User Manual

Release – 2.0.0 (Description)

Updated on

Release Date: 06/30/2026

This article provides a detailed description about the

  • new features in version 2.0.0 as well as the
  • improvements that have been implemented for users.

For an overview of the new features, refer to the article Release Notes 2.0.0 (Major Release).

1. New Features

This section provides a detailed description of the new features that have been implemented in the Impose Editor, Automation, user interface, API, and Data Validation and Data Preparation.

1.1. Impose Editor

In version 2.0.0, existing features in the Impose Editor were expanded and optimized. The following new features and improvements were implemented:

1.1.1. General New Features and Improvements

In version 2.0.0, two improvements were implemented in the behavior of the Impose Editor. First, the behavior when rotating Print Items in conjunction with Using Pre-Angulation was revised. As a second step, compliance with the Minimum Sheet Height for Roll Substrate was improved.

Using Pre-Angulation

Rotation of Print Items in Impositions using Pre-Angulation has been made consistent. Previously, certain combinations with Pre-Angulation values and Print Item size could cause the Print Item to rotate unexpectedly on the Artboard. It e.g. happenend that the Print Item was rotated 180° instead of 0°, or 270° instead of 90°. As of version 2.0.0, Pre-Angulation is always calculated from the Print Item's center point, so the resulting rotation is predictable and reproducible, regardless of the Print Item's original orientation.

Minimum Sheet Height for Roll Substrate

As of this version, the Minimum Impose Height [1] for roll substrates is only exceeded in cases where it's genuinely unavoidable. Previously, the minimum impose height could end up being exceeded whenever a Print Item that could only be placed on the imposition by rotating the Print Item. In that case, the height of the un-rotated Print Item was used as the minimum Impose height, which then allowed to squeeze in extra Print Items.

For roll media, the minimum imposition height is now only exceeded automatically in these cases:

  • The Print Item is wider than the substrate width, so it has to be rotated in order to be placed on the imposition.
  • The Print Item is wider than the minimum impose height, so it has to be placed rotated by 90° (see the figure below).
  • The Print Item is longer than the minimum impose height, so it has to be placed with 0° rotation.

Figure 1: The Imposition with an imposed Print Item on a roll substrate that is wider than the minimum substrate height

1.1.2. Dynamically Derive Color Values for Captions

Starting with this version, it is possible to dynamically derive the color value for the background color of a text caption from a source, i.e., a user-defined field.

To do this, you have to:

  • Create a custom field –text input or drop-down list –for the Print Item or an Order.
  • Specify the color name or color code for the Print Item or Order.
  • Create a text caption in the imposition, e.g., for the Print Item.
  • Select the color option Derive from User-defined Field [3] with the Background Color enabled [2].
  • Select the user-defined field [4] containing the color code from the drop-down menu.
  • Select the Fill option under Create background as [5].

Figure 2: The Color Options settings area with the Background Color of a text caption enabled in the Marks tab

The color value can be defined in the user-defined field using the following color formats:

  • CMYK – By entering the color value cmyk(0,0,0,1)
  • RGB – By entering the color value rgb(1,0,0) or rgb255(255,0,0)
  • Lab – By entering the color value lab(50,25,-30)
  • Registration Mark Color – By entering the color value all
  • Named Colors (CSS) –  By entering the color name (see the corresponding overview for a list of available color names)
  • HEX values (CSS) – By entering the value #FF5733
  • No color –  By entering none

Purpose

Use this feature to color-code Print Items that, for example, belong to the same order. In final production, color-coding can help reduce errors when individual Print Items from a nesting have to be grouped by order.

 

1.1.3. Color Control Stripe – Advanced Text Options

In Version 2.0.0 wurden für die Marken Farbkontrollstreifen – Sonderfarben sowie Farbkontrollstreifen – Prozessfarben erweiterte Textoptionen bereitgestellt – dazu gehören die folgende Optionen:

  • Tonwerte anzeigen [6] – Aktivieren Sie die Option, um die Tonwerte für den Farbkontrollstreifen einzublenden.
  • Versatz – Tonwerte [7] – Bestimmen Sie hier den Versatz zur Marke für die angezeigten Tonwerte.
  • Farbnamen anzeigen [8] – Aktivieren Sie die Option, um die Farbnamen für die Farbkontrollstreifen einzublenden.
  • Versatz – Farbnamen [9] – Bestimmen Sie hier den Versatz zur Marke für die angezeigten Farbnamen.

