Tutorial - Prepare imposed businesscards

tFLOW is a powerful digital and large format automation workflow that simplifies difficult file management tasks and processes to optimize efficiency and production throughput.

In this tutorial, I prepare two business cards for printing. The business cards will be preflighted for digital printing and imposed on an A3 sheet size. For preflighting and imposition, I use two callas pdfToolbox Profiles. The created preflight profile has several checks and fixes to optimize the PDF files for digital printing. To create the imposition, I built a workflow Process Plan Profile.

Analyze the Step and Repeat pdfToolbox Switchboard Action for landscape business cards

In callas pdfToolbox I created a Switchboard Action that imposed landscape business cards on an A3 portrait sheet size. I use the Step and Repeat technology, three cards horizontal across by six vertical. Between the cards a distance of 10pt will be add. Also cut marks to each card.

Analyze the Step and Repeat pdfToolbox Switchboard Action for portrait business cards

In callas pdfToolbox I created a second Switchboard Action that imposed portrait business cards on an A3 landscape sheet size. I use the Step and Repeat technology, six cards horizontal across by three vertical. Between the cards a distance of 10pt will be add. Also cut marks to each card.

Analyze the created pdfToolbox Process Plan Profile

In callas pdfToolbox you can create a workflow with a Process Plan Profile. The Process Plan Profile checks first on landscape business cards. If landscape, the Switchboard Action that is build to imposed landscape business cards will apply. If not, the business card is portrait which trigger the portrait business card Switchboard Action. At the end, on landscape and portrait imposed business cards sheets, a CMYK color bar will be place.

Launch tFLOW

Sign in with an admin account.

1. Enter the admin e-mail address.
2. Enter the admin password.
3. Click "Sign In".

Open the Automation Scripts panel

1. Click on the "Settings" drop down list.
2. Click "Automation Scripts".

Add a new automation script

1. Click "Add New".

Customize the automation script

1. Drag and drop the pdfToolbox preflight Profile "Digital printing (color).kfpx".
2. Enable the checkbox "Production".
3. Click "Save".

Add a second automation script

The automation script "Digital printing (color)" is added in the Automation Scripts list.

1. Click "Add New".

Customize the second automation script

1. Drag and drop the pdfToolbox Process Plan Profile "Impose business cards on A3.kfpx".
2. Enable the checkbox "Finishing".
3. Click "Save".

Open the Products pannel

The automation script "Impose business cards on A3" is added in the Automation Scripts list.

1. Click on the "Settings" drop down list.
2. Click "Products".

Add a new product

1. Click "New Product".

Customize the product

1. Enter the product name "Impose business cards on A3".
2. In the Proof Automation Script drop down list choose "custom_proof_tucanna2".
3. In the Production Automation Script drop down list choose "Digital printing (color)".
4. In the Finishing Automation Script drop down list choose "Impose business cards on A3".
5. Click "Save".

Open the Orders panel

The product "Impose business cards on A3" is added in the Products list.

1. Click "Orders".

Add a new order

1. Click "New Order".

Customize the order

1. Click "Default Properties".
2. In the Company drop down list choose the company for who you create the order.
3. In the Order field enter "Business cards".
4. Enable the checkbox "Open Order after creation".
5. Disable the checkbox "Split multipage files into separate Jobs".
6. In the Owner Users drop down list choose your name.
7. In the Customer Users drop down list choose the name of your contact person.
8. In the Products drop down list choose "Impose business cards on A3".
9. Click "Save".

Analyze the created order

In the middle you have a field to drag and drop the PDF files. At the right size you have the order properties of the created order. Also comments can be added.

1. Click on the notification icon.

Analyze the notification panel

tFLOW notified you when a new order is added. You will be also notified for new revisions (jobs) and when jobs are ready for production.

1. Enable the check checkbox "Business cards".
2. Click "Clear".

Add jobs to the order

1. Drag and drop the PDF files "Business card_Landscape.pdf" and "Business cards_Portrait.pdf".

Analyze the processing jobs

The PDF files are converted to two jobs. The two jobs are processing automatic based on the created product.

Open the second job for approval

The Proof and Production Automation scripts are applied. The PDF files are succesful converted to the digital printing standard. They are waiting for approval.

1. Double click on the job "Business cards-2".

Analyze the approval panel

A proof preview is created. In the Approval panel you have tools to analyze the proof. Collaboration tools such as comments are included.

1. Click "Preflight Report".

Analyze the Preflight fixed messages

In the PDF file three corrections have been executed.

1. Click on the "Info" tab.

Analyze the Preflight info messages

In the PDF file one info message is provided, with an explanation.

1. Click "Close".

Approve the second job for production

After checking the proof carefully, you can approve.

NOTE: The job has four pages. You have to be sure that you have checked every page before approving.

1. Click "Approve".

Confirm the job state change

1. Click "Yes".

Preparing the job for production

The job is processing automatic based on the created product. Now the Finishing Automation script is applying.

Analyze the approved job

The job is approved.

1. Move the slider to "Production".

Analyze the production preview

The portrait business cards are imposed on an A3 sheet size. Cut marks and a color bar are added.

Open the first job for approval

1. Click on the "Business cards-2" drop down list.
2. Choose "Business cards-1".

Approve the first job for production

1. Click "Approve".

Confirm the job state change

1. Click "Yes".

Analyze the finishing job

The job is processing automatic based on the created product. Now the Finishing Automation script is applying.

Analyze the approved job

The job is approved.

1. Move the slider to "Production".

Analyze the production preview

The landscape business cards are imposed on an A3 sheet size. Cut marks and a color bar are added.

1. Click on the "Download" drop down list.
2. Choose "Production File" to save the production PDF file.
3. Click "Business cards".

Analyze the approved jobs in the order

In the order "Business cards" you have an overview of the two approved jobs.