U.S. patent application number 11/543372 was filed with the patent office on 2007-02-15 for computerized prepress.
This patent application is currently assigned to VistaPrint Technologies Limited. Invention is credited to Steven Jecha, Winfield A. Mitchell.
Application Number | 20070035746 11/543372 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25529157 |
Filed Date | 2007-02-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070035746 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Jecha; Steven ; et
al. |
February 15, 2007 |
Computerized prepress
Abstract
Computerized prepress is disclosed. In one embodiment, a
computerized prepress system includes three components: a server, a
client and a printer. The server has stored thereon an authoring
program to create a document, and a translation program to
translate the document to a suitable prepress format. The client
downloads the authoring program from the server to create the
document, and then uploads the document to the server for a
translation to the suitable prepress format from the server.
Inventors: |
Jecha; Steven; (Minneapolis,
MN) ; Mitchell; Winfield A.; (Minneapolis,
MA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
VISTA PRINT USA INC.;ATTN: PATENT COUNSEL
100 HAYDEN AVENUE
LEXINGTON
MA
02421
US
|
Assignee: |
VistaPrint Technologies
Limited
|
Family ID: |
25529157 |
Appl. No.: |
11/543372 |
Filed: |
October 5, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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09877266 |
Jun 8, 2001 |
7120634 |
|
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11543372 |
Oct 5, 2006 |
|
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08982438 |
Dec 2, 1997 |
6247011 |
|
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09877266 |
Jun 8, 2001 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
358/1.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 3/1208 20130101;
G06F 3/1222 20130101; G06F 40/166 20200101; G06F 40/103 20200101;
G06F 3/1288 20130101; G06F 3/1214 20130101; G06F 3/1256 20130101;
G06F 3/1238 20130101; Y10S 707/99939 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
358/001.1 |
International
Class: |
G06F 3/12 20060101
G06F003/12 |
Claims
1. A computerized method for creating a design to be printed, the
method comprising: storing on a server system a downloadable design
creation program having one or more design creation tools allowing
a user at a client system to create an electronic design in WYSIWYG
form, wherein the downloaded program executes in a browser of the
client and has least one tool that allows a user at the client to
select and edit at least one element of an electronic design while
at least a portion of the electronic design is simultaneously
displayed; downloading the program from the server to the client;
creating an electronic design using one or more tools of the
downloaded program; and uploading the electronic design to a server
system in a form allowing a translation program to create a
prepress format file.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the downloaded program includes at
least one tool allowing the user to enter and position at least one
text string in the electronic design and to enter and position at
least one object in the electronic design.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the downloaded program includes at
least one tool allowing a user to change the size of at least one
element of the design relative to the size of at least one other
element of the design.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the downloaded program includes at
least one tool allowing the user to perform a zoom operation during
the process of creating the electronic design.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the downloaded program includes at
least one tool allowing the user to select at least one element in
the electronic design and to change the color of the at least one
selected element.
6. A computer system comprising: one or more processors; one or
more communications devices capable of receiving programs
downloaded from a server system; an operating environment program
comprising at least a browser; and a program downloaded from a
server, the program being adapted to execute in the browser and
having one or more tools for creating a design in WYSIWYG form, at
least one of the tools having one or more functions allowing a user
of the computer system to select and edit at least one element of
the design while at least a portion of the design is simultaneously
displayed; and wherein the downloaded program is further adapted to
upload the design to a server in a form allowing a translation
program to create a prepress format file.
7. The system of claim 6 wherein the downloaded program includes at
least one tool allowing the user to enter and position at least one
text string in the electronic design and to enter and position at
least one object in the electronic design.
8. The system of claim 6 wherein the downloaded program includes at
least one tool allowing a user to change the size of at least one
element of the design relative to the size of at least one other
element of the design.
9. The method of claim 6 wherein the downloaded program includes at
least one tool allowing the user to perform a zoom operation during
the process of creating the electronic design.
10. The system of claim 6 wherein the downloaded program includes
at least one tool allowing the user to select at least one element
in the electronic design and to change the color of the at least
one selected element.
