Since version 1.12.0, the static content may be dimmed in the VDP Editor in order to quicker recognize where variable elements are located. As of this version, a percentage value on the strength of the dim for the static elements can be defined. Proceed as follows:

1. Open the VDP Editor settings dialog - see figure 1.
2. Define the desired percentage value in the input field Dim static content by.
3. Save the chose parameters.
4. To dim the static content active the option Dim Static Content [2] - see figure 2.

Depending on the file format as well as the file size of the images used for variable image elements, the available memory in the browser may overflow very quickly when displaying the preview. To avoid this, two additional options are available in the VDP Editor Settings dialog.

• Maximum file size in MB for calculating the preview: Determine up to which file size preview images are calculated for the variable images. If an image has more than the set file size, the dummy preview (placeholder image) is displayed in the browser. In the output, of course, the high-resolution data is used.
• Show only dummy preview: Specify that only placeholder images are used in the preview for variable images. By enabling this option operators can act faster when setting up the variable elements. In the output the high-resolution data is used.

The icons for the VDP Object Creation Tools have been updated in this version, so that it is clear that these tools can also be linked to variable data - changing the color values for surface and shape.

Figure 3: The toolbar of the VDP Editor with the VDP Object Creation tools expanded and new icons added

As of version 1.12.2 the Blend Mode can be defined for objects created in the VDP Editor. This enhancement affects the VDP Rectangle tool, VDP Ellipse tool and the VDP Path tool. To define the Blend Mode, proceed as follows:

1. Open the VDP Editor.
2. Activate one of the above mentioned tools and create a variable element.
3. Select the created object on the artboard.
4. Activate the Format [8] tab.
5. In Blend Mode [7] select the desired mode.

Figure 4: The Format tab for VDP Object Creation tools with the Blend Mode menu expanded.

As of this version, six options for Shape Nesting are available in the Shape Nesting area. These options make it easier to prepare the print data for Shape Nesting and improve the accuracy of the calculation for Shape Nesting.

The following settings are available from version 1.12.2 in Administration > Settings > Impose Editor > Shape Nesting Options:

• Spot Color - The selected Spot Color is automatically applied when the Shape Nesting path is created. This option is used in the following situations:
  • When the Prepare for Shape Nesting option is enabled in the Shape Nesting options settings area of the tab Impose Editor in Administration > Settings.
  • When the Prepare Print Item for Shape Nesting option is activated in the footer of the Technical Colors settings area in the Print Data tab of the Print Items detail view.
  • When Shape Nesting is started in the Impose Editor.
• Prepare for Shape Nesting - After uploading the Print Item to the Workflow, the item is automatically prepared for Shape Nesting. This happens as soon as the selected spot color is found in the Print Item.
• Simplification - TBD
• Corner Type - thereby, it is determined how pointed corners are created after the offset is done.  Corners may appear pointed (mitered), rounded or flattened by default.
• Miter Limit - thereby, the point at which the miter is automatically flattened is set.  A miter limit of 2 flattens pointed corners relatively quickly. A higher miter limit sometimes results in very long, unacceptable peaks.
• TSN Offset Curve Tolerance - This option is only valid for rounded corners. Since lines can never create perfect curves, this parameter specifies the maximally acceptable inaccuracy (tolerance) when curves are created in an offset operation. Smaller values increase the "roundness" up to a certain point, but at the cost of performance and the higher number of path points to construct the rounded corner.

Figure 5: The Shape Nesting Options setting area of the Impose Editor tab in Administration > Settings

Before it is possible to apply Shape Nesting to a Print Item in the Workflow, a path must be created therefor. Before version 1.12.2, this path had to be created manually by executing a separate function. As of this version, the path can also be created automatically. At the following points in the Workflow, the Shape Nesting path can be created or determined automatically or manually:

Version 1: Create automatically at the Check-in

Proceed as follows:

1. Navigate to the menu Administration > Settings > Impose Editor.
2. Activate the option Prepare for Shape Nesting in the settings area Shape Nesting Options of the Impose Editor tab (see figure 5).
3. In the dropdown menu Spot Color choose the desired Technical Color which should be used as path for the placement in the Shape Nesting (see figure 5).
4. Save the settings.
5. Upload a Print Item which already contains a Dieline in the previously selected Spot Color.

