Apparatus and method for high-throughput and flexible digital printing

Abstract

A digital printing system for producing prints in response to input digital images includes a digital printer and a plurality of computer processors. The plurality of computer processors includes one or more image-rendering units for rendering the input digital images to generate rendered digital images, wherein the image rendering is independent of specific characteristics of the digital printer. The plurality of computer processors further includes one or more image processors for processing the rendered digital images in accordance with one or more specific characteristics of the digital printer. The processed images are subsequently input to the digital printer to produce the prints. The computer processors can be dynamically assigned to be the image-rendering units or the image processors.

1 - 21 . (canceled) 
   
   
       22 . A method for digital printing comprising:
 receiving input digital images for making prints;   scheduling the prints to be made by a first digital printer located at a first site or a second digital printer located at a second site;   rendering a first image in the input digital images to generate a first rendered digital image without using a first printing resolution of the first digital printer;   processing the first rendered digital image in accordance with the first printing resolution of the first digital printer and to produce a first processed digital image;   producing a first print by the first digital printer in response to the first processed digital image;   rendering a second image in the input digital image to generate a second rendered digital image without using a second printing resolution of the second digital printer;   processing the second rendered digital image in accordance with the second printing resolution of the second digital printer and to produce a second processed digital image; and   producing a second print by the second digital printer in response to the second processed digital image wherein the input digital images are received from a location remote to the first site and the second site.   
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the first image is rendered without using color or tone calibration of the first digital printer. 
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the first rendered digital image is processed in accordance with color or tone calibration of the first digital printer. 
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising store the input digital images by an image archive. 
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising storing the first rendered digital images before the step of processing the first rendered digital image. 
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the step of rendering the first image comprises an image operation selected from the group consisting of color and tone calibration, sharpening, white balance, or adding a border pattern to the first image. 
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising receiving order information related to making the prints based on the input digital images. 
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the step of producing a first print by the first digital printer comprises printing a dye image an ink image or a toner image on a substrate. 
   
   
       30 . A method for digital printing, comprising:
 receiving input digital images for making prints;   scheduling the prints to be made by a first digital printer located or a second digital printer;   rendering a first image in the input digital images to generate a first rendered digital image without using a first printing resolution of the first digital printer;   processing the first rendered digital image in accordance with the first printing resolution of the first digital printer and to produce a first processed digital image;   producing a first print by the first digital printer in response to the first processed digital image, wherein the first printer is configured to print a toner image on a substrate;   rendering a second image in the input digital image to generate a second rendered digital image without using a second printing resolution of the second digital printer;   processing the second rendered digital image in accordance with the second printing resolution of the second digital printer and to produce a second processed digital image; and   producing a second print by the second digital printer in response to the second processed digital image, wherein the second printer is configured to print dye image on a substrate, wherein the input digital images are received from a location remote to the first printer and the second printer wherein the first printing resolution is different from the second printing resolution.   
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the first image is rendered without using color or tone calibration of the first digital printer. 
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the first rendered digital image is processed in accordance with color or tone calibration of the first digital printer. 
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 30 , further comprising storing the first rendered digital images before the step of processing the first rendered digital image. 
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the step of rendering the first image comprises an image operation selected from the group consisting of color and tone calibration, sharpening, white balance, or adding a border pattern to the first image. 
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 30 , further comprising receiving order information related to making the prints based on the input digital images.