A

Location

Locations in Prinect Production are clearly defined folders where resources (ICC profiles, preflight profiles, dynamic marks) and sequence templates installed by default are filed. Job locations can also be defined. Such a folder is then suggested by default as the default job folder. Hotfolders that are not located in the "PTJobs" folder, in contrast to the default, can also be defined as a "hotfolder location".

Acrobat portfolio

As of Acrobat version XI, several PDF files, and even other files of a different type, can be grouped in an "Acrobat portfolio". The "Prinect Normalizer "can unpack Acrobat portfolios and copy the PDF pages in them to a print job. The names of the pages are based on the name of the portfolio.

Module

A print job generally consists of several operations. In order for an operation to be processed by a machine, at least one "

Analyze Point

"Analyze Point" is a module that in conjunction with Prinect Production or Prinect Business can analyze production data (times, processed jobs, operators etc.) that were recorded by suitably equipped machines (presses, finishing devices). Precise job costing of the print jobs is possible using Analyze Point and a connected MIS.

BleedBox

The "bleed box" represents an extended area around the trim box. The entire page contents are trimmed by this amount when a bleed area is defined. A document requiring a bleed also needs a bleed box. The bleed box is always larger than the trim box and smaller than the media box. The bleed area of a printed page can have print, folding and cut marks, slug lines, etc.

Bleed

The purpose of the "bleed" and/or "trim allowance" is to avoid unprinted (white) margins on the cut edges when cutting the printed pages. To do this, the page contents of a certain area are printed larger than the basic page size (e.g. A4) so that the cut edge is within the printed area. The "Bleed" dimension determines by what extent the bleed box is larger than the page trim box.

Operation

Operation refers to a single processing step in the print production process. Examples for operation are platemaking, press setup (makeready), printing, folding cutting, etc.

Action

"Actions" are uninterrupted successive periods in the production process, portraying the processes at a workplace.

Archive System

The "Prinect Archive System" lets you archive the jobs defined in Prinect Production to external storage media. If you have suitable storage media and the archiving software is installed, you can control the archiving and retrieval of jobs from the Prinect Cockpit. The "Archive" and "Retrieve" sequence templates are available for this. You can set up and use archiving and retrieving processes like a workflow sequence. You can archive a job, for example, by submitting it to an archiving sequence.

Archiver Pro

Prinect Archiver Pro is a database application that lets you save and manage content data for print production.

Job

A "job" is an element in Prinect Production that contains all the contents, basic data and definitions of the processing steps required for creating a customer print job. The basic data include, for example, the documents to be processed, sheet layouts, customer data, printing materials, etc. The processing steps are defined as reusable sequences. You can assign different sequences to each job. Each job has a name and a unique job number.

Down time

"Down time" is the time during which no production takes place although the employees are being paid, for example, breaks, works meeting, etc.

Execution time

The "execution time" is the time needed to produce the product.

B

PDC

Accompanying papers

Accompanying papers refer to the various papers that accompany a quantity of goods (e.g. pallets, plates, etc) to the next step in their processing (e.g. press or finishing). Accompanying papers contain all relevant details needed for the next step in goods processing.

Trim allowance

The "trim allowance" defines how much larger the folding sheet is than the page trim box. It may be necessary, for example, to trim the size of the pages to the size of the folding sheets before folding, then to fold the pages, and finally to trim the pages to the size of the trim box.

Black point compensation

In gamut mapping through color management, all L shadows that are darker than black ink are mapped to black ink and, as a result, shadow definition in this area is lost. "Black point compensation" enhances the reproduction area when the "Relative colorimetric" rendering intent is used for color space conversion to the L*a*b* color space or from the L*a*b* color space to the device color space.

Sheet Inspection

During the "sheet inspection", the Prinect Inspection Toolbox verifies two scans generated by the Prinect Image Control. The first scan from Prinect Image Control is used as the reference. All subsequent scans are compared with the reference. The objective of sheet inspection is to detect permanent print image faults such as defective plates or blankets.

Surface

A "surface" refers to one side of a press sheet. When a sheet layout is being defined, the objects to be printed are placed on one surface. If a sheet will be printed on both sides, two surfaces are assigned to it; one for the front and one for the back.

Work Type

"Work types" are used in the Management Information System (MIS) to identify relevant elements (consumables, working times, etc.) for accounting entries.

Chroma

"Chroma" (C*) describes the intensity of a color we perceive. It describes what makes this color different from one which is perceived as achromatic and has the same degree of lightness. Terms such as "gray","pastel-colored", "very chromatic, "etc. are used to describe this property. Chroma depends greatly on lightness. Colors perceived as being very light or very dark have only a slight amount of chroma.

