Shape Nesting algorithm has been extended so that, in addition to horizontal repetitions, vertical repetitions can now also be generated when imposing an irregular shape. Vertical repetitions are often required, in conjunction with the Offcut optimized option, to achieve the most space-efficient imposition possible.

Previously, the algorithm was exclusively designed for horizontal repeats. With vertical orientation, a different algorithm was used as the standard fallback up to this version, which resulted in significantly worse area utilization. Starting with this version, users can now use the vertical orientation in an optimized way as well. The columns are filled from top to bottom and then repeated to the right. The best result is automatically selected in each case.

Proceed as follows to use the new implementation:

1. Navigate to Automation > Impose Editor.
2. Place the desired Print Item with Shape Nesting on the Artboard.
3. In the Artboard [1] tab, under Settings [3], set the option Imposition based on [4] to Shape + Bleed or Bleed.
4. In the Nesting Options, activate the checkbox Offcut optimized [5] to achieve the largest possible remaining area for this Nesting.
5. Then start the Shape Nesting using the corresponding button [2].
6. As can be seen in the result (on the right in the figure), the arrangement has been optimized both horizontally and vertically.

Figure 1: Left: The Artboard before optimization with the respective settings areas; Right: The Shape Nesting as a horizontally and vertically optimized Imposition

Trimming the imposition for subsequent pages in a multi-page Step & Repeat is also possible when the option Continuous Printing [6] is disabled. When Continuous Printing is enabled, all pages of a multi-page Step & Repeat remain the same size, which was also the case up to this version when the option was disabled.

Figure 2: The first page of a multi-page Step & Repeat with the deactivated Continuous Printing option and the activated Trim option for the Height

Figure 3: The last page of a multi-page Step & Repeat ( trimmed in height) with the Continuous Printing option disabled and the Trim option for Height enabled

The following functionality has been introduced or restricted in the "Bound Product" impose mode:

• The multipage sequence of a multipage Print Item can no longer be changed in the Print Item [9] tab.
• In the Print Item tab, a notification is displayed when the number of copies [7] or the dimensions of the ImageBox (IB) [10] differ between the pages.

Figure 4: Left: The Print Items tab with a note about different numbers of Copies; Right: The Print Items tab with a note about different Dimensions

Starting from this version, users can choose between two display modes in the Print Items tab of the Impose Editor.

Proceed as follows to choose between the displays:

1. Navigate to Automation > Impose Editor.
2. Open or create the desired imposition and open the Print Items [11] tab.
3. Choose between the following options:
   • List of each Page [12] – Displays all individual pages across all Print Items. Depending on the impose mode, edit the Dimensions, Scale Factor, and Number of Copies for each page. To do so, click on either Copy or the Scale Factor [13]. This functionality is not available in the Bound Product impose mode.
   • List of each Print Item [14] – Groups multipage Print Items as a single entry. Depending on the impose mode, edit the Dimensions, Scale Factor and Number of Copies for each page. To do so, click on either Copy or the Scale Factor. This functionality is not available in the Bound Product impose mode.

Figure 5: Left: The Print Items tab with the List of each Page section; Right: The Print Items tab with the List of each Print Item section

Inversion 1.22.2, the new mark Bearer Bars is provided for Sheet Templates. With this mark, Bearer Bars can be created for the left and right edges of a Sheet. This also enables outputting separations for conventional impositions via $PRODUCT_NAME_WORKFLOW.

Proceed as follows to create Bearer Bars:

1. Navigate to Automation > Impose Editor.
2. In the General [15] tab, click on the Edit Sheet Configuration [16] icon.
3. In the now open Sheet Configuration dialog, in Marks [17] add the Bearer Bars [18]. Define the appearance and position of the mark using the following settings:
   • Reference Point [19] – Define the Reference Point for the Bearer Bars - the point can be set to left or right.
   • Width [20] – Define the Width of the Bearer Bar.
   • Offset [21] – Define the Offset for Top, Bottom, Left, and Right in this area. This also allows the creation of Bearer Bars that are shorter than the total height.
   • Color Settings [22] – Define the color values for the Bearer Bar here. Choose between CMYK, system-wide defined Spot Colors, and Registration Color. Registration Color is the most practical option in practice.
4. Then click on Save Template to save the Sheet Template.

