Founder ElecRoc™

An Integrated JDF/PDF Pre-press Workflow System

Version 6

Quick Start

May 2014

Beijing Founder Electronics Co., Ltd.

The software described in this manual is furnished under a license agreement and may be used only in accordance with the terms of the
agreement.

Copyright Notice
Copyright © 2001-2014 Beijing Founder Electronics Co., Ltd. All Rights Reserved.

Any technical documentation that is made available by the Beijing Founder Electronics Co., Ltd. is the copyrighted work of the Beijing
Founder Electronics Co., Ltd. and is owned by the Beijing Founder Electronics Co., Ltd.

NO WARRANTY. The technical documentation is being delivered to you AS-IS and the Beijing Founder Electronics Co., Ltd. makes no
warranty as to its accuracy or use. Any use of the technical documentation or the information contained therein is at the risk of the user.
Documentation may include technical or other inaccuracies or typographical errors. Founder reserves the right to make changes
without prior notice. No part of this publication may be copied without the express written permission of the Beijing Founder
Electronics Co., Ltd., No.9, The Fifth Street, Shangdi Information Industry Base, Haidian District, Beijing 100085, People’s Republic of
China.

Trademarks
Founder and Founder logo are registered trademarks of Founder Group Corporation. ElecRoc is a registered trademark of the Beijing
Founder Electronics Co., Ltd.

Microsoft, Windows, Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2008, Windows XP and Windows 7 are trademarks or registered
trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.
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trademark of Adobe Systems Incorporated.
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Other products, fonts and company names and logos in this Manual are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders
and are hereby acknowledged.
This manual provides a complete introduction to all the functions and features of Founder ElecRoc Workflow Management System.
However, some of them are available upon additional payment, the user interface and functions may vary accordingly. For more
information, contact Founder’s sales personnel.

Printed in the People’s Republic of China

 Contents

Contents
Chapter 1 Quick Start on ElecRoc Server ..............................................1
1.1 Launch Server ............................................................................... 1
1.2 Start Processors ............................................................................. 1
1.3 Authorize ...................................................................................... 1
1.4 Path Setup .................................................................................... 2
1.5 Font Setup .................................................................................... 2
Chapter 2 Quick Start on ElecRoc Client ................................................3
2.1 Launch Client ................................................................................. 3
2.2 Using Administrative Tools ............................................................... 4
2.2.1 Users & Groups Management ................................................................ 5
2.2.2 Processor Management ........................................................................ 6
2.2.3 Profile Resource Management................................................................ 7
2.2.4 Imposer Template Management............................................................. 8
2.2.5 Digital Proof Management ..................................................................... 9
2.2.6 Traditional Press Management ............................................................. 10
2.2.7 Digital Press Management ................................................................... 11
2.3 Operating Workflow ...................................................................... 11
2.3.1 Create a Job ..................................................................................... 11
2.3.2 Create a Workflow ............................................................................. 13
2.3.3 Node Parameter Setup ....................................................................... 13
2.3.4 Choose Source Files ........................................................................... 14
2.3.5 Submit Files...................................................................................... 14
2.3.6 Process Files ..................................................................................... 15
2.3.7 File Operations .................................................................................. 16
 Quick Start on ElecRoc Server

Chapter 1 Quick Start on ElecRoc Server

1.1 Launch Server
You can choose Start > Programs > Founder ElecRoc > ElecRoc 6 Server, or
double-click the desktop icon ElecRoc 6 Server to launch the Server.

Figure 1

1.2 Start Processors

The processors must be started before it can process specific files. By default, they are all
offline when the Server is launched for the first time. You can choose Operation > Start
Processors from the main menu to make them all online. If you want to start only one
or some of the processors, choose the processor(s) and use the right-click menu item
Start. In case that the processor is installed on a different computer, make sure that the
computer is powered on.

1.3 Authorize
Choose from the main menu Settings > Authorization to control if a client can login the
Server, and to control if an ElecRoc user can access the shared folders on the server. Only
clients having been authorized can login the Server. Under the Client tab, input the name
of the computer where ElecRoc Client is installed, and then click Add and Apply.
Unlimited (if any) in Authorized Computer List indicates no access limit on the clients.
The setup under the Shared Folder tab is the same as above.