11. A server system comprising: one or more processors; one or more
computer-readable media; one or more communications devices capable
of downloading programs to one or more client computers; a
downloadable design program encoded on the computer-readable media,
the program being adapted to execute in a browser of a client
computer and having one or more tools for creating a design in
WYSIWYG form, at least one of the tools having one or more
functions allowing a user to select and edit at least one element
of the electronic design while at least a portion of the electronic
design is simultaneously displayed; the program being further
adapted to upload the electronic design to a server system in a
form allowing a translation program to create a prepress format
file.
12. The system of claim 11 wherein the downloaded program includes
at least one tool allowing the user to enter and position at least
one text string in the electronic design and to enter and position
at least one object in the electronic design.
13. The system of claim 11 wherein the downloaded program includes
at least one tool allowing a user to change the size of at least
one element of the design relative to the size of at least one
other element of the design.
14. The system of claim 11 wherein the downloaded program includes
at least one tool allowing the user to perform a zoom operation
during the process of creating the electronic design.
15. The system of claim 11 wherein the downloaded program includes
at least one tool allowing the user to select at least one element
in the electronic design and to change the color of the at least
one selected element.
16. A computer-readable medium having encoded therein computer code
executable in a browser for creating a design to be printed, the
computer code comprising: computer code allowing a user to create a
design in WYSIWYG form, computer code allowing the user to select
and edit at least one element of the design while at least a
portion of the design is simultaneously displayed, and computer
code for providing the design in a form allowing translation of the
design by a translation program into a suitable prepress format.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates generally to print and
print-publishing prepress, and more particularly to such prepress
that is computerized.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The publishing process typically requires several steps to
successfully complete a printed publication. Such steps include
planning and organizing, design and content development, and
prepress tasks where electronic files are prepared to be reproduced
with ink on paper. Broadly speaking, prepress involves the
preparation of all the electronic files that will be utilized to
create a publication printed with paper and ink. For a professional
publication, this usually involves utilizing an authoring program
to create the electronic version of the publication itself, and
then using another program (which may be a component of the
authoring program), to translate this electronic version into a
format from which paper and ink copies of the publication can be
printed.
[0003] Portions if not all of the prepress process is difficult for
non-professionals to accomplish, however. While tools such as Adobe
PageMaker and Quark Express enable professionals to more easily
create professional-looking documents, most non-professionals find
these computer programs overly complex and difficult to use. That
is, although the computers sitting on the desks of such
non-professionals are sufficiently powerful to handle such tasks,
the users themselves may not be sufficiently knowledgeable to
perform them. Furthermore, even for experienced professionals, the
prepress process is fraught with uncertainty; for example, the
professional must know the type of paper and ink output that is
desired a priori before translating an electronic version of a
document into a format from which paper and ink copies can be
printed. That is, even for experienced professionals, the prepress
process is not tightly integrated enough to attain fast, easy and
cost-effective print publishing.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The above-identified shortcomings as well as other
shortcomings and problems are addressed by the present invention,
which will be understood by reading and studying the following
specification. In one embodiment, a computerized prepress system
includes three components: a server, a client and a printer. The
server has stored thereon an authoring program to create a
document, and a translation program to translate the document to a
suitable prepress format. The client downloads the authoring
program from the server to create the document, and then uploads
the document to the server for translation to the suitable prepress
format. The printer receives the document as translated to the
suitable prepress format from the server, such that the printer may
then print copies of the document.
[0005] More specifically, in one particular embodiment of the
invention, the authoring program is written in the programming
language Java, and the client, server and printer are each
connected to an intranet the Internet. Thus, a user at the client
needs only to run a web browser program, such as Netscape
Navigator, to access the server and download and run the authoring
program. Once the user has created a document with the authoring
program, it is saved at the server. The server may then as required
translate the document into a suitable prepress format --such as
PostScript --and send it to the printer (e.g., as a MIME-compliant
electronic mail) for printing.
[0006] The invention thus provides for several advantages. The user
at the client does not need to know anything about the prepress
format required by the printer. Since the server stores the
authoring program that is then downloaded to the client for
creation of a document, the server can maintain the authoring
program such that it knows both the format to which the authoring
program saves the document, and the format to which the document
must be translated for printing at the printer. Furthermore, the
authoring program stored at the server may be as simple as
necessary for novice users to comfortably use, or as powerful as
necessary for experienced users to use. The professional user
benefits from the tight integration of the invention, in that the
professional user need only be concerned with creating the
document, and not the manner by which the document will ultimately
be printed with paper and ink, which may already be preselected
within the server.