Figure 6: Left: The General tab with the Sheet Template; Right: The Sheet Configuration dialog with the Mark for Bearer Bars

Starting with version 1.22.2, a JSON file describing the GMI Color Control Stripe can be imported. The import can be performed for the mark Color Control Stripe – Process Colors and used for GMI Verification.

Proceed as follows:

1. Download the pre-built JSON file.
2. Navigate to Automation > Impose Editor.
3. Via the General tab [23] open the Sheet Template [23].
4. Under Marks [26], add the mark Color Control Stripe –Process Colors.
5. Click on Custom Color Patch list [27].
6. Click on the Edit Color Patch list [28] button.
7. In the now open dialog Edit Color Patch list, upload the desired GMI verification via Import [25].
8. Ensure that the JSON file complies with the GMI specifications.
9. Click on Save [29] to apply the settings.

Figure 7: The Edit Color Patch list dialog with the imported JSON file for GMI verification

Starting with this version, the GMI mark – which is required for GMI verification –is available in the Impose Editor. The mark is available in the Marks tab for both the Impose Sheet Template and the Impose Sheet Template.

The following options are available exclusively for the GMI Mark in the Marks tab of an Impose Template – except Reference Points:

• Origin [30] – Use this to define the origin. In the dropdown menu, choose between Per Print Item, Print Items, Artboard, or Sheet. In Step Repeat imposition mode, the additional entries Per Row and Last Row are also available.
• Horiz. Origin [31] – Use this to define the horizontal origin. In the dropdown menu, choose between Print Items, Artboard, or Sheet.
• Position [32] – Use this to define the Position for the mark. In the dropdown menu, choose between ImageBox or ImageBox + Bleed.
• Reference Points [37] – Use this to define the Reference Point for the GMI Mark.

The following options are available for the GMI Mark in the Settings area:

• Start with Row / Repeat [33] – Both values are only available in the Marks tab of the Impose Template. They can only be specified when the Per Row entry is selected as the origin.
• Stroke Width [34] – Here, you can define the Stroke Width of the lines in the mark. The default value is 0.25 pt.
• Width / Height [35] – Here, you can define the Width and Height of the mark. The default values are 4 mm.
• Offset [36] – Here you can define the offset to the selected Origin.

The following options are available for the GMI Mark in the Color Settings area:

• Overprint [38] – Activate this option to set the mark to Overprint.
• Background Color [42] – Activate the toggle to change the Background Color of the mark. You can define the mark with a color from CMYK, a system-wide defined Spot Color, or an SVG-defined color.
  • Create background as [39] – Generate the background as Stroke or Fill.
  • Offset [40] – Use this to define the additional offset for the Stroke or Fill.
  • Background should not overlap Origin [40] – Activate this option when the background shouldn't overlap the Origin.

Figure 8: Left: The Settings area in the Marks tab of the GMI Mark; Right: The Color Settings area in the Marks tab of the GMI Mark

New Fixup – Prepare Technical Spot Colors – has been provided. This Fixup enables the user to automatically normalize Technical Spot Colors in a standardized manner when uploading print data. Proceed as follows to add the Fixup to your Check-in Preflight and Fixup Template:

1. Navigate to Administration > Preflight / Fixup > Check-in Preflight and Fixup Templates.
2. Open the desired Check-in Preflight and Fixup Template or create a new template.
3. Activate the Prepare Technical Spot Colors [43] Fixup. By activating the Fixup, the following set of rules is applied:
   1. Split Technical Colors from Multicolor definition (DeviceN) – All technical spot colors that are part of a DeviceN construct are dissolved and subsequently exist as a standalone object in the Print Item.
   2. Remove Technical Spot Colors with a tint of 0%, set to Overprint (Invisible) –All overprinting technical spot colors with a tonal value of 0% are deleted, as these do not affect the print result.
   3. Handling of Technical Colors with a tint of 0%, set to Knockout (White Objects) – For technical spot colors in knockout with a tonal value of 0%, the user can define how to proceed. The following options [44] are available:
      • Convert to White (CMYK 0/0/0/0) so that the object remains knockout in the print.
      • Set to Overprint – Objects become invisible
   4. Set remaining Technical Colors to Overprint – All technical spot colors are set to overprint, as they must always be set to overprint in accordance with the ISO standard for processing steps.
4. Save [45] the Check-in Preflight and Fixup Template.