When the Prepare for Shape Nesting option has been activated and the selected technical color is included in the document at the time of check-in, then preparation for Shape Nesting will be performed during check-in. Thereby, all necessary data for Shape Nesting will be generated.

Version 2: Create automatically in the Print Item or Article dialog

Proceed as follows:

1. Navigate to the menu Administration > Settings > Impose Editor.
2. Deactivate the Prepare for Shape Nesting option in the Shape Nesting options setting area of the Impose Editor tab (see Figure 5).
3. In the dropdown menu Spot Color choose the desired Technical Color which should be used as path for the placement in the Shape Nesting (see figure 5).
4. Save the settings.
5. Create a new Article or a new Print Item in the Create-dialog in the context of an Article, Order or Production Job .
6. Activate the option Prepare for Shape Nesting in the options tab.
7. Complete the procedure.

In the Create Article or Create Print Item dialogs, the system setting for the Prepare for Shape Nesting option, if not checked within the dialog, can still be executed. This is possible if the Spot Color set in the settings is included in the document at the time of check-in.

Figure 6: The Create Article dialog with the new option Prepare for Shape Nesting

Version 3: Create manually in the Article or Print Item detail view

Proceed as follows:

1. Open an Article or Print Item in the Print Item detail view.
2. Choose the Print Data tab and scroll to the settings area Technical Colors.
3. In the settings area select the desired Spot Color which should be used for creating the Shape Nesting path.
4. Activate the Prepare Print Item for Shape Nesting function [9]  in the footer of the area.

By activating the function, a process is started, which generates all necessary data for the Shape Nesting. After the process has been completed successfully, the Shape Nesting can be started or created in the Impose Editor.

Figure 7: The settings area Technical Colors with the option to prepare for Shape Nesting

Version 4: Create manually in the Print Items list of the Impose Editor

Proceed as follows:

1. Open the Impose Editor in a Production Job or in Automation > Impose Editor.
2. Change to the Impose Mode Nesting.
3. In the panel Artboard Settings [10] choose Settings [11] in the Settings area, in the dropwdown menu Imposition based on [12] the entry Shape + Bleed.  
4. If required, enter an additional distance in Spacing between Shape [13] in the Nesting Options setting area.

Figure 8: The Artboard Settings tab with the setting areas Settings and Nesting Options

5. Switch to the Print Item tab [14].

6. Activate the Prepare for Shape Nesting  [15] function for the corresponding Print Items. In case that there are more Print Items in the Imposition this step must be conducted for each Print Item separately.

Figure 9: The Print Item tab with the corresponding symbol to prepare a Print Item for Shape Nesting

7. Choose the desired Technical Color in the dialog, which should be used for creating a Shape Nesting path.

8. Press Apply in order to start the preparation of the Print Item for Shape Nesting.

Figure 10: The Prepare for Shape Nesting dialog in the Impose Editor

Version 5: Automatically at the start of the Shape Nesting

Proceed as follows:

1. Open the Impose Editor in a Production Job or in Automation > Impose Editor
2. Change to the Imposition mode Nesting
3. In the Artboard Settings panel choose in the area settings in the dropdown menu Imposition based on the option Shape + Bleed
4. Activate the Start Shape Nesting button

By activating the Start Shape Nesting button all Print Items are checked in terms of whether they are already prepared for Shape Nesting. The following actions are conducted:

• Print Items which aren't prepared yet, will be prepared based on the system settings (see fig. 4). When another Technical Color should be used, manual preparation must take place.
• Print Items which were already prepared will be checked on whether a new preparation is necessary - e.g. change of size after initial preparation. When the preparation is not up-to-date anymore the corresponding Print Item is prepared again based on the system settings (see fig. 4).

Figure 11: Automatical preparation of Print Items when starting a Shape Nesting

The Shape Nesting process is divided into the following six steps:

1. Launching the Shape Nesting.
2. Calculating the Shape Nesting Path (in case it is not available or deprecated).
3. Calculating the first Shape Nesting.
4. Evaluating the outcome of the first Shape Nesting and taking decisions for further steps.
5. Conducting an optimization.
6. Saving the desired optimized version.  

