Producing high volumes of softcover and hardcover books—especially those with custom sizes and a wide range of page counts—can quickly result in thousands of product variants. These complexities are easily managed in GelatoConnect through a structured, flexible setup process.
This article outlines how to configure and automate the production of such book products using the four main tools in GelatoConnect: order intake, product modeling, imposition templates, and workflow builder.
Step 1: Connect the Order Source
The setup begins by integrating the system that sends in orders. This is typically done via an API connector, which translates incoming order requests into a format that GelatoConnect can process.
Once this is in place, it’s important to submit a test order. This sample order provides the necessary context to configure the rest of the setup and validate the system's behavior.
To learn more about integrating and managing order sources, check the Order Intake collection in the Help Center.
Step 2: Define the Product Model
The product model in GelatoConnect represents the structure and specifications of the physical product. For a multi-part item like a softcover book, this includes components such as:
Cover
Dust jacket
Inlay (inner pages)
Each part is defined with attributes that map to the order intake and inform later production steps. For example:
Fixed attributes might include binding type
Variable attributes could include paper type, size, or material options
These definitions allow the system to support thousands of product variants through a single product model configuration.
To explore how to structure and manage product models, see the Product Builder collection for in-depth articles and examples.
Step 3: Set Up Imposition Templates
Using the Imposition Engine, you can configure templates to transform original designs into ready-to-print files.
For example, a cover template may:
Begin with the uploaded design
Add a batch sheet with job information
Include a matching icon that helps operators ensure the correct alignment of the cover and inlay
The imposition engine is highly flexible, supporting templates tailored to different formats, dimensions, and production logic.
Follow the full setup process in the Imposition Engine collection, which offers a step-by-step walkthrough.
Step 4: Build the Workflow
The Workflow Builder is used to define the full production process. It is a visual interface where you can assemble a series of activities, such as:
Preflight checks
Imposition
File transfer (e.g., via SFTP)
Printing and cutting operations
Handling Special Requirements
A common requirement in book production is to ensure:
The book ends with a specific number of blank pages
Logos appear on the final page
The total page count is a multiple of four
This is achieved by:
A preflight activity that checks the current page count
A JavaScript block that calculates how many blank pages to add
Selecting the appropriate imposition template based on the result
Dynamic Branching
Workflows can include branches to handle different:
Product dimensions (e.g., small vs. large books)
Print formats (e.g., simplex vs. duplex)
Routing logic ensures that the correct templates and processes are applied automatically based on the attributes of each order.
Enabling Real-Time Production Tracking
As part of the workflow, specific stages—especially printing and finishing—can be configured to require barcode scans using a mobile app. These scans:
Update the status of each job in real time
Help production managers track job progress
Enable visibility into bottlenecks and readiness across the production floor
Final Steps
Once everything is configured, test orders can be submitted to validate the end-to-end setup—from intake to final production. This testing phase ensures that all workflows, templates, and routing logic work as intended before going live with full production volumes.
For detailed guidance on customizing workflows, visit the Workfow Builder collection in the Help Center.
Conclusion
Complex book production involving custom sizes and thousands of potential configurations can be managed efficiently with GelatoConnect. By following these four core setup steps:
Order intake connection
Product model definition
Imposition template configuration
Workflow creation and routing
You can streamline production, reduce errors, and adapt quickly to new product requirements—while maintaining full control over the process.
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