Patent ID: 7172121

Claim:
Apparatus for applying graphical images onto packaged consumer products, comprising: a first computer system configured to facilitate the design of graphical images for packaged consumer products; a second computer system configured to supply instructions to coders for applying graphical images to packaged products; and a coder configured to apply graphical images onto packaged consumer products; wherein the first computer system is configured to generate a generic image data file defining requirements of a graphical image in a generic non-coder-specific format, said requirements including calculation of product specific data, and to communicate said generic image data file to said second computer system, and the second computer system is configured to: (i) receive said generic image data file, and a definition of capabilities of said coder; (ii) process said generic image data file to generate instructions for said coder in dependence of the definition of capabilities of said coder; and (iii) send said instructions to said coder causing said coder to apply a graphical image to a product such that said graphical image (a) is defined by said generic image data file, and (b) includes calculated product specific data relating to the product as required by the generic image data file.