Step 1 + 2 + 3: Start and create Shape Nesting

After the Print Items have been prepared automatically or manually (see section Preparing Print Data for Shape Nesting the Shape Nesting can be created. Proceed as follows:

1. Create a Production Job with the desired Print Items and choose the suiting Output Configuration.
2. Open the Impose Editor in the Nesting Impose mode.
3. Define the desired number of copies per Print Item.
4. In the Artboard Settings are choose in the settings area settings in the dropdown menu Imposition based on the entry Shape + Bleed.
5. If necessary enter an additional spacing in Spacing between Shape in the settings area Nesting Options.
6. Before starting the calculation set the needed settings for Marks, Captions, Dielines etc.
7. Activate the Shape Nesting.
8. It is possible to terminate the started process at any given time by clicking on the Cancel Shape Nesting symbol [20].

An asynchronous process starts which prepares the Print Items (where necessary) initially or anew. Subsequently the Shape Nesting is calculated. Occasionally this can take some time.

Figure 12: The progress of the calculation is shown by a process bar

Step 4: Assess first result and take further steps

Once the first version of the Shape Nesting has been created and is displayed in the Impose Editor, the Imposition may either be optimized, saved or reset.

• Reset: In case the Impose settings or cutter devices or similar changes which influence the geometry of the Imposition must be adapted, the Shape Nesting must be reset.  Only then Impose settings may be taken anew.  In order to reset the Shape Nesting confirm the therefore provided button [22].
• Save: If the result already meets your expectations, you can save the result by selecting Save in the Impose Editor menu bar and close the Impose Editor.
• Optimize: If the result does not yet meet your expectations, you can improve the result by clicking Start Optimization [21].

Figure 13: First version of the Shape Nesting

Step 5:  Start Optimization

When the result of the first version of the Shape Nesting is to be improved, Shape Nesting can be optimized. Proceed as follows:

1. Activate the Start Optimization button [21] (fig. 13).
2. Wait until the result of the Imposition is created.
3. It is possible to switch between the different results by selecting the respective optimization result [24].
4. The started optimization process may be cancelled anytime [23] when you perceive the version as the optimum.
5. The optimization is automatically terminated when no better results can be generated or the given optimization time has expired or the maximum number of iterations has been reached. Find more details therefor in section 2.3.3. Optimization of Nestings of the release notes of version 1.8.0.

Figure 14: Optimization of the Shape Nesting is performed or calculated

Step 6: Save the desired version

As soon as the result of the Shape Nesting or the optimized Shape Nesting has been calculated satisfactorily, you can save the Imposition. When, for whatever reason, an earlier optimization result [26] suits your production better, you can select it and then follow the familiar procedure for saving the Shape Nesting. When you save, the selected version is saved so that this version can be displayed immediately when you open the program again without having to perform a new calculation.

In case you should have any adjustment concerning the Nesting settings this may be done anytime by clicking on Reset Optimization [25].

Figure 15: Selecting an Optimization Result and save

To remove sheet duplicates in a multi-page nesting proceed as follows:

1. Open the Impose Editor in Nesting mode.
2. Create a multi-page Nesting with several Print Items of the desired number of copies per Print Item. Only when accordingly large quantities are needed there is a probability of sheet duplicates - thereby the number as well as the geometry of the imposed Print Item is identical.

Figure 16: Page 1 of a multi-page Nesting - 6 pages

2. Switch to the Artboard Settings tab.

3. In the settings area Settings activate the Remove Sheet duplicates in the Nesting option.

4. When sheet duplicates are found, the total number of Imposition sheets is reduced. The corresponding number, thus how often the sheet needs to be printed, is displayed in the upper corner of the Imposition.

5. Save the Imposition.

Figure 17: Page 1 after removing the sheet duplicates with the corresponding display how often the sheet needs to be printed

In the course of the development of the Remove Sheet Duplicates in the in Nesting function, the Impose tab in the Production Job has been revised. Thereby, the tab has been expanded with additional information, providing the user with information needed for production.

