Partitioning raster images for multiple print colorant orders
According to exemplary methods, a print job is received into a computerized device that includes a marking device. The print job specifies an imposition template defining multiple logical pages for a single sheet of print media according to an electronic document. The print job attributes also contain a first print colorant order and a different second print colorant order. Groups of logical pages are defined for each print colorant order, and buffers are created in which raster data associated with each group of logical pages are merged and untouched pixels are marked as negative pixels. The information from each buffer is printed on a single sheet of print media. Following printing of each buffer, the sheet of print media is returned to the marking device, so that information from the next buffer can be printed on the same side of the sheet of print media, using the marking device.
1. A method comprising:
receiving a print job into a computerized device comprising a marking device, said print job comprising an electronic document and print job attributes including an imposition template defining multiple logical pages for a single sheet of print media according to said electronic document, said print job attributes comprising a first print colorant order and a second print colorant order different from said first print colorant order;
defining a first group of logical pages having said first print colorant order and a second group of logical pages having said second print colorant order, according to said print job;
creating first information in a first buffer by merging raster data associated with said first group of logical pages, and marking untouched pixels as negative pixels;
creating second information in a second buffer by merging raster data associated with said second group of logical pages, and marking untouched pixels as negative pixels;
printing said first information from said first buffer on a sheet of print media, using said marking device;
following said printing said first information from said first buffer on said sheet of print media, returning said sheet of print media to said marking device; and
printing said second information from said second buffer on the same side of said sheet of print media, using said marking device.
2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein each print colorant order includes standard colorants and a spot color.
3. The method according to claim 2 , said standard colorants comprising cyan, yellow, magenta, red, green, blue, and black.
4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein all pixels for the logical pages that are not in said first group of logical pages are set to zero in said first buffer and all pixels for the logical pages that are not in said second group of logical pages are set to zero in said second buffer.
5. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
decomposing each logical page using a raster image processor.
6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said first print colorant order uses a first tone reproduction curve (TRC) and said second print colorant order uses a second TRC, different from said first TRC.
7. A method, comprising:
receiving a print job into a computerized device, said print job comprising an electronic document and print job attributes including an imposition template defining multiple logical pages for a single sheet of print media according to said electronic document;
displaying, on a user interface of said computerized device, a menu option to define print colorant order for selected logical pages of said electronic document;
receiving input into said user interface to identify a first print colorant order associated with a first group of logical pages and a second print colorant order associated with a second group of logical pages, said second print colorant order being different from said first print colorant order;
creating first information in a first buffer by merging raster data associated with said first group of logical pages, and marking untouched pixels as negative pixels; and
creating second information in a second buffer by merging raster data associated with said second group of logical pages, and marking untouched pixels as negative pixels.
8. The method according to claim 7 , further comprising:
printing said first information from said first buffer on a sheet of print media, using a marking device;
following said printing said first information from said first buffer on said sheet of print media, returning said sheet of print media to said marking device; and
printing said second information from said second buffer on the same side of said sheet of print media, using said marking device.
9. The method according to claim 7 , wherein each print colorant order includes standard colorants and a spot color.
10. The method according to claim 9 , said standard colorants comprising cyan, yellow, magenta, red, green, blue, and black.
11. The method according to claim 7 , wherein all pixels for the logical pages that are not in said first group of logical pages are set to zero in said first buffer and all pixels for the logical pages that are not in said second group of logical pages are set to zero in said second buffer.
12. The method according to claim 7 , further comprising:
decomposing each logical page using a raster image processor.
13. The method according to claim 7 , further comprising:
receiving input into said user interface to identify a first Tone Reproduction Curve (TRC) and a second TRC, different from said first TRC to use with said print job.
14. The method according to claim 13 , wherein said first print colorant order corresponds to said first TRC and said second print colorant order corresponds to said second TRC.
15. A printing device, comprising:
an input device receiving a print job, said print job comprising an electronic document and print job attributes including an imposition template defining multiple logical pages for a single sheet of print media according to said electronic document, said print job attributes comprising a first print colorant order and a second print colorant order different from said first print colorant order;
a processor operatively connected to said input device; and
a marking device operatively connected to said processor,
said processor defining a first group of logical pages having said first print colorant order and a second group of logical pages having said second print colorant order, according to said print job,
said processor creating first information in a first buffer by merging raster data associated with said first group of logical pages, and marking untouched pixels as negative pixels,
said processor creating second information in a second buffer by merging raster data associated with said second group of logical pages, and marking untouched pixels as negative pixels
printing said first information from said first buffer on a sheet of print media, using said marking device,
following said printing said first information from said first buffer on said sheet of print media, said processor returning said sheet of print media to said marking device, and
printing said second information from said second buffer on the same side of said sheet of print media, using said marking device.
16. The printing device according to claim 15 , wherein each print colorant order includes standard colorants and a spot color.
17. The printing device according to claim 16 , said standard colorants comprising cyan, yellow, magenta, red, green, blue, and black.
18. The printing device according to claim 15 , wherein all pixels for the logical pages that are not in said first group of logical pages are set to zero in said first buffer and all pixels for the logical pages that are not in said second group of logical pages are set to zero in said second buffer.
19. The printing device according to claim 15 , said processor comprising a raster image processor decomposing each logical page using said raster image processor.
20. The printing device according to claim 15 , wherein said first print colorant order uses a first tone reproduction curve (TRC) and said second print colorant order uses a second TRC, different from said first TRC.