Computerized prepress

Abstract

Computerized prepress is disclosed. In one embodiment, a computerized prepress system includes three components: a server, a client and a printer. The server has stored thereon an authoring program to create a document, and a translation program to translate the document to a suitable prepress format. The client downloads the authoring program from the server to create the document, and then uploads the document to the server for a translation to the suitable prepress format from the server.

1 . A computerized method for creating a design to be printed, the method comprising: 
 storing on a server system a downloadable design creation program having one or more design creation tools allowing a user at a client system to create an electronic design in WYSIWYG form, wherein the downloaded program executes in a browser of the client and has least one tool that allows a user at the client to select and edit at least one element of an electronic design while at least a portion of the electronic design is simultaneously displayed;    downloading the program from the server to the client;    creating an electronic design using one or more tools of the downloaded program; and    uploading the electronic design to a server system in a form allowing a translation program to create a prepress format file.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the downloaded program includes at least one tool allowing the user to enter and position at least one text string in the electronic design and to enter and position at least one object in the electronic design.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the downloaded program includes at least one tool allowing a user to change the size of at least one element of the design relative to the size of at least one other element of the design.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the downloaded program includes at least one tool allowing the user to perform a zoom operation during the process of creating the electronic design.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the downloaded program includes at least one tool allowing the user to select at least one element in the electronic design and to change the color of the at least one selected element.  
     
     
         6 . A computer system comprising: 
 one or more processors; one or more communications devices capable of receiving programs downloaded from a server system;    an operating environment program comprising at least a browser; and    a program downloaded from a server, the program being adapted to execute in the browser and having one or more tools for creating a design in WYSIWYG form, at least one of the tools having one or more functions allowing a user of the computer system to select and edit at least one element of the design while at least a portion of the design is simultaneously displayed; and    wherein the downloaded program is further adapted to upload the design to a server in a form allowing a translation program to create a prepress format file.    
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6  wherein the downloaded program includes at least one tool allowing the user to enter and position at least one text string in the electronic design and to enter and position at least one object in the electronic design.  
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 6  wherein the downloaded program includes at least one tool allowing a user to change the size of at least one element of the design relative to the size of at least one other element of the design.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the downloaded program includes at least one tool allowing the user to perform a zoom operation during the process of creating the electronic design.  
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 6  wherein the downloaded program includes at least one tool allowing the user to select at least one element in the electronic design and to change the color of the at least one selected element.  
     
     
         11 . A server system comprising: 
 one or more processors;    one or more computer-readable media;    one or more communications devices capable of downloading programs to one or more client computers;    a downloadable design program encoded on the computer-readable media, the program being adapted to execute in a browser of a client computer and having one or more tools for creating a design in WYSIWYG form, at least one of the tools having one or more functions allowing a user to select and edit at least one element of the electronic design while at least a portion of the electronic design is simultaneously displayed;    the program being further adapted to upload the electronic design to a server system in a form allowing a translation program to create a prepress format file.    
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the downloaded program includes at least one tool allowing the user to enter and position at least one text string in the electronic design and to enter and position at least one object in the electronic design.  
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the downloaded program includes at least one tool allowing a user to change the size of at least one element of the design relative to the size of at least one other element of the design.  
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the downloaded program includes at least one tool allowing the user to perform a zoom operation during the process of creating the electronic design.  
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the downloaded program includes at least one tool allowing the user to select at least one element in the electronic design and to change the color of the at least one selected element.  
     
     
         16 . A computer-readable medium having encoded therein computer code executable in a browser for creating a design to be printed, the computer code comprising: 
 computer code allowing a user to create a design in WYSIWYG form,    computer code allowing the user to select and edit at least one element of the design while at least a portion of the design is simultaneously displayed, and    computer code for providing the design in a form allowing translation of the design by a translation program into a suitable prepress format.