Figure 18: The Impose tab of the previously described Production Job example

As of version 1.12.2 information regarding the tabs Print Item Overview and Production Job Overview are separately calculated and displayed:

In the course of the development of the Remove Sheet duplicates in the Nesting function, the Send to printer dialog has also been extended to include the information described above regarding the Print Item Overview and the Production Job Overview. In addition, the page range [39] for outputting a multi-page Production Job has been revised.

Figure 21: The General tab of the Send to Printer dialog with new additional information as well as the adapted specification of the Pages area

All information that is displayed in the Impose tab of the Production Job (see Figure 19 and Figure 20) is also listed in the Send to Printer dialog. The difference to the information in the Impose tab is that in the Send to Printer dialog, the values are calculated and displayed depending on the selected Pages [39] and Copies [38]:

• Copies [38] - determines the number of times the Imposition should be output. All values already calculated in the Print Item Overview and the Production Job Overview are multiplied by this number.
• Pages: All/From-To [39] – When All pages are sent to the printer, then the individual Imposition sheets are rendered and the number of copies per Imposition sheet calculated in the Imposition are sent to the printer in the job ticket. However, if a page range is selected, then each Imposition sheet in the page range will be rendered and sent to the printer with the number 1 in the Job Ticket unless you have changed the number of copies.

The search and filter area offers the following options:

• Full text search - Using the full text search, you can search for specific keywords to find the desired checks or fixups more quickly. The full text search is available in the left area [42] - search for available checks and Fixups - and in the right area [50] - search for active checks and Fixups.
• Type - The list can also be filtered by type. The list can be pre-filtered by checks and Fixups [45], by Fixups [46] or by checks [47]. Types are available for filtering in the left - search for available checks and Fixups - and in the right - search for active checks and Fixups.
• Tags - checks and Fixups are assigned to certain groups so that users can also use them to narrow down the list of available checks and Fixups more quickly. Tags are available in the left [43] - search for available checks and Fixups - and in the right [51] - search for active checks and Fixups. The following tags - an entry can have several tags - are currently available:
  • Document – filters for checks and Fixups that address common document-related issues such as Document is encrypted, Document is damaged, Complex Content Stream, Remove content of invisible layers, etc.
  • Object – filters for checks and Fixups that address object-related issues such as Object is set to knockout, Object is set to overprint, Transparency used etc.
  • Page – filters for checks and fixups that address page-related issues such as Page is empty, Page scaling factor used, Page size and/or orientation not equal, Apply rotation factor, etc.
  • Font – filters for checks and fixups that address font-related issues such as Embed missing fonts, Remove additional encoding for TrueType fonts etc.
  • Color – filters for checks and fixup that address color-related issues such as uses Lab, uses device dependent RGB (DeviceRGB), Spot Color Name is equal to Process Color Name, Transparency blend color space is not DeviceCMYK, Convert spot color names, Make Spot Color names consistent, etc.
  • Image – filters for checks and fixups that address image-related issues such as Resolution of bitmap image lower than defined, Image is overprint, Image uses ICC-tagged RGB, Image uses ICC-tagged Gray, Discard OPI information, etc.
  • Text – filters for checks and fixup that address text-related issues such as Text is smaller than, White text is not set to knockout, Text is overprint, Text- or Vector object uses device dependent RGB (DeviceRGB), Substitute characters using .notdef glyph with space characters, etc.
  • Page Box –filters for checks and fixup that address Page Box-related issues such as Auto-correct nesting of page geometry boxes, Objects Outside MediaBox, Set MediaBox to origin, etc.
  • Page content – filters for checks and fixups that address page content-related issues such as Comments inside the print area, Set initial view, Remove page scaling factor, Discard all JavaScripts, Discard embedded PostScript
  • Layers – filters for checks and fixups that address layer-related issues such as removing content of invisible layers, etc.
  • PDF/X-1a – filters for checks and fixups that address PDF/X1a-related issues such as Discard all JavaScripts, Discard OPI information, Embed missing fonts, Contains ICC based RGB text and/or vector objects, Transparency used, etc
  • PDF/X-3 – filters for checks and fixups that address PDF/X3-related problems such as Discard all JavaScripts, Discard OPI information, Font is not embedded, Transparency used, etc.
  • PDF/X-4 – filters for checks and fixups that address PDF/X4-related issues such as JavaScripts, Discard OPI information, Font is not embedded, Transparency used, etc.
  • PDF/X-6 – filters for checks and fixups that address PDF/X6 related issues such as JavaScripts, Discard OPI information, Font is not embedded, Transparency used, etc.
  • Lift-ERP – filters for checks and fixup that address Lift ERP-related issus such as automatic scaling of the Print Item to a certain size incl. allowed distortion, comparison of barcode content in PDF with an expected value etc.
• Check-in template [49] – in this drop-down menu all user-defined check-in templates are provided. By default, two templates -
• Default Preflight and Workflow Minimal Preflight - are provided after installation. All other templates can be created, saved and used user-defined. By selecting a check-in template, the list of all active checks and fixups is displayed updated. An asterisk * at the end of the name indicates that the current list of active checks has been edited.