Chromatic value/achromatic value

Each tertiary color or color shade can be divided into two parts: a "chromatic value" and an "achromatic value". The "achromatic value" is the gray component contained in the mixed color. In chromatic reproduction with ideal process colors, it consists of equal parts of cyan, magenta and yellow. These parts neutralize each other, lose their chromatic nature and as a result appear achromatic. With ideal process colors, the achromatic value can be replaced partly or entirely by black. Achromatic reproduction takes place when the achromatic value is removed completely.

C

CDM

In Prinect Production, configuration and administration of the connected machines are done in the "Central Device Manager". The abbreviation "CDM" is used.

CIE XYZ system

International uniform standards for evaluating color stimuli were established in 1931 by the Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage (CIE), the International Commission on Illumination. Color-matching functions with three imaginary light sources (X, Y and Z) were defined to describe a standard observer whose visual perception corresponds to what the average person sees. The spectral curve for "Y" (l) was chosen to be equivalent to the human perception of lightness. The evaluation of a color stimulus with the spectral value functions of the colorimetric standard observer leads to a color valence with clear identification of the color by X, Y and Z color values.

CIELAB color space

CIE established the fundamentals for the L*a*b* color space in 1976, and which is usually referred to as the "CIELAB color space". LAB denotes a color coordinates system which is closely related to visual perception. The CIELAB color space consists of the lightness axis L*, the red-green axis a* and the yellow-blue axis b*. The distances in this color space are the same and reflect approximately what we perceive. This color space can be calculated from or to the CIE XYZ color space on the basis of clear mathematical correlations. The L* value describes the lightness of the color and can lie between 0 (for absolute black) and 100 (for reference white). Color coordinates a* and b*, which can have positive and negative values, define its chroma.

CIP4-PPF

In prepress, certain data, e.g. for ink zone control, can be created as "CIP4 PPF" data and modified in the entire workflow and finally processed by the press. The CIP4 Print Production Format (PPF) is defined and updated by the CIP4 group (www.cip4.org). PPF files are transmitted to Prinect Production via a PPF import interface.

Cockpit

The "Cockpit" is the user interface for the Prinect Production modules, "Integration", "Digital Print", "Prepress", "Postpress" and the "Analyze Point", Change Order" and "Scheduler" applications.

Color Carver

The Color Carver is the engine that is responsible for color management in the Prinect workflow.

CSV file

A CSV file (comma-separated values) is a text file for saving or for swapping simple-structured data. Tables or a list of data records with different lengths can be found in CSV files. In the Prinect workflow, CSV files are used, for example, to create PDF/VT files. In this process, the CSV files contain the variable contents that are inserted dynamically into the PDF/VT data records.

D

Data Terminal

The "Data Terminal" is a special workstation that is used to connect machines without an internal interface to the Prinect system environment to the Prinect workflow. You can send production data to the Prinect server using the Data Terminal.

DeviceLink profiles

"DeviceLink profiles" are specific color profiles that are used in color management. DeviceLink profiles describe a color transformation bypassing the L*a*b* color space. The output profile normally used for the transformation from the L*a*b* color space to the output device is overwritten in this process. Doing without the L*a*b* interim color space gives you above all controlled transformation of the K separation.

DieLine

The "DieLine" spot color is used on Prinect Signa Station in the marks layer. Lines in this color describe the pages and the sheet format.

Service

Many functional elements of the Prinect modules are implemented as Windows services. Services generally do not have their own user interface and start and run in the background without the user seeing anything about this. Prinect services can be checked in the user interface of the Prinect Supervisor in the Prinect Maintenance Center and can be started or stopped manually if required.

Digital Print Connector

The "Prinect Digital Print Connector" lets you connect digital presses of other manufacturers to the Prinect workflow. Ricoh, Hewlett Packard, Xerox, Canon and Kodak digital presses are supported. Connection of these digital presses is through virtual printers. These are machine configurations that are set up at the user interface on the terminal PC of the respective press.

Digital Front End

The "Digital Front End" (DFE) is the "Digital Print" Prinect module that controls digital printing. The Digital Front End fully supports the digital printing workflow for Heidelberg and Gallus digital presses and, with restrictions, for digital presses of other manufacturers.

DFE

The "DFE" (Digital Front End) is the "Digital Print" Prinect module that controls digital printing. The DFE fully supports the digital printing workflow for Heidelberg and Gallus digital presses and, with restrictions, for digital presses of other manufacturers.