[0007] In different embodiments of the invention, computerized
methods, computerized systems, computers, and computer-readable
media of varying scope are described. Still other and further
embodiments, aspects and advantages of the invention will become
apparent by reference to the drawings and by reading the following
detailed description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 is a diagram of a computer in conjunction with which
embodiments of the invention may be implemented;
[0009] FIG. 2 is a diagram of a computerized prepress system in
accordance with one embodiment of the invention;
[0010] FIG. 3 is a diagram of a computerized prepress method in
accordance with one embodiment of the invention; and, FIGS. 4a-4m
are diagrams of screens displayed on a display device of a computer
in conjunction with one embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0011] In the following detailed description of the preferred
embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which
form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration
specific preferred embodiments in which the inventions may be
practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to
enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it
is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that
logical, mechanical and electrical changes may be made without
departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The
following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a
limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined
only by the appended claims.
[0012] Referring first to FIG. 1, a diagram of a computer in
conjunction with which embodiments of the invention may be
implemented is shown. Computer 110 is operatively coupled to
display device 112, pointing device 114, and keyboard 116. Computer
110 includes a processor (preferably, an Intel Pentium processor),
random-access memory (RAM) (preferably, at least thirty-two
megabytes), read-only memory (ROM), and one or more storage
devices, such as a hard disk drive, a floppy disk drive (into which
a floppy disk can be inserted), an optical disk drive, and a tape
cartridge drive. The memory, hard drives, floppy disks, etc., are
types of computer-readable media. The hard drives and floppy disks
are more specifically types of nonvolatile store media. Computer
programs running on the computer are executed by the processor from
the computer-readable media. The invention is not particularly
limited to any type of computer 110. Computer 110 preferably is a
PC-compatible computer or a MacOS-compatible computer. The
construction and operation of such computers are well known within
the art.
[0013] Furthermore, computer 110 may be communicatively connected
to the Internet via a communication device, any particular manner
by which the invention is not limited to, and which is not shown in
FIG. 1. Internet connectivity is well known within the art. In one
embodiment, the computer includes a communication device that is a
modem and corresponding communication drivers to connect to the
Internet via what is known in the art as a "dial-up connection." In
another embodiment, the computer includes a communication device
that is an Ethernet or similar hardware (network) card to connect
to a local-area network (LAN) that itself is connected to the
Internet via what is know in the art as a "direct connection"
(e.g., T1 line, etc.).
[0014] Computer 110 also has at least one operating environment
running thereon, each desirably providing a graphical user
interface including a user-controllable pointer. Such operating
environments include operating systems such as versions of the
Microsoft Windows and Apple MacOS operating systems known in the
art. The invention is not limited to any particular operating
environment, however, and the construction and use of such
operating environments are well known within the art. Computer 110
also desirably has at least one web browser application program
running with at least one operating environment, to permit users of
computer 110 to access intranet or Internet world-wide-web pages as
addressed by Universal Resource Locator (URL) addresses. Such
browser application programs include Netscape Navigator and
Microsoft Internet Explorer.
[0015] Display device 112 permits the display of information,
including computer, video and other information, for viewing by a
user of the computer. The invention is not limited to any
particular display device 112. Such display devices include cathode
ray tube (CRT) displays (monitors), as well as flat panel displays
such as liquid crystal displays (LCD's). Pointing device 114
permits the control of the screen pointer provided by the graphical
user interface of operating systems such as versions of Microsoft
Windows. The invention is not limited to any particular pointing
device 114. Such pointing devices include mouses, touch pads,
trackballs, remote controls and point sticks. Finally, keyboard 116
permits entry of textual information into computer 110, as known
within the art, and the invention is not limited to any particular
type of keyboard.
[0016] Referring next to FIG. 2, a diagram of a computerized system
in accordance with one embodiment of the invention is shown. Each
of client computer 200, server computer 202, and printer computer
204 is a computer, such as that shown in and described in
conjunction with FIG. 1, although the invention is not so limited.
