GelatoConnect’s Cut & Stack Imposition system allows production partners to configure how artworks are arranged and printed on sheets to maximize efficiency and control. This guide walks through the key settings available within the Cut & Stack step, including stack placement, orientation alignment, print modes, grouping logic, and how to use these templates in workflows. It also highlights the importance of layout structure and how to validate your templates before going live.
Core Settings in Cut & Stack Imposition
Cut & Stack Imposition – Settings Guide
This section explains the settings available under Cut & Stack Imposition, including advanced features like Dutch imposition, custom stack positioning, enhanced control over layout, and dynamic artwork orientation based on your print configuration.
Sheet Dimensions
Sheet Width and Height: Define the size of your print sheet. You can enter fixed values or pass dynamic variables through the workflow.
Duplex Printing and Page Order
Flip: Choose how pages are flipped for duplex printing:
Horizontal: Flip along the long edge.
Vertical: Flip along the short edge.
Start from Bottom: By default, pages are ordered A-Z. Set to false if you want the sequence to start from the bottom (Z-A).
Stack Arrangement
Stack Order Mode: Control how stacks fill the sheet:
Default: Top-left to right, then top to bottom.
Alternatives: Start from bottom-left or top to bottom first.
Stacking Mode:
Depth First (default): S-shaped snake layout.
Breadth First: Sequential left to right.
Depth First, Keep Copy Pages Together: Ensures all pages from the same job remain in a single stack.
Print Modes and Sheet Limits
Print Mode: Choose between:
Simple: Single-sided.
Duplex: Double-sided. Ensure an even number of pages, or insert blanks using the “Insert Page” step.
Max Sheet Count per Plate: Set a limit for how many sheets can be printed per plate—especially useful when working with machines that have sheet-cutting constraints.
Advanced Layout Control
Allow Dutch Layout: Enables automatic artwork rotation to reduce paper waste and fit designs within the sheet.
Align Artwork Orientation: Ensures portrait and landscape artworks with identical dimensions are aligned automatically. All artworks must be the same size for this feature to work.
Alignment Grid Options
Rotation Allowed: Enabled by default. Automatically rotates artwork for optimal layout unless manually disabled.
Cell Spacing Horizontal and Vertical: Manually define spacing between stacks. Useful for setups that require calibrated cutting distances.
Grouping Jobs
Group Job By: Allows grouping based on a job-specific variable (e.g., spine size or paper type). Results in separate output files per group.
Using and Testing Templates in Workflows
Integrating Templates into Production
After configuration, templates can be:
Saved as Drafts or Published within GelatoConnect.
Automatically mapped by Gelato’s backend to live job specifications during production.
Previewing Templates
Within the Imposition Editor, you can:
Generate a preview PDF to validate the layout and structure visually.
Confirm that elements are aligned correctly and stacks are placed as expected.
Testing in Workflow Builder
To simulate production:
Drag Imposition Templates into your workflow.
Select your saved template from the dropdown.
Enter any required variables (e.g., job ID, package type).
Perform a dry run to generate a test PDF using actual order data.
This ensures your setup is correct before activating live printing.
Best Practices for Layout Design
Use VBox (Vertical Layout) and HBox (Horizontal Layout) containers to ensure structure remains responsive.
Prefer percentage values for element width and height to maintain consistency across product sizes.
Refer to the video on basic layout design for visual guidance.
Important Notes on Layout and Templates
Units of measurement are currently in millimeters (mm). Support for inches will be available soon.
When applying multiple “Edit Page” steps to the same page, the latest Layout element overrides previous ones. To avoid conflict, reuse layout elements wisely.
For Job Ticket or non-Cut & Stack/N-Up templates, always add a Merge Group Pages step at the end. This ensures compatibility with real multi-job orders.
FAQ
Can I rotate artworks automatically to fit better?
Yes, enable Rotation Allowed to let the system optimize layout orientation.
What happens if my page count is odd in duplex printing?
You'll need to insert a blank page to avoid errors.
Can I group jobs by custom criteria?
Yes, as long as the grouping field is part of the job-specific variables.
How can I test my imposition before going live?
Use the dry run feature in Workflow Builder to simulate a real order and review the preview PDF.
What’s the difference between depth-first and breadth-first stacking?
Depth-first arranges stacks in an S-shape; breadth-first fills left to right before moving downward.
Why do I need to merge group pages for job tickets?
Without this step, templates won’t work correctly when handling multiple print jobs in a single workflow.
How can change the template to support only one side printing (simplex mode)?
By default the template uses “duplex” mode of printing which means both the sides of the sheets are printed. However if you want to only print one of the sides and don’t want any artwork or ink on the back of the sheet then you can use the Print mode setting “simplex” mode under “cut&stack” imposition.
Please note that you would still have to manually delete any pages that you have might added like back of batch sheet or back of info page. We are in process to update these steps automatically based on the print mode (simplex/duplex) and this should be available by the 1st week of August.
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