Patent ID: 7040204

Claim:
A method for automatically preparing at least one graphic on a sheet of material, the method comprising: applying to the sheet of material the graphic in a position according to layout data; applying a plurality of registration marks to the sheet of material at and about the graphic in predetermined positions with respect thereto at the time the graphic is applied according to layout data, the plurality of registration marks including an initial-position/orientation-determining subset located on no more than one side of the graphic; transferring the layout data to a processing controller; placing the sheet of material on a sheet-receiving surface; sensing the subset to ascertain a position and orientation of the sheet of material and approximate positions of the plurality of registration marks thereon; sensing precise positions of the registration marks on the sheet of material; and utilizing the layout data and the precise positions of the registration marks with respect to the graphic to precisely narrow-path-process around the graphic on the sheet of material.