Yet, as a manufacturing process, electrophotography is the slowest technology for image reproduction, and the most in need of saving time. Fewer will take the time to utilize the machine and media capabilities to step and repeat an image two up on a larger sheet to half the run time. Most small printers will turn on duplexing, rather than image the fronts, turn the printed paper over the right way, and image the back of the sheet. The duplexing style can be specified in the print driver, in the PDF file, or in the RIP. Duplexing is the simplest type of imposition, but there are four choices for how to orient the back of a single page on the front. Electrophotographic, or Xerox-type copiers are usually used for short-run lengths with demands for instant turnaround. The first technology we will look at is electrophotography, where imposition is perhaps the most underutilized. We will also look at ways of imposing in graphic creation software and in specialized imposition software. There are a few ways to impose the files either pre-RIP or post-RIP. There is also a range of equipment capabilities for each technology that affects how documents are imposed. We will discuss both priorities for each primary imaging technology we are examining in this book.

The second is to add what has historically been referred to as ‘furniture’ to the manufactured sheet to control processes. The first, and perhaps most important purpose, is to utilize media and manufacturing equipment with the most economic efficiencies. Imposition of individual graphics page files serves two primary purposes.

Imposition softwares