GB2291573A - Designer raster image processor system - Google Patents

Abstract

A prepress processing system comprises a first station (20) including means (21) to input image data in a first format, a second station (20') remote from the first station (20) including means (28) to produce printing plates or films and data transfer means (23, 23') for transferring printing data between the first station (20) and the second station (20'), wherein the first station (20) includes a raster image processor (22) for converting image data in said first format into a ready-to-plot format for transfer as printing data by the data transfer means (23, 23'). <IMAGE>

Description

BACKGROUND OF TRE INVENTION This invention relate to a system and method for reducing the risk and confusion raised by having front end users and output site as two separate parties.

In prior.art techniques, WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) only exists at the data loops of front ends, and can not be guaranteed when the file or Postscript data is transmitted to a output center. Conventionally, font data is installed on front end system and the rasterizer (RIP) may be from different vendors with the same Postscript Typeface name. ft's possible the character shape come out differently.

The other issue is the output ends may not have the typefaces needed installed. Using substituted typefaces always cause output mismatching problem. Users usually don't know whether the data file they sent out for output can be raeterized/imaged successfully at output-ends or not. Output-end also have no idea the data file they received from their clients can be done or not, sometimes, taking hours to know the job will fail.

U.S. Patent No. 5,047,9so, in the title of ELECTRONIC COLLATION by Shope and Godehalk et al. issued on September 10, 1991, discloses an electronic printer receivee multi-page documents as character code signals which are applied to a raster image processor for rasterization. The rasterized signals are electronically stored so that a plurality of electronically collated, multi-page sets can be printed without re rasterization. The present invention, however, is to avoid. rerasterization prior than printing. The preeent invention further provides a mechanism to let the user adjust re-rasterization, and select suitable line screen for the desire printing quality.

U.8. Patent No.5,128,878, in the title of RSNOTS PXTTZNG OF INTEGRATED CIRCUIT LAYOUT IX A NETWORK COMFçTSR-AIDED DESIGN SYSTEM by Gore and Mosby et al. issued on July 7, 1992, discloses a remote plotting system and method implemented in a network of computer workstations whereby a designated computer functions as a plot server. The present invention is not used at SCAD system environment. The present invention does allow a RSP in a networked environment to receive printing requests from the other nodes within the network. But the RIP of the present invention does not actually spool the recording device.In addition, the RIP provides the mechanism to preview the result prior printing using computer terminal (CRT) or a local printing device.

Furthermore, the present invention provides the way to bring the ready-to-plot data to a remote recording device, at that point, the process etill allow the adjustment on color tone and dot gain compensation, etc.

U.S. Patent No. 5,Z16,754, in the title of DETERMINING THE COMPLEXITY OF A PAGE PRIOR TO A PRINT ATTEMPT by Sathi and Post et al. issued on June 1, 1993, discloses an electronic printing system prevents printing failure and interruptions associated with the inability of an image generation subsystem to generate a page image in digital form in real-time by reviewing the page contents prior to submission to the image generation subsystem.

The present invention adopts a different approach by letting the original designer can preview and correctly predict the. final printing result including layout, text, color and trapping needed for a printing job to be done properly. The original designer in present application has the choice to modify at the page layout program and repeat this process in order to get the desired result. Once the rasterized digital data are generated and reviewed/proofed by the original designer, it is guaranteed to be imaged at.output-end to generate film/plate for printing.

U.S. Patent No. 5,237, in the title of RASTER IMAGE PROCESSOR FOR ALL POINTS ADDRESSABLE PRINTER by Statt and Hunt et al. issued on August 17, 1993, discloses a raster image processor for an all points addreiaible printer includes at least three digital computer controlled processing units arranged in a parallel processing pipe line. The present invention, in contrast to this patent, does not need the "first unit" as described in this patent to generate rendering conunnds. The present invention includes a unit similar to the "first unit" to receive printing commands and generate rendering co-nands. But it is not connected to the "record unit" as described in this patent.The rendered/rasterized data can be carried (through a removable storage device or network or data transmitting method) to a remote to be sent to the "record unit".