In version 2.0.0, expanded text options were added for the Color Control Stripes – Spot Colors and Color Control Stripes – Process Colors features — these include the following options:

  • Show Densities [6] – Select this option to display the densities for the Color Control Stripe.
  • Offset – Density Values [7] – Use this to specify the offset from the Mark for the displayed density values.
  • Show Color Names [8] – Select this option to display the color names for the Color Control Stripes.
  • Offset – Color Names [9] – Use this to specify the offset from the Mark for the displayed color names.

Abbildung 3: Der Reiter Marken mit den Farbkontrollstreifen – Sonderfarben und den erweiterten Textoptionen

1.1.4. "Fotoba" Cutter – Background Color

Starting with this version, the user is enabled to define a background color for Fotoba marks. To do this, go to Color Settings, enable the Background Color option [10], and select the desired CMYK tone or the desired spot color.

Figure 4: The Finishing tab with the selected Fotoba cutter device

1.1.5. Impose Mode »Bound Product« – Restrictions

In this version two changes have been made to the impose mode Bound Product:

  • Only one Print Item can be used. When attempting to add another Print Item, a notification will appear.
  • In the user interface, in the “Print Items” tab, icons that can no longer be used have been removed. Only the Delete icon [11] remains available.

Figure 5: Left: The message that appears when attempting to add another Print Item; Right: The Print Items tab with the Delete icon

1.2. Check-in Preflight and Fixup Templates

With version 2.0.0, the following new features were implemented in the Check-in Preflight and Fixup Templates:

1.2.1. Prepare Technical Spot Colors – Handling of Technical Spot Colors with a tint value of 0 %, set to Knockout (White Objects)

In version 2.0.0, two enhancements were implemented for the Fixup "Prepare Technical Spot Colors" which was introduced in version 1.22.2:

  • From this version on, the user can configure for technical spot colors with a tint value of 0%, whether the spot colors should be processed as "White" (and thus set to Knockout) or as overprinting (and thus not visible in the printed result) [12].
  • When the Technical Color was created as a solid area in the Print Item, an error message is displayed by default.

Figure 6: The Fixup Prepare Spot Colors, using the function Handling of Technical Spot Colors with a tint of 0% , set to Knockout (White Objects)

1.2.2. New Checks

Starting with version 2.0.0, new checks are available in all Check-in Preflight and Fixup Templates. However, some of these checks are triggered only when files are uploaded to the $PRODUCT_NAME_WORKFLOW application using the options "Preflight Only (no correction)" or "Preflight and fix the first page only". When the print data is uploaded without activating the normalization options, the detected objects are automatically corrected wherever possible.

A Print Object overlaps a Technical Color

This determines whether Technical Colors are overprinted by a print object. According to the ISO standard, Technical Colors always have to be placed at the very top of the print file as overprinting colors. This allows dielines located in the background to be detected and processed as follows:

  • Technical Colors are automatically moved to the foreground in the print file.
  • When the option "Preflight only (no correction)" or "Preflight and fix the first page only" is selected during upload, automatic Fixups cannot be performed for the file or for the subsequent pages of a multipage file. As a result, the error persists. When a match is found, the error message A print object overlaps a Technical Color [14] is displayed in the Page Information [13].

Figure 7: The Page Information tab with the check

Technical Colors in a Multicolor DeviceN Definition

This determines whether Technical Colors are present in a multicolor DeviceN definition. According to the ISO standard, Technical Colors always have to be placed at the very top of the print file as overprinting colors. Therefore, dielines that are part of a multicolor DeviceN definition must be extracted and brought to the foreground as separate objects. The detected situation is handled as follows:

  • Technical Colors are automatically extracted from a DeviceN construct.
  • When the option "Preflight only (no correction) or "Preflight and fix the first page only" is selected during upload, it is not possible to automatically perform Fixups for the file or for the subsequent pages of a Multipage file. As a result, the error persists. When a match is found, the error message Some Technical Spot Colors are used as part of a multicolor DeviceN definition [16] is displayed in the Page Information [15].

