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Description  |
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FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to computerized preparation of artwork
generally.
BACKGROUND OF TEE INVENTION
Artwork typically comprises many elements, often taken from many original
sources. FIG. 1 provides an exemplary, very simple, page of artwork to be
produced. It comprises an image area 10 and a text area 12. Image area 10
includes an image of a person covered by the letter T surrounded by a neon
effect 16 and text area 12 contains lines of words. A neon effect is a
gradual changing of color surrounding an object within an image.
Artwork typically also contains graphical elements where the term
"graphical" refers to elements which can be described as vectors or
collections of vectors.
The artwork of FIG. 1 can be pre-press artwork, such as an advertisement or
illustration, to be printed on a poster, in a magazine or newspaper, etc.,
or it can become part of a multi-media presentation. A pre-press example
will be provided hereinbelow and utilized throughout the present
application.
FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate the prior art process or "workflow" by which the
simple artwork of FIG. 1 is produced and indicate the output of most of
the pre-press operations. Operations which are interactive are so noted by
double boxes. FIG. 2A illustrates the basic workflow; FIG. 2B illustrates
one possible correction process.
An artwork designer first plans the page of artwork. To do so, he selects
the elements, such as a photograph of the person 20 with a cloud 22 in the
background, the lines of text and a large font T, to be placed on the
page.
Then, he instructs a production house to scan (step 30) and color correct
(step 32) the photograph thereby to create a digital image 24. The
scanning and color correction steps are typically performed on a scanner,
such as the SMARTWO manufactured by Scitex Corporation Ltd. of Herzlia,
Israel.
Finally, the designer instructs the production house to mask out (step 34)
everything but the person 20. This can be performed manually or with an
interactive software package such as the MASKCUTTER package, also
manufactured by Scitex Corporation Ltd. The result is masked image 26.
The artwork designer also prepares, in step 36, a "layout" 21 which is a
blank page of a desired size. In step 38 the designer defines the areas
where the artwork elements are to be placed and their shapes. The artwork
of FIG. 1 has two rectangular areas, one for each artwork element.
In step 40, the artwork designer assigns the masked image of person 20 to
the left rectangle of the layout 21. The masked image is cropped to fit
the rectangle.
In step 42, the artwork designer interactively creates the text portions of
the page of artwork. He places a large font letter T in the left rectangle
of the page, on top of the image of the person. He also creates lines of
text, in a small font, which he places in the right rectangle of the
layout 21.
Steps 36 -42 are typically performed interactively with a single layout
application package, such as PAGEMAKER manufactured by Aldus Corporation
of Seattle, Wash., USA or QUARKEXPRESS manufactured by Quark Inc. of
Denver, Colo., USA.
A neon effect is an operation performed on a raster image. In this case,
the neon effect will affect those pixels of the image of the person near
the boundaries of the letter T. Prior to producing the neon effect, its
location has to be defined. Therefore, in step 44, the artwork designer
uses an illustration application package, such as ILLUSTRATOR,
manufactured by Adobe Systems Inc. of Mountain View, Calif., USA, to
convert the large letter T from a text representation to a vector
representation, and to indicate its location.
In step 46, the artwork designer interactively creates a neon effect of a
desired thickness around the now defined boundaries of the letter T,
typically using a painting program, such as PHOTOSHOP, manufactured by
Adobe Systems Inc. To do so, the designer "paints" a neon effect around
the letter T. The painting program then changes the values of those pixels
of the image of the person which are within the desired distance from the
boundaries of the vector representation of the letter T to the graduated
values of the neon effect.
After finishing the neon effect, the design work is finished and the
artwork needs to be produced. The designer then provides the work to the
production shop.
In step 48, the entire artwork is converted from graphical, textual and
image (rasterized) elements to a raster representation. The conversion is
typically performed by a raster image processor (RIP) such as the VIP
RIPper manufactured by Scitex Corporation Ltd. and running on a MACINTOSH
computer manufactured by Apple Computer Company of Cupertino, Calif., USA.
Prior to plotting, the page is "trapped", meaning that it is framed. For
example, the Full Auto Frame (FAF) trapper, manufactured by Scitex
Corporation Ltd., can perform this step.
At this point, the artwork can be proofed, if it is desired to check the
output prior to committing it to film. A suitable proofing system is the
APPROVAL proofing system jointly produced by Scitex Corporation Ltd. and
Eastman Kodak Company of Rochester, N.Y., USA. Otherwise, the artwork is
plotted (step 52) onto a film. Any laser plotter, such as the DOLEV,
manufactured by Scitex Corporation Ltd., can perform this step.