Dongle

The "USB dongle" must be enabled and plugged into the License Server. Only when a dongle is activated can the License Server permanently enable the purchased options.

Press Sheet

In Prinect Signa Station, the term 'press sheet' is synonymous with 'plate' ("Plates" step, Press Sheet Inspector). The press sheet is the same as the plate template with placed folding sheets.

DSC

"DSC" (Document Structuring Convention) information can be found in PostScript documents. Using this data, it is possible to obtain information about the document structure when importing PostScript files without having to interpret the entire file. A graphics program, for example, can thus determine the size of an EPS object, without requiring an internal software RIP, which first interprets the entire PostScript code and then calculates the size from this.

E

TrimBox

The "trim box" specifies the final page size after printing and cutting. The trim box is the same as the term "trimmed size" found in Prinect Signa Station. If a PDF document has a trim box, the dimensions of the trim box should be identical to those of the trimmed size of the page. The trim box must be smaller than the bleed box or media box.

Engine

In Prinect, the various tasks are done by "engines". This means that there are, for example, engines for checking the incoming print jobs (preflight), for color management, for rendering etc. The engines can be installed on one central Prinect server or on several dedicated engine computers.

EPS

"EPS" (Encapsulated PostScript) is a device-independent PostScript code. In other words, it does not have any format-dependent information.

F

Folding Sheet

A "folding sheet" is defined when a folding scheme has dimensional data. In Prinect Signa Station, this is done by assigning master pages or page sizes and gaps between the pages (head, foot and page trims). A folding sheet is the "central unit" in finishing. The folded sheets can be placed in the stacker of a saddlestitcher. The saddlestitcher then gathers the sheets from the stackers and binds them with staples (saddlestitching). A folding sheet contains a folding scheme, assigned pages and marks (cut, folding and collating).

Folding scheme

A "folding scheme" describes how the sheet will be folded in finishing. A folding scheme does not have any dimensional data. It only tells you that there are a certain number of pages on a folding sheet and defines how they must be folded.

Color space conversion

"Color space conversion" basically matches the image or graphic data from the creator color space (e.g. from the color space of a digital camera) to the color space of the output device or process (e.g. to the color space of a press or color printer).

Production time

The "production time" is the time needed for the production of a print job. Production times are productive times. We differentiate between setup (make-ready) time, execution time, and miscellaneous production time.

Production Inspection

"Production inspection" refers to an inspection using "Prinect Inspection Control 2", the inline sheet inspection system. During production, Prinect Inspection Control 2 performs an ongoing comparison of printed sheets with a "digital reference sheet" created in the machine. During production, each sheet is captured using the camera system found in Prinect Inspection Control 2 and compared with the digital reference.

G

Full Varnish

A color defined as "full varnish" is applied as varnish to the entire surface of the printed result (all color separations) after printing. A full varnish color is ignored in a CTP output (no plate is generated) but is still given a color code that is not assigned to a specific color separation. Accordingly, no plate product ID is assigned on principle to full varnish.

Gamut

"Gamut" is the set of all colors that a device (e.g. monitor, printer, scanner, film) can display, reproduce or record. Formally, gamut is the range in the color space that can be altered to the device concerned by internal color blending.

Device class

In a print workflow, "device class" refers to a specific type of machine (press, digital press, cutter, folder, etc.) or other work processes that occur in the print workflow (prepress, etc.). Device classes are needed in the MIS to define cost centers.

Gradation

A "gradation" (reproduction of the tonal value) defines the relation between the original density and the reproduction density. With transparent originals, density is defined as the logarithmic ratio of transmitted light to incident light, with reflective originals, it is the logarithmic ratio of reflected light to incident light.

Gray balance

"Gray balance" defines the ratio of the three chromatic inks cyan, magenta and yellow to each other so that gray tones in the original also appear gray, i.e. neutral, in the reproduced image. Gray balance depends on the paper used, in particular on its hue, on the process colors and their intensity in print. It also depends on the printing process and the printing form. Visually, magenta and yellow penetrate more than cyan. For that reason, the value for cyan is generally greater than the value for magenta and yellow to produce a neutral tone in the overprint. Same amounts of cyan, magenta and yellow produce a brownish hue in the overprint.

Group Templates

"Group templates" are a number of single sequence templates that can be linked together as a group. Predefined workflow configurations can be used again and again by assigning group templates to new print jobs.