Figure 8: The Page Information tab with the error message

Dieline created as “rect” or “circle”

This determines whether dielines are defined as a geometric rectangle rect or a circle circle. Dielines must consist of individual, connected path segments so that they can be processed correctly by cutter devices. The detected situation is handled as follows:

  • Dielines are automatically converted into individual, connected path segments when rect or circle is used.
  • When the option "Preflight only (no correction)" or "Preflight and fix the first page only" is selected during upload, it is not possible to perform Fixups automatically for the file or for the subsequent pages of a multipage file. As a result, the error persists. When a match is found, the error message Dieline is defined by a rectangle instead of Path elements [18] is displayed in the Page Information [17].

Figure 9: The Page Information dialog with the warning

The MediaBox of the Page is not at the Origin (0/0)

This determines whether the MediaBox is not located at the origin of the PDF coordinate system. Generally speaking, this situation does not pose a critical problem in the printing industry. However, to ensure consistent and reliable processing of print data in the $PRODUCT_NAME_WORKFLOW application, the objects must be normalized within the coordinate system. The detected situation is handled as follows:

  • The origin of the MediaBox is automatically corrected to 0/0.
  • When the option “Preflight only (no correction)” or “Preflight and fix the first page only” is selected during upload, it is not possible to perform Fixups automatically for the file or for the subsequent pages of a multipage file. As a result, the error persists. A corresponding error message is displayed in the Page Information tab.
Page contains a Rotation Factor

This check checks whether a rotation factor is present in the print file. Generally speaking, this situation does not pose a critical problem in the printing industry. However, to ensure consistent and reliable processing of print data in the $PRODUCT_NAME_WORKFLOW application, the rotation factor must be normalized, i.e. applied. The detected situation is handled as follows:

  • The rotation factor is applied automatically.
  • When the option "Preflight only (no correction)" or "Preflight and fix the first page only" is selected during upload, it is not possible to perform Fixups automatically for the file or for the subsequent pages of a multipage file. As a result, the error persists. A corresponding error message is displayed in the Page Information tab.
Multipage Print Items have Differing Page Sizes or Orientations

This check determines whether the print file contains pages that differ in size and orientation. The use of different page sizes and orientations in print files is intended only in rare, exceptional cases. The situation is handled as follows:

  • No automatic Fixup is performed.
  • A corresponding warning message is displayed in the Page Information tab.

1.2.3. General Check-in Improvements – Switch to QuickCheck

In version 2.0.0, the check-in process was switched from the previous full PDF check to a QuickCheck wherever possible. For a QuickCheck, the complexity of a PDF document is virtually irrelevant  Preflight Results are usually available within a few milliseconds, regardless of how many pages, objects, or spot colors a Print Item contains. The new checks described in the previous section – which are performed when uploading print data – benefit particularly from this change, as they are now also completed significantly faster.

1.3. Color Management

As early as version 1.22.2, a new feature in the color management section – Profiling Projects – was introduced. This section is available in Color > Profiling Projects. Profiling Projects are based on the GMG Color Engine and enable the complete creation and management of Color Policies – from Pre-Linearization to Linearization and creating a Total Area Coverage Limiting to creating Characterization. In version 1.22.2, this feature was available exclusively to beta customers with activated beta access.

With version 2.0.0, Profiling Projects are now available to all new customers. Existing customers can switch from the ColorLogic solution to the GMG implementation. Depending on whether your license includes only GMG authorization or also includes ColorLogic authorization, certain menu items will be hidden in the user interface. These include:

  • Color Books
  • Color Correction – Based on Image
  • Color Management Settings – ColorLogic in System Settings
  • Color Setup
  • Profiling Templates

With version 2.0.0, the following steps can be performed in a Profiling Project. The user has to stick to the order of the steps:

  • Pre-Linearization (optional) – Enables manual adjustment of a printer's linear state per process color channel.
  • Linearization – Enables the metrological measurement of a linear state, including the limitation of the individual channels of a printing system, as well as the definition of the transitions between light and dark inks present in the printing system. Whether this step is necessary depends on the printing system. When the printing system has inline calibration, this step can be omitted.
  • G7 Linearization (optional) – Enables the metrological measurement of the gray balance in accordance with the G7 standard.
  • Total Area Coverage Limit – Enables the configuration and printing of a user-defined chart for the Total Area Coverage Limit, as well as the creation of the total ink density profile.
  • Characterization – Enables the creation of Characterization profiles for the printing system and a defined reference substrate. Based on this, ink-saving profiles are calculated and automatically made available in three definitions.