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Figure 2

1.4 Path Setup

Choose Settings > General. Here you can define the system directories (including
Upload, Jobs and Ink Key directories), the Input Directory and the Image Path.

Figure 3

1.5 Font Setup

With items under the Font menu, you can add, delete, reset or install fonts.

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Chapter 2 Quick Start on ElecRoc Client

2.1 Launch Client
After the installation of ElecRoc Client, a shortcut icon ElecRoc 6 Client will appear on
your desktop. You can double-click this icon, or choose Start > All Programs >
Founder ElecRoc > ElecRoc 6 Client, to launch the Client.

Figure 4
Note: Only Clients that have been authorized can login the Server. Thus, before you use
the Client, authorize the Client with the menu item Settings > Authorization.
Choose the server, user, and input corresponding password. If the Server box doesn’t
contain the server you want to login, you can manually input the server’s name or IP
address. For the first time to login ElecRoc, choose the user administrator and leave
Password blank.
Click OK. If successful, you see the main user interface of the Client.

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Figure 5
Note: No password is set for administrator by default. Set a password to ensure security
after the initial login.

2.2 Using Administrative Tools

After you have launched the Client as an administrator, you can firstly set or manage
some parameters and resources relating to the entire ElecRoc system, through the
administrative tools. Click the Administrator or the Resources icon in the navigator to
switch the interface.

Figure 6

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2.2.1 Users & Groups Management

In the module Administrator > Users Management, you can create a user or user
group, and control its authorities to use the function modules in ElecRoc.

1. Create a user or group

Under the User Management tab, you can create a new user; and under the Group
Management tab, you can create a new user group. Here we take how to create a new
user as example: click New to open the New User dialog box. Input the user name, and
if needed, the description and password, and then click OK.

Figure 7

2. Authorize a User
Please continue to authorize a user or group after you have created it. To authorize a user
or group to use specific functions of ElecRoc, click Authorize to open a dialog box.
Choose a user or user group in the left, and then define its authorities in the right,
through the check boxes. The user or group can only use the checked functions.

Figure 8

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2.2.2 Processor Management

In the module Administrator > Processor Management, you can view all the
processors available in your ElecRoc system, define their default settings, and control if
ElecRoc users can use them.

Figure 9

1. Authorize a processor
Authorization enables you to grant a user or user group’s access to a specific processor.

Figure 10

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To authorize, choose the processor in the list and click Authorize. In the pop-up dialog
box, choose one or more users or user groups in the left, and then click the button to
add them into the right. And after that, you can control the specific authorities of an
authorized user by way of the View, Use and Modify boxes, i.e. whether the user can
view its parameter setup in the job, use it in the job, and modify the parameter setup.
To cancel the authority, choose the users or groups at the right, and click the button .

2. Modify default parameter setup

ElecRoc pre-defines built-in parameter setup for each processor. To modify the default
setup for a specific processor, double-click it to open the setup window. Re-define each
parameter as needed, and then click Apply.

Figure 11
In addition, you can click the Load Parameters button at the lower-left, and choose
Save as to save your setup as a parameter template. By way of the template, you can
quickly load a set of parameter settings in your workflow operation.

2.2.3 Profile Resource Management

In the module Resources > Profile Resource, you can manage the resource applied in
PDF process, including preflight profiles, trap profiles, ICC profiles, spot color tables, and
EcoInk solutions, for use by processor nodes like 3rd Party Preflight, Trap, PDF CMS, PDF

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Rasterizer, and EcoInk in your job.

Figure 12
If you are going to use the above resources in your job, please make them ready here in
advance. ElecRoc supports you to import, export these resource. And as to the trap
profiles, spot color tables, and EcoInk solutions, it enables you to create and edit as well.

2.2.4 Imposer Template Management

In the module Resources > Imposer Template, you can create, edit or modify the
imposer templates and composer templates that can be used by all ElecRoc clients.