Thus, each of client computer 200, server computer 202, and printer
computer 204 has a processor, a computer-readable medium from which
computer programs are executed by the processor, and a
communications device, such as a network card, or a modem. Client
computer 200, server computer 202, and printer computer 204 are
communicatively coupled to one another via the Internet 206. Note
that in one embodiment, Internet 206 is replaced by an extranet or
an intranet, as known within the art, and as may be found in
corporate and other environments.
[0017] Server computer 202 is desirably an extranet, intranet or
Internet world-wide-web server, as known in the art, such that it
has assigned thereto a Universal Resource Locator (URL) address to
permit client computer 200, as well as other computers, to access
the server. The invention is not particularly limited to a type of
server 202. Typical examples include those running software
available from Netscape, Microsoft, Apache, NCSA, and others.
Server 202 is also not limited to running on a particular operating
system (OS); common operating systems including Microsoft Windows
95, Microsoft Windows NT, Apple MacOS and UNIX.
[0018] Server computer 202 has stored thereon authoring program
208. Authoring program 208 is downloaded from server 202 by and to
client 200 through the Internet 206, although this is more directly
represented by arrow 210. Authoring program 208 desirably is run
within operating environment 212 running on client 200. Such an
operating environment 212 includes those provided by extranet,
intranet and Internet world-wide-web browser programs such as
Microsoft Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator. For example, in
one embodiment, authoring program 208 is coded in the programming
language Java, such that program 208 is a Java applet that is
downloaded through the Internet by client 200, and runs within an
operating environment 212 that is a browser program that is Java
capable. In other embodiments of the invention, authoring program
208 may be coded in the programming language Perl, C, C++, ActiveX,
or other programming languages; the invention is not so
limited.
[0019] Authoring program 208 is used within client computer 200 to
create document 214. Document 214 is a document created by the user
of computer 200, using authoring program 208, for printing and
publishing. The invention is not limited to any type of authoring
program 208; in one embodiment of the invention, authoring program
208 is that which is shown in and will be described in conjunction
with FIGS. 4a-4m. The invention is also not limited to any
particular document 214. In one embodiment of the invention,
document 214 is a business card; however, other documents amenable
to the invention include letterheads, pamphlets, brochures,
envelopes, etc.
[0020] Once document 214 has been created at client 200, it is
uploaded to server 202 for saving at the server, through the
Internet 206, as more directly represented by arrow 216. Document
214 is saved at the server 202 on a non-volatile storage device of
the server, such as a hard disk drive. It is saved in an internal
file format that maximizes efficiency in the storage of the
document. Once the document 214 is ready to be sent to a printer
for printing and publication (as may be indicated by client 200 to
server 202), server 202 runs translation program 218 on document
214 (program 218 being stored on server 202) as saved in the
internal file format to generate a translated document 220, as
represented by arrow 222. The translation program 218 translates
document 214 into a file format suitable for prepress, such as
PostScript. Other file formats suitable for prepress include HTML,
PDF, and PostScript extreme, as known within the art. Translation
program 218 performs any color separations, or other operations as
required by the suitable prepress file format. The invention is not
limited to any particular suitable prepress file format.
[0021] Server 202 then transmits the translated document 220
through the Internet 206 to printer 204, as more directly
represented by arrow 224. In one embodiment, this is accomplished
by server 202 attaching the translated document 220 as an
attachment file to a MIME-compliant electronic mail, which may then
be sent to the electronic mail address of printer 204. However, the
invention is not limited to any manner by which such transmission
occurs. Once the printer 204 has received the translated document
220, document 220 may then be printed and published as needed.
[0022] Referring next to FIG. 3, a flowchart of a computerized
method according to an embodiment of the invention is shown. This
method is inclusive of the steps or acts required to be taken by a
client computer, a server computer, and a printer computer to
create a document at the client computer, for translation by the
server computer, and for printing at the printer computer, in
accordance with one embodiment of the invention. These steps or
acts are performed in accordance with one or more computer
programs, such as authoring programs, and translation programs, as
have been described in conjunction with FIG. 2. The embodiment of
the invention described in conjunction with FIG. 3 refers to the
situation where the client, the server and the printer are
communicatively coupled to one another through the Internet, where
the client is running a web browser program and the server is a web
server; however, the invention is not so limited.