As can be seen, the preparation of a single page of artwork is performed by
many people and requires many steps or "pre-press operations" and many
different kinds of devices and/or application packages. A production shop
typically performs many jobs at one time, each with many operations to
perform and each following its own workflow. Such a shop can be very
difficult to manage.
The SCITEX MANAGER, manufactured by Scitex Corporation Ltd., provides a
production shop with tools to manage the many digital files which
accumulate and to determine their status at any time.
Israel Patent Application 106226, owned by the common owners of the present
invention, describes a pre-press management system which enables the
artwork designer to describe the workflow and operations which the
production shop is to perform for a specific job. This information is
stored in the system and is provided to the production shop workers as
they perform the operations of the job.
The system of Israel Patent Application 106226 can be utilized to determine
the status of a job and the amount of work each production area of the
shop has.
Once the production shop finishes a job, it provides the results to the
artwork designer. These can be digital files, proofs or plots.
If the results are proofs, the artwork designer will review them to
determine if the result is acceptable. If it is, the designer will then
ask that the production shop produce final films. However, it is very
possible that the artwork designer will not be pleased with the first
proof, either because he doesn't like the design or because he doesn't
like its execution. In either case, corrections need to be made and this
requires that at least some of the steps in the workflow shown in FIG. 2A
have to be repeated. In particular, the steps which occur downstream of
the correction step generally have to be repeated.
For example, the designer may decide that T is the wrong letter; he would
prefer a Y. Alternatively, he may decide that he prefers a different font
or that he wants to move the T to a different location. These changes are
editing changes; the workflow to produce the job has not changed but the
elements flowing through the workflow have.
Unfortunately, since the neon effect is produced by one application in
response to the specific look of the original letter T while the letter T
is defined and placed in the correct location within the layout in another
application, changing the letter T will not cause a change in the neon
effect. Therefore, to make the correction, the designer first has to edit
the text, in step 54 and then he has to repeat the operations of steps
42-52 (herein labeled 44'-52') but on the new piece of text (the letter Y
in FIG. 2B). This is a time-consuming process which requires a significant
amount of user intervention.
Furthermore, it is noted that the pre-press operations occur on many
different devices (the term "device" will be utilized herein to denote
both a device and an application package). The output of one device is
provided to another via digital files. Since each device represents the
artwork in its own native file format, this transferring of files requires
that each device know how to convert between formats.
There exists an output page description language called POSTSCRIPT,
developed by Adobe Systems Inc., which describes the contents of a page of
textual and/or graphical elements. POSTSCRIPT can also handle raster
images, but only for placement; it cannot describe their contents. Many of
the devices described hereinabove are capable of representing their output
with POSTSCRIPT. Thus, POSTSCRIPT provides a method of communication
between different applications.
Ideally, if a correction to a page of artwork has to be made, one could
edit the relevant file, rather than reperforming the operations which
produced the file. However, POSTSCRIPT files are not easily edited.
Some new application packages have recently been announced which attempt to
provide editability to the pre-press process. Most of them define image
manipulation as manipulation of a multiplicity of objects (i.e. images).
In these packages, the objects can be edited as desired; when editing is
finished, the desired manipulation is performed on the original input
image. Some of these packages are COMPOSER by Altamira Software
Corporation of Mill Valley, Calif., USA, PAINTER/X2 manufactured by
Fractal Design Corporation of Aptos, Calif., USA, IMAGEWIZARD manufactured
by ImageWare Software Inc. of San Diego, Calif., USA, PICTURE PUBLISHER
manufactured by Micrografx Inc. of Richardson, Tex., USA and COLLAGE
manufactured by Specular International of Amherst, Mass., USA.
While these packages provide a flexible and editable environment for
specific pre-press operations, they do not provide such an environment for
the entire pre-press process, from input creation and image manipulation
through to output.
There exists a single application, ECLIPSE manufactured by Alias Research
Inc. of Anaheim, Calif., USA, which combines image creation and
manipulation with stripping operations. While this provides a single
environment for artwork creation, it requires that users give up their old
applications and learn to operate the new one, ECLIPSE. Furthermore, the
user is restricted to the operations provided by ECLIPSE.