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a flexible new prepress system and method ie provided that is capable of making the rasterized and ready-to-plot image data examined and altered before being sent to the image recorder. The system maintains consistent WYSIWYG data layout from front end at user's site to final output. Font data has been rasterized before user's final examination/approval.

The object of the invention is to provide a new prepress system and method to give the front end users total control on final layout (including art work and trapping) through hard copy or soft proofing devices.

The other object of the invention is to provide a new prepress system and method to produce an intermediate transportable file between front end users and output site which guarantee output WYSIWYG through film/plate.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new prepress system and method to let output site maintain control on press related matters like film output linearization, press dot gain control, etc.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, wherein reference is made to the figure. in the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES Figure 1 relates to a conventional RIP process of prepress industry.

Figure 2 relates to the Designer RIP system of a preferred embodiment of the present invention showing the Designer RIP process thereof..

Figure 3 depicts a block diagram showing functional links of the user's front end site's of the preferred embodiment of Figure 2.

DETAILED DBSCRtPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now to Figure 1, there may be seen a contentional RIP process of prepress industry. At the front end 12, data is shown on screen with a WYSIWYG layout. Rasterization is done by the application. Raster dump or rasterization ie done by the RIP bundled into the proofer. After the Front-end proofing, file is then transferred to the service center 10' in the form of the application or "PostScript". Service center 10' (output color separation films) receives customer files, and opens up files from the application and/or send files to raster image processor 14. In this case, WYSIWYG only exists at the data loops of front ends 12 (within the front end site 10), and can not be guaranteed when the file or PostScript data is transmitted to a output center. Conventionally, font data is installed on front end system 12 and the rasterizer (RIP) 14 may be from different vendors with the same Postscript Typeface name. It' 5 possible the character shape come out differently.

In the prior art techniques as described in Figure 1, RIP's function normally includes three steps: rasterization, trapping and color separation. During the rasterization step, RIP 14 turns geometric into pixel information. This step probably uses different rasterizer than cuitomer's. During the trapping step, RIP 14 alters object shape and color for printing purpoea.

Users may not like the effect created in this step. During the color separation step, RIP 14 convert any color space to printing ink information and may produce more than 4 inks.

As to the.color management relating to the prior art techniques as described in Figure 1, the system will perform the jobs such as film linearization, press gain control, screening and driving the Image recorder. The driver of the image recorder 15 in this system has to be beside and physically linked to the recorder.

Furthermore, according to Figure 1, the output ends 10' may not have the typefaces needed installed. Using substituted typefaces always cause output mismatching problem. Users ueually don't know whether the data file they sent out for output can be rasterized/imaged successfully at output-ends 10' or not. Outputends +0' also have no idea the data file they received from their clients can be done or not, sometimes, taking hours to know the job will fail.

Referring now to Figure 2, there may be seen the Designer RIP system of a preferred embodiment of the present invention showing the Designer RIP process thereof. At each front end 21, a Designer RIP 22 is provided therefor. A transportable device 23 is connected to the Designer RIP 22 and, according to different system requirements, transfers data via network 29 or other available medias to a Dyna-RIP which is attached to a proofer 26 and outputs to the image recorder 27 for outputting films 28.

Data is maintained WYSICYG (what you see is what you get) from front end 21 through film/plate 28. At the front end 21, designers can control the layout which is 100 imaging, rasterization and trapping. The data shown on screen with a WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) layout is a ready-to-plot file without the risk and confusion raised by having front end users 20 and output site 20' a. two separate parties. Front end 20 can have true preview and proof of the data shown on screen, which is with the same rasterizer color separation as the output site 20'.

To better understand the Designer RIP' a system function, please refer to Figure 2. It may be seen that front end 21 on screen shows data with WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) layout, wherein the ragterization is done the application at the user's front end site 20. With the Designer RIP 22, the users can perform the screen preview function in the Designer RIP 22 just as the expecting output results (rasterization/trapping done by same as RIP at output site 20').