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Figure 13
Here you can start up Founder’s or 3rd-party’s imposer template editing program, to
create or edit a template that can be used in imposing process. And you can also start up
the composer module, to create a composing template.
Importing and exporting of the imposer and composer templates are also supported.
Moreover, you can convert the imposer templates created by earlier ElecRoc versions, so
that they can be used in current version.

2.2.5 Digital Proof Management

In the module Resources > Digital Proof, you can manage two types of resource
involved in pre/post-RIP proof: CMF calibration files and color tune curves.

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Figure 14
Among them, the CMF files can be made with the Color Tools, and then imported into
ElecRoc, while the color tune curves can be created here.

2.2.6 Traditional Press Management

With the tool Resources > Traditional Press, you can manage resource related to the
traditional printing, such as the linear curves, color tune curves, intended and actual
press curves, all of which can be used in PDF rasterizing. Managing operations include
create, save as, edit, import, export, delete, and recalibration.

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Figure 15

2.2.7 Digital Press Management

In the module Resources > Digital Press, you can manage the resource applied in
digital printing, such as the CMF color solution files, the color tune curves, and the linear
curves.

Figure 16

2.3 Operating Workflow

ElecRoc workflow links various press processes or procedures together and streamlines
their collaboration, enabling them to work smoothly and efficiently.
Job, also called job ticket, is the platform for building a workflow. It defines the processes
the workflow contains, their sequence, their processing manners, and enables the user to
submit, process, monitor and output files, manage the input/output files under each
process. The processes herein are completed by a family of ElecRoc processors, like PDF
Generator, Imposer, Composer, Preflight, Trap, Rasterizer, Proof, and etc. These
processors, referred as job ticket processor (JTP, or node) in job, can produce flexible
combinations and connections, and thus form diverse workflows to meet the user’s
multiple business demands.

2.3.1 Create a Job

Click Jobs in the navigator to switch the user interface, and then click New to open the
New Job dialog box.

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Figure 17
Input the job name, and if needed, bill number, customer, description, and then click OK.
ElecRoc then displays automatically the job’s operating window.

Figure 18

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2.3.2 Create a Workflow

Now you can create a workflow in job window.

1. Add nodes
A node represents a process or procedure. Choose a processor from the left processor list,
and then drag into the upper-right area to make it a node of the workflow. Repeat this
operation to add other nodes needed into the job.

2. Connect nodes
To connect the added nodes with each other in a sequence, so as to form a workflow,
choose the Connect tool in the toolbar. And then place the cursor over the beginning
node, click and drag to the next node you want to connect. If the two nodes can be
connected logically, an arrow will appear between them, indicating the process sequence.

Figure 19
In a workflow, each node plays a particular role. When it completes its specific task, it will
automatically send the processed files to the next node, till the end of the workflow. In
this way, the workflow realizes fully-automated processes, improving the production
efficiency.
Note: In order to check and confirm the processed results of some node, you may need
to temporarily suspend it. If needed, you can right-click it and choose Hold.

2.3.3 Node Parameter Setup

It refers to a set of parameters that control how the node process files. Before the
process starts, you should define each node’s parameters as needed in advance, so that
they can correctly deal with the files as expected. For most of the nodes, such as PDF
Generator, Imposer, Composer, Preflight, Trap, CMS, Rasterizer, Printer, Proof, you can
double-click to open their parameter setup window.
PDF Generator is the required node in a workflow, and usually located at the beginning.
It converts PS, EPS, PDF, TIFF, PRN files to into PDF page files, a standard file type
employed inside ElecRoc. Imposer can fit the pages of one or more signature together
and output as a big sheet of surface. This surface then can be folded to signature. Before
you set its parameters, you may need to create a template by choosing the Client
navigator Resources > Imposer Template. Composer is a stand-alone node in job.
Manually submit multiple pages to this node, and it can arrange and output them on a big
sheet of surface, saving your media cost. Preflight is designed for you to perform a
pre-press document check as per your predefined checklist, so as to avoid print accidents.