Note on License Scope

Which menu items are visible in your installation depends on the permissions that have been enabled. In case you have any questions about switching from the ColorLogic implementation to the GMG implementation, please contact your sales partner.

Descriptions of the individual functions are available in the manual under Setting Up and Managing Profiling Projects. The following description explains the differences from the existing implementation in version 1.22.2.

1.3.1. Assigning Additional Substrates

Starting with this version, the user can assign additional substrates or all substrates to a Profiling Project. This feature eliminates the need to create a separate Profiling Project for each substrate when the same Color Policy can be used for multiple substrates with similar colors.

To assign additional substrates to a Profiling Project, proceed as follows:

  1. Navigate to Color > Profiling Projects.
  2. Select the desired Profiling Project from the list and open it.
  3. In the Overview [19] tab, in the Additional Substrates section, click Edit [22].
  4. In the Edit Additional Substrates dialog, select multiple substrates from the drop-down list [21]. By enabling the Assign to all Substrates option [20], this Profiling Project becomes available for every substrate in the application.
  5. Click Save to apply the settings. The selected substrates are then displayed in the Additional Substrates section.

Figure 10: The Edit Additional Substrates dialog with additional substrates selected

Other Options

You can also simply select the desired Profiling Project under Color > Profiling Projects and click Edit. The same function is also available in the Edit Profiling Project dialog that opens.

1.3.2. Profiling Project – Status

Each Profiling Project now displays one of the following three statuses, making it easy to see the progress at a glance. The status is displayed in the footer [23] of the respective project.

  • Created – No sub-steps of the Profiling Project have been executed yet.
  • In Progress – Some sub-steps have already been executed, but not all steps have been completed yet.
  • Ready for Production – All steps have been completed, and a Color Policy has been generated.

Figure 11: The list of Profiling Projects with status indicators

1.3.3. Resetting Sub-steps of a Profiling Project Step or an Entire Step

Starting with version 2.0.0, a single step in a Profiling Project – such as Linearization or Characterization – can be reset either completely or back to a previous substep without affecting the entire Profiling Project. This eliminates the need to recreate the entire project when a Profiling Project step contains an error.

To reset a Profiling Project step, proceed as follows:

  1. Open the desired Profiling Project and then the step you want to reset.
  2. Click the Reset [25] icon.
  3. In the dialog that opens, select one of the following options from the Reset to [24] drop-down menu:
    • Home –  Deletes everything in this step. You can proceed to the Print step.
    • Print – Deletes created Profiles (if available) and Measurements (if available). You can proceed to the Measure step.
    • Measured – Deletes only Profiles that have already been created. You can proceed to the "Create Profile" step.

Figure 12: The Reset Step dialog for the Characterization step

1.3.4. Deleting a Profiling Project

Starting with this version, it is no longer possible to delete a Profiling Project when the Color Policy created within the Profiling Project is currently used in a Production Job. This prevents ongoing Production Jobs from becoming invalid due to the accidental deletion of the underlying Color Policy.

Figure 13: The Delete Profiling Project dialog  that appears when attempting to delete a project that uses a Color Policy

1.3.5. Gamut Viewer

Starting with version 2.0.0, the Gamut Viewer can also display the color gamut of a Profiling Project based on the GMG implementation. The existing Gamut Viewer for ColorLogic profiles remains available, allowing to visualize color management approaches side by side and to compare them with one another.

1.3.6. Creating a Print Chart – Total Area Coverage Limit

Starting with version 2.0.0, you can create custom Print Charts for the Total Area Coverage Limit with a freely definable maximum value, which helps prevent contamination of the printing system.

