Automatic variable image shift for precut tabs

An electronic reprographic printing system for printing on output sheets of a print job, comprising:

• means for scanning images of a set of original documents comprising a print job;
• means for electronically storing in memory images of the scanned documents;
• means for variably shifting the image of at least one of said stored electronic images for subsequent printing a distance equal to a dimensional difference between the original document from which the electronic image is scanned and the output sheet onto which the image is printed;
• and
• means for shifting the remaining images a standard distance different from the variably shifted distance of the at least one stored electronic image, whereby a portion of said at least one image to be printed is printed in a region of an output sheet which is defined at least in part by said dimensional difference.

A method for controlling the printing of a print job, the step comprising:

• creating a set of electronic page images for the print job;
• electronically storing in memory the electronic page images;
• variably shifting the image of at least one of the stored electronic images for subsequent printing a distance equal to a dimensional difference between the specified size of the electronic page image and the size of the output sheet onto which the page image is printed;
• and
• converting the electronic page images to a corresponding set of printed output sheets, whereby a portion of said at least one image to be printed is printed in a region of the output sheet defined at least in part by said dimensional difference.