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In this section we will cover the order fulfillment options in detail. These settings are accessed via Settings > Fulfillment, and they include the following:

  • General
  • Print Server
  • Output Folder
  • Disk Maker
  • Back Lab Burner
  • Adobe PDF
  • ADRS

General Printer Settings

The options configured via the General tab control the steps taken by Lab 50 upon receipt of an order.

  1. Access Settings > Fulfillment > General.
  2. On the right panel, the following options are available:
  • Rotate images automatically: Check the box to automatically rotate images to the correct orientation. _This only applies when the Output Folder option is used._
  • Apply borders to images: Check the box to render the borders with the photo. This only applies when the Output Folder option is used.
  • Output order files: Check the box to export an order.xml file with the order. The folder location specifies where you want the order files to be stored. By default, the folder path is the Export folder within the main Lab 50 installation directory. This only applies when the Output Folder option is used.
    • Mask payment details: If you choose to output the order file, you have the option to encrypt the
      credit card information contained in the order file for security purposes.

***Note: As of December 2009, payment information is no longer viewable within Lab 50 for PCI compliance.

  • Process orders automatically after download: Check the box to allow all orders to be processed automatically after they are downloaded.
    • Do not process orders with over X copies: If the process all orders automatically after download option is enabled, you can choose to not process the order if the orders contain more than X prints. X represents the number of prints.
    • Do not process orders valued more than $X: If the process all orders automatically after download option is enabled, you can choose to not process the order if the orders total more than $X. X represents the total dollar amount.
  • Rendering DPI: Render the images using the specified DPI.

4. After making the necessary changes, press Apply Changes or Save and exit.

Printing via Print Server

The Print Server is the backend application that formats orders in Lab 50 into one or more different interfaces for
printing. It supports many common minilab printer interfaces, such as Noritsu DPOF, Fuji PIC, etc. and can help
automate your workflow for a quick turnaround.

1. At the top of the menu bar, click Settings.
2. To the left side of the screen select Fulfillment -> Print Server
3. On the right make any changes in this area as necessary. Here is a brief explanation of each of these settings:

  • Print Server hotfolder: the folder path where Print Server picks up the orders for processing
  • Start the Print Server automatically: Check the box to start the Print Server automatically if not already, when Print Photos option is selected.
  • Fit photos to paper: Check the box to enable
    shrink photos to fit to paper option (Fit-in).
  • APM Setup Wizard: Click on the “APM Setup Wizard” button to open the Setup Wizard program. This is necessary to access, setup and configure your printer interfaces to your minilabs, dye sublimination printers, hotfolders, etc. (See note below)

4. After making the necessary changes, press Apply Changes or Save and exit.

Note: For more details on how to configure for your printers using the Setup Wizard, see APM User’s Manual, “Printer Interfaces” section. If you do not have a hard copy of the manual, you may log onto www.lucidiom.com/support to download the manual in PDF format. The printer interfaces each have an appendix dedicated to the interface.

Printing Via “Output Folder” (Web Orders Only)

The Output Folder works similarly to the HotFolder Printer Interface in the Print Server except that this is done directly through Lab 50. The way it works is that the orders are exported to and organized in a folder instead of an actual printer. The main difference between HotFolder Interface and the Output Folder is that the latter method can be used only for web orders.

1. At the top of the menu bar, click Settings.
2. To the left side of the screen select Fulfillment -> Output Folder
3. On the right make any changes in this area as necessary. Here is a brief explanation of each of these settings:

  • Output orders to this location: The folder path to the destination folder for the orders. Make sure that if this is a shared folder on another computer that there is adequate space and the correct permissions are set so that Lab 50 can write to and modify the image from the order.
  • Output orders automatically: Check the box to process the orders automatically once they are received.

note: Only products which are set to print via Output Folder get processed automatically.

