Systems and methods for processing of variable documents

A method of batch processing a variable document, comprising the steps of:

• receiving a first electronic version of a variable document for a first recipient and a second electronic version of the variable document for a second recipient;
• rasterizing the first and second electronic versions to generate one or more rasterized images, wherein each rasterized image is stored and assigned a unique identifier;
• generating a run instance for the first and second recipients, wherein the run instance includes variable information for the first and second recipients and the unique identifiers for the first and second recipients;
• merging the run instance with a template to generate a command stream, wherein the command stream includes the variable information and the unique identifiers for the first and second recipients;
• retrieving the rasterized images in accordance with the unique identifiers in the command stream;
• and
• assembling first and second print versions of the variable document for the first and second recipients, respectively, from the command stream and the retrieved rasterized images.

A system for processing an electronic version of a variable document for a recipient, comprising:

• a server adapted to receive an electronic version of a variable document for a recipient;
• and
• one or more raster image processors adapted to rasterize the electronic version into one or more rasterized images, wherein each rasterized image is assigned a unique identifier,
• and wherein the server is further adapted to generate a live data file for the recipient, and further wherein the live data file includes variable information for the recipient and the unique identifiers of the one or more rasterized images for the recipient.

A system for batch processing a variable document, comprising:

• a server adapted to receive a plurality of electronic versions of a variable document for a plurality of recipients and variable information for the plurality of recipients;
• one or more raster image processors adapted to rasterize the plurality of electronic versions to generate rasterized images, wherein each rasterized image is stored and assigned a unique identifier,
• and wherein the server is further adapted to generate a live data file for a batch of recipients, and further wherein the live data file includes the variable information and the unique identifiers of the rasterized images for the batch of recipients;
• and
• a print job management system adapted to merge the live data file with a template to generate a command stream, wherein the command stream incorporates the variable information and the unique identifiers for the batch of recipients.