Selective Clear Colorant Application in Print Imposition

The patent segments the print job into individual page-level operations. Instead of applying clear colorant uniformly across all pages at job level, the system processes each page separately, allowing selective application based on user specifications. This segmentation enables precise control over which pages receive clear colorant, preventing waste on pages where it is not needed.

The patent implements local quality by applying clear colorant only to specific pages where it is required, rather than uniformly to all pages. The system maintains different processing qualities for different pages - pages requiring clear colorant receive it, while pages not requiring it are processed normally. This localized approach optimizes resource usage while maintaining user control.

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-processing the print job to identify and mark pages that require clear colorant before the actual printing process. The system analyzes the print job structure, user specifications, and imposition settings in advance, creating a processing plan that indicates which logical pages need clear colorant. This preliminary analysis simplifies the subsequent printing process by providing clear guidance on selective application.

The patent introduces an intermediary processing layer between the print job input and the print engine. This intermediary module handles the complex logic of mapping user-specified pages to logical pages after imposition, determining clear colorant requirements, and generating appropriate processing instructions. By placing this intermediary layer, the system manages processing complexity in a centralized manner while keeping the user interface and print engine relatively simple.

The patent implements feedback by establishing a bidirectional mapping system between original pages and logical pages after imposition. The system continuously tracks which original page corresponds to which logical page, and uses this feedback information to correctly apply clear colorant to the intended pages even after imposition rearranges them. This feedback mechanism ensures that clear colorant application remains precise despite the page reorganization.

The patent uses an intermediary mapping module that maintains the relationship between original pages and logical pages throughout the imposition process. This intermediary structure allows the system to translate user specifications from original page numbers to the corresponding logical page numbers after imposition, ensuring accurate clear colorant application. The intermediary layer decouples the user's page reference system from the printer's internal logical page system.