There exists an image description language called FITS, developed by FITS
Imaging of Paris, France, which describes only raster images and the
operations performed thereon.
Adobe Systems Inc. has recently announced a new page description language,
called the Portable Document Format (PDF), which preserves the essential
look and feel of a document. PDF is output device and platform independent
and can therefore be used to share documents between users working on
different platforms, such as a PC or MACINTOSH computer, without losing
the essential features of the document.
From announcements of the SCRIPTX language of Kaleida Labs Inc. of Beverly
Hills, Calif., USA, it would appear to provide a similar device and
platform independence for multi-media output.
None of the above described application packages offer the capability to
implement changes in one element of an artwork when other parts of the
artwork depend on the look of the changed element, especially when the
other parts of the artwork are a different type of element, such as text
vs. images. For example, changing the letter T to a letter Y is a textual
change while the neon effect is implemented on a raster image. Thus, none
of the above described application packages can change the neon effect
when the letter T is changed to a Y.
Apple Computer Corporation has defined a standard, APPLE EVENTS, for
applications written in two parts, a user interface front end and a core
back end. Once a user has selected an operation to be performed, the user
interface front end sends a command, in the APPLE EVENTS format, to the
back end. The back end then performs the operation.
Apple Computer Corporation has also produced an APPLE SCRIPTS application
package which can capture the APPLE EVENTS commands of one or more
application. The APPLE SCRIPTS application can then rerun the entire set
of recorded APPLE EVENTS by using the resultant script as input to the
appropriate back ends.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a system and
method for artwork design and production operative in conjunction with a
plurality of artwork manipulation devices. The system includes an artwork
preparation administrator which organizes and implements a process or
workflow to produce a job. A job can be a single page, many pages, a
multi-media display, a magazine, an advertisement, etc.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the
artwork preparation administrator includes a workflow definition unit,
through which the designer, and occasionally also the production shop
workers, define the workflow, and a workflow manager with which the
process is implemented. The workflow is a listing of the operations needed
to produce the job and their flow.
If the artwork designer produces the job in conjunction with a production
shop, the artwork designer can utilize the workflow thus defined to
describe to the production shop which operations the shop is to perform,
thereby providing the production shop with a context within which to work.
Each artwork manipulation device is capable of providing task information
formed of both the operations, or commands, performed when the device is
activated and the parameters of the performed operations. In accordance
with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the workflow manager
includes apparatus for receiving and processing the task information from
those artwork manipulation devices which are selected.
Additionally, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present
invention, the artwork preparation administrator also includes a workflow
database. The apparatus for receiving preferably stores the processed task
information in a block of the workflow corresponding to the currently
active artwork manipulation device.
Moreover, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present
invention, the apparatus for receiving task information includes apparatus
for filtering the task information to ensure minimal redundancy of
operations.
As the artwork designer and production shop workers perform operations of
the workflow, the workflow is updated with the new commands and/or
parameters. When the workflow is completed, it lists all of the operations
and commands needed to perform the job.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the
workflow manager additionally includes apparatus for producing a "process
list" listing the operations to be reperformed by at least selected ones
of the artwork preparation devices. The process list is ordered in
accordance with the portion of the workflow corresponding to the selected
artwork preparation devices.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the
artwork preparation administrator further includes an interpreter which
executes the commands of the process list on high resolution artwork
elements and rasterizes the result for output to an output device, such as
a plotter or proofer.
Additionally, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present
invention, the artwork preparation administrator includes a previewer
which performs the operations listed in the process list on low resolution
artwork elements and displays the result on at least a portion of a screen
of a monitor. Alternatively, the previewer can operate on high resolution
elements displayed in a small window of the monitor. If the designer makes
a correction, say of the letter T to the letter Y, the previewer displays
to him the output of the workflow which results from the change.
To this end, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present
invention, the apparatus for receiving also includes apparatus for editing
the task information in accordance with editing operations of a user.
It will be appreciated that the present invention provides editability of
generally the entire artwork preparation process. If a modification must
be made, only the modification itself need be performed (e.g. the T is
changed to Y and no other operations are performed). The operations, such
as the neon effect, which depend on the result of the modification are
automatically reperformed (by the previewer and/or the interpreter) since
they are listed in the process list.
