Preprinted form overlay

#The present invention relates to the field of printing, and in particular, to merging print job data with an overlay form.

#Printers are common peripheral devices attached to computers. A printer allows a computer user to make a hard copy of documents that are created in a variety of applications and programs on a computer. To function properly, a channel of communication is established (e.g., via a network connection) between the printer and the computer to enable the printer to receive commands and information from the host computer. Once a connection is established between a computer and the printer, printing software is implemented at a print server to manage a print job through the complete printing process.

#Often, print jobs are produced by combining document data with forms data (e.g. text, graphics and images) that exist on a preprinted medium (e.g., paper). However, preprinted forms are costly and cumbersome. Particularly, printer users struggle with the cost and logistics of specifying, purchasing, storing, moving and controlling large volumes of preprinted forms. The customer environment would become more efficient and lower cost if preprinted forms could be eliminated by substituting blank stock. The conventional method of representing form data as an overlay requires that the form overlay is rendered using the normal print job processing and mixing rules. This may result in a color of the simulated preprinted form being “knocked out” and replaced with a color from the document data, which cannot occur with a real preprinted form.

#Embodiments of the present invention may be understood more fully from the detailed description given below and from the accompanying drawings of various embodiments of the invention. The drawings, however, should not be taken to be limiting, but are for explanation and understanding only.

#FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating one embodiment of a print system;

#FIG. 2 illustrates one embodiment of a table describing keywords used to invoke a medium overlay as a preprinted form overlay;

#A preprinted form overlay is described. In the following description, for the purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without some of these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form to avoid obscuring the underlying principles of the present invention.

#Reference in the specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the invention. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment.

#FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of a printing system 100. Printing system 100 includes a print application 110, a server 120 and a printer 130 that are implemented to produce documents generated from print jobs. Print application 110 makes a request for the printing of a document. In one embodiment, print application 110 implements the Advanced Function Presentation (AFP™) architecture. According to the AFP architecture, documents may include combinations of text, image, graphics, and/or bar code objects in device and resolution independent formats. Documents may also include and/or reference fonts, overlays, and other resource objects, which are required at presentation time to present the data properly.