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Impose, mark & cut

Every layout compared, the best one chosen with you

Run Auto, True shape, N-up or Strips, for digital or offset. Layouts stream into the Solutions drawer best first; pin two to compare, then use one. Offset plans count plates, passes and overruns against your press's units.

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From Shop

The finished run: the best layout first in the Solutions drawer and drawn on the sheet
  1. Best first
  2. Distinct layouts found

Today, and with AutomatePrint

Today: Imposition lives in a plug-in on one designer's computer.

With AutomatePrint: Anyone on the team imposes in the browser, from the same files.

Today: Gang runs are worked out on paper.

With AutomatePrint: Ganging rules keep work apart by stock, coating or due date, and Try it explains why two items didn't gang.

Today: Overruns are discovered at the press.

With AutomatePrint: Every offset plan shows ordered against produced for each artwork, within your caps.

In numbers

combine compatible work
Fewer runs
Group jobs onto shared sheets to save material and reduce press runs.
compare layouts before printing
Clear choices
Review sheet counts, material use and production requirements before choosing a layout.
press profiles to start from
20
Offset and digital presses, generic and named models

How it works

  1. Add the work

    Pull artwork from Files or upload it, then set quantities, the media and the press.

  2. Run

    Choose a method and how long the run may search. Layouts arrive best first, and each one is checked before it's shown.

  3. Use one and export

    Compare the best two, use one, and export the imposed PDF, plates and cut files from that layout.

Pin two, compare, use one

Pin two layouts to see them side by side at the same zoom, with the better values ticked. A better layout found later shows Use best — nothing switches by itself.

Compare solutions: two pinned layouts side by side at the same zoom, the better values ticked
  1. The better value

Ganging rules that explain themselves

Match items on stock and coating, keep work apart, and allow a due-date window. Color the viewer by group to see the forms, and Try it explains every reason two items weren't ganged.

A ganged layout colored by group: postcards and cartons on separate forms
Ganging rules, Try it: a postcard and a carton picked, with the reason they can't gang

Offset plans fitted to your press

Plates, run lengths and overrun caps, the passes your press's units allow, perfecting and wash-ups — and plate PDFs labeled with their run.

Forms & inks on the Production tab: each form's inks, plates, passes and run against the press
Overrun per artwork: ordered against produced for each carton, every one within the cap

  • The Report tab: the layout's printed sheets beside the lower bound

    The lower bound, shown

    When a layout's sheets equal the lower bound in the Report, no layout can use fewer.

  • The viewer's Export menu: imposed PDF, run sheet, plate list, plate PDFs and cut files

    Every file from one layout

    The imposed PDF, plate PDFs, run sheet, plate list and cut files come from the same layout.

  • Item distribution: where every item went, one split across two forms

    Where every item went

    Item distribution shows the forms each item is on, including an item split across two.

What's in it

  • Auto, True shape, N-up and Strips methods
  • Split items: allow, avoid or never
  • Edit layouts by hand, with the same overlap checks
  • Color the viewer by item or by group
  • Run sheet and plate list as CSV
  • Plate PDFs labeled with their run
  • Items from Files, with newer versions flagged
  • Imposition API

Specs

Methods
Auto, True shape, N-up (sheets), Strips
Run types
Digital (exact quantities) and Offset (plates and run lengths, on sheets)
Ganging
Match on, Keep apart, Due within, Prefer together
Offset plans
Plates, run lengths, overrun and underrun caps, makeready, spoilage, perfecting
Exports
Imposed PDF, plate PDFs, run sheet, plate list, cut program, cut files

Works with

Read the docs: How imposition worksThe live Solutions listOffset press runs

On which plan

Compare every plan
Capability FreeShopProductionPlant
Imposition and true-shape nesting runs, fair use Not included 500 a month Unlimited Unlimited
Offset plans: plates, passes, perfecting, overrun caps Not included Included Included Included

Imposition runs and offset planning from Shop.

FAQ

Questions, answered

Anything else? Email hello@automateprint.com and a person who knows print will answer.

Digital or offset run?

Digital prints exact quantities on the fewest sheets; offset plans plates and run lengths within your overrun caps. Switching keeps both results, so you can run a job both ways and compare.

Does a better layout replace mine?

No. A better layout found later shows Use best, and nothing switches by itself.

Can I edit a layout by hand?

Yes — move, turn or unplace pieces. Saved edits are checked like a run's layouts, for overlaps, spacing, the printable area and bed keep-outs.

What is the lower bound?

For N-up and offset runs, the fewest sheets any layout of the job could use. When a layout equals it, nothing better exists.

Does it nest parts inside holes?

No. Parts are nested by their outer outline, and holes inside a part are left empty.

Put every job on one platform

Start free, with 14 days of every Production feature. No card, and your customers review for free.

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