Software - RIP Software

To celebrate the launch of the new EFI eXpress Photo RIP software,  Velmex Distribution the UK distributor for Canon large format printers & EFI software products, are giving away this professional software free with all Canon 44” & 60” printers. The promotion will run in conjunction with the current Canon Star buy offer.

Velmex Distribution, the specialist distributor of Canon large format printers and EFI RIP software, has announced this week any Canon 44” or 60” large format printers purchased from them will receive a free copy of  EFI’s new  eXpress Photo RIP software.  The promotion will run in conjunction with Canon’s ‘Star Buy’ offer. Launched in October this year, it offers the 44” Image PROGRAF iPF8100 and production iPF8000s at £3995(including stand).   Any customers looking for a smaller 17” or 24” printer can add EFI Photo eXpress software to their order for £99. The regular retail price of EFI Photo eXpress is £560 and the postscript version has a retail price of £700.

The software is available for both Mac and PC; it includes a number of key features aimed at ensuring high quality, easily managed output.

The software is full of intuitive functions; it improves media utilisation with nesting, saving on time and media wastage; it automatically configures photos, (single and multi-image templates) and creates contact sheets. A bespoke feature allows users to create a ‘Collection’ of custom standard sizes, perfect for photo book printing.  Tasks are achieved faster with the ‘Quick Set’ function, giving users the ability to preset and select quickly, options they use regularly; such as poster printing, photo printing or proofing.  The full RGB workflow provides 16 bit for the highest quality output. All regular file formats are support: TIFF, JPEG, BMP, and PSD (customers can add postscript (PDF) at an additional charge). Latest media changes are easily managed with an online profile download. Customers can be kept up to date with new features by regular online software updates.

Mark Keeley, Managing Director of Velmex Distribution said, “EFI’s Photo eXpress is perfect for those looking to move to a 44” or 60” printer.  This RIP is very easy to operate and provides plenty of tools to make larger format photo printing more cost effective and simpler.  The savings offered on this combined bundle makes the decision to move to 44” or 60”printing more affordable than ever before.”  Offers are available whilst stocks last.

Users of the popular Wasatch SoftRIP software will be able to upgrade to the recently launched V6.6 version of the popular RIP, and take advanatge of a special offer to get free training for their RIP operators.

The offer, from Wasatch distributor IGS UK Ltd, will enable all existing UK Wasatch users to attend a free 1-day training seminar, hosted at Walsall College.

All product upgrades from any previous version of Wasatch SoftRIP up to Version 6.6, purchased through any IGS reseller from November 18th to December 22nd, will entitle the user to this free training offer.

Phil Pirie of Wasatch says "We are delighted to be supporting IGS UK in this promotion, it is a genuine offer that adds a fundamental value to our product, and of course as many users would be upgrading as a matter of course, it is a real opportunity for users to familiarise themselves with the latest features and benefits at zero cost to themselves. SoftRIP V6.6 features a number of new features, and the free training will ensure that our users are able to take full advantage of these latest software developments."

Perhaps the most significant of these new features is the Tracer module, and Phil explains "Wasatch SoftRIP Version 6.6 features the all new Wasatch Tracer that allows users to create contour cut paths directly within SoftRIP. This innovative tool improves workflow, simplifies the cutting production process, and gives users complete control over cut path creation, with the ability to trace, print, and cut without ever leaving the RIP".

Interestingly, this offer is also being extended to users of white-boxed OEM versions of SoftRIP, which includes Roland ColorRIP, Uniform TROOP V5, and other in-the-box software packages that are built on the Wasatch engine, from a number of manufacturers including Agfa, HP/NUR, Inca, Mimaki and more.

Wasatch SoftRIP is available in the UK and Europe from Tech8

 

ColorGATE, a participant in the international HP Designjet Certification Program, has announced that Productionserver has been certified for the HP Designjet L25500 with an outstanding rating of 21 stars.

Users now have the certified guarantee that, with Productionserver, they will be able to take full advantage of the complete range of functions offered by the HP Designjet L25500.

