Method and apparatus for modifying raster data

A print drive for controlling operations in a prepress printing system having at least one raster image processor, the print drive comprising:

• a print drive input terminal receiving, from the at least one raster image processor, first raster data of a first image and second raster data of a second image;
• a job control system for receiving, storing, digitally combining, and initiating output of raster data;
• and
• a user interface for facilitating direction of the print drive job control system by a system operator;
• wherein the job control system comprises a digital image combiner electrically coupled to the print drive input terminal, the digital image combiner in response to direction received via the user interface digitally combining, upon output to a destination device, the the first raster data and the second raster data to form combined raster data representing a resultant image.

An imaging system for digital combining, comprising:

• an image acquisition device for acquiring a first image and a second image;
• at least one raster image processor, in electrical communication with the image acquisition device, for processing the first image to create first raster data and for processing the second image to create second raster data;
• and
• a print drive, comprising:
• a print drive input terminal receiving, from the at least one raster image processor, first raster data of a first image and second raster data of a second image;
• a job control system for receiving, storing, digitally combining, and initiating output of raster data;
• a user interface for facilitating direction of the print drive job control system by a system operator;
• wherein the job control system comprises a digital image combiner in communication with the print drive input terminal, the digital image combiner in response to direction received via the user interface digitally combining, upon output to a destination device, the first raster data and the second raster data to form combined raster data representing a resultant image.

A method for imaging, comprising:

• receiving first raster data of a first image processed by at least one raster image processor;
• receiving second raster data of a second image processed by said at least one raster image processor representing a modification to the first image;
• receiving mask raster data of the second image processed by said at least one raster mage processor representing a mask of the modification to the first image;
• digitally masking the first raster data with the mask raster data to form masked first raster data;
• and
• digitally combining, upon output to a destination device, the masked first raster data and the second raster data to form modified raster data representing a resultant image.