Finally, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present
invention, the method of the present invention includes the steps of: a)
defining a workflow comprised of a multiplicity of artwork preparation
tasks, b) for each artwork preparation task, processing and storing task
information regarding the task and c) producing a process list comprising
processed task information from at least one of the artwork preparation
tasks and ordered in accordance with a portion of the workflow having the
at least one artwork preparation task therein.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS AND APPENDIX
The present invention will be understood and appreciated more fully from
the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings
and appendix in which:
FIG. 1 is an illustration of a page of artwork to be printed;
FIG. 2A is a block diagram illustration of the prior art pre-press process
for producing the artwork of FIG. 1;
FIG. 2B is a block diagram illustration of a correction process utilizing a
portion of the process of FIG. 2A;
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustration of a pre-press system constructed
and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present
invention;
FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustration of elements of a pre-press
administrator forming part of the pre-press system of FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of a main display of the pre-press
system of FIG. 3;
Appendix A is an exemplary process list for the tasks of the exemplary
pre-press process of FIG. 2 and
FIGS. 6A, 6B, 6C, 6D, 6E, 6F, 6G, 6H, 6I, 6J, 6K, 6L, 6M and 6N are screens
from application packages showing the parameters of an artwork preparation
task for the tasks listed in the process list of Appendix A.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Reference is now made to FIG. 3 which illustrates an artwork design and
production system, constructed and operative in accordance with a
preferred embodiment of the present invention. Reference is also made to
FIGS. 4-6 which are useful in understanding the operation of the system of
FIG. 3. The artwork design and production system of the present invention
will be described in the context of preparing, correcting and producing
the pre-press artwork of FIG. 1 as described hereinabove with reference to
FIGS. 2A and 2B. It will be appreciated that this is by way of example
only.
The artwork design and production system comprises an artwork preparation
administrator 100 and a plurality of artwork preparation operation units
102-112, each performing one or more different artwork preparation
operations, such as scanning, color correcting, layout, plotting, etc. The
operation units shown in FIG. 3 are scanners 102, image manipulators 104,
multimedia manipulators 105, maskers 106, layout devices 108, plotters 110
and proofers 112. The artwork preparation administrator 100 can work with
many devices which perform the same type of artwork preparation operation;
for example, it might be connected to two scanners 102, two image
manipulators 104 and one layout device 108.
The operation units 102-112 are typically modifications of commercially
available units, modified to operate within the system of the present
invention. They can be application packages running on general purpose
hardware, such as the MACINTOSH computer, a PC manufactured by IBM of the
USA or a computer manufactured by Sun Microsystems Inc. of the USA,
physical machines, such as a scanner or plotter, or application packages
running on special purpose hardware, such as a modified version of the CT
application package manufactured by Scitex Corporation Ltd. and running on
a WHISPER platform.
Typically, both a designer and a production shop have an artwork
preparation administrator 100; however, each administrator 100 is
typically connected to different types of machines, depending on the
equipment the designer or production shop owns. Alternatively, if the
designer and the production shop are connected together via a network,
there is typically only one artwork preparation administrator 100
controlling the equipment found in both places.
The administrator 100 manages generally most of the artwork preparation
process from defining the workflow to be followed for a given job through
execution of the operations and corrections thereto. The administrator 100
manages the operations of the operation units 102-112, initiating them
when selected by either the artwork designer or a production shop worker,
and providing them with a database of shared data. Furthermore, the
administrator 100 provides a preview of the final output of each
particular job.
The administrator 100 typically also manages the multiplicity of jobs for
which the artwork designer and/or production shop are responsible.
As illustrated in FIG. 4, the administrator 100 comprises a workflow
manager 114, a workflow definition unit 116, an interpreter 118 and a
previewer 119. Their operations will be described in more detail
hereinbelow with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. FIG. 5 illustrates a main
screen display of administrator 100 comprised of three areas, an operation
selection area 120 controlled by the workflow manager 114, a workflow
window 122 controlled by workflow definition unit 116 and a selectable
preview window 124 which is controlled by previewer 119.
Through the workflow manager 114, the artwork designer provides the "job
ticket" information, such as the title or job number, the customer name
and address, a deadline date, page size, number of pages in the job, etc.
This information is stored in one record of a database 121.
With the workflow definition unit 116, the artwork designer then defines
the desired workflow to be followed for the job. This initial workflow is
a rough outline of the operations to be performed and typically does not
include the specific parameters of each operation.
The workflow definition unit 116 provides the artwork designer with block
diagram tools to select predetermined blocks, labeled 125, and to provide
their connections, thereby producing the initial workflow. Shown in FIG. 5
is the workflow of FIG. 2A.
