Print Job Sample Generation with Resource Usage Estimates
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Solution Overview
Problem
In production printing, large and expensive print jobs require test prints to ensure quality, but achieving high quality often results in substantial costs, forcing operators to balance cost efficiency and quality, and existing methods lack efficient tools to compare different printing parameters for resource usage.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for generating printed samples using different sets of printing parameters, estimating resource usage, and including these estimates with the samples, allowing operators to review and select the best balance of cost and quality by comparing visual and resource usage data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the best print quality is selected for a print job, then the print quality is improved, but the cost to the customer increases substantially
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes printing parameters (such as color depth, resolution, paper type) to generate multiple sample versions of the same print job. Each sample is printed with different parameters to demonstrate varying quality levels and associated resource usage, allowing customers to select an optimal balance rather than defaulting to maximum quality
Solution Approach 2:
The print job is segmented into multiple samples, each representing a different quality level and resource consumption scenario. This segmentation allows the customer to evaluate and compare discrete options (e.g., sample 1 with high quality/high cost, sample 2 with medium quality/medium cost) rather than making a single binary decision
2Reliability
If test prints are performed to ensure print quality, then the reliability of the print job is improved, but the time and resources required increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple samples with different printing parameters are generated and printed in advance before the actual print job is executed. This preliminary action allows the operator to review and approve the settings, ensuring reliability of the full print job while minimizing the time needed for quality assurance during production
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of performing extensive test prints of the entire large-scale print job, the system creates representative copies (samples) with different parameter sets. These copies serve as proxies for evaluating the full job's quality and resource usage without committing the time and resources required for complete test printing
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are provided for generating printed samples of a print job. The system receives a print job, and generates samples for the print job according to different sets of printing parameters. The system determines estimates of printing resource usage based on each set of printing parameters, and initiates printing of the samples along with the resource usage estimates. Further, the system receives user input selecting one of the samples, and initiates printing of the print job according to the printing parameters of the selected sample.