H

Lightness

In a color, "lightness" defines the amount of light reflected from the surface. It is influenced by the way a surface reflects impinging light. Reflectance refers to the way light is reflected off the surfaces of non-luminous bodies. The minutely fine unevenness of the surface ensures that a mirrored image does not result but that the image is remitted diffusely (scattered). Lightness describes the intensity of light in a color. Terms such as dark, light, very light, etc. are used to describe this property. Colors with the same spectral distribution but different lightness are different colors.

Hexachrome

PANTONE® "Hexachrome" is a color space that is made up of the six primaries (cyan, magenta, yellow, black, orange and green) and not of the four CMYK primaries.

Hifi Color

"Hifi Color" is a color space that is made up of the seven primaries (cyan, magenta, yellow, black, red, green and blue) and not of the four CMYK primaries.

Auxiliary time

"Auxiliary time" is the time needed to establish and maintain the operational readiness. This time is in no way related to a job.

Hotfolder

A hotfolder is a folder in the file system that is monitored permanently by an application or a Window service for changes. Whenever files of a certain type are copied to a hotfolder, the application/service runs certain actions on these files. In this way, for example, a hotfolder can be defined in a Qualify sequence. All PDF files that are filed to this folder are processed automatically by the Qualify sequence.

I

ICC profile

An "ICC profile" (synonym = color profile) is a standardized set of data that describes the color space of a color input device or color reproduction device (e.g. monitor, printer, scanner, etc.). The aim of a systematically applied color management is for source material that was captured with an input device to be reproduced with colors as similar as possible on any output device. Color management systems can synchronize devices like scanners, digital cameras, monitors, printers as well as filmsetters and platesetters. The color displays according to the print conditions, for example. ICC is the abbreviation for the International Color Consortium, an association of a large number of manufacturers of graphic, image processing and layout applications, founded in 1993 with the aim of achieving standardization in color management systems.

Slugline

A "slugline" is a print mark containing manually created text.

Integration module

The "Integration" module refers to the most comprehensive variant of Prinect Production. The "Integration" module can be used in an offset printing environment, a digital printing environment and in a hybrid offset and digital printing environment. In a hybrid workflow, parts of print jobs can be output in digital printing and other parts in offset printing.

Inspection Level

Inspection Level is a level in PDF documents that contain Inspection Control marks. These documents can be used by the press module, Heidelberg Inspection Control, and the marks in them can be assessed.

J

JDF, JMF, XML

Internal data in Prinect are exchanged as "JDF" (Job Document Format) and as "JMF" (Job Messaging Format) documents. These formats are based on "XML" (Extended Markup Language) in a form especially designed for prepress. Alongside the job JDF data, the XML format is also used for the data that is required for internal system administration. In this way, the Prinect engines, for example, have configuration files in XML format. The templates for sequences or sequence groups are also saved as XML files. XML files are also used for resources such as printing materials or sheet layouts. The JMF format is used for information transfer within the Prinect system.

JPEG 2000

"JPEG 2000" is a further development of the JPEG (Joint Photographic Expert Group) ISO standard. A higher compression rate and a better quality than with the other compression methods is achieved through a different transformation method ("Wavelet") . Compression of images using JPEG 2000 takes quite a lot of time.

K

Cost center

Cost centers are required in a Management Information System to assign precise costs to single processing steps in the print process. One or more device classes are assigned to a cost center in order to define a device-specific cost center.

L

License Manager

The License Manager is the user interface for the License Server. In the License Manager, you manage the licenses, enable single licensing options, save the existing licensing data, assign certain licenses to single workstation computers, etc.

Delivery quantity

For jobs without versioning, the "delivery quantity" is equivalent to the print run quantity. If you are working with versioning (language-specific parts are processed in a special versioning workflow), delivery quantity refers to the quantity that will be produced per version. The sum of delivery quantities per version gives you the total delivery quantity or print run quantity.

Linearization

In the Prinect environment, "linearization" refers to the standardization of the screen dot sizes during imaging of the plates. Screen dots become larger during this process because of scattered light. Inaccuracies in the screen dot size result in errors in color reproduction. Linearization makes sure that the size of the physical dot on the plate is the size needed to correctly produce the tonal value set in the master copy.

License Server

The License Server refers to a computer on which the License Server software is installed. This does not have to be the same computer as the one on which the Prinect server software is installed. In large system environments with a great number of Prinect products, it may be advisable to install a dedicated License Server.

