Contact person: Comprehensive Web-to-Print Platform Build

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Location: Bastrop, United States

Budget: Recommended by industry experts

Time to start: As soon as possible

Project description:
"Project Overview

We are seeking an experienced full-stack developer or team to build a complete Web-to-Print (W2P) system for our print shop. The platform must handle everything from instant quotes and dynamic pricing to file preflight, proofing, job ticket management, production workflow, and sales tracking.

This system will be production-grade, generating print-ready PDFs with proper cut/white ink paths, layers, and RIP-ready exports, while also giving us full visibility into production capacity, order statuses, and sales performance.

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Core Requirements

1) Ordering, Quotes & Dynamic Pricing
• Product configurator with fixed/custom sizes.
• Dynamic pricing engine: material costs, area-based rates, finishing add-ons, waste factors, setup fees, volume tiers.
• Quote lifecycle: Draft → Sent → Accepted → Expired.
• Live price updates + tiered discounts.

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2) File Upload, Preflight & Proofing
• Upload per line item with DPI, bleed, cut path, color space validation.
• Automated preflight (PDF/AI parser, spot color checks, bleed detection).
• Auto-fixes: RGB→CMYK, bleed extension, cut path renaming.
• Soft proof preview + approval loop.
• Plain-language feedback (“Your DPI is too low; please upload a higher-res file”).

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3) Order & Job Ticket Management
• Data Model: Order → Line Item → Job → Station Tasks.
• Order Statuses: Draft, Paid, In Production, Partially Shipped, Completed, Cancelled.
• Job Statuses: Queued, Prepress, Ready for Print, Printing, Finishing, QC, Packed, Shipped.
• Job ticket PDF with barcodes/QR codes for scanning at each station.
• Batching, nesting, and auto-routing (e.g., add lamination step only if required).
• Exception handling (on hold, reprint, NCR logging).

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4) Production Tracking
• Station Dashboards: show WIP, overdue jobs, bottlenecks.
• Barcode/Scan Flow: start/stop each task → captures operator, station, duration.
• SLAs & Capacity: per-task times, ETA calculations, on-time vs late reporting.
• Reprint Flow: NCR logging with root cause + corrective action.
• Machine Utilization: track material consumption, sheet/roll usage, runtime per device.
• Labor Tracking: operator time logs linked to jobs for costing.

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5) Sales Tracking
• CRM-style dashboard of quotes, conversions, repeat customers.
• Sales Funnel: Quote → Order → Production → Shipped → Paid.
• Sales by product family, customer, time period.
• Conversion rates (quote-to-order).
• Margin reports: cost (substrates, ink, labor) vs revenue.
• Commission tracking for sales reps (optional).
• Exportable data (CSV, webhooks, API for BI tools).

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6) Adaptive Online Designer
• Rules-based option tree: options appear/lock based on substrate/device.
• Live preflight inside designer: DPI, bleed, small text, spot colors.
• Cut Path Assistant (trace, offset, simplify).
• White Ink Assistant (choke/spread).
• Explains artwork problems in simple language with auto-fix options.

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7) Sticker Designer (Print-and-Cut)
• Safe/bleed overlays + preset shapes (circle, oval, rounded rectangle, etc.).
• Auto-trace + smoothing for cut paths.
• Spot layers: CutContour, PerfCutContour, White.
• Validation: min stroke, corner radii, single outermost path.
• Export: PDF/X-4 with layers for RIP/cutter software.

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8) DTF Gang-Sheet Creator
• Upload multiple logos/files; auto-trim backgrounds.
• Pack onto 22″ roll sheets (or custom width).
• Nesting engine with spacing, rotation, duplicates, multi-sheet planner.
• White underbase generation with choke/spread.
• Mirror toggle for transfer printing.
• Export: print-ready gang sheet PDF + manifest (coords, qty, rotation).

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9) Integrations
• Payments: Stripe, Apple/Google Pay, ACH.
• Shipping: UPS/FedEx/USPS APIs or ShipStation.
• RIP: hot folders, spot color support (VersaWorks, Onyx, Caldera, Flexi).
• Storage: S3 (or similar) with signed URLs for proofing.
• APIs/Webhooks: for orders, proofs, job status, shipments.

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10) Tech Stack (Suggested)
• Frontend: React + Konva/[login to view URL] for design tools.
• Backend: Node.js or Go, PostgreSQL, Redis queues.
• Preflight: pdfToolbox, Enfocus Switch, Ghostscript, Potrace.
• Exports: PDF/X-4 with ICC and spot layers.

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Deliverables
• Full Web-to-Print platform: ordering, quoting, pricing, proofing, job tickets.
• Adaptive online designer.
• Sticker designer with cut-path generation.
• DTF gang-sheet creator.
• Production tracking dashboards + sales reporting.
• Print-ready file outputs for RIP.
• Admin back office for products, pricing, workflow, and reporting.
• Clean, well-documented code.

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Skills Required
• React + canvas editing libraries.
• PDF and print workflows (ICC, spot colors, cut paths).
• Nesting/packing algorithms.
• ERP/MES or production tracking experience.
• Familiarity with signage, stickers, and DTF production highly preferred.

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This is a long-term build with multiple phases. MVP will cover storefront + core production flow; later phases will expand automation, reporting, and integrations." (client-provided description)