Before explaining the new functions we've implemented for Stop Edge - Starting Point, we'll explain some essential terminology first.

• The Stop Edge is the edge of the imposition sheet that leaves the press first. On digital presses, the top of the sheet is typically the edge that leaves the press first. For certain printing systems, e.g. the VariJet 160, the bottom edge is the first edge to leave the press. Therefore, the Stop Edge can be either on the top or the bottom.
• The Starting Point is the position on the imposition sheet where the imposition algorithm starts to place the first Print Item on the sheet. The Starting Point can be either on the left or right.
• The Alignment of the imposition defines the position of the entire imposition on the imposition sheet. The entire imposition can be aligned to the imposition sheet using nine positions: top left, top center, top right, left center, bottom left, bottom center, bottom right, right center, and centered horizontally and vertically.

The sheet was filled starting from the top left position by default. For example, using Nesting Mode, the first Print Item is placed on the top left of the imposition sheet and the following Print Items are placed horizontally next to it or vertically below it, depending on whether By Row or By Column was selected under the Layout option.  As of version 1.9.1, this behavior can be freely determined by the user by selecting the Stop Edge as well as the Start Point [1]. The Alignment [2] function, which can be used to align the entire imposition on the sheet, has been available since previous versions of the Workflow.

Essentially the user does not have to change any settings in order to maintain the default behavior known from previous versions of the Impose Editor, as the default value for the Stop Edge – Starting Point [1] is set to Top Left.

Figure 1: The default behavior when placing Print Items in Nesting Mode: Alignment: Top Center, Stop Edge – Starting Point: Top Left.

If you want to change the impose sheet filling method from the default settings, select Top Right under the Stop Edge – Starting Point [3] option. This method can be advantageous if you want to remove Die cut objects from the right side of the cutting table.

Figure 2: Placing Print Items using Nesting Mode with Stop Edge – Starting Point: Top Right and Alignment: Top-Center selected.

If you want to change the impose sheet filling method from the default settings, select Bottom Left under the Stop Edge – Starting Point [4] option. This will result in Print Items on the bottom edge of the impose sheet to leave the press first.

Operators of digital presses that have the Stop Edge at the bottom should first set up an appropriate Impose Template and store it as the default template in the Workflow under Administration > Settings > Impose Editor.

Figure 3: Placing Print Items using Nesting Mode with Stop Edge – Starting Point: Bottom Left and Alignment: Top-Center selected.

If you want to change the impose sheet filling method from the default settings, select Bottom Left under the Stop Edge – Starting Point [5] option. This will result in the Print Items on the bottom edge of the impose sheet to leave the press first. To define how the Print Items fill the impose sheet from the bottom edge you will have to set the Alignment to Bottom Center [6].

Operators of digital presses that have the Stop Edge at the bottom should first set up an appropriate Impose Template and store it as the default template in the Workflow under Administration > Settings > Impose Editor.

Figure 4: Placing Print Items using Nesting Mode with Stop Edge – Starting Point: Bottom Left and Alignment: Bottom-Center selected.

Dielines can be applied in the Impose Editor to individual Print Items, all Print Items as a group or on selected pages of the imposition, and using combinations of all three methods.

With version 1.9.1, an additional option called Row | Column  has been added when using Step & Repeat Mode. Follow these steps to add Dielines per row and column:

1. Open the Impose Editor.
2. Switch to the Step & Repeat Mode.
3. Create your desired imposition.
4. Navigate to the »Finishing« tab [7].
5. Open the Add Dielines drop-down [8], then select Columns | Rows.
6. Enter your settings in the Columns | Rows settings area [9]:
7. Create cutting lines for row [10] - Activate this option if you want cutting lines to be created between the individual rows in the montage.
   • Create Dielines for Rows [13] – Activate this option if you want to create Dielines between individual rows.
   • Start At [11] – Here you can define after which row or column the first Dieline should be created.
   • Repeat [15] – Use this option to define how the Dieline should be repeated, i.e. after the first row or second row, etc..
   • Indent [12] – Use this option to change the length of the Dielines, if necessary, starting from the left/right or top/bottom edge of the impose sheet.
   • Offset [16] – Use this option to offset Dielines vertically, for cutting lines between rows, or horizontally, for cutting lines between columns.
   • Line Weight [14] – Determine the weight of the Dieline here.
   • Technical Color [17] – Define your desired Technical Color. All system-wide defined Technical Colors are available in this selection menu.
   • Overprint [18] – Set the Dieline to »Overprint« (default) or »Knockout«.

