Patent ID: 8675243

Claim:
A method for creating an individual image sized to a desired print area plus a desired amount of bleed area, the individual image for insertion in a predetermined position in an identified slot of a combination image file template, the combination image file template comprising a plurality of individual slots each corresponding to an area of a pallet assembly to be loaded onto a printer, and each area of the pallet assembly configured to be loaded with a single article of manufacture, the method comprising: obtaining dimensions of the desired print area on the article of manufacture to be loaded on the area of the pallet assembly corresponding to the identified slot; obtaining a default ink bleed width; obtaining an ink bleed adjustment setting; setting each of the respective dimensions of the individual image to the corresponding respective dimension of the desired print area plus the default ink bleed width; sizing the base image to the dimensions of the individual image to generate a resized base image if dimensions of a base image to be incorporated in the individual image do not equal the dimensions of the individual image; determining whether an adjustment is required to a bleed area defined by the default ink bleed width; if an adjustment to the bleed area is required, obtaining an adjustment setting indicative of a desired width of the ink bleed and inserting a white frame around the inside perimeter of the individual image to generate an adjusted bleed image, the white frame having a width equal to the difference between the default ink bleed width and the desired width of the ink bleed; and inserting the adjusted bleed image in a predetermined position in the identified slot of the template if an adjustment to the bleed area was required, and otherwise inserting the resized base image in the predetermined position in the identified slot of the template if the base image was resized; opening a combination image file template, the template having a plurality of slots, each of which corresponds to an area of a pallet assembly to be loaded onto a printer, and each area of the pallet assembly configured to be loaded with a single article of manufacture; identifying an unfilled slot; identifying an individual image for placement into the unfilled slot; filling the unfilled slot such that the unfilled slot becomes a filled slot by inserting the identified individual image in a predetermined position in the identified slot of the template.