In the Settings section of the tab Artboard, the Impose Mode Die Cut  now provides the option to create Double-Sided Output [2]. Once this option is activated, the following settings are available:

• Turn Impose Sheet [3] – Specify whether the Impose Sheet should be flipped (horizontal), turned over (vertical), or not flipped at all.
• Create Markers on [4] – Specify on which side the Marks should be placed.

Figure 2: The tab Artboard with the section Settings

In the Operation Create Impose of a Production Configuration, the option Use Repeat Size from N-Up [5] is now available for the Impose Mode Die Cut. This option is accessible not only in the Impose Editor, but also in the automation environment when placing Print Items in the selected N-Up.

Figure 3: The Operation Create Impose with the option Use Repeat Size from N-Up

The placement algorithm for Shape Nesting in the Impose Editor has been improved in this version so that it now optimizes not only the Height but also the Width of the Nesting. This results in better Substrate utilization, especially when only short Nestings are created.

Starting with this version, a significant reduction in calculation time for determining the possible Bleed between Print Items is provided. This makes processes such as opening, saving, and optimizing an existing Shape Nesting considerably faster.

Starting with this version, the Bleed of a Print Item is no longer included in the calculation for generating a warning about the Print Items overlapping beyond the Impose Area.

As a result, the Print Items can be imposed right up to the Imposition's edge [6] without triggering a warning [7] in the Impose Editor.

Figure 4: Print Items with Bleed that are placed up to the edge of the Imposition

The calculation logic has been changed. The Print Item with the lowest quantity now determines the maximum length of a column across one or more Impositions. All other Print Items are produced only up to this length, resulting in underproduction.

In the example shown in the following figure, the first page of the Imposition would be printed 334 times, while the second page of the Imposition would only be printed once. Print Item 1 [8] – with the lowest quantity – would be fully produced, whereas Print Item 2 [9] and Print Item 3 [10] would be underproduced.

Figure 5: The tab Print Items in a Step & Repeat with the strategy Underproduction applied

Starting with version 1.20.2, users can create Hybrid Spot Color Definitions systemwide. There are two possible approaches for creating this Color Type:

Option 1 – systemwide Creation

To create a systemwide Hybrid Spot Color, proceed as follows:

1. Select the menu Color > Spot Colors.
2. Click Add [11].
3. In the dialog Create Spot Color Definition that opens, select the entry Hybrid Color under Type of Spot Color [12].
4. Next, select the corresponding Processing Steps Group [13] and Processing Steps Type to classify the colors according to the ISO standard.
5. Then select the desired Color Mode [14] and enter the preferred color values. These values are only used for visualization purposes and have no effect on the output.
6. Finally, click Save to create the color systemwide.

Figure 6: The dialog Create Spot Color Definition with a Hybrid Color

Option 2 – Creation from a Print Item

To create a Hybrid Spot Color directly from a Print Item, proceed as follows:

1. Navigate to the tab Print Data of a Print Item within an Order, Production Job, or Article.
2. Switch to the settings area Spot Colors.
3. Select the desired Spot Color [15] from the list.
4. Click the icon for Create a systemwide Hybrid Spot Color of the Spot Color [16].

Figure 7: The Spot Colors settings area with the new function for creating Hybrid Spot Colors

5. The dialog Create Spot Color Definition opens, where you can proceed as already described in option 1.
6. To save the Hybrid Color, click Save.

Figure 8: The dialog Create Spot Color Definition

7. By saving, this Spot Color is stored systemwide as a Hybrid Color. Whether you follow the procedure above or simply rename an already existing Spot Color to a Hybrid Color depends on your workflow. However, it is recommended to rename the color rather than creating numerous new Hybrid Colors in the system.
8. In the Spot Colors settings area, separate subsections for Hybrid Colors [18] and Spot Colors [17] are now displayed to maintain an overview.

Figure 9: Detail Information of a Print Item with the division of the Spot Colors setting area

Starting with version 1.20.2, it is now possible for the first time to generate Vision Marks consisting of Inspection Marks (circles) for all used CMYK-OVG and Hybrid Colors, to create Rectangular Marks (black areas) in the defined size, and optionally to add a white background to the Marks. For Vision Marks, you can also set Registration Marks according to the defined position, use of Bearer Bars, generation of Separation Names on the respective Separations, and the creation of additional Captions for Separations.

To place a Vision Hybrid Mark, proceed as follows:

1. Navigate to Automation > Impose Editor.
2. Open the Impose Editor in the desired Impose Mode.
3. In the tab General [19], click Edit [20] on the Impose Sheet Template.
4. In the dialog Sheet Configuration that opens, add the Vision Hybrid Mark [22] under Marks [21].
5. Enable or disable the Bearer Bars [23] – Color bars in the respective Hybrid Color.
6. Enable or disable the Separation Name [24] – Name of the respective Hybrid Color.
7. Enable or disable the Captions [25] – Captions can also be defined using placeholders.
8. Enable or disable the Vision Marks [26] – Color Circles for each used Print Color and Hybrid Color – and the option White Background [27].
9. Enable or disable the Registration Marks [28] and define their position by setting the Reference Point [29].

Figure 10: Left: The tab General with the Sheet Configuration; Center: The Sheet Configuration with the Vision Hybrid Marks; Right: The Vision Hybrid Mark in detail

Figure 11: A Step & Repeat with active Vision Hybrid Marks as shown in Figure 10

When Vision Hybrid Marks are used in an Imposition, the Separation for the selected Hybrid Color can now be exported as a PDF. The export includes all Marks, Captions, and the required Y-Distortion.

To do this, proceed as follows:

1. Navigate to Production Jobs > Production Jobs.
2. Select the desired Production Job with an Imposition that includes Hybrid Colors in combination with the Vision Hybrid Mark.
3. Open the tab Impose [30].
4. Click Download Imposition [31].

Figure 12: The tab Impose of a Production Job with Hybrid Colors in the Imposition

5. In the dialog Imposition that opens, enable the checkbox Hybrid Colors [32].
6. Use the checkbox to select the Separations that should be downloaded as PDF.
7. Enter the Distortion [33] to be applied to the vertical axis – this value is provided by the die maker.
8. Click Download to save the Imposition with the Hybrid Colors locally.

Figure 13: The dialog Download Imposition with the option to export Hybrid Colors with Distortion

The Separation with the applied Distortion would look as shown in the following example.

Figure 14: Export of a Hybrid Color with Vision Hybrid Marks