Figure 5: Applying a Dieline to both Columns and Rows in Step & Repeat Mode.

During the imposition process, additional objects in the form of cutting lines, text descriptions as well as shapes may need to be added for special applications. In order to achieve this, new drawing tools are available with version 1.9.1 of the Workflow. These tools can be used in all impose modes with the exception of Tiling. Objects created during the imposition process are only created for the imposition currently being created. The objects created with these tools are only created for the current imposition. It is not currently possible to save these objects in an Impose Template.

To create an object, proceed as follows:

1. Select the desired tool in the Object Creation Tools submenu [19] in the toolbar.

Figure 6: Object Creation Tools are located in the submenu.

2. Create shapes by dragging the object to the desired size. When creating a text, simply click on the desired position and enter text.
3. Select the desired parameters for the created object in the Settings Panel.

When a drawing tool is selected, all impose settings and displays are dimmed and the settings area for the currently selected drawing tool is then displayed. Depending on the tool selected, different options are displayed based on the context of the tool being used. Additional updates to the user interface will be added in a future release 1.10.

Figure 8: The Drawing Tool Settings Panels are context based, which means that the options displayed will change depending on the tool that is selected.

The Object List [26] which displays all objects created by the user, is located in the lower part of the settings panel. A clear overview of the objects placed on the sheet are displayed here. Three functions are available for drawn objects that are listed here:

• Remove all elements: If you click on the trash can icon in the header of the impose editor, all objects will be permanently deleted.
• Highlight [27]: If you click on the entry in the list, the object is highlighted by a blue shadow on the sheet.
• Remove Item from Substrate [28]: Clicking on the trash can icon deletes the respective object from the sheet.

Figure 9: The Object List with two entries and a selected object on the sheet.

Up until this point, if you entered an overlap, it was automatically generated per tile, on the defined edge when using Tiling Mode. Calculation of the overlap depends on the number of tiles and which Construction option was selected under the Mounting Direction options. In version 1.9.1, this behavior has been retained by default, but it is now also possible to specify a user-defined overlap per tile for each tile edge. Proceed as follows:

1. Open the Impose Editor using Tiling Mode.
2. Create a Tiling with the desired settings.
3. Enter your desired Overlap size as well as the Printed Overlap.
4. Make sure that the Create Overlap automatically option is enabled.

This will generate an Overlap using the entered size on those edges of the tiles that need an Overlap. The Create Overlap automatically option ensures that the automatic generation is applied by default. By deactivating this option, the Overlap can then be defined individually for each edge of a tile.

5. Deactivate the Create Overlap automatically option [31]. After deactivating this option, the entered Overlap is created for all edges. The Mounting Direction and the number of tiles will be ignored. The Overlap settings therefore will affect each tile.

Figure 10: Deactivating the Create Overlap automatically option automatically adds the defined Overlap on all four sides of the tile.

6. In order to enter individual Overlap values per tile, switch to Tile Mode [29] and then select the first tile.
7. Enter the desired values for the first tile in the Overlap settings area [30]. Deactivate the lock symbol to enter individual values for each edge of the tile. The values entered here are automatically applied to all tiles.
8. Then switch to Tile 2 and enter the desired Overlap values for this tile as well. If you enter a value that differs from that of Tile 1, a yellow bubble with a number [33] appears above the Overlap Configurator icon [32]. This indicates the number tiles that contain individual Overlaps.
9. Continue entering Overlap values for the subsequent tiles until you have defined all necessary Overlaps.

Figure 11: The Overlap Parameters panel indicates that in this particular Tiling, three tiles contain individual Overlaps.

