the number of print pieces; determining the orientation of the print piece; determining the print piece to be printed by the printing press; determining whether a further normalization is required; and sending the file for further normalization or to a press software engine.

In another embodiment, the format module may be further adapted for: determining whether a print piece is in a correct size for a print medium and/or a desired print product; determining whether the print price is in a correct orientation; determining whether a full bleed is selected; determining whether any part of the print piece will print on a reserved area; determining whether a further normalization is required; and sending the file for further normalization or to a press software engine.

In a particular embodiment, the format module may be further adapted for scaling the print piece to a correct size. In another particular embodiment, the format module may be further adapted for changing the orientation of the print piece to a correct orientation. In another particular embodiment, the format module may be further adapted for scaling the print piece to a size larger than a print area to achieve a full bleed. In another particular embodiment, the format module may be further adapted for modifying the print piece to not print on a reserved space.

Further, the one or more computers of the system are in electronic communication with one or more elements, the one or more elements selected from the group consisting of a printing press, a raster image processor, and a local area network. The present invention additionally provides for a computer readable medium having computer executable components for retrieving a file; normalizing the file to create a normalized file; sending the normalized file to a press software engine; converting the normalized file to a native file format; and sending the normalized file in the native file format a to a printing press.

In one embodiment, the computer executable components for normalizing the file may comprise: one or more computer executable components selected from the group consisting of: a component for ensuring a correct color scheme and/or for ensuring a correct amount of color, a component for ensuring that an image on a print piece is in focus, a component for measuring the size of the file, the size of a bounding box, and/or the geometry of the bounding box, a component for determining whether the bounding box is large enough to house one or more print pieces, the number of print pieces, the orientation of the print piece and/or the print piece to be printed, and a component for adjusting or correcting the formatting of an image.

In another embodiment, the computer readable medium may further comprise a component for converting a received file format into a file format wherein the specifications may be manipulated.

In another embodiment, the computer executable component for ensuring the correct color scheme may comprise one or more components for: determining whether the file is in a correct color scheme; converting the file to the correct color scheme if the file is not in the correct color scheme; determining whether a further normalization is required; and sending the file for further normalization or to a press software engine.

In another embodiment, the computer executable component for ensuring the correct amount of color may comprise one or more components for: determining whether the file has a correct amount of color; adjusting the amount of color if a color adjustment is necessary; determining whether a further normalization is required; and sending the file for further normalization or to a press software engine. in another embodiment, the component for adjusting or correcting the formatting of an image may comprise one or more components for: determining whether a print piece is in a correct size for a print medium and/or a desired print product; determining whether the print price is in a correct orientation; determining whether a full bleed is selected; determining whether any part of the print piece wiii print on a reserved area; determining whether a further normalization is required; and sending the file for further normalization or to a press software engine.

In a particular embodiment, the computer readable medium may further comprise a component for scaling the print piece to a correct size. !n another particular embodiment, the computer readable medium may further comprise a component for changing the orientation of the print piece to a correct orientation. In another particular embodiment, the computer readable medium may further comprise a component for scaling the print piece to a size larger than a print area to achieve a full bleed. In another particular embodiment, the computer readable medium may further comprise a component for modifying the print piece to not print on a reserved space.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, various features of embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

Exemplary embodiments are illustrated in referenced figures. It is intended that the embodiments and figures disclosed herein are considered illustrative rather than restrictive.

Figure 1 depicts a flow diagram of a printing process in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 depicts a preflight system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 3A depicts a flow diagram of a routine for normalizing a color scheme in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3B depicts a flow diagram of a routine for normalizing color used in a file in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 4 depicts a flow diagram of a routine for normalizing the sharpness of an image in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 5 depicts a flow diagram of a routine that a measurement module and a determination module may use in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 6 depicts a flow diagram of a routine that a format module may use in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 7 depicts a flow diagram of a routine that a file format conversion module may use in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 8A depicts a file with four print pieces (i.e., 4-up) that has not been normalized and figure 8B depicts a print piece that has been normalized by a preflight system and is press ready in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 9 depicts a postcard showing a reserved space in which a print piece will not be printed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Also shown is an example of the bleed margins and the trim margins.