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It generates a check report to inform the result. Trap can effectively mask registration
problems between abutting colors on the printing press. PDF CMS (PDF color
management system) provides color manageability to the PDF pages, ensuring and
improving the color quality in printing press. Rasterizer can convert PDF pages to
bitmap files. And Proof can use color printer to simulate what your file looks like when
printed.
For details, refer to the user guide.

2.3.4 Choose Source Files

Choose PDF Generator node in the job to activate the Select Files icon in the toolbar
below. Click this icon to open the Select Files dialog box.

Figure 20
Under the target directory, double-click the files, or choose the files and then click Select,
to send the files into ElecRoc workflow. These files are referred as source files. Directories
available herein need to be pre-defined on the Server. The Upload is the default folder
shared on the server for the user to upload the source files.
The selected files will then appear as input files under the PDF Generator node.
Note: If you check Auto Submit, after you close the dialog box, ElecRoc will
automatically submit the files you select to PDF Generator for process. If not, the files
only emerge under the PDF Generator node, not automatically be submitted. By default,
it is checked.

2.3.5 Submit Files

If you check Auto Submit when you choose source files, after the choosing, the source

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files will be automatically submitted to PDF Generator for process. In the workflow, if no
node is held, after having completed its own task, each node will automatically submit
the processed files to the next connected node.
If you don’t check Auto Submit, after the choosing, you need to manually submit the
source files to the workflow.

Figure 21
1) Under PDF Generator node, click the toolbar icon to submit all the source files under
the node.
2) Choose the source files to be processed, and then right-click, select Submit. This way
submits only those files selected.
3) Choose those files to be processed, drag and drop on the PDF Generator node.
Note: The above methods are also applied when the node is held, or exists stand-alone,
or files need to be processed cross nodes, or be re-processed.

2.3.6 Process Files

Once the files are submitted, the node starts its process. A process information window
now appears. You can see the progress from the color changes on the node icons, or from
the message shown below. During the process, if some exception or error occurs, ElecRoc
will change the node icon to red and corresponding message to red or pink, and perhaps
display an additional alert window, or even stop the process. With the Stop button, you
can break off the process at any time.

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Figure 22

2.3.7 File Operations

With right-click menu items, you can perform some operations on the PDF page files
produced by PDF Generator, Preflight, Trap, CMS, the surfaces generated by Imposer,
Composer, and the bitmaps from the Rasterizer node. The operations include viewing info,
previewing, downloading, copying, pasting, deleting, sorting, and some other advanced
operations.

1. Page preview
You can open an independent window to view the generated or processed PDF pages.

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Figure 23
Note: You can quickly preview a PDF page if you hold the mouse on the preview at the
lower-right of the job window. Under the imposer node, choose one or more PDF page in
the left input queue, use right-click menu item, you can preview the pages in a manner
like you are flipping book pages.

2. Signature preview
You can preview signatures like you preview PDF pages. In addition, choose a front and
a back signature, and use right-click menu item, you can view the combined effect of the
front and back sides, such as if the registration marks are aligned or not.

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Figure 24

3. PDF comparing
ElecRoc supports you to compare two PDF files, each may contains more than one pages,
so as to find out their differences. Usually used for finding the difference for a same file
before and after a modification. We recommend the user to use Adobe Acrobat 9.0 or
higher for the comparing. After the comparison, ElecRoc will generate a report to show
the difference, with annotations, symbols and marks for you to view with ease.

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Figure 25

4. PDF compare/substitution
This feature consists of two components, comparison and substitution. You can make a
precise comparison before the substitution, so as to clarify the difference between pages,
avoiding any mistake.
Note: More operations on PDF pages include viewing page information (can export spot
color), downloading PDF, adjusting separation, adding a mark, copying, pasting, and etc.

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Figure 26

5. Tiff preview
You can open a window to preview the tiff bitmap. You can separately view any, or part,
or all of its separations.

Figure 27

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Click the Dot Image icon at the upper-right of the window to view the screened dots.

Figure 28
For more information, refer to Founder ElecRoc 6 User Guide.

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