M

Marks

"Marks" are elements (lines, crosses, circles, color control bars, text etc.) that are placed on a sheet layout generally off the page content. There are several types of marks depending on their purpose, for example, register, cut, fold, collating, page and custom marks as well as color control bars.

CropBox

The "crop box" defines the area the page content is cropped to for display or output. In contrast to the other box types, the crop box does not tell you anything about the physical page geometry or intended use. It merely defines how the page contents are cropped. The crop box defines the way the page contents are positioned on the output medium if no other information is available (e.g. imposition instructions in a JDF or PJTF job). The crop box is smaller than the media box.

MDS

The "Master Data Store" (MDS) permits central administration of so-called master data for the entire Prinect system. Master data is information that can be used at several points in the Prinect workflow, for example, customer data, printing materials or colors.

MediaBox

The "media box" contains all the objects of a page. This includes all texts, images and marks that appear on the page or extend beyond the page edge. From a technical point of view, the media box defines the limits of the physical medium on which the page is to be printed. Apart from the complete page, it can comprise space for trim marks, color control bars and other elements. The media box is the largest box type.

MIS

MIS is the abbreviation for Management Information System. A Management Information System is generally the interface to customer jobs; it can be used for calculation of costs and deadlines and, when used in conjunction with "Analyze Point" for example, can supply precise details from the production data collection and make job costing possible. Prinect Production is designed optimally for interaction with the Prinect Business but also makes connection to other MIS products possible.

Assembly Block

An "assembly "block" is very similar to a folding sheet. An assembly block is a type of scheme with the required number of 1ups and their distribution. All the 1ups of an assembly block have the same trimmed size (analog to a master page in the folding sheet). You can also define different-sized gaps between the 1ups. Unlike the folding sheet, an assembly block is not folded but finished in a cutter.

Master Page

The "master page" specifies the trimmed size of the pages on the press sheet. In addition, you can also define details about the type (left/right page), extra space and placement of the assigned pages. By assigning master pages to a folding sheet (the folding sheet is part of a press sheet), you define the dimension of the folding sheet.

N

Normalizing

During "Normalizing", PostScript documents are interpreted and converted to a PDF format suitable ("cleansed") for processing. The Prinect workflow is designed to process documents solely in the PDF format. This means that all the steps performed after Normalizing require that the documents are available as PDFs. Normalizing is generally not needed for documents already available as PDFs, except when transparencies are to be reduced, when PDF documents are to be converted to PDF/VT or when Japanese fonts are to be integrated.

O

ArtBox

The "art box" is an area in a page where an object, e.g. a graphic element, will be placed. The art box defines the size and position of the object within the page. Art boxes are produced in cases when a graphic element in a DTP application is to be placed on a page and when the DTP document is to be saved as a PDF or converted to a PDF. The art box must be smaller than the bleed box.

OFW

The abbreviation "OFW" stands for "Optimized Color Workflow". In this workflow, the process colors are dedicated to the job colors.

Operation

"Operation" refers to single processes in the print process, e.g. makeready, good production, cutting, folding, etc. or their cost-relevant equivalent in the MIS. This term occurs frequently in conjunction with production data collection, e.g. when certain cost factors are assigned to the single operations in the MIS and when this information is used for costing. In this context, operations are also put on a level with PDC messages (production data collection messages) or cost types in the MIS.

Output Intent

"Output Intents" are color conversion instructions in the PDF. An Output Intent describes color reproduction for the final target device (e.g. an offset press) on which a PDF document is to be output. Output Intents overwrite working color spaces when displaying and printing data. However, the colors in the PDF document are not converted.

P

Paper (printing material)

"Paper" (printing material) is the press sheet that is printed on the press. The folding scheme or folding sheet must fit on the paper.

PDF Inspection

During "PDF inspection", the Prinect Inspection Toolbox compares a scan (done by Prinect Inspection Control or Prinect Image Control) with the imposed layout PDF/TIFF document from prepress. PDF inspection makes sure that the content of the print job matches that of the customer job and is the basis for OK-for-press.

Plate ID

The "plate ID" is generated in the Cockpit whenever plates are created ("ImpositionProof" sequence). This plate ID is unique in the system and, for that reason, can be used during finishing to sort plate stacks or assign them to the designated press. Also if a plate is to be re-imaged, for example, if errors were detected in a separation, this plate ID can help find the relevant plate easily for re-imaging. The re-imaged plate then has the same plate ID.

Plate Product ID

The "plate product ID" is generated by the software in which the job is created. For example, this can be Prinect Business or a third-party software. Because the plate product ID is not generated within the Cockpit, there is no guarantee that it is unique in the Prinect system. The plate product ID is accepted by the Cockpit and can also be processed in it.

