Method for managing desired print content of a print job

Abstract

A method for producing a printable work comprises determining an electronic template of the printable work including a fixed portion with predetermined content and a customizable portion. A form accessible via a network is provided to allow a user to associate customized content with the customizable portion from the user accessing the form via a network customized content for the customizable portion. Customized content is received from the user and, together with the predetermined content of the fixed portion, defines a customized version of the printable work. The customized version of the printable work is printed.

1 . A method for producing a printable work, the method comprising:
 determining an electronic template of the printable work including a fixed portion with predetermined content and a customizable portion,   providing a form accessible via a network to allow a user to associate customized content with the customizable portion,   receiving from the user accessing the form via a network customized content for the customizable portion, the customized content together with the predetermined content of the fixed portion defining a customized version of the printable work, and   printing the customized version of the printable work.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising generating a preview image of at least a customized portion of the customized version, allowing the user to send an approval for the customized version after viewing the preview image, and requiring approval from the user prior to printing the customized version of the printable work. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising sending the preview image to the user via e-mail. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising receiving the approval via the network. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein printing the customized version of the printable work comprises printing the fixed portion with a first printing device during a first printing pass and printing the customized portion with a second printing device during a second printing pass. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the first printing device comprises an imaged plate and the second printing device does not have an imaged plate. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising permitting the user to manage a distribution list of intended recipients. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising permitting the user to determine different customized versions for different intended recipients. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising
 receiving from each of a plurality of users accessing the form via the network corresponding customized content for the customizable portion, the corresponding customized content together with the predetermined content of the fixed portion defining a plurality of corresponding customized versions of the printable work,   aggregating the customized versions to produce a content data file, and   printing each of the customized versions of the printable work as part of a print job according to the content data file.   
   
   
       10 . A method for producing a printable work, the method comprising:
 determining an electronic template of a printable work including a fixed portion with predetermined content and a customizable portion,   determining parameters for defining authorized content of the customizable portion,   providing a form accessible via a network to allow a user to associate customized content with the customizable portion,   receiving from the user accessing the form via a network customized content for the customizable portion, the customized content together with the predetermined content of the fixed portion defining an authorized customized version of the printable work in accordance with the authorized content parameters, and   printing the authorized customized version of the printable work.   
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising generating a preview image of at least a customized portion of the authorized customized version, transmitting the preview image to the user for approval, allowing the user to transmit an approval for the authorized customized version, and requiring approval from the user prior to printing the authorized customized version of the printable work. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising sending the preview image to the user via e-mail. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising receiving the approval via the network. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein printing the customized version of the printable work comprises printing the fixed portion with a first printing device and printing the customized portion with a second printing device. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the first printing device prints during a first printing pass, and the second printing device prints during a second printing pass. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the first printing device comprises an imaged plate and the second printing device does not have an imaged plate. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising permitting the user to remotely manage a distribution list of intended recipients. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising permitting the user to determine different customized versions for different intended recipients. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the user is a low authority level user, the method further comprising receiving a plurality of predetermined content options for the customizable portion from a high authority level user and allowing the low authority level user to choose from the predetermined content options which to associate with the customizable portion. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising
 receiving from each of a plurality of users accessing the form via the network corresponding customized content for the customizable portion, the corresponding customized content together with the predetermined content of the fixed portion defining a plurality of corresponding customized versions of the printable work,   aggregating the customized versions to produce a content data file, and   
     printing each of the customized versions of the printable work as part of a print job according to the content data file.