Figure 10 depicts a block diagram of a preflight system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

Ail references cited herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety as though fully set forth. Unless defined otherwise, technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. One skilled in the art will recognize many methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein, which could be used in the practice of the present invention. Indeed, the present invention is in no way limited to the methods and materials described. For purposes of the present invention, the following terms are defined below.

"Preflighting" and "preflight" as used herein refer to the process of confirming that the digital files required for the printing press are all present, valid, correctly formatted, and of the desired type.

"File" as used herein refers to a digital representation of any combination of image and/or vector data to describe one or more print pieces. "Print piece" as used herein refers to the desired print product (e.g., postcard, business card, flyer, etc.) that appears one or more times within a file.

"Finished piece" as used herein refers a print piece that has been processed (i.e., normalized, printed, coated, and cut) into the desired print product (e.g., postcard, business card, flyer, etc.).

"Full bleed" as used herein refers to having the ink or toner run fully to the edge of the finished piece and not stop short of it. This may be accomplished by printing beyond the printing margins of the desired print product (e.g., postcard, business card, flyer, etc.). Thus, when the print medium is trimmed at the margins after printing, the ink or toner runs fully to the edge and does not stop short of it.

"Rasterization" as used herein refers to the task of transforming an image described in a variety of input formats to a format suitable for output on a printer or press.

The present invention provides a method and a system for automated preflighting of digital files to ensure that the files are press ready. The system and method may run on one or more computers and/or servers. The automated preflighting system of the present invention reduces the degree of human intervention needed in order to ensure that a digital file is ready to be sent to the press. This may beneficially result in reducing the time and cost for performing a print job.

In one embodiment of the present inventive system, a file submitted by a customer is retrieved by the prefiight system for normalization. Files submitted by the customer are often in a RGB (Red, Green, Blue) color scheme; however, a printing press often utilizes CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black) toner or ink. Thus, in one embodiment, the prefiight system comprises a color module. The color module may convert a RGB color scheme into a CMYK color scheme such that the print piece is press ready. In another embodiment, the color module may be used to convert a CMYK color scheme to a RGB color scheme. In accomplishing the color conversion, the color module may comprise, access and/or utilize software to allow it to determine and/or adjust the color of the file; for example, PDF preprocessing software such as Enfocus PitStop®. In another embodiment, the color module may adjust the amount of color used by the press or the color intensities such that the correct amount of each color is used for the print piece. In a further embodiment, the color module may adjust the amount of color used by the press such that the finished piece is in a color palate that satisfies the customer's preference.

In another embodiment, the prefiight system may comprise a measurement module. The measurement module may measure a variety of things, including but not limited to the size of the page (e.g., BV₂" x 11", 1 1" x 17", etc.), and the size and geometry of the bounding box around the image and/or vector data within the file submitted by the customer. The measurement module may comprise, access and/or utilize software to allow it to accomplish the desired measurement of the file.

In another embodiment, the prefiight system may comprise a determination module. The determination module may determine a variety of things, including but not limited to whether the bounding box is large enough to house one or more print pieces, the number of print pieces, the orientation of the print piece(s) and the print piece(s) that will be printed by a printing press. The determination module may comprise, access and/or utilize software to allow it to accomplish the desired determinations of the file.

In another embodiment, the prefiight system may comprise a format module. The format module may format a variety of things, including but not limited to the size of the print piece (e.g., to ensure that it is in the correct size for the print product and/or print medium, to ensure that the finished piece will have a full bleed, to ensure that the print piece will not print on a reserved area, etc.), the orientation of the print piece, and the configuration of the print piece (e.g., move individual elements of the print piece to ensure that the print piece will not print on a reserved area, place an overlay on the print piece in the reserved area, etc.). Examples of a reserved area include, but are not limited to an area reserved for postal information (e.g., area for an addressee, a bar code, a stamp, etc.). The format module may also access, utilize and/or comprise software to accomplish the formatting objectives; for example, software designed to provide visual guidance to an operator regarding a reserved area (e.g., PDF overlay software such as StampPDF® by Appligent).