Plate templates

A "plate template" describes different geometric parameters that influence plate output and also offset printing. They can be press parameters such as plate size, maximum paper size, gripper margin and lead edge of print. The plate template must make sure that imaging is within the imageable area of the CTP and within the printable area of the press. The plate template is equivalent to the press sheet without the folding sheet, i.e. also without the folding scheme and any marks applied subsequently.

PDF/VT

"PDF/VT" documents are documents with multiple pages that are designed for printing variable data, e.g. for circular letters. Such documents mainly consist of a great number of pages that are divided into "data sets" or "records".

PDF/X

"PDF/X" is a data exchange format that contains all the elements required for printing data. PDF/X is an ISO standard for the reliable exchange of digital data in prepress. The standardization of the PDF based on defined criteria allows PDF files to be created that meet all prepress requirements exactly. In other words, PDF/X is a PDF format that is used specifically in prepress.

Postpress module

The "Postpress" module manages automated finishing in a Prinect environment. It supports connection to an MIS and to the Analyze Point and Scheduler modules.

PostScript XObjects

Special objects that cannot be described by PDF can be embedded in the PDF as PostScript XObjects.

PPF, CIP4

In prepress, certain data, e.g. for ink zone control, can be created as "CIP4-PPF" data and modified in the whole workflow and finally processed by the press. The CIP4 Print Production Format (PPF) is defined and updated by the CIP4 group (www.cip4.org). PPF files are transmitted to Prinect via a PPF import interface.

Prepress module

The "Prepress" module manages prepress in a Prinect environment with outputs in offset and/or digital printing. It supports connection to an MIS and to the Analyze Point and Scheduler modules.

Press module

The "Press" module manages automated press control in a Prinect environment.

Primary color

"Primary" colors form the basis of the various color spaces (CMYK, RGB, etc.). The other colors of a color space are generated by mixing the primary colors. No primary color can be generated by mixing other primary colors.

Prinect Production

"Prinect Production" is the subscription variant of Prinect Integration. These variants contain the "Prepress", "Press", "Postpress" and "Digital Print" modules.

Product Code

The "product code" defines a single product or a group of products and can contain the data used to control the production process of the job concerned (selection of the editing sequences, product type, printing material, print run, etc.). The product code is an obligatory component of a "Smart Automation" workflow. A product code can consist of a base (product, product group) and a dynamic part and describes the properties of the related job compliant with the JDF standard. The product code can be transmitted to the Prinect workflow through various channels (webshop, MIS, CSV). You will find more details, for example, in "Video Tutorials" on our Prinect Know-How server.

Proof Color

"ProofColor" is assigned to objects when creating the signature layout in Prinect Signa Station. These objects are to appear solely in the imposition proof but not in the imagesetter output.

Process Calibration

In the Prinect environment, "calibration" or "process calibration" refers to the standardization of the screen dot sizes in the whole print process. Screen dots become larger during imaging of the plates (because of scattered light) and printing of the paper in the press. Inaccuracies in the screen dot size result in errors in color reproduction. During process calibration, the dot sizes on each output medium (plate, printing material) are measured using a dotmeter or densitometer and compared with the digital nominal defaults. Calibration curves result from the difference and can be used to correct the digital originals, producing the correct dot sizes on the output media as a result. The calibration data sets for process calibration are created with the "Prinect Calibration Manager" software.

Process network

"Process network" refers to a combination of print jobs, sheets or sheet layouts and sheet-processed sequences. Consequently, sheets or sheet layouts and matching sequence templates must be assigned to the job. Prinect Business or JDF-compatible MIS systems automatically set up such a process network in Prinect. Process networks can be set up manually with Prinect Signa Station and/or the Planning Assistant.

Process standard

"Process standards" are specifications of process parameters that are to be applied when creating color separations, separation films or printing plates and for printing or proofing. Process standards include color data for printing materials, inks, dot gains and tolerances. Reference files are characterization files based on a process standard and values used to check printing or proofing.

PTConfig

"PTConfig" is a shared folder of the Prinect server. This folder contains internal components of the Prinect system that are also available to other Prinect workstations in the Prinect environment. For example, the setup program is available in this folder for additional Cockpits, enabling external Cockpits to be installed on other computers via network access.

PTJobs

"PTJobs" is a shared folder of the Prinect server. The job data processed in the Prinect system are saved to this folder. In this process, a certain folder structure reflecting the structure of the jobs in the Prinect Cockpit is used.

