When automating impositions, you must define how the print items are processed. Two methods are available:

• continuous processing, or
• processing print items as a bundle.

Different options are available depending on the selected method. This article describes the method of Processing Print Items Continuously in detail.

Continuous processing of print items means that incoming print items are processed on an ongoing basis within a defined time frame. They are placed on impose sheets one after the other until either the selected degree of utilization is reached or a maximum processing time has elapsed.

The follow example is based on this initial situation:

• Print Item 1 (M1) – a three-page print file that is processed first
• Print Item 2 (M2) – a single-page print file that is processed second
• Print Item 3 (M3) – a two-page print file that is processed third

Figure 1: Initial situation for continuous processing

Preparing print data

In this example, the print items go through the following steps before they are processed continuously:

Step 1: Split print item

In this step, multipage print data is split into individual files.

• M1 is split into three pages: M1.1, M1.2 and M1.3.
• M2 remains the same.
• M3 is split into two pages: M3.1 and M3.2.

Step 2: Apply a fixup

If individual print files exceed their relevant size, the Tiling fixup splits them into individual tiles.

• M1.1, M1.2 and M1.3 get split each, which results in three two-page documents.
• M2 does not need to be split because the print file is small enough.
• M3.1 and M3.2 will not be split either.

Step 3: Split print item

In this step, multipage print data is split into individual files again.

• M1.1, M1.2 and M1.3 get split again. As a result, there are six single pages now:
  • M1.1.1
  • M1.1.2
  • M1.2.1
  • M1.2.2
  • M1.3.1
  • M1.3.2
• M2 remains the same.
• M3.1 and M3.2 are already single-page files and will not be split any further.

After the print items have been prepared, there are nine single-page print items in total.

With continuous processing, incoming print data is processed and passed on to the imposition process step by step. The imposition is calculated based on all available print items, while new print items can arrive any time. The imposition is only completed when either the degree of utilization is reached or the defined maximum processing time has elapsed. Print items that were not included in the first imposition are given priority in the next imposition.

This example uses the following values:

• Degree of Utilization: 80 % – a new impose sheet is only created once the impose sheet has reached a degree of utilization of 80% or higher.
• Max. Processing Time: 60 min – after 60 minutes, the processing of print items is completed. Regardless of whether the impose sheet has already reached the required degree of utilization or not.

In addition, you can define whether the processing sequence is preserved. If the Preserve Processing Sequence option is enabled, print items are processed in the very order they arrive in.

Figure 2: Left: Legend for figure on the right; Right: Illustration of continuous processing of print items

Description of figure above:

The figure to the left shows the legend listing dimensions of print items and the impose sheet:

• Impose sheet (gray): 1,000 × 1,000 mm
• Print Item 1 (purple): 6 pages, each 300 × 300 mm
• Print Item 2 (orange): 1 page, 200 × 200 mm
• Print Item 3 (turquoise): 2 pages, each 600 × 600 mm

Processing sequence not preserved (left):

1. The impose sheet is set up to accomodate as many print item pages as possible.
2. After M3.1, M1.1.1, M1.1.2, M1.2.1, M1.2.2 and M1.3.1 have been placed, an utilization of more than 80% has been reached. Therefore, an imposition is created and a new imposition with the remaining print items is set up.
3. The remaining three print item pages are placed on the second impose sheet. Since the degree of utilization has not yet been reached, the process waits for new print items.
4. Before the maximum processing time is reached, two new print items (M4 and M5) arrive.
5. This allows the impose sheet to be filled further. M5, M4, and M2 are placed on the impose sheet. The degree of utilization is now more than 80% again. The imposition is therefore created and a new imposition is set up with the remaining print items.
6. M3.2 and M1.3.2 are now placed on the third impose sheet. This does not reach the degree of utilization of 80%. Once again, the process awaits new print items before continuing.
7. Since no further print items have arrived when the maximum processing time of 60 minutes has elapsed, the imposition is created even though the degree of utilization of 80% has not been met.

Processing sequence preserved (right):

1. An imposition is being set up by placing every page of Print Item 1 in chronological order.
2. Since there is still space available, Print Item 2 is being placed onto the same imposition. This results in an utilization degree of 78%. Since the defined utilization degree of 80% has not yet been met, the process must wait for further print items.
3. The next print item of the sequence is  M3.1. It is too big for the current imposition. Therefore, the first imposition is being created and a new imposition is being set up.
4. The next print item in the sequence is  M3.2. This print item does not fit onto the second imposition either, so the second imposition is being created and a third imposition gets set up.
5. Since the utilization degree is approximately 30%, the next print item of the sequence will be awaited. However, once the maximum processing time of 60 minutes has elapsed, the imposition will be created even if the utilization degree of 80% has not been met.