The workflow definition unit 116 provides the workflow to the workflow
manager 114 which provides it and its blocks 125 with unique identifiers
and stores the workflow in a workflow database 123. Each "record" of the
workflow database 123 is organized to store the workflow itself and the
task information regarding the performance of each of the blocks 125 of
the workflow.
It will be appreciated that the workflow thus described is a very useful
tool for communication between artwork designer and production shop.
Because the workflow outlines the operations to be performed to finish the
job, at a glance, both sides know what the artwork designer wants to do.
Since the workflow is initially a rough outline of the job, if the artwork
designer did not list an operation, the production shop can add it in
later.
Through the workflow manager 114, the users (artwork designer and
production shop workers) perform their respective operations listed in
blocks 125 of the workflow. For this purpose, the workflow manager 114
acts as a shell package, providing the users with a selection of devices
to operate and initiating operation of the selected device.
The selection is done via the selection area 120 which comprises a menu 130
of artwork preparation devices for the users to select, including a raster
image processor (RIP) which forms part of interpreter 118. Upon selecting
an operation, a secondary menu 132 appears, indicating the types of
devices from which the users can select to perform the desired operation.
Secondary menus 132a-132f are illustrated in FIG. 5.
For example, if a user selects to perform layout, secondary menu 132d is
displayed listing the possible layout devices 108. From this menu, the
user selects a desired layout application, where the two possibilities are
shown, layout-1 and layout-2. These may be modified versions of the
QUARKEXPRESS or PAGEMAKER layout application packages. Upon selection, the
workflow manager 114 loads the selected package.
If the selected artwork preparation operation unit 102-112 is a physical
machine, the workflow manager 114 indicates to the unit to begin
operation. The user then operates the machine as necessary.
After selection and prior to the appearance of the secondary menu 132, the
workflow manager 114 analyses the workflow and the selected device to
determine if the input to the selected device is available. For example,
the mask operation (step 34 of FIG. 2A) cannot be performed prior to the
scanning operation (step 30) and the assignment operation (step 40) cannot
be performed until the scan (step 30), layout create (step 36) and shape
create (step 38) operations have been performed. If the selected device
cannot yet be utilized, an appropriate warning is provided and the user is
asked to select a different operation unit 102-112.
Alternatively or in addition, the workflow manager 114 can provide
information to the workflow definition unit 116 to mark the display of the
workflow (window 122) to indicate which operations have already been
performed and which are currently available to be performed.
If the input to the selected device is available, the workflow manager 114
stores the name and version number, if any, of the selected device in the
task information portion of workflow database 123 corresponding to the
selected device for the current workflow. Subsequently, it initiates the
selected device. If the selected device is an application package, it
typically operates within a separate, typically full-sized, window. The
user then performs whatever artwork preparation operations he desires,
typically on high resolution artwork elements, such as the image 24, the
mask and the layout page 21. For example, he might create the layout page
21.
Appendix A is an exemplary process list for the artwork preparation task of
FIG. 2. For the sake of conciseness, the parameters of the tasks performed
are not listed in the process list but, instead, are provided in FIGS.
6A-6M which are parameter screens of the application packages utilized for
the example of FIG. 2. Appendix A indicates which screen is utilized when.
As Appendix A and its corresponding FIGS. 6A-6M are believed to be
self-explanatory, they will not be detailed herein.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the
selected device continually provides the workflow manager 114 with the
operations performed, their parameters and the files which they create or
on which they operate, if any. For example, if the device is an
application package, it has a front and back end which communicate through
APPLE EVENTS or similar commands.
The workflow manager 114 captures these commands, processes them and then
stores them in the task information portion of workflow database 123
corresponding to the selected device for the current workflow.
Workflow manager 114 does not store a full history of the operations
performed by the user. Instead, it processes the commands to ensure that
it saves only the necessary commands to repeat the desired pre-press
operations. For example, if the commands are opposite of each other, as is
the case for DO and UNDO operations, the workflow manager 114 does not
store either operation.
The workflow manager 114 also stores the names of output data files 127
(FIG. 4), such as layout 21 or image 24, in the record of job ticket
database 121 for the specific job. They are typically stored in their
native file format. Because a user may utilize more than one application
package, each of which has its own native file format, the workflow
manager 114 converts between file formats whenever it is necessary to do
so.