[0023] In step 300, the client computer accesses the web site of
the web server, as referenced by a URL address, through its web
browser program, and logs onto the web server. Logging on to the
server desirably includes submitting user information regarding the
user at the client, such as the user's name and password. Once the
server has received this information, it authenticates the user,
looking up the user information submitted to determine whether such
a user exists, and whether the password for the user is correct.
Authentication also includes associating the user with a particular
directory on the server computer (e.g., on which to store the
documents created by the user), a set of defaults regarding options
available to the user within the authoring program (e.g., fonts,
colors, images and commands), and an authorization level. The
authorization level dictates what the user is permitted to do
within the program; for example, a "normal" user may be allowed to
create, save and print his or her own documents, an "administrator"
may be permitted to access anyone's documents within the
administrator's work group, and a "demonstration" user is permitted
to create documents, but not permitted to save or print them.
[0024] In step 302, the client downloads the authoring program from
the server. As has been described, in one embodiment the authoring
program is coded in Java, such that the program is a Java applet
running within the browser program of the client. In step 304, the
client then uses the authoring program to create a document, such
as a business card, a letterhead, etc. Once the document has been
created, in step 306 the client selects a save command, which
uploads the document to the server, where it is saved. Steps 300
through 306 are iterative; the user at the client may continually
save the document to the server, and then relogon at a subsequent
time to again revise the document.
[0025] Once the document is in final form according to the user,
the user selects a print command in step 308. This signals the
server to translate the document into a suitable prepress format,
such as PostScript, or another format as previously described, and
send the document to the printer computer in step 310, such as an
electronic mail attachment. Thus, the internal format in which the
document is saved in step 306 is different than the format to which
the document is translated in step 308 and sent to the printer in
step 310. Once the printer receives the document, the document may
then be printed and published.
[0026] Referring next to FIGS. 4a-4m, diagrams of screens displayed
on a display device of a computer in conjunction with one
embodiment of the invention are shown. More particularly, the
diagrams are screens regarding an authoring program according to
one embodiment of the invention. Referring first to FIG. 4a, within
display device 400 is operating environment window 402 within which
the authoring program runs. Specifically, operating environment
window 402 is part of a web browser program, such as Netscape
Navigator. The authoring program is a Java applet that runs within
the web browser. The authoring program includes six primary areas:
menu bar 404, tool bar 406, orientation bar 408, work area 410,
color palette area 412, and properties area 414. The user of the
computer utilizes tool bar 406, orientation bar 408, menu bar 404,
color palette area 412, and properties area 414 as tools to create
a document within work area 410. Work area 410 is sized in
accordance with the type of document to be created. For example, as
shown in FIG. 4a, the type of document to be created is a business
card. The properties area 414 shows commands that may be used in
conjunction with the currently selected tool from tool bar 406.
[0027] Clicking "file" on menu bar 404 drops down the file menu, as
shown in FIG. 4b. The file menu permits a user to create a new
document, such as a business card, letterhead, or envelope, insert
an image, open or save a document, revert the current work area to
the document as most recently saved, or print to a file (i.e.,
cause the translation program to be run). The images are saved as
files on the server in a particular format, such as encapsulated
PostScript, TIFF, GIF, and JPEG. Desirably, the images have a
maximum resolution of 1: 1, to minimize the size of the
encapsulated PostScript file (or file in another format). Opening
or saving a document retrieves or stores a document, respectively,
on a computer-readable medium of the server. Printing the document
to a file causes the translation program to run, such that the file
is translated to a format suitable for prepress, and then sent to
the printer.
[0028] Clicking "View" on menu bar 404 drops down the view menu, as
shown in FIG. 4c. The view menu permits a user to call up different
tools of the authoring program, which may have become hidden from
view (e.g., by previous user choice), or previously unselected by
the user. Selecting "Toolbar" calls up tool bar 406. Selecting
"Move to Front/Move to Back" calls up orientation bar 408.
Selecting "Color Palette" brings up color palette area 412.
Selecting "Properties" brings up properties area 414. Selecting
"Rulers" brings into view rulers 416 and 414, each on a side of
work area 410. Finally, selecting "Grid" causes a grid to be
superimposed on work area 410 (not shown in FIG. 4c).
[0029] Clicking "Edit" on menu bar 404 drops down the edit menu, as
shown in FIG. 4d. The edit menu permits a user to cut, copy, paste
selected elements (i.e., objects) within work area 410, or select
all the elements, such that the user is then able to cut, copy, or
paste all the elements. The cut, copy, and paste commands thus
operate as known to those of ordinary skill within the art.