10. To see an overview of the Overlap settings for individual Tiles, click on the Overlap Configurator icon [34]. This opens the following dialog in which you can view the values of individual Tile Overlaps.
11. If you still want to make changes, you can also achieve this here. To do this, click on the values for the Tile, which will open a modal dialog in which you can change the values for the selected Tile.

Figure 12: The Overlap Configuration dialog, where you can view a summary of the Overlap values for all Tiles.

12. Click on Save [36] to finalize your changes. By clicking on Cancel [35], previously entered values are retained.

Three new warnings have been implemented in version 1.9.1 which informs the user when certain actions are required. The following new warning messages are displayed:

• Number of drawn objects outside the Impose Sheet – Indicates the number of objects created with the drawing tool that are outside the impose sheet.
• Print Item is overlapping the sheet – Indicates the number of objects that are partially or completely outside the impose sheet. This warns the user when Print Items may not be printed completely.
• Overproduced Print Items – The quantity of overproduced Print Items is displayed per Print Item in this version. Previously, only the sum of overproduced Print Items was displayed in this warning.

Before using Materials for the Zünd cutter with Production Jobs, these Materials must be imported first into the Workflow. To do this, the Zünd - Zünd CutCenter cutter must be created or already exist in the Workflow. When the cutting device is created, a connection to the cutting device software is established via the Host. Only after ensuring the connection to the Host, is it then possible to import Materials. Proceed as follows:

1. Go to the Administration > Cutter Devices menu item.
2. Click + New in the footer of the Devices panel.
3. In the Add Cutter Device dialog, select Zünd CutCenter | Zünd under the Device Type drop-down.
4. Assign a unique Name for the cutting device.
5. Select the Host where the CutCenter software is installed.
6. Select the desired Destination directory where the cutting data will be copied from the Workflow.
7. Fill out all other necessary settings to configure the cutter as needed.

Figure 13: To manage cutting devices, navigate to Administration > Cutter Devices.

With version 1.9.1, two new settings panels: Cutter Materials [37] and Material Info [38] have been added to this view.

After successfully adding the cutter, cutter materials can be imported in the Workflow. Proceed as follows:

1. Navigate to the Administration > Cutter Devices menu item.
2. Select the Zünd CutCenter cutting device.
3. Navigate to the Cutter Materials panel, this option is only currently available for the Zünd cutter.
4. In the footer of the panel, click on the Import Materials button.

Figure 14: Importing cutter Materials from Zünd CutCenter software.

5. Click on OK to start the import process.
6. After importing Materials successfully, they can now be used.

After successfully importing Materials, they can be managed and/or used. The following functions and information is available in this area:

• Import Materials – Using this button, Materials can be imported from the cutter software. If importing several times, only Materials that have not yet been imported or that were previously deleted will be imported again. If the connection to the cutter software cannot be established or it is not started, the process cannot be completed successfully.
• Delete – By pressing the Delete button, the Material selected in the list can be deleted in the Workflow. After it is deleted, it can no longer be used (selected) in the Workflow. When re-importing, Materials that have already been deleted can be re-imported.
• Hide – Using this function, individual cutter Materials can be hidden (made inactive) in this list. Hidden Materials are moved to the end of this list and are dimmed. They cannot be used (selected) in production.
• Show – Materials that were previously hidden in this list can be displayed again by pressing this button. This will list Materials in the correct order by default. Obviously, these Materials can be used again for Production Jobs.
• Material Info – By selecting a Material in the list, additional information about the Material is displayed in the panel next to it. This information is provided by the cutter software and can only be edited there. These properties serve purely as additional information.

Figure 15: The Cutter Materials and Material Info panels for the Zünd Cutter.

After cutter Materials have been successfully imported and the list has been revised, all displayed Materials can be used for Production Jobs in connection with cutting devices. Proceed as follows:

1. Create a new Production Job or open an existing one.
2. Select the desired Output Settings under the Output Settings tab or select the Finishing tab in the Send to Printer dialog.
3. In both places, you can select the Zünd CutCenter cutter with the desired configuration.
4. You can select the desired Cutter Material here if needed.
5. Save the Output Settings and then click on Send to Printer.