Once the file is normalized, the normalized file may be sent to a software engine that stores the normalized file as a reusable object. The reusable object may be called out one or more times by the printing press at a later time for printing. The software engine interprets and/or converts a file or a normalized file into a native file format that may be read by the press. The native file may be in a proprietary or nonproprietary language that is used by the press. An example of a press software engine is the Xeikon® X-800, which may be used in conjunction with the Xeikon® press or printing system. Other nonlimiting examples of digital printing systems that can be used in accordance with alternate embodiments of the present invention include the Kodak Nexpress, HP Indigo Digital Press and Xerox IGen3.

Figure 1 depicts one embodiment of the present invention. A file 101 submitted by a customer is retrieved by the preflight system 102 to perform the normalization 103 to prepare a press ready file. The normalized file 104 is sent to the press software engine 105. The press software engine 105 interprets the file and converts the file into a native file format 106 that can be read by the printing press 107. The press software engine 105 also stores the normalized file 104 in native file format 106 as a reusable object that can be called out at a later time for printing purposes, in an alternative embodiment, the normalized file 104 is sent directly to the printing press.

Figure 2 depicts an embodiment of the preflight system of the present invention. The preflight system 102 may comprise one or more of the foilowing components: file format conversion module 201, color module 202, sharpness module 203, measurement module 204, determination module 205, and format module 206. These modules may interact with one another sequentially or simultaneously in any order.

Figure 3A depicts a flow diagram of a routine for normalizing a color scheme in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. A file 301 is sent to or accessed by the color module 202 and in step 302, it is determined whether the file is in the correct color scheme for the printing press. For a printing press that utilizes the CMYK color scheme, step 302 determines if the file is in a CMYK color scheme. If the answer is no, step 303 converts the file's color scheme into CMYK color scheme. In an alternative embodiment, if the printing press utilizes RGB color scheme, step 302 determines if the file is in a RGB color scheme. If the answer is no, step 303 converts the file's color scheme into RGB color scheme. Step 304 determines whether additional normalization is required for the file. If the answer is yes, step 305 sends the file to another normalization module for further processing. The normalization module may be any module that the preflight system is configured to perform, including but not limited to color adjustments, sharpness adjustments, size adjustments, and orientation adjustments. Once further processing is completed, the file is sent to the press software engine. If the answer to step 304 is no, step 306 sends the color normalized file to the press software engine.

Figure 3B depicts a flow diagram of a routine for normalizing image colors in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. A file 307 is sent to or accessed by the color module 202 and in step 308 it is determined whether the amount of each color needs to be adjusted for the printing press. If the answer is yes, step 309 adjusts the amount of each color that is used to print the print piece. If the answer is no, then the process proceeds to step 310. Step 310 determines whether additional normalization is required for the file. If the answer is yes, step 311 sends the file to another normalization module for further processing. Once further processing is completed, the file is sent to the press software engine. If the answer to step 310 is no, step 312 sends the color normalized file to the press software engine.

Figure 4 depicts a flow diagram of a routine for normalizing the sharpness of an image in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. A file 401 is sent to or accessed by the sharpness module 203 and in step 402 it is determined whether the sharpness of a print piece within the file needs to be adjusted (e.g., whether an image on a print piece is in focus). If the answer is yes, step 403 adjusts the sharpness of the image. If the answer is no, the process proceeds to step 404. Step 404 determines whether additional normalizations are required. If the answer is yes, the file is sent to another normalization module for further processing. Once further processing is completed, the file is sent to the press software engine. If the answer to step 404 is no, step 406 sends the sharpness normalized file to the press software engine.

