In this article you will learn
- which tools and functions are offered when using Fixups for Data Preparation in the Workflow
- which Fixup options are available in the Workflow
- how to create and make Fixups available in the Workflow
- how individual Fixups can be combined via Fixup Chains
- how to locate and apply Fixups
- how to create and apply Fixup Chains
- how Fixups and Fixup Chains can be adressed in the Workflow via the RestAPI
1. General
Print data are often created by a person without knowing for which purpose the print file should be output. After taking a closer look at the print data, certain facts can be established:
- The print data isn't prepared for digital printing, e.g., the white separation is missing.
- The print data hasn't been delivered in the correct size or format, e.g., many content creation programs cannot create files larger than 5 meters.
- Cutting information for the print data is delivered in a separate file. Typically in digital printing, it is better when both print data and cutting information are contained in a single file.
- The print data have been created for offset printing concerning color output. Typically in digital printing, black areas should be created using deep black to compensate for the deficiencies inherent in black inks used in digital printing.
- When creating the print data, Spot Colors are converted to CMYK. Typically, in digital printing, color values can be adjusted more precisely in the output if they are available as Spot Colors.
- The required bleed may be missing in the original file and this often has to be created manually by prepress specialists.
The correction of the print data via a single Fixup or the execution of several Fixups via a Fixup Chain is therefore necessary in many cases. A Fixup is a process instruction that searches for certain constellations of objects and then corrects them according to predefined values. A Fixup Chain is the process of stringing together Fixups in a specific sequence. Fixup Chains are compiled, parameterized, saved and applied to selected Print Items or Articles in the Workflow based on the available Fixups.
Fixups and Fixup Chains can be used to automatically optimize print products and prepare them for output and finishing without having to resort to other tools. You won't want to miss out on the automation and time savings in the pre-press stage.
2. Accessing Fixups
As you can see from the list before the introduction, Fixups are available in different areas of the Workflow but also via external tools. An overview of the individual options are described below.
2.1. "Print Data" tab
The Print Data tab is available in the Article, Order, and Production Job menu items. Double-click an entry in the respective list view to access this tab. Afterward, a detailed view of the respective Article or Print Item will be displayed automatically. The tab contains different areas containing detailed information on various topics.
Each area consists of a footer bar in which the most common Fixups [1] are listed, according to functions, allowing quick user access.
Figure 1: The Print Data tab is visible when double-clicking on an Article in the list.
Note the following for the Fixup options in the footer:
- Icons which are accompanied by an arrow [2] represent a group of functions. By clicking on the icon, all available Fixups that belong to this group are displayed in the drop-down menu. By selecting an entry, a dialog opens in which the desired parameters for that Fixup can be selected.
- Icons which are not accompanied by an arrow [3] apply a single Fixup. By clicking on the icon a dialog is opened, in which the desired options and settings can be selected.
- All other Fixups, which are not offered in this view, are available for selection via the Data Preparation tab. However, if certain Fixups are used more often, it is possible to mark these Fixups as favorites, which can then be selected via the Favorites [4] icon for quick access.
Figure 2: The icons representing different Fixup options visible under the Document Information and User-defined Fields area.
2.2. "Data Preparation" tab
The Data Preparation tab is available in the Article, Order and Production Job menu items, by double clicking on an entry in the respective list view and then clicking on the Data Preparation tab. Here you will find all available predefined Fixups and checks that can be applied to Print Items. You can also access your own uploaded Custom Fixups in the Workflow.
Figure 3: The Data Preparation tab visible in the detailed view of an Article.
The Data Preparation tab is divided into the following areas:
- Filter [5] - is used to search for the desired Fixups. You can find more information on searching for Fixups in the article Finding Fixups.
- Fixups [6] - By default, all available Fixups in the Workflow are listed in alphabetical order in this area. You can find out what the individual Fixups do and how they should be used in the Articles in the Standard Fixups section.
- Custom Fixups [7] - Your own uploaded Fixups are displayed in this area. You can find out how to create and upload your own Fixups in the articles in the Create and upload your own Fixups section.
2.3. Uploading Print Data using the »New« action
If you upload a print file in the Workflow as an Article or Print Item in either a Production Job or an Order using the New command in the action bar, you have the option of applying a previously defined Fixup Chain to the file during upload under the File Properties tab in the Article or in the Print Item tab in Production Job or Order. To do this, select the desired Fixup Chain [8] in the selection list.
Figure 4: The File Properties tab in the Create Article dialog.
Apply a single Fixup?
Applying a single Fixup when uploading print data is not possible. However, if you still want to apply a single Fixup, the solution is simply to create your own Fixup Chain which contains the desired Fixup.
