Optimizing workflow in a prepress printing system

摘要

A method for automatically processing a job in a prepress printing environment (32) includes the steps of: moving an image receiving substrate from a storage bin (400) to a staging area (402); moving the image receiving substrate from the staging area (402) into a drum (404); imaging a predefined area of the image receiving substrate in the drum (404) with a laser while simultaneously moving a next image receiving substrate from the storage bin (400) to the staging area (402); upon completion of the imaging of the image receiving substrate in the drum (404), simultaneously (a) moving the image receiving substrate from the drum (404)into a processing area (406) for developing an image on the image receiving substrate, and (b) moving the next image receiving substrate from the staging area (402) into the drum (404); and finally repeating the above steps until the job is completed. The method optionally includes: offsetting the position of the image receiving substrate to alter the location upon the image receiving substrate where the image will be burned; or offsetting the laser position to alter the location upon the image receiving substrate where the image will be burned. A slug line can also be printed at print time outside of the predefined area, and can include identifying information such as a job name, a print drive job identification, a time stamp, a plane name, a page number and user-defined graphics.