The solution scored full points for all the certification criteria: calibration (3/3), media flexibility (3/3), printer reporting (3/3) and job management (3/3); in addition, the ColorGATE production RIP has also been equipped with high-quality profiles for the modern HP media, including the recyclable signage media of HP heavy textile banner / HP light textile banner, HP HDPE reinforced banner, HP photo-realistic poster paper as well as HP white satin poster paper—this led to another three of a possible three stars for the criterion of HP Media Support. HP has published the current star rating for the ColorGATE Productionserver.

In contrast to the international competition, the ColorGATE solution was also able to claim the maximum number of points in two further areas of the HP certification process. Tested for printing performance, for example, Productionserver proved that it is able to support the new HP concept of concatenating, which provides for optimum throughput for job processing by automatically sorting and grouping the jobs according to the print settings; this reduces the switch from cooling to new heating phases to a minimum. Three of three stars were also awarded for the complete integration of HP Professional PANTONE Emulation (HP PPE).

"The exact reproduction of PANTONE colors always presents an exacting challenge, in the field of advertising in particular," said Thomas Kirschner, managing director, ColorGATE. "The use of the HP Designjet L25500 in combination with the HP PPE-enabled Productionserver allows reproduction results that clearly surpass all the alternative methods currently available on the market—and that is possible even without the installation of special libraries. The results: top-quality, more productively and simply than ever before."

"We are very happy that we are able to support an eco-friendly solution with our feature-rich production RIP right from the day of its market introduction in an area of application that used to be restricted exclusively to the solvent segment," said Kirschner.

On the release of Productionserver Version 6, ColorGATE now presents two editions that have been customized for use with the new HP printing system: the PS 6 HP L25500 Best-Price Edition includes Productionserver 6 Pro with one queue, one RIP process and one printer driver; the PS 6 HP L25500 Producer Edition is additionally equipped with another RIP process for optimal capacity utilization along with an integrated profiling solution. It also features Ink Saver, a new ColorGATE technology that uses GCR-optimized DeviceLink profiling to reduce ink costs by up to 30 percent. Both editions are now on offer at an attractive price. "The price/performance ratio is simply phenomenal," said Kirschner. "That should make it very, very easy for all interested users to make a quick decision."

EFI™ today announced that for customers upgrading to gain the benefits of the newest Microsoft® Windows® 7 operating system release, EFI solutions will work seamlessly in their print environment. Fiery® server, Fiery Central and EFI MicroPress® production print customers can continue to run their print operations, without impact, using the currently shipping WHQL-certified drivers, without making any changes to their Fiery configuration.

"As part of our ongoing commitment to support Microsoft systems, EFI is excited to offer customers who install Windows 7 an easy, pain-free way to ensure they can print the documents they need day one," said Charlotte Tueckmantel, manager of product line management, Fiery division, EFI. "Many alternative solutions require a complex upgrade or won't support the new Windows 7 for months. After rigorous testing, we are delighted with the feedback our customers are giving us about Fiery working with the latest Microsoft operating system."

An industry-leading product since 1991, with more than 1.6 million installations worldwide, Fiery servers deliver power, performance, and speed to high-end print environments such as graphic arts, design firms, commercial printers, and pre-press businesses with unmatched colour output, extensive variable data printing support, and superior workflow management. A 2009 BERTL®'s Best award winner, Fiery Central is a complete workflow designed to centralise and unify digital production. EFI MicroPress controller and production workflow solution helps customers increase efficiency and reduce costs through streamlined and automated workflows.

ONYX Service offers a line of products designed to help keep your business up and running.  Ranging from free web services to VIP care, ONYX offers the right option to make your customers’ lives easier.  ONYX Service options include email support, 24/7 access to web tools and resources, a phone center staffed with a highly experienced Support Crew, and two software maintenance options.
 
Our full line of ONYX Service products now include: ONYX Links, ONYX Plus, ONYX Advantage, and ONYX Premium service options.