Figure 9: A Check-in Profile with the Fixup Prepare Technical Spot Colors

In addition to the new Fixup Prepare Technical Spot Colors, checks have been implemented that indicate faulty technical spot colors when uploading print data with the option Preflight only (no correction). The following conditions in the print data are reported as errors:

• Technical spot colors in DeviceN constructs [46]
• Technical spot colors with a tonal value of 100% in knockout
• Overprinting technical spot colors with a tonal value of 0%

For all identified conditions, at least one option for correction [47] is provided to the user.

Figure 10: The Page Information tab displaying an error message

Using the mode Preflight only (no correction), the following error messages are now displayed along with guidance for possible corrections:

• The MediaBox of the page is not set to 0/0 – The MediaBox of the print file is not in the origin. This is required for consistent and error-free processing in the application.
• The Page is rotated using a rotation factor – The print file has a rotation factor, which causes the file to be displayed rotated even though it is not stored as rotated in the original file. To avoid complications in the Impose Editor, the removal of the rotation factor in the application is required.
• Page size and/or orientation not equal – For multi-page print data, it is always assumed that all pages have the same size and orientation - Portrait / Landscape.
• Dieline is defined by a rectangle instead of path elements –Technical lines that were created with the rect operator cannot be used as a dieline for cutter devices. Rectangles must be converted into individual, interconnected dielines so that they can be used for cut flies without restriction.

Reference profile for converting color values – both for Convert to CMYK and for Change Alternate Color – into another color space can be selected for this Fixup. Up to this version, it was not apparent which profile was being used for the conversion.

With the option Change Alternate Color selected, three selection options are now available for the Color Space [48]:

• CMYK - Selection of the CMYK profile for conversion. By default, the system-wide defined CMYK working color space is pre-selected.
• RGB - Selection of the RGB profile for conversion. By default, the system-wide defined RGB working color space is pre-selected.
• LAB - Selection of the LAB profile for conversion.

Figure 11: The dialog of the Fixup Rename, Convert or Remove Spot Colors with the option Change Alternate Color activated

The error message that appears when creating an Automation Job for a Print Item that is taller or wider than the selected Imposition Area, but can be placed by rotation, has been adapted.

Up to this version, it was possible that a Print Item larger than the Imposition Area could still be placed on the imposition by rotation. In this case, the error message "The Print Item is too large for the selected Imposition" was nevertheless displayed.

Starting with this version, the error message "The Print Item is possibly too large for the Imposition: Size of Print Item: Height x Width. Size of Sheet: Height x Width" [49] is displayed during the processing of the Automation Job. After successful processing, the warning disappears again. Therefore, the error apparently does not affect production.

Figure 12: The Validation Result for Automation for Automation Job

Ability to stop an Automation Job with the status User interaction required or Error has been provided. Subsequently, the user is enabled to create a Production Job from this Automation Job.

The generated Production Job contains all Print Items in their current processing state. Please note that the Create Impose operation in the Production Configuration will not be executed, as the Print ltems may not yet be in a production-ready state.

Proceed as follows to create a Production Job from a failed Automation Job:

1. Navigate to Automation > Automation Jobs.
2. Select an Automation Job with the status User interaction required or Error [50].
3. Click on Create Production Job [51] in the toolbar.
4. In the dialog that opens, the name of the Automation Job is pre-filled as the job's name. Adjust the configurations as needed.
5. Click on Save [52] to create the Production Job with all Print Items.
6. The status of the Automation Job is set to Done, and the processing of the Automation Job ends.

Figure 13: Left: The Automation Job Bundles tab with a selected failed Automation Job; Right: The Add Production Job dialog

Starting with this version, it is no longer possible to add new Operations to a Production Configuration or change their order when a Variation exists for this Production Configuration. A notice [53] has been added to the information area. The parameters of existing Operations can still be edited; the changed values can be saved as a new Variation for the Production Configuration.