R

Refrying

"Refrying" refers to a process in which PDF documents are converted to the PostScript format and converted back again to the PDF format. This process can be used to convert PDF documents that cannot be edited error-free in the Prinect workflow to editable PDF documents.

Renderer

The "Prinect Renderer" is an engine that renders PDF documents processed by the Prinect workflow. In other words it prepares them for the designated output device (CTP device, TIFF-B output, digital press). For imaging to plates, the Renderer generates screened files that are then transferred to the connected output device by a downstream Engine Manager (e.g. Speedway Engine Manager, TIFF-B Engine Manager). If digital presses are involved, the data of the Renderer are processed from the control unit of the digital press (e.g. Prinect Digital Frontend, Fiery) and transmitted to the connected press.

RIP

RIP is the abbreviation for Raster Image Processor. A RIP is a functional unit that converts the job PDF data to screened data for a CTP device. In the Prinect workflow with a connected Suprasetter, the combination of Renderer and Speedway Engine Manager, for example, is the functional unit of a RIP.

Setup time

The "setup time" (makeready time) is the time needed to set up the production system to process a job.

S

Gang Job

Gang jobs are used to impose several print jobs jointly and, consequently, utilize the sheet layouts optimally by mixing pages from different jobs and placing them in such a way that the jobs can be produced with a minimum of waste. Gang jobs play a key role especially in a "Web-to-Print" workflow.

Scatter Proof

"Scatter Proof" is a mode for proofing in which several objects (pages) are gathered in a pool for output until, optimally arranged, they fill the sheet size of the proofer with at least waste as possible. Then the proof sheets are output.

Scheduler

The Scheduler is an electronic schedule board. It is a powerful tool for time and capability scheduling. The Scheduler receives the basic data required for scheduling (delivery quantities, deadlines, resources, etc.) from a connected Management Information System (MIS) or from the Planning Assistant.

Print black

Black is used quite often to increase the density range. Another reason to "print black" is the impression of increased sharpness of the reproduction if the contours are defined with only one (strong) color, if possible, with a screen. An image whose gray tones are composed mainly of black is less sensitive to ink fluctuations in the printing press. In addition, chromatic inks are more expensive than black ink. The obvious thing to do would thus be to substitute the chromatic color with black which would result in gray anyway. A disadvantage, however, is that screen rosettes may be more noticeable in the so-called tertiary tones, i.e., mixed colors of the third order which are composed of equal or unequal percentages of the three chromatic inks.

Secondary Colors

"Secondary colors" are mixed colors of first order. They are produced from equal or unequal amounts of two primary colors, such as red from magenta and yellow or orange from a large amount of yellow and a little magenta.

Service Scout

The "Service Scout" provides the Heidelberg Service team with information about the running operation of the Prinect system.

Signa Station Server

The "Prinect Signa Station Server" software is a Prinect module that makes it possible to use the functionality of "Prinect Signa Station" software without a user interface of its own. Prinect Signa Station Server is used, for example, to automatically generate and/or complete a suitable layout when importing jobs from an MIS (Management Information System). Prinect Signa Station Server runs in the background without user intervention.

Smart templates

"Smart templates" are groups of sequence templates that group all the steps required for a workflow in automated processes as is found, for example, in a web-to-print environment. In contrast to group templates that are made up of fully setup sequence templates, smart templates just contain placeholders for the different types of sequences that are linked together in the order they will be processed. Through the details in the product code, the matching "real" sequence templates will be used automatically at the time of production.

Spot color "All"

Spot color "All" is used for marks that will be output in all the separations, e.g. trim and register marks. This color should not be used for objects that are part of the page content of the end product.

Miscellaneous production time

"Miscellaneous production time" covers all times that are neither setup nor production times but can nevertheless be assigned to a job directly. These are, for example, drying times or times required to wait for the customer.

Master data store

The "Master Data "Store" allows central management of master data for the entire Prinect system. Master data is information that can be used at several points in the Prinect workflow, for example, customer data, printing materials or colors.

Spot varnish

A color defined as "spot varnish" is applied as varnish to a certain color separation after printing. This means that the varnish is assigned to a certain process color. A plate is not generated from a spot varnish, however a spot varnish is assigned to a plate. Accordingly, a plate product ID is assigned automatically to a spot varnish in the Prinect workflow.

Subject

Subject is the term for the bounding box around the printed area on the press sheet.

