DocuTech
DocuTech is the model name given by Xerox Corporation to a line of electronic production-publishing systems. These systems integrate Xerox-branded scanners, processing software and production printers to produce a single workflow solution for digital publishing, and are credited with helping to start the print-on-demand industry.
The very first DocuTech system, known as the DocuTech Production Publisher, which was later rebranded as the DocuTech Model 135 Production Publisher (DT135) was announced October 2, 1990. With its ability to scan, edit and archive books for later retrieval, and output stitched or tape-bound books, the DocuTech Production Publisher was arguably the first fully-integrated "print-on-demand" publishing system.
The original DocuTech Production Publisher was capable of scanning and then printing black and white pages at up to 135 pages per minutes (for letter or A4 sizes) with an ouput resolution of 600 x 600 dots per inch (dpi). Scanned documents could be saved to a special memory area on disk known as the "Save Queue" where they could be retained, editted if desired (using the built in editor) and later printed "on demand". The system was also capable of printing on sheet sizes up to 11x17 inches (or A3 size). Another important feature of this earliest DocuTech was it's ability to perform signature imposition and generate "2-up signatures" (later 4-up was added) in the proper page imposition order to create signature booklets (note: folding, trimming, and stitching of booklets was done by an optional accessory known as a Signature booklet Maker) which could be attached in-line to the system's output finisher.
The DocuTech 6135 is an improved version of the DT135, with a Sun Microsystems workstation controller replacing the original controller and scanner. Additional improvements include an optional VLD laser assembly, increasing the print resolution to 600 x 1200 dpi.
The DocuTech system's main competitor in the field of print-on-demand production plant is IBM's InfoPrint system.
References
- Page at ieee.org on the Xerox's Docutech system [1]