If the operation is that of scanning a transparency, the scanner stores the
resultant low and high resolution scanned images as part of data files 127
and provides the names of the files, the parameters of the scanning and
the type and version of the scanner to the workflow manager 114 which
stores them in workflow database 124.
If the operation is that of color correction to the scanned image, the
results of the color corrections are displayed as part of the image
manipulation application while the designer or production shop worker
corrects the colors. Typically, only the color correction operations are
listed in the portion of the workflow corresponding to color correction.
The color corrected image need not be stored since it will be recreated,
as described hereinbelow.
For those operations which are typically performed by the production shop,
the artwork designer typically transmits the job data, including the
database record, the output data files 123, if any, and the process list
126, to the production shop. The workflow manager 114 of the production
shop updates the process list 126 and the database record with the
operations performed at the shop. When the production shop finishes its
work, it returns the database record and any newly created output data
files to the artwork designer.
The transmission can be of any suitable type, such as via magnetic tape, a
network or a direct digital link. If the artwork designer and the
production shop are connected via a network, then they typically work on
the same workflow manager 114.
If the selected device is the one which performs rasterization, the
workflow manager 114 first checks that all the operations of the current
workflow, except the output operations, have been performed. If so, it
creates a process list 126 (FIG. 4) comprising sets of task information
from at least some of the operations of the current workflow which are
performed by application packages, where the order of the sets of task
information is determined by the workflow. The task information comprises
the commands and their parameters. The set of commands for each
application package are preceded by a command to load the application
package. The workflow manager 114 then loads interpreter 118 and provides
it with the process list 126.
When creating the process list 126, the workflow manager 114 operates to
produce as efficient a process list 126 as possible. Thus, the workflow
manager 114 modifies the task information and rearranges the order in
which operations of the workflow are performed.
The workflow manager 114 combines operations which the user performed in
two steps, but which constitute a single, known operation. For example, a
gradation operation followed by a color correction operation can be
combined into a single operation. In another example, a user might have
changed the color of an element from a first color to a second color. Some
time later, he may have changed the second color to a third color. The
workflow manager 114 will provide a command for a change from the first to
the third color.
As mentioned hereinabove, the workflow manager 114 streamlines the
operations in the process list 126 by first reviewing them and changing
the order of operation to a more efficient operation. For example, it is
more efficient to rearrange the order of the mask and color correction
steps (steps 34 and 32, respectively) such that the color correction is
performed only on the part of the image remaining after masking.
If the user has saved an intermediate file, the workflow manager 114 only
includes those operations of the workflow which occur after the operation
in which the intermediate file was saved. By saving intermediate files,
the user can increase the speed with which the interpreter 118, which
operates on the process list 126, performs.
The interpreter 118 calls the back end of each application listed in the
process list 126 with the appropriate commands from the process list 126.
The interpreter 118 provides each command in the order listed in the
process list 126.
Once interpreter 118 finishes performing the commands in the process list
126, interpreter 118 rasterizes the page, formed of graphical, textual and
raster image elements, producing a rasterized image file which can be
stored or utilized to create physical output via devices such as the
plotter or proofer.
It will be appreciated that, by calling the back ends of the application
packages, interpreter 118 performs each operation in accordance with the
same technology of the application which originally performed the
operation.
It will further be appreciated that the interpreter 118 and the previewer
119 are very similar in operation; the difference being that the previewer
119 only operates on low resolution versions of the input artwork elements
and only provides output to the preview window 124, which typically
occupies only a portion of the screen or of the artwork. Previewer 119
provides capabilities to change the size and shape of preview window 124
and to zoom and pan the image in the window 124. If the image displayed is
only a portion of the artwork, the previewer 119 only operates on the
relevant portion of the input artwork elements.
When the preview window 124 is selected, it provides the user (either
designer or production shop worker) with some idea of what the final
artwork will look like. During the initial pass through the workflow, the
displayed artwork shows the user what has been produced up until the
operation he is working on. During correction cycles, preview window 124
displays the effect of the correction on the final result, thereby
providing relatively quick feedback to the user.
Whenever the preview window 124 is selected, the workflow manager 114
produces the process list 126, as described hereinabove, for those
operations which have already been performed. Afterward, while the users
perform operations, the workflow manager 114 continually updates the
process list 126 with the commands received.