Figure 5 depicts a process using a measurement module 204 and a determination module 205 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. A file 501 may be sent to or accessed by the measurement module 204. Step 502 measures the size of the page; for example, whether the page is 8Vz" x 11", 11" x 17", etc. Step 503 measures the size of the bounding box around the image data and/or vector data within the file. Step 504 measures the geometry of the bounding box. The measurement module 204 may be used in conjunction with the determination module 205. Step 505 determines whether the bounding box is large enough to house one or more print pieces. Step 506 determines the number of print pieces within the file (e.g., 1-up, 2-up, 3-up, 4-up, etc). Step 507 determines the orientation of the print piece(s) within the file (e.g., landscape, portrait). Step 508 determines the print piece(s) to be printed by the printing press. In a one embodiment, a default selection of a print piece may be programmed; for example, in a 2-up situation, the left print piece is selected; in a 3-up situation, the bottom print piece is selected; in a 4-up situation, the lower left print piece is selected. The default selection may be programmed to be a selection of any print piece and is not limited to the ones noted herein. In another embodiment, more than one print piece may be selected. For example, in instances wherein the desired finished piece is two sided, two different print pieces may be selected and one print piece will be printed on one side and another print piece will be printed on the reverse side of the print medium. Alternatively a single print piece may be selected to print on both sides. In another embodiment, the selection of the print piece(s) may be a dynamic process wherein additional data submitted from the customer is utilized to select the print piece(s); for example, the customer may have submitted a file with 4 print pieces (i.e., 4-up) and selects the upper, left print piece for printing. Step 509 determines whether further normalizations are required; if the answer is yes, then step 510 sends the file to another a normalization module for further processing; once further processing is completed, step 511 sends the file to the press software engine. If the answer to step 509 is no, step 511 sends the file to the press software engine. The aforementioned steps 502 through 508 may be performed in any order. In various embodiments, all of steps 502 through 508 are not necessarily performed as one or more steps may be omitted.

To measure the size of the image, measurement module 204 may identify the coordinates of a starting point and measure the bounding box of the image. The coordinates of the starting point may be identified by using a tool that locates a first data point on the file and a second data point on the file. The tool may measure from the first data point to the second data point to measure the bounding box. The second data point may be a furthest data point from the first data point. For example, a tool may start at the lower left corner of the page, which may arbitrarily be identified as (0,0) on the x-y plane. The tool may move across the x-axis and/or up the y-axis until a first data point is identified and then continue until the data point furthest from the first data point is identified. The bounding may be a rectangular shape encompassing the extent of printable data in a file. The measurement module 204 may comprise, access and/or utilize software programs to assist in identifying data points, measuring files and measuring bounding boxes; for example, a PDF manipulation software such as Ghostscript may be used to measure the size of the printable data in a file and an image measurement and/or image format conversion software such as ImageMagick® may be used to measure the total size of the original file.