Front end 21 can be computer systems capable of producing digital data needed for composing a printed material. Link 29 between front end system 21 and Designer RIP 22 can be any kind network or using floopy diskette to transport data from front end 21 to Designer RIP 22.

Designer RTP 22 has a subset of functionalities which can be founded in other RIP with additional functions added to serve this new process. Input data of Designer RIP 22 can be say TIFF, EPS, TGA, CT, LN, etc. Rasterizer of RIP 22 can have a Postscript interpreter, CEPS format data processor, Font renderer, trapping engine, etc. Rasterized data can be previewed on computer screen.

Rasterized data can also be sent to a black and white proofer 24 or a color proofer which is attached to RIP 22. The rasterized data which contain all necessary ink information can be used to examine trapping information, be stored in any storage device locally or remotely, or be discarded or re-generated by Designer RIP 22 as desired. It is noted that rasterized data can be sent to recording device 27 with no further processing of page layout data required, i.e. when the data is anent to the recording device, the layout of processed 'pages" will never be changed.

Traneportable device 23 can be any removable storage device like a removable hard disk or a Magneto Optical Diskette, being connected by a local area network, wide area network, any wireless data communication device or modem. In the case of using a removable hard disk, the system need to be installed the removable hard disk base subsystem in both Designer RIP 22 and the transportable device 23. The removable hard disk can be shift from the transportable device 23 to 23'. In the' case of using network, the system need to use the same network protocol, say Novell, and the proper network adapter installed in both Designer RIP 22 and transportable device 23.In the case of using other commercial networks, say InterNet, CompuServe, or leased line, the transportable device 23 and 23' can be totally different. For instance, the transportable device 23 can be connected to a host computer which has access to InterNet and the transportable device 23' is using a modem connected to CompuServe which aleo has access to InterNet.

Link between transportable device 23 and Designer RIP 22 or Link between transportable device 23' and Dyna RIP 25 can be any kind of computer data bus (SCSI, serial, ISA, EISA, PCI, etc.) with proper subsrciption of the roarmcrcial network if necessary.

Dyna RIP 25 can be a Designer RIP 22 or a conventional RIP with access to the transportable device 23' and the ability to queue and/or prioritize the output of those transported data.

Pleaee refer to Figure 3. Figure 3 depicts a block diagram showing functional links of the user's front end site's of the preferred embodiment of Figure 2. The present invention as described in Figures 2 and 3 spins off part of RIP's function to form the bue of Designer RIP attached to the front end It is also made possible to add proofing devices to Designer RIP for hard copy proof's function. The present invention can perform the screen preview 33 at Designer RIP for soft proofs.At the front end site, the system using Designer RIP 32 can produce data with transportable file format 35, which carries all inke information (more than CORK) and can be coopact size without loss on quality. The system also adds the ability to process ready to plot data and plot the film/plate.

Screen preview 33 may happen on the front-end computer 31 (MAC or PC), proofing device 34 may be attached to the front-end computer 31 directly instead of having a separate Designer RIP 32 Other vendors may put the similar functions into front-end computer, the same computer running layout programs, color correction programs and not using a separate PC to do what described as the above.

File format of the transportable data 35 may aleo be different, actually, the system can use one file to hold all inks' information, or use multiple files to do eo. The system of the present invention can be a separate/standing-along item and hook up with one or more than one front-end systems. In addition, the Designer RIP's function can be added to the front-end to make it a front-end-and-Devigner-RIP device. This front-end-and- Designer-RIP device can be linked to each other performing full front'end functions as described above.

Many other variations and modifications may be made in the techniques and systems hereinbefore described, by those having experience in this technology, without departing from the concepts of the present invention. Accordingly, it should be clearly understood that the method and system depicted in the accompanying drawings and referred to in the associated descriptions are illustrative only and are not intended as limitations on the scope of the invention.