In the list of available checks and Fixups [44] all checks and Fixups are available which can be selected for a check-in template. Each entry in the list represents an available check or Fixup. The symbol in front of it indicates whether it is a check or a Fixup. The icons below it describe the assigned tags, which can be used for filtering.

Clicking the Add button [48] moves the check or Fixup to the list of active checks and Fixups.

The list of active checks and Fixups [55] contains all checks and Fixups that are active for a check-in template and are used for checking or fixup application during the check-in. Each entry in the list represents an active check or Fixup. All checks can be declared as info, warning or error [52], which are reported after check-in.

By expanding a check or Fixup [54], details can be displayed or further settings can be made. By pressing Delete [53] an active check or Fixup can be deactivated again.

Three different severity levels - Info, Warning and Error - can be defined for checks. These levels will eventually be displayed in the check results after a document has been checked in, if the check has been executed and triggered. Follow the steps to define the severity levels:

1. Navigate to the menu Administration > Settings.
2. Activate the Preflight / Fixup tab.
3. In the Preflight Profile area select the Default Preflight and Fixup with the V2 auxiliary
4. Activate the Edit Check-in Templates button in the footer.
5. Navigate to the list of all active checks and Fixups to checks or activate the filter to only display checks.
6. Click the set severity level [56] - Info = Blue; Warning = Yellow; Error = Red.
7. Select the desired severity level from the list.
8. Save your settings by creating a new template or by overwriting an already existing template.

Figure 25: The Edit check-in templates dialog with its expanded list of severity levels

After check-in templates have been configured or created in the Workflow, they can also be used in the Workflow. Before that, the template to be used must be defined as the default. Follow these steps to do so:

1. Navigate to the menu Administration > Settings.
2. Activate the Preflight / Fixup tab.
3. In the Preflight Profile area select the Default Preflight and Fixup with the V2 auxiliary
4. Activate the Edit Check-in Templates button in the footer.
5. Create user-defined check-in templates in case this hasn't been done yet.
6. Select the to be used check-in template in the dropdown menu [57].
7. Subsequently save the dialog in order to save the template as default in the Workflow.

Figure 26: The Edit Check-in templates dialog with set Check-in Template

After check-in templates have been configured or created in the Workflow, they can also be deleted from the Workflow again. Proceed as follows:

1. Navigate to the menu Administration > Settings.
2. Activate the Preflight / Fixup tab.
3. In the Preflight Profile area select the Default Preflight and Fixup with the V2 auxiliary
4. Activate the Edit Check-in Templates button in the footer.
5. Create user-defined check-in templates in case this hasn't been done yet.
6. Select the to be deleted check-in template in the dropdown menu [57].
7. Activate the Delete button
8. Confirm the dialog.

Figure 27: Delete already created Check-in Templates

While in the tabs Done and Error only entries of a certain time period are displayed - this can be set in Administration > Settings > General - the new History tab displays all activities that have been completed so far or that have run into errors. This allows operators to access error messages that occurred a long time ago.