Figure 6 depicts a format module in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The format module 206 may be utilized to adjust or correct the formatting of the image such that it can be in a press ready format. The size of the print piece may be scaled or adjusted to allow the print piece to fit onto the margins of the desired print product. In embodiments wherein a full bleed (i.e., the color reaches to the edge of the finished piece) is desired, the size of the print piece may be scaled such that it is slightly larger than the print margins. This ensures that once the desired print product is cut, the color reaches the edge of the finished piece. The file 601 may be placed through one or more steps. In one particular embodiment, the steps may proceed as follows. Step 602 determines whether the size of the print piece is in the correct size for the print medium and/or the desired print product; if the answer is no, step 606 modifies the file such that the print piece is scaled to increase or decease in size and the process proceeds to step 603; if the answer is yes, the process proceeds to step 603. Step 603 determines whether the print piece is in the correct orientation for the print medium; if the answer is no, step 607 modifies the file to change the orientation of the print piece and the process proceeds to step 604. Changing the orientation of the print piece may be done by rotating the print piece; for example, by 90°, 180°, 270° or any other appropriate degree of rotation. If the answer to step 603 is yes, the process proceeds to step 604. Step 604 determines whether a full bleed is selected; if the answer is yes, step 608 modifies the file to scale the print piece such that the print piece is slightly larger than the print area and the process proceeds to step 605. Alternatively, if the size of the print piece is already in a size in which a full bleed will be accomplished, the process proceeds to step 605. If the answer to step 604 is no, the process proceeds to step 605. Step 605 determines whether any part of the print piece will print on a reserved area {e.g., postal reserved area for addressee, bar codes, stamp area, etc.); if the answer is yes, step 609 modifies the file such that the print piece will not print on the reserved space and the process proceeds to step 610. Alternatively, step 609 modifies the file such that an overlay (i.e., blank space) is placed over the print piece in the reserved area and the process proceeds to step 610. The blank space may be, for example, white space or any other suitable color space such that the reserved area may be used for information for which it is reserved (e.g., postal information). If the answer to step 605 is no, the process proceeds to step 610. Step 610 determines whether further normalization is necessary. If the answer is yes, then step 611 sends the file to another normalization module and after further processing, step 612 sends the file to the press software engine. If the answer to step 610 is no, step 612 sends the file to the press software engine.

Figure 7 depicts a flow diagram of a routine for normalizing the specifications for the desired print product in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. A file 701 is sent to or accessed by the file format conversion module 201 and in step 702, it is determined whether the specifications (e.g., size of the print piece) for the desired print product described by the file comply with the specifications for the desired print product for the printing press. If the specifications do not comply, the format conversion module 201, in step 703, converts the file format from the received format to a format wherein the specifications may be manipulated; for example, from a PDF file to a JPEG file. The format conversion module 201 may access, utilize and/or comprise software programs that are designed to convert a file format into another file format. After the specifications are manipulated, the format conversion module 201, in step 704, converts the file format back into a format that is compatible with the printing press; for example, from a JPEG file to a PDF file. Step 705 determines whether additional normalization is required for the file. If the answer is yes, step 706 sends the file to another normalization module for further processing. The normalization module may be any module that the preflight system is configured to perform, including but not limited to color adjustments, sharpness adjustments, size adjustments, and orientation adjustments. Once further processing is completed, the file is sent to the press software engine. If the answer to step 705 is no, step 707 sends the color normalized file to the press software engine.

In embodiments wherein the desired finished piece is two sided, the format module 206 may also be used to determine which print piece is printed on which side of the print medium. The format module 206 may access, utilize and/or comprise software programs that are designed to format the file and software programs that are designed to provide visual guidance to an operator regarding a reserved area; for example, a PDF overlay software such as StampPDF® by Appligent.

As shown in figure 1, once the file 101 is normalized, the normalized file 104 may be sent to a press software engine 105 that stores the normalized file 104 as a reusable object. The reusable object may be called out by the press one or more times at a later time for printing.

In a further embodiment, the various modules of the preflight system may have an additional step for human intervention prior to further processing, prior to sending the file to the press software engine and/or prior to sending the file to the printing press. The human intervention step may also be a default step, wherein the file is sent for human intervention if the file cannot be processed through a module. Alternatively, after processing the file through one or more modules, the file may be sent for human intervention as a checkpoint prior to sending the file to another module. In another embodiment, after processing the file through all the selected modules, the file may be sent for human intervention as a last checkpoint prior to sending the file to the press software engine or prior to sending the file to the printing press.

The present invention also describes a system for preflighting a file. The system comprises one or more computers adapted for performing the methods of the present invention, and a press software engine. Further, the one or more computers are in electronic communication with one or more elements, the one or more elements selected from the group consisting of a printing press, a raster image processor, and a local area network.