  • Output photos: Check the box to enable which Output Folder method will be used to place an order’s image into a subfolder using a folder name based upon these settings:
    • Apply templates: By checking this option, the template is automatically rendered with the photo if it is a template based product.
    • Format image filenames: Use the supported macros listed below to format the image filenames.
      • To add a macro to the Filename format string, simply double click on the macro that you want to insert. An example of the formatted filename string is displayed when you insert or remove a macro.
    • Use subfolders: This allows each order to be stored in its own separate folder.
      • Use the supported macros list below to format the subfolder name. Double*-click to insert and display within the subfolder name format.*

4. After making the necessary changes, press Apply Changes or Save and exit.

Disk Maker and Back Lab Burner

The Disk Maker is the legacy built-in burning tool that allows you to create Image CDs. As for the Back Lab Burner, it is an upgraded version of the Disk Maker which can burn both Image CDs and DVD Cinemas as ordered at the kiosk. Completig a DVD order at Lab 50 frees up the kiosk thus allowing the next customer to place their order.

Note: The Back Lab Burner requires additional license and installation of the Back Lab burner on the same system as Lab 50 is running. For more information on how to purchase the add-on license for the Back Lab Burner, please contact Lucidiom Sales.

Configuring “Disk Maker”:

1. At the top of the menu bar, click Settings.
2. To the left side of the screen select Fulfillment -> Disk Maker
3. On the right make any changes in this area as necessary. Here is a brief explanation of each of these settings:

  • Include the contents of this directory when creating a disk: By default, the Photo Finale desktop viewing software is included on the Image CD. You can designate another application or add any other additional content to an Image CD job by either changing the content in the
    C:\APM_FOLDERS\PhotoFinale folder or modifying the folder path to where the new content resides.

4. After making the necessary changes, press Apply Changes or Save and exit.

Configuring Back Lab Burner for Burning Image CDs and DVDs:

1. At the top of the menu bar, click Settings.
2. To the left side of the screen select Fulfillment -> Disk Maker
3. On the right make any changes in this area as necessary. Here is a brief explanation of each of these settings:

  • Enable Back Lab Burner: Check this box to enable Back Lab Burner
  • Temporary Drop Location: The temp folder used during the burning process.
  • Products for Back Lab Burner fulfillment: List all the products that Back Lab Burner should fulfill. Check the ones you want to send to Back Lab Burner. (Defaults are Image CD and DVD Slideshow)
  • Drive: If you have multiple CD/DVD RW drives installed, select the correct drive that you want to use to burn the Image CDs and DVDs.
  • Default DVD Cinema Options: If for any reason the order does not specify the DVD settings, the default values entered here will be used.
    • Title: Title that is displayed in the beginning of the DVD Slideshow
    • Menu Theme: Background theme displayed on the Menu screen
    • Music: Background music played throughout the slideshow
    • Style: Transition style to be used in between each photo display
    • Frame: Decorative frames for the photos

4. After making the necessary changes, press Apply Changes or Save and exit.

Printing Via Adobe PDF Interface

Certain products, such as photo books and posters, offer the option to process the order in either JPEG or PDF format. If you opt to print using PDF format, there are two supported PDF Interfaces within the Lab 50 software. One option is to print via the Lab 50 Adobe PDF Interface, and the other is via Print Server.

In this section, we will only go over the configuration settings for the Lab 50 Adobe PDF Interface. Although this option is available for processing, we recommend using the PDF interface for the EQ-9800/9850 or the Hot Folder interface via the Print Server for maximum automation and customization. For instructions on how to set up the PDF Printer Interface via Setup Wizard, please see the printer interface guides.

Configuring the Adobe PDF Interface:

  1. Access Settings > Fulfillment > Adobe PDF*.
  2. On the right panel, you can adjust the following:
  • Order drop location: The folder path to use for exporting PDF format orders.
  • Bleed: Adds fractions of an inch to the output to allow for overbleed settings on the printer. The default value is 0.125 and typically is not modified.

4. After making the necessary changes, press Apply Changes or Save and exit.

ADRS

ADRS is a legacy option not generally used in Lab 50. The settings should be left as-is with the default settings.

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