Claims (21)

HaAT Is CLA2= IS;

1. A prepress RIP system, coznprising: means for inputting a data file and showing figures represented by the data file; a Designer RIP device attached to each of said means for inputting a data file and showing figure represented by the data file, said Designer RIP device being capable of creating a readyto-plot format file for the inputted data file with the rasterization and trapping done; and a transportable device connected to said Designer RIP device, said transportable device receiving the ready-to-plot format file from the Designer RIP system and storing the file for further processing.

2. A repress RIP system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a proofing device for outputting the ready-to-plot format file for examination.

3. A preprees RIP system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a RIP device attached to said transportable device, and further comprising an image recorder device attached to said RIP device for outputting the ready-to-plot file.

4. A prcprcae RIP system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the RIP device attached to said transportable device and said image recorder further comprises a proofing device for outputting the ready-to-plot format file for examination.

5. A prepress RIP system, Comprising: means for inputting a data file and showing figures 'represented by the data file; a Designer RIP device attached to each of said means for inputting a data file and showing figure represented by the data file, said Designer RIP device being capable of creating a readyto-plot format file for the inputted data file with the rasterization and trapping done; and a communication media connected to said Designer RIP system, said conmunication media receiving the ready-to-plot format file from the Designer RIP system and transferring the file to a suitable output device for further processing.

6. A prepress RIP system as claimed in claim 5, further comprieing a proofing device for outputting the ready-to-plot format file for examination.

7. A prepress RIP system as claimed in claim 5, further comprising a RIP device attached to said Designer RIP device via the communication media, and further comprising an image recorder device attached to said RIP device for outputting the ready-toplot file.

8. A prepress RIP system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the RIP device attached to said Designer RIP device and said image recorder further comprises a proofing device for outputting the ready-to-plot format file for examination.

9. A method for controlling rasterization at front-end devices, comprising: inputting a data file representing a specific figure from a front-end device; creating a ready-to-plot format file for the inputted data file with the rasterization and trapping done; and storing the ready-to-plot format file for further processing.

10. A method for controlling rasterization at front-end devices as claimed in claim 9, wherein the step of creating a ready-to-plot format file comprising the step of proofing the ready-to-plot file for examination.

11. A method for controlling rasterization at front-end devices as claimed in claim 9, wherein the ready-to-plot format file stored for further processing is further rasterized at a RIP device and then transmitted to an image recorder for outputting.

12. A method for controlling rasterization at front-end devices as claimed in claim 11, wherein the step of being further rasterized at a RIP device comprising the step of proofing the ready-to-plot file for examination.

13. A method for controlling rasterization at front-end devices, comprising: inputting a data file representing a specific figure from a front-end device; creating a ready-to-plot format file for the inputted data file with the raoteri2ation and trapping done; and transmitting the ready-to-plot format file for further processing.

14. A method for controlling rasterization at front-end devices as claimed in claim 13, wherein the step of creating a ready-to-plot format file comprising the step of proofing the ready-to-plot file for examination.

15. A method for controlling rasterization at front-end devices as claimed in claim 13, wherein the ready-to-plot format file transmitted for further processing is further rasterized at a RIP a device and then transmitted to an image recorder for outputting.

16. A method for controlling rasterization at front-end devices as claimed in claim 15, wherein the step of being further rasterized at a RIP device comprising the step of proofing the ready-to-plot file for examination.

17. Aprepress processing system comprising a first station including means to input image data in a first format, a second station remote from the first station including means to produce printing plates or films and data transfer means for transferring printing data between the first station and the second station, wherein the first station includes a raster image processor for converting image data in said first format into a ready-to-plot format for transfer as printing data by the data transfer means.

18. A system according to claim 16, wherein the data transfer means comprises a data recording medium.

19. A system according to claim 16, wherein the data transfer means comprises a telecommunications link.

20. A prepress processing system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.

21. A prepress processing method substantially as hereinbefore described.