Figure 10 is a block diagram of the components of the exemplary system 800. The system 800 may include a programmable central processing unit (CPU) 810 which may be implemented by any known technology, such as a microprocessor, microcontroller, application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), digital signal processor (DSP), or the like. The CPU 810 may be integrated into an electrical circuit, such as a conventional circuit board, that supplies power to the CPU 810. The CPU 810 may include internal memory or memory 820 may be coupled thereto. The memory 820 may be coupled to the CPU 810 by an internal bus 864.

The memory 820 may comprise random access memory (RAM) and read-only memory (ROM). The memory 820 contains instructions and data that control the operation of the CPU 810. The memory 820 may also include a basic input/output system (BIOS), which contains the basic routines that help transfer information between elements within the system 800. The present invention is not limited by the specific hardware component(s) used to implement the CPU 810 or memory 820 components of the system 800.

Optionally, the memory 820 may include external or removable memory devices such as floppy disk drives and optical storage devices (e.g., CD-ROM, R/W CD-ROM, DVD, and the like). The system 800 may also include one or more I/O interfaces (not shown) such as a serial interface (e.g., RS-232, RS-432, and the like), an IEEE-488 interface, a universal serial bus (USB) interface, a parallel interface, and the like, for the communication with removable memory devices such as flash memory drives, external floppy disk drives, and the like.

The system 800 may also include a user interface 840 such as a standard computer monitor. The user interface 840 may permit the user to enter control commands into the system 800. The user interface 840 may include a standard keyboard, mouse, track ball, buttons, touch sensitive screen, wireless user input device and the like. The user interface 840 may be coupled to the CPU 810 by an internal bus 868.

Optionally, the system 800 may also include an antenna or other signal receiving device (not shown) such as an optical sensor for receiving a command signal such as a radio frequency (RF) or optical signal from a wireless user interface device such as a remote control. The system 800 may also include software components for interpreting the command signal and executing control commands included in the command signal. These software components may be stored in memory 820.

The various components of the system 800 may be coupled together by the internal buses 864 and 868. Each of the internal buses 864 and 868 may be constructed using a data bus, control bus, power bus, I/O bus, and the like.

The system 800 may include instructions 900 executable by the CPU 810 for preflighting the files. These instructions may include computer readable software components or modules stored in the memory 820. The instructions 900 may include one or more of the following modules: a file format conversion module 910 to convert a received file format into a file format wherein the specifications may be manipulated; a color module 920 to ensure a correct color scheme and/or to ensure a correct amount of color; a sharpness module 930 to ensure that an image on a print piece is n focus; a measurement module 940 to measure the size of the file, the size of a bounding box, and/or the geometry of the bounding box; a determination module 950 to determine whether the bounding box is large enough to house one or more print pieces, the number of print pieces, the orientation of the print piece and/or the print piece to be printed; and a format module 960 to adjust or correct the formatting of an image.

In one embodiment, the instructions in the one or more modules direct the CPU 810 to use the user interface 840 to communicate whether there are necessary actions regarding the file. The CPU 810 may use the user interface 840 to communicate that the file is ready for the printing press.

The foregoing described embodiments depict different components contained within, or connected with, different other components. It is to be understood that such depicted architectures are merely exemplary, and that in fact many other architectures can be implemented which achieve the same functionality. In a conceptual sense, any arrangement of components to achieve the same functionality is effectively "associated" such that the desired functionality is achieved. Hence, any two components herein combined to achieve a particular functionality can be seen as "associated with" each other such that the desired functionality is achieved, irrespective of architectures or intermedial components. Likewise, any two components so associated can also be viewed as being "operably connected", or "operably coupled", to each other to achieve the desired functionality.

The present invention also describes a computer readable medium having computer executable components to conduct the methods of the present invention as described herein.