When the Production Job is being sent to the printer, the cut file is also created at the same. The Material information is written into this cutting file as well. The cut file is also simultaneously sent to the cutter when the Production Job is being sent to the printer. The cutter software will read the information from the Material and use it internally.

Figure 16: The Output Settings with a Zünd CutCenter cutter selected as well as Cutter Material.

In version 1.9.1, we've added additional FIxups based on requests from customers within the Label and Large Format Segments.

This new Fixup prepares Print Items for Day-and-Night output by adding a white channel and optionally reducing the opacity of the image.

Use case Scenario: Use this Fixup to create a single or double-sided Print Item when printing on the front and back of a transparent substrate, or to prepare a Print Item for day-and-night output. Three different modes are available:

Double sided on transparent substrate

When applying the Fixup to a single-sided Print Item, the parameters shown in the image below will be used to create a double-sided PDF with the same Print Item, where the Print Item on the second side has 80% coverage.

Figure 18: The Fixup allows you to prepare a Print Item on the front and back side when using transparent substrates.

Single sided on opaque substrate (color/white/color)

When applying the Fixup to a  single sided Print Item, by choosing the parameters shown in the image below, a double sided PDF will be created, where:

• The Print Item on the first page and second page remain unchanged, with the exception listed below.
• The Print Item on the second page uses 80% coverage and a 100% overprinted white channel is created.

When applying the Fixup to a double page Print Item, by choosing the parameters shown the image below, a double page PDF will be created where:

• the Print Item on the first page remains unchanged and,
• The Print Item on the second page is created with 80% coverage and a 100% overprinted white channel.

Figure 19: The Fixup allows you to prepare a Print Item for Day and Night output as a single sided Print Item on an opaque substrate (color/white/color).

Custom

The difference compared to the single sided on opaque substrate mode (color/white/color) is that:

• A white channel can also be added to the first page of the PDF
• The image on the second page can be rotated or mirrored.

Figure 20: Custom mode offers even more options and control over how the Fixup affects the pdf.

Options: The description below provides more in depth information.

• Mode: Three different Fixup options are available in this drop-down menu.
  • Double sided on transparent substrate – Prints a single image/Print Item on the front or back side on a transparent substrate.
    • Back Side – Opacity: The Print Item from the first side is applied using the specified percentage.
  • Single sided on opaque substrate (color/white/color) – Either the same or different image should be printed on the front and back sides according to the selected settings and additionally on the back side with a white channel.
    • PageBox – Determine whether the white channel should be created using the ImageBox or ImageBox + Bleed dimensions.
    • Add White To - Determine whether the white channel should be added to the front or back side.
    • Spot Color – Select the Spot Color to be used for the separation in the output. White is typically used here.
    • Tint Value – Specify the Tint Value for the Spot Color.
    • Offset – Specify the defined offset from the PageBox. This will increase or decrease the area of the white channel.
    • Coverage – Set the Coverage of the image to be printed on the back side.
• Custom – The following additional options are also available:
  • Add White Channel – Use this to specify if an additional white channel should be created for the first side of the Print Item.
  • Underlaying Image / Rotate – Rotate the image to be printed on the back side.
  • Mirror – Use this to mirror the Print Item being printed on the reverse side.
• Advanced: This tab provides additional options to apply Spot Color objects to the desired layer according to the conformity of the processing steps to ISO 19593-1.

The Place Spot Color object in the Foreground Fixup works as follows. By choosing a Spot Color, this Spot Color is then placed on the top most layer, additional Spot Colors that are chosen are placed below the first Spot Color hierarchically.

Use case Scenario: Use this Fixup to bring Dielines that have been created in the background of the Print Item to the foreground to make them visible to the user. Also use this Fixup to organize the document structure regarding technical Colors: Thru-cut, Crease, Gluing, Ink-free Zones, etc. For example, if you want to bring a white separation into the foreground as an overprinted object.

Options: Each option is described in more detail below.