Figure 28: The History tab of the Activities dialog

In the In progress tab, the following information is available from this version:

• Numbering [58] – each process is counted and numbered. This number is displayed across all Workflows.
• Workflow type [59] – Workflows of different types - calculate ink consumption; check-in; send to printer etc. - are visualized with an icon in order to better assign them.
• Element Name [60] – defines which element - e.g.: Article, Production Job, Color Setup, etc. - is processed.
• Current process step [61] – as soon as information about the current process step is available, it is displayed in this line and updated when the process changes.
• Start time / End time / Duration [62] – defines when this process was started and finished and how long the process took in total.
• Cancel Process [63] – by pressing this button the process will be terminated immediately. There is no need to accept a confirmation dialog.
• Log [64] – Pressing this button opens the current log entries for this process. This can be used for error analysis.

Figure 29: The In Progress tab of the Activities window

In the Queued tab, the following information is available from this version:

• Number of processes per Workflow type [65] - defines how many processes of this type - e.g. Check in, Send to printer, Calculate ink cost, etc.- are currently in the queue at the same time. Processes within a Workflow type can be hidden by pressing the Collapse button.
• Workflow type name [66] - describes the Workflow type. All processes of the same type are displayed grouped in the list.
• Process prioritization [67] - this option allows to prioritize the processes within a Workflow type in order to bring forward urgent processes. You can learn more about it in the next section.
• Cancel process [68] - pressing this button will terminate the process immediately. There is no need to accept a confirmation dialog.

Figure 30: The Queued tab of the Activities Monitor

In the Done tab, the following information is available from this version:

• Numbering [58] (Figure 29) – each process is counted and numbered. This number is displayed across all Workflows.
• Workflow type [59] (Figure 29) – Workflows of different types - calculate ink consumption; check-in; transfer to printer etc. - are visualized with an icon to better assign them.
• Element name [60] (Figure 29)  – defines which element - e.g.: Article, production Job, Color Setup, etc. - is processed.
• Current process step [61] (Figure 29)  – as soon as information about the current process step is available, it is displayed in this line and updated when the process changes.
• Start time / End time / Duration [62] (Figure 29)  – defines when this process was started and finished and how long in total the process lasted.
• Cancel process [63] (Figure 29)  – by pressing this button the process will be terminated immediately. There is no need to accept a confirmation dialog.
• Log [64] (Figure 29) – Pressing this button opens the current log entries for this process. This can be used for error analysis.
• Show details [69] –by activating the option, time designation will be hidden.
• Delete entry [70] – pressing this button removes the corresponding entry from the list.
• Reset list (delete record) [71] – by pressing this option the complete list will be reset.

Figure 31: The Done tab of the Activities Monitor

In this version, the same information is available in the Errors tab as in the Done tab. The only difference is that only errors that occurred during the processing of individual processes are listed here.

Figure 32: The Error tab of the Activities monitor

This Data Preparation removes and crops vectors and images that extend beyond the selected area, thus eliminating unnecessary data with regard to further processing. The user can crop protruding objects over a selected page geometry frame, over masked areas, and over shape Xobjects (referencing a subject in Step & Repeat).

Users should use this Fixup for the following circumstances:

• Detaching rectangular Print Items from vectors that extend beyond the BleedBox. Thereby, no objects in the Print Item extend into another Print Item in the Imposition. This can significantly reduce RIP time when used in conjunction with the EHVD/IHVD option in the HHR RIP.
• Cleaning up already finished Step & Repeat Impositions from third-party systems (ESKO Automation Engine, etc.) that did not place correctly trimmed Print Items repeatedly in the Imposition. Thus, no no clean trimmed Form-X objects on the Imposition were created. In any case, activate the Form XObject (BBox) option.
• In the case of large Print Items divided into tiles, where, for example, the Dieline extends beyond the Print Item (tile). Open paths can also be closed automatically in this case. Thereby, the cutting of tiles can be mapped correctly.

Figure 36: The Data Preparation Remove overlapping Vectors and Images

Until now, when the bleed was created along an irregular shape, the printing part of a Print Item - functioning was changed in such a way that the bleed is created only along a selected spot color - e.g.: Dielines and such like. This ensures that no bleed is generated for transparent areas within the Print Item, which in some cases has led to unexpected results.

Thus, the user can only create a bleed for an irregular shape if the necessary Dieline for this irregular shape has been created beforehand. For this purpose Create Bleed on Irregular Shape is a suitable Fixup

Figure 37: The Create Bleed on Irregular Shape fixup