2.4. Force Print
If you upload print data to the Workflow via Force Print, you can also apply a previously defined Fixup Chain under the Data Preparation [9] settings panel. To do this, select the desired Fixup Chain [10] in the drop-down list.
Figure 5: Fixup Chains can also be applied to uploaded print files when using the Force Print option in the Workflow.
2.5. Hotfolder
If you upload print data to the Workflow via a Hotfolder, you can use the Process Parameter [11] tab to apply a previously defined Fixup Chain to the print data when uploading. To do this, select the desired Fixup Chain [12] in the drop-down list.
Figure 6: The Process Parameter tab visible in the Hotfolder Setup dialog with the option of applying a Fixup Chain.
2.6. Fixup Chains
If you want to configure a Fixup Chain, create and save the Fixup Chain in the Administration menu in the Fixup Chains tab by clicking on the Add button [13]. Open the Edit dialog in the Added Fixups area by clicking on the Edit button [14] and add the desired Fixups as usual using the "+" button [15]. In the right-hand area, you can select the desired settings [16] for each individual Fixup.
Figure 7: The Configure Fixup Chain dialog, where the user can add Fixups as needed.
2.7. Action Bar
By selecting either individual or multiple Articles/Print Items in a list, the commands Apply Fixup [17] and Apply Fixup Chain [18] can be accessed in the Action bar via the Process menu.
Figure 8: The Process button is visible in the action bar.
After clicking on Apply Fixup [17], the Apply Fixup to selected Article(s) dialog will open, where you can search, select and apply Fixups. There are different ways the user can search for Fixups:
- Filter [19] – Entering key words displays results based on the words used which are relevant to Fixups in the Workflow.
- Category [20] – By selecting a Category: Colors, Fonts, Images, Layers, LFP, Objects, Page Boxes, Page Content or Pages. The displayed Fixup list is then filtered according to the Category entered.
- Action [21] – By selecting an Action: Add, Apply, Change, Clip, Compress, Convert, etc. The displayed Fixup list is then filtered according to the Action selected.
- Show Favorites Only [22] – By selecting this option you can limit the displayed Fixup list to only the Fixups that have been marked as Favorites.
Figure 9: The Apply Fixup to selected Article(s) dialog.
2.8. Hotfolder XML-Jobticket
If Production Jobs based on an XML job ticket need to be created via Hotfolder, Fixups can be applied to individual Print Items contained in the Production Job by adding the automationKey. For more information, please refer to the article Hotfolder XML job ticket.
Fixup are not fully parameterizable
Please note that although several Fixups and a Fixup Chain can be applied to individual Print Items in an XML job ticket, it is only possible to set the parameters with which the Fixup is to be executed to a limited extent. The following rules are applied:
- A Fixup Chain is always executed with the parameters that are stored in the Fixup Chain.
- In some Fixups, selected parameters can be saved as templates. If you transfer the GUID of the template in the XML, the parameters that you have previously saved in a template are transferred at runtime.
- If only a Fixup is transferred in the XML file via the automation key, the default values in the XML file of the Fixup are applied at runtime.
2.9. REST API
If Fixups or Fixup Chains need to be applied to Articles or print Items by a leading system (ERP/MIS), this action can be performed via corresponding Rest calls by using the appropriate automationKey. For more information, please refer to the Rest API documentation in the Fixups subsection.
3. Fixups with Adobe Illustrator®
Print data can also be corrected using Adobe Illustrator®. To do this, on the one hand you can download the current Print Item from the Workflow, edit it in the editor of your choice (e.g.: Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Acrobat Pro) and upload it to the Workflow again, or depending on which license you obtain, the Adobe Illustrator® Plug-in is available to you, with which you can directly access the print data in the Workflow. In addition to numerous other functions, the Plug-in also offers options where the user can make certain corrections.
For more information on the Adobe Illustrator Plug-in, see the Adobe Illustrator article.
Availability of the Adobe Illustrator plug-in
Note that the Adobe Illustrator plug-in won't be advanced as of January 2023. The plug-in will be offered for the last time for Workflow Version 1.15.0 in conjunction with Adobe Illustrator 2022 for macOS and Windows.
However, you can continue to use the plug-in with future Workflow versions and Adobe Illustrator 2022 at your own risk. Feature upgrades or bug fixes will no longer be offered!
For VDP users, the VDP Editor has been available in the browser since version 1.14.0. A change should therefore be planned in time. For editing PDF data, the PDF Editor application is available, which also provides a bidirectional interface to the Workflow for checking in and checking out print data.
With these changes, a consistent workflow is maintained. Additional licensing costs for Adobe Illustrator are therefore no longer required.
4. PDF Editor
Print data can also be analyzed and edited in the PDF Editor of the Workflow. You can read about the Fixup options offered in this application in the PDF Editor manual.
Article update: Workflow 1.17.0 – 02/2024