• Selection of Spot Color(s): Here you can select all Spot Colors that are contained in the Print Item. If the Fixup is used in a Fixup Chain, all system-wide Spot Colors can be selected here.
• Overprint State: This determines whether Spot Color objects that are moved to the foreground should be overprinted or excluded (Knockout).
• + - Symbol: Click on the + symbol to add additional Spot Colors.

Figure 21: The Fixup Place Spot Color object in the Foreground, with a Dieline selected.

The following Fixups have been improved in version 1.9.1

This Fixup creates a white separation as a Spot Color for all objects selected under »Apply to«. This removes all other image content (except Technical Colors), leaving only the white areas as printing areas.

In this version, the user can select either Printed Objects and Non-Printing Objects under the Apply To drop-down.

Use case Scenario: Use this Fixup to add all printed or all non-printing areas in a Print Item as separation using the selected Spot Color: primer, white or varnish, e.g. to print the white channel on a transparent film.

Options: We describe each option in more detail below.

• Apply to: Choose either:
  • Printed Objects – Creates a Spot Color separation for each pixel, except for white and transparent areas.
  • Non-Printing Objects – Creates a Spot Color separation for non-printing pixels, for white as well as transparent areas.
• Create Spot Color: Select a separation Spot Color.
• Tint Value: Use this to determine the Tint Value for the separation to be created.
• Advanced: You can choose the following parameters under the Advanced tab:
  • Accuracy – Use this option to determine the exactness with regard to calculating the resolution.
  • Layer Name – Specify on which layer the newly created object will be placed.
  • ISO 19593-1 – Define which Group and Type the created object should have conforming to ISO standards.

Figure 22: The Fixup Create White Only Separation contains two tabs.

This Fixup sets the coordinate origin of the Mediabox in the document to 0/0 if this option is enabled in the Workflow settings. This option ensures that print data with the Mediabox coordinates set incorrectly are corrected when uploading data in the Workflow. Follow the steps to enable or disable this option:

1. Navigate to Administration > Settings > General menu item.
2. Locate the Box Options panel
3. If you want the Mediabox origin to be set to 0/0 by default when uploading print data, then check this option.
4. Save your settings

Figure 24: The Box Options, Set Mediabox to Origin 0/0.

This Fixup matches alternate Spot Color values present in a PDF based on the Workflow's system-wide Spot Colors if the option has been enabled in the Workflow's system settings. This option ensures that the Spot Color in the preview of the Print Item matches existing system-wide defined Spot Colors.

Use case Scenario: The PDF file to be produced contains a Spot Color called »CutContour«. This Spot Color was defined in CMYK – 100% Cyan. In the Workflow, a system-wide Spot Color / Technical Color called »CutContour« exists and is defined as CMYK – 100% Magenta. If the Match Alternate Colors to Spot Colors option is enabled, the alternate color values for the Spot Color called »CutContour« are converted to 100% Magenta when the document is uploaded.

Follow the steps to enable or disable this option:

1. Go to the Administration > Settings > Preflight & Fixup menu item.
2. Locate the General Settings panel.
3. Activate the Match Alternate Color to Spot Colors option.
4. Save your settings.

Figure 25: The General Settings panel with the new option Match Alternate Colors to Spot Colors.

When manually creating a Substrate in the Workflow, a display color can be defined and saved. This display color was not stored by default by the system when the Substrate was imported or created via Rest-API. As of this version, a default display color defined as RGB 200/200/200, is also saved for these two variants.

When saving a Tiling Imposition, individual tiles can be split into individual Print Items using the Create separate Article for each Tile option and uploaded to the Workflow. If this option was selected, a Fixup is automatically applied in the background, which removes all elements outside the MediaBox. This subsequently led to problems when using cutting devices. As of this version, this problem is fixed.

In the Workflow, the unit of time specified in days, seconds, etc. which can be seen under Administration > Routines > Edit > Older than days – could previously only be displayed in English (days). In this version, the behavior has been changed and the international abbreviations of these time specifications are used (days = d). From this version onwards, time data will be displayed according to ISO standard - ISO 8601.