While the description above refers to particular embodiments of the present invention, it should be readily apparent to people of ordinary skill in the art that a number of modifications may be made without departing from the spirit thereof. The accompanying claims are intended to cover such modifications as would fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. The presently disclosed embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description. All changes that come within the meaning of and range of equivalency of the claims are intended to be embraced therein.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A method for preflighting a file, comprising: retrieving a file; normalizing the file to create a normalized file; sending the normalized file to a press software engine; converting the normalized file to a native file format; and sending the normalized file in the native file format to a printing press.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein normalizing the file comprises: processing the file through one or more modules selected from the group consisting of: a color module to ensure a correct color scheme and/or to ensure a correct amount of color, a sharpness module to ensure that an image on a print piece is in focus, a measurement module to measure the size of the file, the size of a bounding box, and/or the geometry of the bounding box, a determination module to determine whether the bounding box is large enough to house one or more print pieces, the number of print pieces, the orientation of the print piece and/or the print piece to be printed, and a format module to adjust or correct the formatting of an image.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising: processing the file through a format conversion module to convert a received file format into a file format wherein the specifications may be manipulated.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein processing the file through the color module comprises: determining whether the file is in a correct color scheme; converting a file to the correct color scheme if the file is not in the correct color scheme; determining whether a further normalization is required; and sending the file for further normalization or to a press software engine.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein processing the file through the color module comprises: determining whether the file has a correct amount of color; adjusting the amount of color if a color adjustment is necessary; determining whether a further normalization is required; and sending the file for further normalization or to a press software engine.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein processing the file though the sharpness module comprises: determining whether the sharpness of the image requires an adjustment; adjusting the sharpness of the image if the sharpness requires an adjustment; determining whether a further normalization is required; and sending the file for further normalization or to a press software engine.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein processing the file through the measurement module comprises: measuring the size of the file; measuring the size of a bounding box; measuring the geometry of the bounding box; and sending information regarding size of the file, the size of the bounding box and/or the geometry of the bounding box to the determination module.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein processing the file through the determination module comprises: determining whether the bounding box is large enough to house one or more print pieces; determining the number of print pieces; determining the orientation of the print piece; determining the print piece to be printed by the printing press determining whether a further normalization is required; and sending the file for further normalization or to a press software engine.

9. The method of claim 2, wherein processing the file through the format module comprises: determining whether a print piece is in a correct size for a print medium and/or a desired print product; determining whether the print price is in a correct orientation; determining whether a full bleed is selected; determining whether any part of the print piece will print on a reserved area; determining whether a further normalization is required; and sending the file for further normalization or to a press software engine.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising scaling the print piece to a correct size.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising changing the orientation of the print piece to a correct orientation.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising scaling the print piece to a size larger than a print area to achieve a full bleed.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising modifying the print piece to not print on a reserved space.

14. A system for preflighting a file, comprising: one or more computers adapted for retrieving a file, normalizing the file to create a normalized file, sending the normalized file to a press software engine, converting the normalized file to a native file format, and sending the normalized file in the native file format to a printing press; and a press software engine for converting the normalized file to a native file format.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the one or more computers adapted for normalizing the file comprises: one or more modules selected from the group consisting of: a color module adapted for ensuring a correct color scheme and/or for ensuring a correct amount of color, a sharpness module adapted for ensuring that an image on a print piece is in focus, a measurement module adapted for measuring the size of the file, the size of a bounding box, and/or the geometry of the bounding box, a determination module adapted for determining whether the bounding box is large enough to house one or more print pieces, the number of print pieces, the orientation of the print piece and/or the print piece to be printed, and a format module adapted for adjusting or correcting the formatting of an image.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the one or more computers adapted for normalizing the file further comprises a format conversion module adapted for converting a received file format into a file format wherein the specifications may be manipulated.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the color module is further adapted for: determining whether the file is in a correct color scheme; converting a file to the correct color scheme if the file is not in the correct color scheme; determining whether a further normalization is required; and sending the file for further normalization or to a press software engine.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the color module is further adapted for: determining whether the file has a correct amount of color; adjusting the amount of color if a color adjustment is necessary; determining whether a further normalization is required; and sending the file for further normalization or to a press software engine.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the sharpness module is further adapted for: determining whether the sharpness of the image requires an adjustment; adjusting the sharpness of the image if the sharpness requires an adjustment; determining whether a further normalization is required; and sending the file for further normalization or to a press software engine.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the measurement module is further adapted for: measuring the size of the file; measuring the size of a bounding box; measuring the geometry of the bounding box; and sending information regarding size of the file, the size of the bounding box and/or the geometry of the bounding box to the determination module.

