Methods and apparatus for adaptive imposition templates

A method for processing a print file comprising an actual page size, the method comprising:

• providing a nominal imposition template for imposing a plurality of pages in a plurality of nominal page positions having vertical coordinates, horizontal coordinates, a nominal page size, and nominal page centers, wherein at least two nominal page positions are separated by at least one horizontal center axis, and wherein at least two nominal page positions are separated by at least one vertical center axis;
• wherein the imposition template is adapted for use with imposition software for creating a modified imposition flat, wherein the imposition software uses actual page data from an incoming print file, said actual page data including:
• at least one center axis separation attribute,
• at least one vertical page separation attribute,
• vertical coordinates for each page,
• horizontal coordinates for each page, and
• actual page size, wherein the native size dimensions of the incoming print file are not known in advance;
• providing an application adapted to automatically modify the nominal imposition template if the actual page size differs from the nominal page size, wherein the nominal imposition template includes a nominal page center, forming a modified imposition template, wherein the automatic modification is performed without modifying the scale or proportion of the print file and without intervention from an operator, and wherein the application for automatically modifying the nominal imposition template further comprises:
• determining an actual page center of each page from the print file by performing the steps of:
• retrieving at least one center axis separation attribute from the nominal imposition template;
• retrieving at least one vertical page separation attribute from the nominal imposition template;
• selecting retrieving nominal page positions from the nominal imposition template;
• setting the axial actual page centers to the nominal page centers by symmetrically aligning the vertical coordinate with the nominal page positions and maintaining said at least one center axis separation attribute and said at least one vertical page separation attribute;
• determining the locations of an associated page-dependent object based on the location of the actual page center;
• and
• modifying the nominal imposition template based on the positions of the actual page centers and the location of the associated page-dependent object;
• and
• applying the modified imposition template to the print file to create a modified imposition flat, wherein the incoming print file automatically fits into the modified template in its native size proportions;
• and
• printing a print file in its native size proportions and fit into a modified template.

An imposition process comprising:

• receiving a print file comprising at least one spine-binding separation attribute, one or more binding edge, and an actual page size from an incoming print file, wherein the native size dimensions of the incoming print file are not known in advance;
• receiving a nominal imposition template for imposing a plurality of pages in a plurality of nominal page positions having vertical coordinates, horizontal coordinates, a nominal page size, and nominal page centers, wherein at least two nominal page positions are separated by at least one horizontal center axis, and wherein at least two nominal page positions are separated by at least one vertical center axis;
• wherein the imposition template is adapted for use with imposition software for creating a modified imposition flat, wherein the imposition software uses actual page data, said actual page data including:
• at least one center axis separation attribute,
• at least one vertical page separation attribute,
• vertical coordinates for each page,
• horizontal coordinates for each page, and
• actual page size, wherein the native size dimensions of the incoming print file are not known in advance;
• automatically modifying the nominal imposition template based on the actual page size if the actual page size does not equal the nominal page size, wherein the automatic modification is performed without modifying the scale or proportion of the print file and without intervention from an operator, the step of automatically modifying further comprising
• determining an actual page center of each page from the print file by performing the steps of:
• retrieving at least one center axis separation attribute from the nominal imposition template;
• retrieving at least one vertical page separation attribute from the nominal imposition template;
• selecting retrieving nominal page positions from the nominal imposition template;
• setting the axial actual page centers to the nominal page centers by symmetrically aligning the vertical coordinate with the nominal page positions and maintaining said at least one center axis separation attribute and said at least one vertical page separation attribute;
• determining the locations of an associated page-dependent object based on the location of the actual page center;
• modifying the nominal imposition template based on the positions of the actual page centers and the location of the associated page-dependent object;
• applying the nominal imposition template to the print file to generate the imposition flat,
• wherein the incoming print file automatically fits into the modified template in its native size proportions;
• and
• printing a print file in its native size proportions and fit into a modified template.