Subject offset

Subject offset refers to the distance between the subject and the reference point of the press sheet in the "Digital Printing" step. The reference point is different, depending on whether sheet or web material is to be printed. For sheet material, the reference point with coordinates (0,0) is the bottom left corner of the sheet. This means that subject offset is the distance between the bottom left corner of the subject and the reference point. For web material, the reference point with coordinates (0,0) is the top left corner of the sheet. Correspondingly, subject offset is the distance between the top left corner of the subject and the reference point.

Supervisor

The "Supervisor" is a Prinect element that starts and exits Prinect services and engines that do not have their own user interface. Normally, the Supervisor starts all services and engines automatically when the operating system starts. The user interface of the Supervisor can be invoked in the Prinect Maintenance Center. If required, the services and engines can also be stopped and started manually there.

T

Product Part

"Product parts" are single components of a print job, e.g. cover and body, that may be printed differently (on different printing materials or in offset and digital printing).

Dot gain

"Dot gain" refers to the increase in the size of screen dots caused by printing or by imaging to plates. This can make an image appear darker (fuller) and/or cause color shifting to occur. Dot gain depends on the printing process, the type of paper or printing medium used and the ink. Dot gain also depends on the settings of your printer/press as well as on the screen settings. Consequently, different dot gains result for prints and proofs. Dot gain is the deviation from the ideal characteristic printing curve.

Transfer functions

"Transfer functions" are elements that can be found in the PDF code. They are used for artistic effects and for correction of the properties of a particular output device. In this way, a document that is planned for output on a particular imagesetter, for example, can have transfer functions that compensate the dot gain generated by this device. Transfer functions can be used to modify the colors of single page elements through additional instructions in the PDF code of the documents.

Trapping

"Trapping" is needed to cover up flashes or color margins that may be caused by register errors when overprinting several color separations. For example, flashes occur if the films are mounted inaccurately or if the printing presses are not adjusted precisely. Flashes are also likely to occur if the paper used is affected by the machine or by temperature, air humidity and the moisture content of inks. If the adjacent colors are relatively dark, even a very narrow flash is noticeable and cannot be overlooked. The simplest way of avoiding flashes is by spreading the lighter color into the darker color. During an overprint, the colors will overlap slightly and no flashes will occur if there are slight shifts in color.

Trap

Lines that are created during trapping as chokes or spreads are referred to as traps or trap lines.

U

UCR

In "Under Color Removal (UCR"), cyan, magenta and yellow are reduced in favor of a corresponding amount of black at dark and neutral points in the image. For this reason, black generation (amount of black in CMYK) changes compared to printing without UCR. As a result, less color is needed to create a specific hue, i.e. the area coverage is reduced. This means that the gray axis is more stable. Also, there are fewer trapping problems during the printing process. Since fewer chromatic colors are used, costs can be reduced.

V

Variant

Variant is closely linked to the term "module". A module is, for example, a printing unit of a press. A variant results if a printing unit is combined with a coating unit (other module). In other words, variants are specific machine configurations. Variants and modules are needed especially in an MIS for calculation purposes.

VDP

The term "VDP" stands for Variable Data Printing. VDP/PDF files contain variable contents, in particular text marks with variable parts, barcodes or images. VDP/PDF files can be created with the Prinect PDF Toolbox. They are used frequently in digital printing for variable process control.

Cluster

A "cluster" is the grouping of all functional elements ("engines") of one kind that are in the system. In other words, an "ImpositionProofer" cluster can contain all the proofers (or "ImpositionProofer" engines) that are available and configured in the system.

Creeping

Creeping describes a displacement of pages as a result of paper thickness. Creeping occurs when stitching or binding stacks of pages, for example, when sheets are stacked and folded for saddlestitching. In the "Digital Printing" step, creeping between two successive two-page spreads can be offset by setting a suitable creeping value, resulting in the page contents lying accurately one on top of the other after trimming.

Versioning

A "versioning" workflow can be used in Prinect Production. In this process, documents that have the same images, but texts in different languages, are to be produced as economically as possible. In a versioning workflow, it is not necessary to generate a separate print job for each language. Instead the different language contents are managed as "versions" or "versioned elements" within one job. Language-independent similar parts ("base elements") are processed only once in this process (color management, rendering, etc.).

W

Repeat pattern

A "repeat pattern" (color space pattern) is used to create single graphic elements several times in a set order. Trapping is not possible on such an object. The position viewed in Acrobat may also deviate from the position in the print output.

Windows services

Windows services are applications that can be started and terminated under Windows without needing their own user interface. You can control the services in Windows Computer Management (Task Manager).