It will be appreciated that the workflow and the corresponding task
information is an editable description of the artwork preparation
operations performed. Therefore, if either the artwork designer or the
production shop worker must correct the job, he does so by indicating the
workflow to be edited, initiating the appropriate operation unit 102-112
and making the desired change. In the example of changing the T to a Y,
the designer would open the same layout device 108 as originally selected
and would edit the T to a Y.
The selected operation unit 102-112 provides the new command (change T to
Y) to the workflow manager 114. The workflow manager 114 utilizes the
workflow and block identifiers to determine which operation should be
amended and then performs the following operations: reviews the task
information for the text edit operation, finds the command which created
the T, deletes it and puts in the command to create the Y. If the preview
window 124 is selected, the workflow manager 114 also updates the process
list 126 with the changed command.
The workflow manager 114 does not change any other task information. If a
new operation is performed, rather than correcting an old one, the
workflow manager 114 edits the current workflow to include the new
operation. Alternatively, or in addition, a user can manually edit the
process list 126.
The previewer 119 executes all of those commands listed in the process list
126. It will be appreciated that, because of the previewer 119, the
present invention reduces the time needed for design changes. With the
previewer 119, the user, usually the designer, only has to make the
significant changes to the design. The remaining operations which have to
be performed in order to complete the job (such as redoing the neon effect
around the Y) are immediately performed for the designer by the previewer
119. The interpreter 118 interprets the process list 126 only when output
is desired.
If the designer so desires, the workflow manager 114 can also queue a batch
operation to perform those operations of the workflow which occur after
the rasterization operation. In the example of FIG. 2, these are the trap
and plot operations (steps 50 and 52). The information to do so is stored
in the workflow database 123.
It will be appreciated that the record in the workflow database 123 can be
reutilized, either as a template for similar types of operations or to
reproduce the same job.
The workflow manager 114 also provides database management tools to enable
the users, particularly the production shop workers, to operate on several
jobs at one time. Some of the tools include file tracking, creating status
reports and creating schedules.
It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present
invention is not limited to what has been particularly shown and described
hereinabove. Rather the scope of the present invention is defined by the
claims which follow after Appendix A:
Appendix A
Process Number:30
Process Name: Scan
Process: Smart Scanner/Macintosh
Application: Smart Plus 3.0
Dialog Box FIG. 6A
Start operations
Application:Smart Plus 3.0
set Media
set Format
set Scan Type
set Crop/Scan (x1,y1 to x2,y2)
set resolution (Depending on the type of scan, there might be a need to
edit
Gradation, Sharpness and Color Tables)
Save Scan (FIG. 6B)
Process Number:32
Process Name: Color Correction
Device:Macintosh
Application: Adobe PhotoShop 2.5
Dialog Box FIG. 6C
Start operations
Open File
open change color
set "amount" of change
Process Number:34
Process Name: Mask
Device: Macintosh
Application: Adobe PhotoShop 2.5
Start operations
Create the clipping path around the image
line from x3,y3 to x4,y4
end of mask at x5, y5
Save the path (FIG. 6D)
Save the path in the clipping path (FIG. 6E)
Save the file as an EPS
Process Number:36
Process Name: Create Layout
Device: Macintosh
Application: Quark Express 3.11
Start operations
Open Quark Express 3.11
Create a new page
set page size
Process Number:38
Process Name: shape Create (Picture and Text Boxes)
Device: Macintosh
Application: Quark Express 3.11
Start operations
create picture box
create picture box tool
create box from x6,y6 to x7,y7
create text box
select text box tool
create box from x8,y8 to x9,y9
Process Number:40
Process Name: Assign Picture
Device: Macintosh
Application: Quark Express 3.11
Start Operation
assign picture
save
Process Number: 42
Process Name: Create Text
Device: Macintosh
Application: Quark Express 3.11
Start operation
type in text
Process Number: 44
Process Name: Convert to Vector
Device: Macintosh
Application: Freehand 3.11
open application
set page size
open text tool
type in "T"(FIG. 6F)
set parameters
set font (FIG. 6G)
set size
set color (FIG. 6H)
place "T" on page
create eps (FIG. 6I)
save file
Process Number: 45
Process Name: Neon Effect
Device: Macintosh
Application: Adobe PhotoShop 2.5
Start operation
open scan
place vector file ("T") on scan
select "T"
apply neon filter
set color
set width
set blend
Process Number: 48
Process Name: RIP
Device: Macintosh
Application: VIP 1.5
Dialog | | |
