Software

GMG has released version 2.0 of ProofControl which delivers contract-quality verification of proofs in seconds and makes colour accuracy objectively measurable, immediately detecting the slightest colour variation in a proof. The latest update supports verification of spot colours and GMG OpenColor profiles, as well as improving the user interface.

Using a spectrophotometer (external or automatically integrated within a printer), GMG ProofControl measures colour bars in seconds. The resulting values are compared with target values stored in the system. All information, such as actual and target values, and the control reports are saved in a database, making it easily accessible.

For all proofs within tolerance, a small adhesive label is printed. Users typically place the label on the back of each calibrated proof, assuring all who read the proof that it is within tolerance. In addition to supporting international standards, GMG ProofControl also lets users define their own quality criteria. So, users can define their own control strips, target values, measuring conditions and tolerances, which can be used as the basis for verification.

ProofControl 2.0 supports recent technology updates

“While GMG ProofControl still serves customers very well, an update was required to support some of the latest technologies. ProofControl 2.0 keeps the system’s reliability and well-known functionality, but adds new features such as verification of spot colors and GMG’s OpenColor profiles,” comments Victor Asseiceiro, Director Business Unit Packaging. “ProofControl 2.0 also has a user interface that users will find remarkably similar to that of GMG ColorProof.”

New GMG ProofControl 2.0 features include:

• In GMG ProofControl 2.0, users can also measure and verify spot colour strips and OpenColor profiles printed by GMG ColorProof.
• With GMG ProofControl 2.0, there is faster data exchange with GMG ColorProof. As soon as GMG ColorProof prints a control strip, a measurement job will automatically appear in GMG ProofControl. Spot colour definitions from the proof job and the correct reference are automatically selected for each strip.
• Easy generation of custom GMG ProofControl standards by importing GMG MX colour profiles.
• ProofControl 2.0 supports the new X-Rite i1Pro 2 measuring device
• A new user interface, similar to the look and feel of GMG ColorProof has been designed for greater ease-of-use.

“The proof is the most important tool for colour communication in print production. It plays a decisive role for colour corrections during data preparation and is also the colour reference when approving the printing and for ink control on the press. So, those in the print supply chain need to be assured that the proof they are seeing corresponds to accurate tolerances,” explains Asseiceiro. “With GMG ColorProof you are already assured of exceptional quality. But how do you communicate it? GMG ProofControl confirms that quality to others. It is a key element in a networked and standardised work environment. It delivers contract-quality verification of proofs in a matter of seconds, and makes colour accuracy objectively measurable.”

GMG ProofControl is available worldwide through GMG’s network of authorised dealers.

Mimaki’s FineCut cutting plugin for Adobe Illustrator and CorelDRAW is now available for the latest CS6 version of Illustrator. Offering powerful cutting functionality and sign making tools within industry standard graphic design applications, Mimaki FineCut is provided with every Mimaki cutting plotter or integrated printer / cutter.

The upgrade is via a free download from the Mimaki website and can be found by visiting UK & Ireland distributor, Hybrid Services Ltd’s site (www.hybridservices.co.uk) and typing “CS6” in the search box.

Mimaki FineCut 8.0.1 works on both Mac and PC within Adobe Illustrator CS6 and enables sign makers to utilise an integrated workflow from design, through printing and finally contour and die cutting their output. The cutting software seamlessly integrates with Mimaki’s RasterLink RIP software ensuring an easy to use and highly productive process.

Loughborough University has streamlined its design and print services and improved control of its corporate identity across all types of printed application following the installation of EFI's flexible web-to-print solution Digital StoreFront.  Reducing departmental costs, and simplifying online ordering and execution of jobs have led to greater efficiencies, resulting in increased throughput across all production equipment via a more refined workflow.

Loughborough in Leicestershire is one of the country's leading universities, with an international reputation for research that matters, excellence in teaching, strong links with industry, and unrivalled achievement in sport and its underpinning academic disciplines. For the past 30 years its Design and Print Services have been paramount in providing departments, services and on- and off-campus organisations with professional design, print, photography, video and web design services.

"We were aware that having an online store, and managing it in-house, would enable us to streamline and improve our print services across campus, providing an accessible workflow for users, and we chose EFI™ Digital StoreFront after consultation with other universities and councils," states Helen Clarke, Business and Administration Manager. "We have seen a dramatic take up of the service throughout October 2012, providing an 82% increase in job submissions since the software was installed. Because it is essential that a coherent and consistent visual identity is applied across all of our communications, we will be moving forward with Digital StoreFront to provide a simplified collection of document templates that our print customers can use both on and off campus, and that support our documented visual identity guidelines."

Powered by EFI Fiery® front-ends, which provide a direct link to Digital StoreFront, Loughborough University's print facilities focus on a Canon imagePress 1135 production engine with inline finishing and a Canon imagePress C7000 for colour production, with complementary wide-format printers, booklet makers, folding, binding and stitching equipment. Being able to offer such a broad range of services from a large number of sources relies on a sleek and efficient interface with users, proving the value of Digital StoreFront in educational environments as well as within the commercial print sector.

For more information, please visit www.efi.com

ONYX has announced the availability of three new Epson Edition RIP packages for the Epson SureColor Channel.  The packages are available this month from UK & Ireland distributor ArtSystems.

The first is ONYX RipCentre Epson Edition - a great value product that will support the SureColor 30600, 50600(4c) or 70600(8c) printers. The price point comes in at 25% below the standard RipCentre retail price, and ensures dependable and reliable colour output to those looking for a value solution.

For users looking for more flexibility and extra value, ArtSystems is delighted to offer ONYX PosterShop and ProductionHouse Epson Editions. Both these Special Editions feature the full driver set for most wide format printers including the 5 and 10 colour Epson SureColor printers and include over £1200 of free extras.   These extras include an additional RIP engine to enable you to process at least two files at the same time, a free one-year membership to the popular ONYX Advantage upgrade and update programme and a free days RIP operator training at the ArtSystems Academy in Nottingham.

Users access their free training day by simply redeeming the Training Ticket included in the box either via a web registration or by calling the telephone number on the ticket and quoting their product serial number.

Andrew Edwards, divisional manager – sign & display at ArtSystems, comments, "To get the most from your new Epson, anything less than a good quality RIP is a false economy – workflow efficiency, dependable and consistent colour and top-class technical support are a given with ONYX products but now we can add extra value too. To this end we are able to offer the new Epson Edition ONYX software packages to suit all requirements of both the Channel and the end user."

The new Epson Edition Packages are available through the Epson wide format channel partners and the promotional offer will run until the end of March 2013.

Corel has announced the CorelDRAW® Graphics Suite X6.2 update for CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X6 customers. For users with a free Standard Membership, X6.2 provides the latest performance and stability improvements. For users with a Premium Membership, X6.2 adds a variety of new functionality including a new alignment and dynamic guides docker, enhancements to the colour styles docker and a new Corel® PHOTO-PAINT™ guidelines docker. Plus, X6.2 equips CorelDRAW Premium Members with six new colour harmony rules and more preview options that further simplify the design process.

“Our focus for this update is to provide our users with frequently requested features that support and enhance their graphic design workflow,” said Gérard Métrailler, Sr. Director, Product Management, Graphics at Corel. “With X6.2, Premium Members get immediate access to a number of new time-saving features which won’t become available for non-Premium Members until the next major version of CorelDRAW Graphics Suite is launched. As we continue to release updates such as X6.2 and beyond, Premium Members will benefit by always being up-to-date and receiving the latest functionality.”

New Features Available to Premium Members Include:

• Alignment and Dynamic Guides: View, set up and modify alignment guides and dynamic guides more easily and as adjustments are made, the custom Dynamic Guides updates in real-time
• Guidelines Docker: The new Guidelines docker adds the ability to precisely position, rotate and edit guidelines
• Colour Styles and Harmonies: Apply a rule to a colour harmony to shift all colours according to predetermined logic and create various colour combinations – includes six harmony rules and the ability to create a colour harmony from scratch
• Viewing Colour Styles: Page sorter view and hint view are now available in the Colour styles docker to work with styles more easily
• Previewing styles and style sets: Choose what style or style set to apply to an object by pointing to them in the Object styles docker and then preview the object attributes that will be applied
• PHOTO-PAINT Alignment Guides: The new Alignment guides docker helps to align objects as they’re created, resized or moved in relation to other nearby objects
• Displaying rulers in PHOTO-PAINT: Rulers can now be displayed by default on new documents
• Setting up Guidelines in PHOTO-PAINT: The new Guidelines docker allows for more precision and is an easier way to add, manage and modify guidelines including locking them in place
• Premium Content: Extra clipart, digital photos, vector patterns, fonts and more

For CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X6 Users

CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X6 customers who have signed up for a free Standard Membership or have a Premium Membership can download the second update (previously known as a “Service Pack”). The X6.2 update delivers stability improvements, enhanced support for digital cameras RAW formats as well as general performance updates.

Availability and Pricing

For CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X6 customers in the United Kingdom, Standard Membership is free and Premium Membership is only £7.95 per month when purchased as an annual membership for £95.40. All prices are VAT included.

To become a Standard or Premium Member, users must create a Corel account within CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X6. Membership options are available to box and electronic download customers of CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X6 at this time.

Those who hold a current subscription to CorelDRAW are also provided with a Premium Membership in order to stay up-to-date and can take advantage of the early access to the latest functionality by downloading the X6.2 update.

To learn more about the CorelDRAW Membership Program, please visit www.corel.com/coreldraw.

Roland DG has announced the availability of VersaWorks Version 4.8, a full featured, easy-to-use RIP software package developed exclusively for the company’s wide-format inkjet printers and printer/cutters.  The new VersaWorks version will ship with all new Roland models and is available to existing Roland inkjet customers free of charge through an Internet connection using the Roland@NET service.

In this latest release, Roland has added a total of six libraries from the PANTONE PLUS and Goe™ product lines - valuable design and production tools for high-end graphics and any application where precise colour matching is vital. These libraries allow users to automatically convert a specific PANTONE spot colour in the design file to a CMYK value that can be reproduced on a Roland inkjet device. This simplified workflow significantly reduces the amount of time required for colour matching and enables quick output of specific colours when working with properly profiled media.

Roland’s latest version of VersaWorks also features a new spot colour replacement feature which allows users to replace a defined spot colour in the design file with another from any VersaWorks library, all without reopening the source file. With VersaWorks, users have access to 16 spot colour libraries, including the new PANTONE libraries and the Roland Color System, Roland’s own spot colour matching solution featuring more than 1,500 traditional and metallic hues. Users can also replace the spot colours in their designs with white and clear ink options supported by several Roland inkjets.

“As a leader in the wide-format printing industry, Roland provides versatile production tools for some of the world’s most creative businesses,” said Andrew Hatkoff, vice president of technology licensing and business development. “We are pleased to partner with Roland to bring all the advantages of PANTONE spot colour matching to these businesses. As the standard for the design and graphics industry, PANTONE provides end users with complete creative flexibility, precision colour matching and enhanced imaging across the applications driving their businesses.”

“With Version 4.8, we have enhanced VersaWorks with new breakthrough colour management features,” said Kevin Shigenoya, Roland DG Global sales executive officer for Roland DG Corporation. “We are proud to offer our first built-in PANTONE libraries, making spot colour matching even easier and more accurate.  As our own bundled RIP software, VersaWorks brings this innovative new capability – and many other advanced VersaWorks features – directly to our customers, free of charge, in an easy-to-use, fully integrated solution.”

Based on the latest Adobe CPSI 3019 engine, VersaWorks 4.8 RIP software works seamlessly with all Roland inkjets and is compatible with Windows 7, Vista and XP operating systems.  Other features include a range of print options that allow users to meet the demands of each job. Users can choose from high-speed mode for production banner printing, the MAX Impact preset for vivid outdoor graphics and Artistic mode for exceptional indoor graphics. VersaWorks also features variable data printing, supports up to four Roland devices simultaneously, and offers support for Roland’s GX series cutters. Embedded ICC profile support, ink level adjustment tools, soft proofing capabilities, and advanced cropping, tiling and nesting options are available as well. For flawless unattended printing, a predictive ink calculator allows users to estimate the amount of ink needed for each job.