21. The system of claim 15, wherein the determination module is further adapted for: determining whether the bounding box is large enough to house one or more print pieces; determining the number of print pieces; determining the orientation of the print piece; determining the print piece to be printed by the printing press; determining whether a further normalization is required; and sending the file for further normalization or to a press software engine.

22. The system of claim 15, wherein the format module is further adapted for: determining whether a print piece is in a correct size for a print medium and/or a desired print product; determining whether the print price is in a correct orientation; determining whether a full bleed is selected; determining whether any part of the print piece will print on a reserved area; determining whether a further normalization is required; and sending the file for further normalization or to a press software engine.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the format module is further adapted for scaling the print piece to a correct size.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein the format module is further adapted for changing the orientation of the print piece to a correct orientation.

25. The system of claim 22, wherein the format module is further adapted for scaling the print piece to a size larger than a print area to achieve a full bleed.

26. The system of claim 22, wherein the format module is further adapted for modifying the print piece to not print on a reserved space.

27. The system of claim 14, further comprising one or more elements in electronic communication with the one or more computers, the one or more elements selected from the group consisting of a printing press, a raster image processor, and a local area network.

28. A computer readable medium having computer executable components for retrieving a file; normalizing the file to create a normalized file; sending the normalized file to a press software engine; converting the normalized file to a native file format; and sending the normalized file in the native file format to a printing press.

29. The computer readable medium of claim 28, wherein the computer executable components for normalizing the file comprise: one or more computer executable components selected from the group consisting of: a component for ensuring a correct color scheme and/or for ensuring a correct amount of color, a component for ensuring that an image on a print piece is in focus, a component for measuring the size of the file, the size of a bounding box, and/or the geometry of the bounding box, a component for determining whether the bounding box is large enough to house one or more print pieces, the number of print pieces, the orientation of the print piece and/or the print piece to be printed, and a component for adjusting or correcting the formatting of an image.

30. The computer readable medium of claim 29, further comprising a component for converting a received file format into a file format wherein the specifications may be manipulated.

31. The computer readable medium of claim 29, wherein the computer executable component for ensuring the correct color scheme comprises one or more components for: determining whether the file is in a correct color scheme; converting the file to the correct color scheme if the file is not in the correct color scheme; determining whether a further normalization is required; and sending the file for further normalization or to a press software engine.

32. The computer readable medium of claim 29, wherein the computer executable component for ensuring the correct amount of color comprises one or more components for: determining whether the file has a correct amount of color; adjusting the amount of color if a color adjustment is necessary; determining whether a further normalization is required; and sending the file for further normalization or to a press software engine.

33. The computer readable medium of claim 29, wherein the component for adjusting or correcting the formatting of an image comprises one or more components for: determining whether a print piece is in a correct size for a print medium and/or a desired print product; determining whether the print price is in a correct orientation; determining whether a full bleed is selected; determining whether any part of the print piece will print on a reserved area; determining whether a further normalization is required; and sending the file for further normalization or to a press software engine.

34. The computer readable medium of claim 33, further comprising a component for scaling the print piece to a correct size.

35. The computer readable medium of claim 33, further comprising a component for changing the orientation of the print piece to a correct orientation.

36. The computer readable medium of claim 33, further comprising a component for scaling the print piece to a size larger than a print area to achieve a full bleed.

37. The computer readable medium of claim 33, further comprising a component for modifying the print piece to not print on a reserved space.