The ONYX Links free suite of services is designed to help keep your business up and running.  Subscribing to ONYX Links suite connects you 24/7 to web site downloads for the latest features, printer drivers and profiles; the ONYX Service Web Portal for expert technical information and articles; and ONYX PrintMetryx JobView – a new web-based service designed to help you track printing costs and production trends.  Available mid-October.

The ONYX Plus service is designed to help you solve problems quickly and efficiently through 24/7 web diagnostic tools, articles containing the latest technical information, hotline access to the experts in the ONYX Call Center;  along with all the benefits of ONYX Links.  Available now for customers in N.  America.

The ONYX Advantage product is a simple and cost-effective way for ONYX PosterShop, ONYX ProductionHouse and ONYX PrepEdge software users to keep their software up-to-date.  The ONYX Advantage service provides product upgrades, new printer drivers, automatic disk updates, and a free additional active printer and RIP at purchase – in addition to all the benefits of ONYX Links.  Available now worldwide.  Contact your local reseller for more information on subscribing to this service.

The ONYX Premium suite of services is designed for the ONYX PosterShop, ONYX ProductionHouse and ONYX PrepEdge shop owner who wants to ensure their ONYX Workflow product is always up-to-date with the latest software and printer drivers; and who wants full access to the expert personnel and tools offered by the ONYX Call Center.  It includes all the features of the ONYX Links, ONYX Plus, and ONYX Advantage products.  Available now for customers in N.  America only.

Important Changes – in enhancing our line of ONYX Service products, we are discontinuing the ONYX Support Prime and ONYX Support Plus 6-Month agreement options.  

For more information on purchasing one of these products, contact your local reseller.

ONYX Graphics Inc. has announced the ONYX PrintMetryx Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) platform of web-based tools designed to give insight to wide-format printing operations. The first two products utilising this new platform will help wide-format print shops better manage their printing costs: ONYX PrintMetryx JobView service, a free, easy to use tool for tracking printing costs; and ONYX PrintMetryx In-House service, a subscription-based service designed to help in-house printing departments save time, reduce costs and improve productivity.

"With this new family of SaaS products, ONYX Graphics expands our portfolio to address the growing need of print providers to have on-demand access to information about their printing operations," said Jeb Hurley, CEO of ONYX Graphics. "Companies are bringing printing in-house to decrease print turnaround time and reduce costs, making accurate reporting of productivity and printing costs especially important."

ONYX PrintMetryx JobView service will be available at no cost with a subscription to ONYX Links service option—plus the latest version of ONYX RIP software version 7.3.2 packages. ONYX PrintMetryx JobView service gives print shop owners and production managers insight into daily printing operations. Each print job contains a thumbnail image, detailed information about the print job, and costs for ink and media.

Shops using ONYX PrintMetryx JobView service can also track production trends such as what is printed each day and which printers and media are used most frequently. Tracking production trends helps ensure that the shop is running efficiently and that materials are available when needed.

ONYX PrintMetryx In-House service is a web-based subscription service that shows the value of in-house printing by delivering proof of production and reports on printing costs. To help production managers save time and money, the ONYX PrintMetryx In-House service streamlines print tracking and reporting, enabling the creation of reports in minutes rather than hours. Visual dashboards quickly display work and cost information, and users can quickly find a job and view the details. Users can also customize reports to display the information they need.

"We started printing our own signs to save money on printing costs," said Jeremy Brown, an ONYX PrintMetryx In-House Service customer. "By using the ONYX PrintMetryx platform, I can see how much a sign costs to print and show management how much we are saving by printing the signs ourselves instead of outsourcing our prints. Since printing is a cost center, the ONYX PrintMetryx platform helps me show the value of doing printing in-house."

ONYX PrintMetryx JobView service and ONYX PrintMetryx In-House service require the new version 7.3.2 of ONYX RIP software (ONYX ProductionHouse, ONYX PosterShop, and ONYX RIPCenter packages).