[0030] Color palette area 412 is described in conjunction with FIG.
4e. The user is able to select both stroke and fill color from a
menu of predetermined colors. The stroke color refers to the color
in which the boundaries of a particular object is drawn within work
area 410 (not shown in FIG. 4e), while the fill color refers to the
color inside the boundaries of the particular object within work
area 410. Colors may be added within the menu of predetermined
colors by defining a new color, accomplished by pressing the define
new colors button, which brings up window 418. Within the window,
the user is able to select new colors, which are desirably the
entire palette of colors available from Pantone, as known within
the art. In other embodiments, colors are selected from palettes of
colors available from Toyo, Focaltone, or Tru-match, as also known
within the art.
[0031] Referring next to FIG. 4f, selecting the arrow tool on tool
bar 406 allows the user to select an object within work area 410.
Selecting the circle tool on tool bar 406 enables a user to create
a circle or oval, such as that shown in work area 410 in FIG. 4f.
Referring next to FIG. 4g, selecting the rectangle tool on tool bar
406 permits a user to create a rectangle, such as that shown in
work area 410 in FIG. 4g. Referring next to FIG. 4h, selecting the
line tool on tool bar 406 enables a user to create a line, such as
that shown in work area 410 in FIG. 4h. In the creation of a
circle, rectangle, or line, the authoring program performs the
creation of the particular object (e.g., the circle, the rectangle,
or the line) itself, and does not consult the server to determine
the manner in which the object is to be created.
[0032] Conversely, selecting the text tool on tool bar 406 causes
the authoring program to first allow the user to input the text to
be entered on work area 410, displaying the text in a rough manner.
Next, the authoring program sends the text to the server, which
translates the text into an image, desirably an image in GIF format
and having a maximum resolution of 4:1, which is then sent back to
the client for display on work area 410. (Other image formats
include JPEG and TIFF; the invention is not so limited.) This is
shown in conjunction with FIG. 4i and 4j. In FIG. 4i, the user has
entered the text string "Hello world" but has not yet pressed
return; therefore, the text string is shown in a rough manner. Once
the user presses return, the client sends the text string to the
server for conversion to an image, which is then sent to the client
and displayed on work area 410, as is shown in FIG. 4j. The reason
this is accomplished is that different computers have different
font generation engines, while the authoring program is desirably a
what-you-see-is-what-you-get (WYSIWYG) program, showing the user on
the display device exactly what will be printed at the printer.
[0033] Referring next to FIG. 4k, selecting the zoom tool on tool
bar 406 enables a user to zoom in and out on the document within
work area 410, as is shown in FIG. 4k. Referring to FIG. 41,
selecting the color picker tool (tool 450) on tool bar 406 enables
a user to set a color within color palette area 412 to that of a
current object within work area 410. For example, clicking within
object 452 in work area 410 while using the color picker tool sets
the current fill color to that of the fill color of object 452.
This enables users to precisely set a color to an already existing
color within the document, which is especially advantageous in
situations where there are multiple shades of one color in a
document, which may be difficult to discern.
[0034] Selecting the top icon within orientation bar 408 brings the
currently selected object within area 410 to the front of other
objects. For example, as shown in FIG. 4l, selecting the top icon
while object 452 is selected (as denoted by dots outlining the
rectangular boundary of the object) brings object 452 to the front,
over the other object within the work area (e.g., object 454).
Conversely, selecting the bottom icon within orientation bar 408
moves the currently selected object within area 410 to the back of
other objects. For example, as shown in FIG. 4m, selecting the
bottom icon while object 452 is selected moves object 452 to the
back, behind the other object within the work area (e.g., object
454).
[0035] Computerized prepress has been described. Although specific
embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it will be
appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that any
arrangement which is calculated to achieve the same purpose may be
substituted for the specific embodiments shown. This application is
intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the present
invention. For example, the invention is fully intended to cover
databases as well as dynamic directories, such that the term
directory may be interpreted to encompass any database amenable to
the invention in such an embodiment of the invention. Therefore, it
is manifestly intended that this invention be limited only by the
following claims and equivalents thereof.
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