Figure 14: A Production Configuration with existing Variations

In this version, the ability to specifically select individual Print Items in the detail view of a Production Scheduler and to use an Automation Job has been provided. The unselected Print ltems are then used during the next processing run of the Production Scheduler.

Proceed as follows to create an Automation Job for selected Print Items from a Production Scheduler:

1. Navigate to Automation > Production Scheduler.
2. Open the details for the desired Production Scheduler by clicking on the Pause/Active icon [[57].
3. In the Print Items to be processed tab of the detail view, the list of collected Print ltems is displayed.
4. Select the Print Items [56] that should be processed - either by clicking on the respective Print Item or by selecting all Print Items via the provided button [55].
5. Click on Create Automation Job for selected Print Items [54] to start the routine.

Figure 15: ThePrint Items to be processed tab in the detail view of a Production Scheduler with the option to create an Automation Job for selected Print Items

6. The Create Automation Job for selected Print Items dialog opens.
7. Click on OK to confirm that an Automation Job will be created from the selected Print Items and that these will be excluded from the next execution of the Production Scheduler.

Figure 16: The Create Automation Job for selected Print Items dialog

In version 1.22.2, a consistent implementation of shortcuts for handling dialogs has been provided. The following shortcuts are available system-wide starting with this version:

Table 1: Shortcuts in the new user interface

In version 1.22.2, the dialogs for creating a Production Job from an Order [59] have been adapted. The header [58] of the dialog is the same as when adding a Production Job.

Figure 17: The Add Production Job dialog

In this version, the user guidance in the Cut Info area of a Production Job has been improved. The following actions are now clearly structured and available:

• A new icon for transferring the latest cut file to the cutter device [60].
• Re-transferring an already sent cut file [61].

Figure 18: The Cut Info tab with the new icon and arrangement

Starting with this version, the appearance of the Selection Tool [61] and the Direct Selection Tool [62] has been standardized across dark and light modes, rather than simply being inverted. This change has also been implemented in the PDF Editor.

Figure 19: The selection and direct selection tools in light and dark modes

In version 1.22.2, the display of the list of operation types in a routine has been improved. All operations [63] are now displayed fully – if necessary also multiple lines. Previously, long operation names were simply truncated.

Figure 20: The improved display of Operations in a routine, with fully visible, multi-line descriptions

In this version, the following information –which was previously missing from the new user interface –is displayed for VDP Jobs in the Send to Printer dialog:

• Sorting [64] – This displays the sorting order of the Print Items in the Imposition.
• Datasource [65] – This displays the .csv data source used for the variable content.
• Records in the Datasource [66] – This displays the number of entries in the .csv data source, excluding the header row.

Figure 21: The Send to Printer dialog for a print job, showing the Sorting, Datasource, and Records in the Datasource fields

Unified user guidance is provided for the following areas of the old user interface. In the following areas, users are guided into the new user interface:

• Administration > Customers
• Administration > Die Cut Library
• Administration > File Management
• Administration > Inks
• Administration > Interfaces
• Administration > Fixup Chains
• Administration > Amazon Transparency Codes
• Color > Color Books & Grid Charts
• Color > Verifications as well as
• Color > Color Policies (in Debug Mode only)

Figure 22: The information displayed in the old user interface to redirect the user to the new user interface

To ensure that the same default name is used every time when calling up Quick Print and Batch Processing, we recommend setting this option under Administration > Settings > Dynamic Naming. As shown in the figure below, this would look as follows. Add the entry for Quick Print [75] and for Batch Processing [76].

Figure 26: The naming options in Administration > Settings > Dynamic Naming

When you have defined a default name for Quick Print and Batch Processing, it is also possible to use that name as the Name for the Production Job you are creating. To do this, simply enter the placeholder ${factory_job_collection.name} for the Job Name [74] (Figure 26) of an Automation Job as well as for Quick Print.

In the Batch Processing History [77] tab, quick filters [79] for filtering the list by processing status, as well as a search field and sorting options [78], have been added.

Figure 27: The Batch Processing History tab

Starting with version 1.22.2, the most recently created Production Configuration [80] is automatically selected and saved for the user. This ensures that when selecting Automation > Batch Processing, the most recently selected Production Configuration is automatically selected.

Figure 28: The selected Production Configuration