To create a user-defined Total Area Coverage Limit, follow these steps:

  1. In a Profiling Project, open the Total Area Coverage Limit step.
  2. In that step, click the Print substep and enable Expert Mode [26].
  3. In the dialog, click on Add [27] next to the Measurement Template Chart dropdown.

Figure 14: The Add Total Area Coverage Chart dialog, which allows you to add a Custom chart

  1. In the dialog that opens, specify the values for the chart.
    • Initial Value – Total Area Coverage [30] – Specify the total area coverage value for the first column of color patches in the chart. You can enter values ranging from 150% to 190%.
    • Final Value – Total Area Coverage [31] – Set the Total Area Coverage value for the last column of color patches in the chart. You can enter values ranging from 300% to 400%.
    • Number of variations per Color Channel Combination [32] – Specify how many rows should be calculated between the primary colors. You can choose between 2 and 3.
    • Show Text [33] – Specify whether or not to display captions for the columns. Disabling this option is only recommended when there is no space available for the captions.
    • Gap Width [28] – Specify the gap width between the color patches. This prevents colors from bleeding at the edges of the color patches.
    • Margin [29] – Set an additional margin around the entire chart.

Figure 15: The General tab, which contains the parameters for generating a Total Area Coverage Chart

  1. In the Advanced tab, specify the Patch Width and Page Height as well as the Max Page Width and Max Page Height you want to use for the chart.
  2. Click Save to generate the chart. The chart can be used for other printing systems in the future.

1.3.7. Minor Changes to Creating and Measuring Measurement Template Charts

Two changes were made in version 2.0.0:

  • Measure – Starting with this version, the measurement of a Print Chart must begin with Page 1 and continue in ascending order. After all pages have been measured, the user is given the option to delete a page to measure it again.
  • Comment on a Print Chart – When creating a Print Chart, the option to enter a Comment has been removed, as the content of such a Comment can vary dynamically depending on the specific use case. However, the option to enter a Comment is still available in each step (e.g., Linearization, Total Area Coverage Limit, Characterization, etc.) by clicking the Print tab within a Profiling Project.

Figure 16: Left: The Add Characterization Chart dialog under the Color > Print Charts menu item; Right: The Measure dialog

1.3.8. Visualizations for Measurements — Two new Visualization Types

Starting with this version, two new visualization options are available in the Analyze step.

Color Axis

The option to display the color axes for the Color Space is available in the Analyze tab of the Linearization and Characterization steps. Use this information to visually assess:

  • How the color axis of a process color changes along the color ray from 0% to 100%.
  • Where the maximum chroma value will be located.

Figure 17: The Color Axis tab of the Analyze dialog in the Linearization step

Spider Web View

The option to display the spider web view for the Color Space is available in the Analyze tab of the Characterization step. Use this information to visually assess:

  • How the color axis  of a process color changes along the color ray from 0% to 100%.
  • In which areas ECG (Extended Color Gamut) colors expand the color gamut.
  • Which gamut the profile covers. A profile comparison will be available in future versions.

Figure 18: The Spider View tab of the Analyze dialog in the Characterization step

1.3.9. Color Correction in the Production Job

Starting with version 2.0.0, color correction calculations are based on the GMG implementation.

1.3.10. Verification with GMG

Starting with this version, verification can be performed using either a GMG Color Policy or a GMG ink-saving strategy, depending on the selected Color Policy.

1.3.11. Grid Charts with GMG

Starting with this version, depending on the selected Color Policy, a Grid Chart can be created using a GMG Color Policy or with GMG ink savings.

1.3.12. Ink Saving

Starting with this version, the predefined ink-saving profiles – Low, Medium, and Extreme are based on the GMG implementation and are available in the following areas:

  • Color > Verifications
  • Production Jobs > Output Configuration > Q-Points
  • API
  • Automation > Production Configurations > Export Ink Consumption Report operation
  • Production Jobs > Output Configurations

Starting with this version, GMG and ColorLogic ink-saving profiles are also clearly distinguished from one another [34] in the output configuration drop-down list.

Figure 19: The Edit Output Configuration dialog with the Color Policies

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Release Notes – Workflow

Release Notes 1.22 versions 3
Release Notes 1.21 versions 2
Release Notes 1.20 versions 3
Release Notes – Detailed Description 9

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