Preparation of production data for a print job using a still image proxy of a page description language image file

1. An automated computer-implemented method of viewing production data for a print job, the production data including (i) an electronic document defined by a page description language (PDL), the electronic document being stored in a PDL image file and having predefined physical dimensions, and (ii) a predetermined area in which the electronic document must fit in a layout of a physical printed document, the method comprising:

(a) creating a still image proxy of the PDL image file;

(b) creating a static template that defines the predetermined area, wherein the physical dimensions of the template are dynamically determined based on the area in which the electronic document must fit in the layout of the physical printed document, and the physical dimensions of an image display of the still image proxy are dynamically determined based on the relative size of the predefined physical dimensions of the PDL image file to the predetermined area in which the electronic document must fit; and

(c) displaying an image display of the still image proxy in association with the template.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the electronic document is an advertisement and the template is the area of purchased advertisement space.

3. The method according to claim 1 further comprising:

(d) electronically manipulating an image display of the still image proxy with respect to the template and recording information about the manipulations; and

(e) using the information about the manipulations to revise the PDL image file so as to match the PDL image file to the manipulations made to the image display of the still image proxy.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

(d) inserting the image display of the still image proxy and the template into a browser-compatible application program that allows for electronic manipulation of the image display of the still image proxy in relation to the template within a browser, wherein the template is sized so as to appear as large as possible within the application program, regardless of the actual predetermined area in which the electronic document must fit, thereby allowing for maximum viewability of the template and the image display of the still image proxy within the browser.

5. An automated computer-implemented apparatus for viewing production data for a print job, the production data including (i) an electronic document defined by a page description language (PDL), the electronic document being stored in a PDL image file and having predefined physical dimensions, and (ii) a predetermined area in which the electronic document must fit in a layout of a physical printed document, the apparatus comprising:

(a) means for creating an image display of a still image proxy of the PDL image file;

(b) means for creating a static template that defines the predetermined area, wherein the physical dimensions of the template are dynamically determined based on the area in which the electronic document must fit in the layout of the physical printed document, and the physical dimensions of the image display of the still image proxy are dynamically determined based on the relative size of the predefined physical dimensions of the PDL image file to the predetermined area in which the electronic document must fit; and

(c) means for displaying the image display of the still image proxy in association with the template.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the electronic document is an advertisement and the template is the area of purchased advertisement space.

7. The apparatus according to claim 5 further comprising:

(d) means for electronically manipulating the image display of the still image proxy with respect to the template and recording information about the manipulations; and

(e) means for using the information about the manipulations to revise the PDL image file so as to match the PDL image file to the manipulations made to the image display of the still image proxy.

8. The apparatus of claim 5 further comprising:

(d) means for inserting the image display of the still image proxy and the template into a browser-compatible application program that allows for electronic manipulation of the image display of the still image proxy in relation to the template within a browser, wherein the template is sized so as to appear as large as possible within the application program, regardless of the actual predetermined area in which the electronic document must fit, thereby allowing for maximum viewability of the template and the image display of the still image proxy within the browser.

9. An article of manufacture for viewing production data for a print job, the production data including (i) an electronic document defined by a page description language (PDL), the electronic document being stored in a PDL image file and having predefined physical dimensions, and (ii) a predetermined area in which the electronic document must fit in a layout of a physical printed document, the article of manufacture comprising a computer-readable medium encoded with computer-executable instructions for performing a method comprising:

(a) creating an image display of a still image proxy of the PDL image file;

(b) creating a static template that defines the predetermined area, wherein the physical dimensions of the template are dynamically determined based on the area in which the electronic document must fit in the layout of the physical printed document, and the physical dimensions of the image display of the still image proxy are dynamically determined based on the relative size of the predefined physical dimensions of the PDL image file to the predetermined area in which the electronic document must fit; and

(c) displaying the image display of the still image proxy in association with the template.

10. The article of manufacture of claim 9 wherein the electronic document is an advertisement and the template is the area of purchased advertisement space.

11. The article of manufacture of claim 9 wherein the computer-executable instructions perform a method further comprising:

(d) electronically manipulating the image display of the still image proxy with respect to the template and recording information about the manipulations; and

(e) using the information about the manipulations to revise the PDL image file so as to match the PDL image file to the manipulations made to the image display of the still image proxy.

12. The article of manufacture of claim 9 wherein the computer-executable instructions perform a method further comprising:

(d) inserting the image display of the still image proxy and the template into a browser-compatible application program that allows for electronic manipulation of the image display of the still image proxy in relation to the template within a browser, wherein the template is sized so as to appear as large as possible within the application program, regardless of the actual predetermined area in which the electronic document must fit, thereby allowing for maximum viewability of the template and the image display of the still image proxy within the browser.