The AI Estimator supports a dedicated Notepads category. This update introduces the Repeat/Stack imposition strategy, allowing you to estimate pads accurately without inflating plate costs for offset printing or causing confusion between "pages" and physical "leaves".
Video: How to Configure the Notepads Category in AI-Estimator
What is the Notepads Category?
The Notepads category is designed for products where a finished item consists of multiple physical sheets (leaves) that typically share the same design. Unlike standard books, notepads use a specific "leaves-first" input and a specialized binding model.
Repeat/Stack Imposition: Assumes each leaf in the notepad is the same, ensuring offset plates and makeready are only calculated for the unique designs (defaulting to 1) rather than the total page count.
Leaves vs. Pages: To avoid "half-thickness" confusion, users input the number of physical leaves.
Specialized Binding: Includes a dedicated Pad Glue binding model that accounts for glue by edge length and optional greyboard backing.
Setting Up Notepads (Configuration)
To enable this category, follow these steps in your Product Setup (Categories tab):
1. Category Defaults
Configure the following settings to ensure the estimator handles notepad logic correctly:
Imposition Strategy: Set to
repeat_stack.Binding Edge: Default to
top.Backing Board: Set default to
included.Leaf Increments: Define the minimum, maximum, and increment values for leaf counts in the configuration sheet (tab PageNumber).
2. Configure Pad Glue Binding
The tab, Bind: Pad-Glue, is available in the machine and substrate setup. Here, you define the operational costs:
Labor & Machine Rates: Standard hourly rates for the binding process.
Glue Cost per Length: Cost based on the linear length of the glued edge.
Backing Board Cost: Cost based on the surface area (e.g., square inch or square foot) of the greyboard.
Tier Selection: You can set tiers based on
max_leavesornotepad_thicknessto adjust throughput (pads per hour) for thicker products.
Creating an Estimate for Notepads
When using the Create Estimate UI, the input fields adapt to notepad-specific requirements:
Number of Leaves: Enter the physical sheet count.
Binding Edge: Select Short Edge or Long Edge. The system automatically derives the
glued_edge_lengthbased on the product's orientation (Portrait/Landscape).Backing Board Toggle: A simple Yes/No toggle to include or exclude the greyboard backing.
Unique Designs (Override): In "Show More," you can increase the number of unique designs if the pad contains alternating artworks, which will then correctly scale the offset plates.