KB252151428: Imaging Engine - Why only one Imaging Engine task is running at a time even though there are two worker licenses

Question

I have two workers (licensed and configured) for my Imaging Engine, when I launch multiple Imaging Engine tasks simultaneously, only one is actually running ('rendering' phase) at a time. The other ones are waiting in the status JDF file submission, why?

Answer

When the Save Print Simulations (.view files) option is enabled in the Rip ticket, and there is a two workers setup, both workers will be used:

• one for creating the LEN files and
• one for creating the .view files.

You can see this by looking at the Windows Task Manager in the Imaging Engine server, and at the CPU activity of the two "PixelMachineCTPWorker.exe" processes. If you just launch one file with that option enabled, you will see CPU activity for both Workers. If you disable that option, then you will see CPU activity for only one of them.

Screenshot of the Windows Task Manager in case the Save Print Simulations (.view files) option is enabled in the Rip ticket: