Software

El Corte Inglés, the leading distribution group in Spain and one of the largest in the world, has implemented Enfocus Switch 10 in its graphic design department. Minimising dependency on external service providers and handling prepress tasks in-house were the main reasons the company looked for a solution to automate its processes and increase quality through standardisation.

El Corte Inglés is a distribution group with department stores, hypermarkets and travel agencies. Javier Rayón, who works at El Corte Inglés' production and advertising department, explains the company’s decision to invest in Enfocus Switch 10: “We wanted to improve our production model, as previously we were carrying out work manually and outsourcing to external providers. We publish a large amount of printed materials, such as catalogues, leaflets, magazines, posters, hoardings, etc. We needed an advanced workflow solution that could help us create an integrated set-up. Enfocus Switch 10 has become the heart of our graphic production."

The Enfocus Switch 10 automation solution can also be used in more complex graphic design environments. Enhanced features include more robust automation, greater depth of data security, and the possibility to derive more value from in-house resources and third-party tools.

Enhancing flexibility and productivity

Integrating Enfocus Switch with Enfocus PitStop Server and other third-party applications such as GMG, callas and Apago, enabled El Corte Inglés to automate its graphic material revision, standardisation and distribution. Rayón explains, “One of the reasons we chose Enfocus Switch is because it’s very flexible and easily adapts to our processes. The solution allows us to standardise quality and cut costs by keeping graphic production processes in-house.”

Despite Enfocus Switch 10 being installed only recently, El Corte Inglés is already seeing a return on its investment and savings of up to an estimated 20%. The company is pleased with the installation as results live up to the expectations. “Our decision to partner with Enfocus was largely based on our trust in the company,” adds Rayón. “As well as explaining the benefits of Switch 10 to us, they encouraged us to speak with existing users of the solution so we could find out how it performs in a working environment.”

For El Corte Inglés, this trust was a decisive factor although they indicate that pricing was also an important criteria. Their confidence in the product and in the company's expertise however were considered most important. Working with the Enfocus experts allows them to get the most out of the solution and ensures responsiveness to possible problems.

For El Corte Inglés, it's clear that the improvement of the graphic production department is only the first challenge of many to be faced in the coming years. According to Rayón, the next focus areas will be the staff's technical expertise and process automation such as the implementation of collaborative tools.

The company is very satisfied with Enfocus Switch 10 as the foundation of El Corte Inglés’ workflow. The solution enabled the company to automate a range of processes, including PDF revision according to the ISO PDF/X-4 standard; adapting colours based on the print type following the ISO 12647 standard; generating different products from a master PDF; file routing and electronic distribution. In the future, El Corte Inglés anticipates enjoying even more advantages from Enfocus Switch, especially in web environments.

For more information on Enfocus, please visit www.enfocus.com

For more information on El Corte Inglés, please visit www.elcorteingles.es

Newworks has transformed its operating processes after implementing Enfocus Switch. The comprehensive automation delivered by the Enfocus solutions enabled the company to dramatically save time and increase productivity.

Newworks provides round the clock document management services, through agencies or via the web for its national and international customers. Its service comprises small to large-format printing of document management projects, implementation of web-to-print portals and on-site and off-site scanning. Running 24/7, Newworks’ production team operates in three shifts, with co-ordinators serving customers and prospects day and night.

“We’re very used to managing complex projects with extremely tight deadlines. Our aim is always to meet our clients’ very high expectations,” says Christophe Dollez, IT and Prepress Manager.

Within this demanding production environment, Newworks’ faced a number of challenges such as harmonising prepress procedures, saving time in file processing, interconnecting B-to-B and B-to-C web portals, improving the billing and production system, and directly interconnecting with customers. To address these issues and streamline its processes, the company decided to invest in Enfocus Switch, and combine it with Enfocus PitStop Server, Enfocus PitStop Pro, Quite Hot Imposing and Adobe CS5.5.

Overcoming the challenges

Newworks undertook a thorough review of the solutions available on the market before making the investment decision, “We evaluated alternative solutions but we opted for Switch because it’s very flexible and works perfect with external solutions. A key criteria was that Switch enables us to build a custom solution from scratch, one that we could tailor to our specific needs,” says Dollez.

“Quotations were one particular problem that we often came up against. Our project managers who quoted jobs didn’t have the tools required to know exactly how long a job would take. This meant quotes would sometimes be inaccurate in terms of how much time they would take and how much they should cost, " he explains.

“The goal was to create an automated workflow, where all the checks and tasks are performed automatically, and the preflight results are returned to the project manager. This gives him a far better understanding of how long production will take and what’s involved, and enable him to quote accordingly. For example, production has now been standardized around industry standards, such as GWG SheetCmyk_1v4.”

The extensive automation means Newworks can quickly and easily handle any file type – Excel, Word, PowerPoint, InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop etc – submitted by clients. Switch is primarily used to certify the incoming files, report back through PitStop and automate the storage of production files on servers. Newworks now automates file management, certification and file processing as well as non-standard size files and bleed generation.

In addition, the company developed an interface in Java J2E to connect Switch to its systems with exchanges via javascript, vbscript, XLST transform and XML metadata. Dollez explains, “It wasn’t possible to complete these tasks before because of the heavy manual work required. This was the main reason why we decided to increase automation.”

Easy integration ensures immediate gains

Since implementing Switch, Newworks is enjoying important time savings. “Switch creates homogeneous, streamlined work procedures. It makes reporting on customer files easier and increases responsiveness and productivity. It automates the more time-intensive, lower-value tasks,” explains Dollez.

Impressed with how easy the Enfocus solutions are to operate and master Dollez says, “During internal training, people were very enthusiastic about the project. They could see immediately that the solutions were going to really help with every-day tasks, and were looking forward to using them.”

Dollez has also been taking advantage of Enfocus Crossroads (www.crossroads-world.com), which supports and brings together users, vendors and systems integrators to facilitate automation. “Enfocus Crossroads is a great driver for explaining to end-users what automation is, and the benefits it delivers.”

Productivity boost

There are a number of business impacting benefits the Enfocus solutions delivered but Dollez particularly highlights the full automation of Newworks’ e-commerce site for business cards that has decreased operator handling and increased productivity.  “Previously, the operator spent several hours checking, downloading and printing orders. Now, Switch warns the operator that a new job has been taken via an alert in SwitchClient, and the job is redirected to the printing machine the operator has chosen.” He concludes, “Productivity dramatically increased as a result and it enables us to focus more on customer service.”

For more information about Newworks, visit the website www.newworks.com.

[photo shows Newworks' Paris premises]

Caldera has launched a new edition of its RIP software, Caldera V9, which harnesses the latest version of the Adobe print engine, APPE 2.5, to deliver additional productivity features and refinements. Enhanced colour options, improved transparency handling and faster previewing join with practical additions to provide Caldera's world-wide user base with the broadest functionality available in this market.

Recognising the need for increased control over the print environment, Caldera V9 brings two significant updates to its already advanced Spooler module. Operators can now double-click a job within Spooler to reopen it within the Print window, allowing them to verify parameters or resubmit it with modified settings. LiveSpooler, meanwhile, introduces a new XML exchange protocol which allows for the monitoring of offline devices within the print environment, thereby improving workflow management – especially for owners of Caldera's popular Flow+ package.

Users will also discover significant developments in colour control and correction in Caldera V9, specifically engineered to save time and improve accuracy. Amongst these is the ability to make last-minute adjustments to contrast, luminosity and colour balances within the main Print window, avoiding the need to jump between modules for minor alterations. The operator can also save the current Print window configuration in a named file, allowing for rapid switching between different workflow options. Color Books of swatches are also generated on-demand by V9, providing a multi-page PDF file of reference colours so that operators can more easily match desired brand colours with those available within the given print configuration.

Implementations of the Caldera RIP with the EasyMedia profiling module will also be able to take advantage of i1Prism V2, now integrated within Caldera V9 to provide excellent smoothness in colour rendering and more fine-tune settings, such as contrast and saturation control. EasyMedia users will also note a new function allowing them to report on ink density and resynchronise ICC profiles if required, correcting linearisation curves to compensate for current printing conditions, such as head changes and remaining ink volume.

Memory management, font support and Xobjects are significantly better supported by the new APPE 2.5 integration, which also provides smaller fixes, such as more consistent direct colour substitution and the ability to replace spot colours in RGB mode. The primary advantage for Caldera V9 users, who have the APPE option, is the improved RIPping speeds, especially for files with transparent elements, which will see 20% of the RIP time shaved off on average. In tandem, the new Global Rasterisation option allows for the preview of more complex documents, such as those with transparency or overprint information.

A totally new option in V9 is the fruit of Caldera's partnership with colour management specialists Alwan, InkPerformer. This module, which requires a special license key, calculates new levels of black ink to reduce the use of other inks while reproducing faithfully the hues intended from the original file. While vastly increased black laydown produces more graininess, InkPerformer allows print providers to use their professional judgment and take control of their ink costs – especially for situations where exceptional quality is not necessarily required, such as applications with long viewing distances.

"Each release of Caldera brings with it a new generation of upgrades which understand the pressures of modern wide-format production properly and gives print houses the tools to streamline production and improve quality," states Sebastien Hanssens, Vice President Marketing at Caldera.

"This ranges from broader innovations, such as advanced colour control options, to productivity-orientated measures, like the creation of reconfigurable, automatic print gutters to avoid density variations and nozzle clogging and, therefore, the expense of head strikes. Ultimately, we believe that Caldera V9 continues to offer the most comprehensive, feature-heavy option on the print software market today."

Caldera V9 also brings Turkish and Chinese language speakers into the fold, in the latter case by incorporating Pinyin input, with text also rendered anti-aliased for better readability. This increases the number of languages supported by Caldera to 10, including English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Russian, Portuguese and Polish, amongst others.

The new version of Caldera is already commercially available, with trial versions ready to download at www.caldera.com

GMG has announced the immediate availability of version 5.3 of the GMG ColorProof/DotProof/FlexoProof proofing solution. The chargeable upgrade comes up with a client-server architecture that makes proofing simpler and more convenient than ever. In addition to the GMG WebClient, the new version features numerous innovations for a wide range of applications, including remote proofing and production printing.

The GMG WebClient – for greater efficiency and productivity

Via a WebClient, GMG ColorProof users for the first time have the possibility of creating, editing and monitoring proofing jobs from any PC or Mac within the corporate network. Consequently, several users can work with ColorProof at the same time. The configuration of spot-colour channels, in particular, is facilitated and accelerated by the WebClient. The impact of spot-colour changes can be seen in a visual job preview. Hotfolders can likewise be used from the WebClient.

The status of the individual printers can similarly be checked in the WebClient, including the option of interrupting or cancelling a print job. It is also possible to keep an eye on several GMG ColorProof systems via a single WebClient.

Higher speed and greater reliability in production printing

Flexible calibration sets for production printers, such as the Roland LEC and VS series, reduce the calibration effort considerably. Calibration sets can now be grouped according to printer series, similar combinations of printing media and printing modes. Consequently, a single calibration can be used for different printing and colour modes, resolutions and media without any loss of quality.

For layered printing, all printing layers for the Roland VersaCAMM VS and VersaUV LEC printer series can for the first time be configured in a single job. This greatly facilitates and accelerates the processing of CMYK, varnish, white and silver.

Remote proofing is now even simpler and more reliable

GMG ColorProof 5.3 groups printers of the same model series, meaning that proof standards and spot colours can be used on all compatible printers. This particularly benefits remote proofing applications, since printers of a single model series with different media widths can be used at different locations.

Moreover, GMG ColorProof 5.3 improves communication between the remote systems by FTP connection, as well as by automatic e-mail notification following completion of a remote printing job.

GMG ColorProof 5.3 additionally optimises the use of proof printers with integrated measuring instrument. For instance, media wedges for GMG ProofControl Inline are printed and measured fully automatically at the remote location, the remote system being recalibrated if necessary.

Protected remote jobs make for greater security when handling customer data. Only the medium format can be changed at the remote end, all other settings being protected against modification. Imported jobs and their settings are only saved for the duration of the remote proofing procedure, meaning that custom profiles are used exclusively for the respective proof.

More efficient operation

GMG ColorProof 5.3 also offers other innovations that save time in day-to-day work. For the first time, media wedges for internal measuring instruments can also be output with halftone proof simulation. The associated GMG ProofControl standards can be generated directly from the proof standard used. Moreover, paper tint simulation can be deactivated when creating a proof. The new “Replace Image” option now makes it possible to replace individual images, retaining all the existing settings in the process. In this way, manual jobs can be saved as copy for re-use at a later time. In addition, the assignment of individual spot-colour channels and the job preview have been significantly accelerated, resulting in generally faster configuration of spot colours.

GMG will be showing its innovative production solution for wide-format digital printing at Fespa Digital 2012 in Barcelona.  On booth H22 in Hall 3, GMG will be deomstrating the most complete solution in the market for indoor and outdoor advertising, sign and super-wide format printing, adding new capabilities in colour consistency, flexibility and economy.

GMG's colour management expertise, well known in the proofing sector, is one of the three key pillars of this new GMG wide-format application. The GMG solution calibrates and drives more than 750 wide-format printing devices and cutting systems, making identical repetition on different output devices a reality.

A further pillar is the extremely flexible Editor which features numerous useful and easy-to-use expert tools and functions. Its impressive processing speed, and the fact that both Mac and PC users can work with the user-friendly GMG solution, will not only fit the needs of creative thinkers, but also those of production-oriented users.

Economic efficiency represents the third pillar of the new GMG wide-format solution. GMG will be presenting a modular system. Thanks to the dynamically scalable GMG license, growth-related investments are only necessary where additional capacity really is needed. An integrated ink-saving function additionally maximises cost and ecological effectiveness.

“GMG is proud to be exhibiting at Fespa for the first time. Over the last few years our solutions have become very well established within traditional proofing and colour management applications worldwide. Today, we are perfectly placed to meet the needs of the digital wide format print production markets with complete, best-in-class production solutions,” says Ian Scott, Managing Director of GMG GmbH & Co. KG.

X-Rite has announced the availability of several free downloadable software updates including ColorMunki Display software, i1Profiler software and i1Profiler D2LionEdition software for i1Display LT and i1Display 2 Color Calibration Devices.

“Today’s announcement of free software updates underscores X-Rite’s on going commitment to delivering the highest quality colour management solutions.  We are committed to continually improving and enhancing our software in order to deliver the world class solutions our customers expect,” said Thomas Kunz, X-Rite’s Market Manager, Imaging.

i1Profiler Software v.1.2

i1Profiler Software v.1.2 is the latest i1Profiler update offering several new functions and improvements including:

Display Profiling Updates

• Ability to balance RGB controls during display calibration
• Reporting of target and measured values for luminance, white point and contrast ratio during display profiling
• Direct control of EIZO ColorEdge displays using X-Rite ADC (Automatic Display Control)
• Improved ADC functionality and connectivity for all platforms

Printer Profiling Updates

• Selection of M0 or M2 measurements for profile creation when used with an i1iSis
• User ability to customise exported CGATS data for multiple uses
• Improved reading of chromatic black ink on printer test charts

Updates for Japan Market

• Support of Japan Color in Printer QA

The i1Profiler software v1.2 operates with the X-Rite i1Display Pro colorimeter, i1Pro spectrophotometer and i1iSis spectrophotometer. Currently installed i1Profiler software will automatically detects the update if the user has this function turned on. If not, users can download directly from either www.xritephoto.com or www.xrite.com .

ColorMunki Display Software v 1.0.2

This new update provides improvements for ColorMunki Display device connectivity, ADC (Automatic Display Control) functionality and color accuracy. To download the new software version, current users can access “Check for updates” located in their ColorMunki Display Help menu or visit: www.xritephoto.com or www.xrite.com to directly download ColorMunki Display v1.0.2 software from the Support section. 

i1Profiler D2Lion Edition, a MAC OSX 10.7 Lion compatible software update for registered i1Display LT and i1Display 2 users, is now available. These currently retired devices, which run on i1Match software, now have the benefit of utilizing this limited special edition version of the new X-Rite i1Profiler software. This software update is designed for MAC OSX Lion users to utilize their i1Display LT or i1Display 2 device on the latest Mac OS until they are ready to upgrade to one of X-Rite’s newest display products – i1Display Pro and ColorMunki Display. Both new solutions allow users to get the most out of their monitors and projectors, adding unprecedented functionality and fully support Mac OSX 10.7 Lion. Registered owners will be provided a software download link via email.  Owners can register at any time.

Availabilty

Each update – i1Profiler 1.2, ColorMunki 1.0.2 and i1Profiler D2Lion Edition – is available for immediate download. For more information on these software updates, please visit www.xrite.com, www.xritephoto.com or www.pantone.com