Software

Four Pees will be demonstrating their products and services on Stand C66 in Hall A4 at FESPA Digital

 

Four Pees, exclusive worldwide distributor of the PrintFactory software suite for banner, sign and super wide format printing announces that the brand new Canon imagePROGRAF iPF8300S and imagePROGRAF iPF6300S are now compatible with PrintFactory and ProofMaster.

The iPF6300S, successor to the iPF6000S, and the iPF8300S have been developed to complement Canon’s large format printer range. The two new models feature higher print speeds and broad workflow compatibility, as well as lowering of the total cost of ownership.

Working with high-speed printers, it is important that their speed is not held back by your RIP software. It is essential that this software allows you to not only RIP fast, but also allows you to get your jobs print-ready in time. This is where PrintFactory comes in, providing state-of-the art job preparation tools to create POS items, posters and banners in just a few clicks. Next to those preparation tools, it allows to preflight, correct and soft proof the print jobs before printing, which drastically minimises reprints and waste. Productivity is improved through the printer’s option to print in ‘fast’ mode, which enables the print speed to be as much as doubled, while still maintaining a level of print quality that rivals that in standard mode. This is a major advantage when producing output such as posters and point-of-sale (POS) display items, where turnaround is time-critical, This feature, in combination with the job preparation tools in PrintFactory, make the iPF6300S, iPF 8300S and PrintFactory combination a true winner.

PrintFactory, more than just a RIP

PrintFactory is the most complete production solution for large format printing. It can print jobs as they are being processed, driving over 600 different printing, cutting and CTS devices. PrintFactory not only increases productivity and operator flexibility, it also allows to produce more efficiently. The advanced colour engine can easily introduce proofing in workflows, reducing waste of expensive production media and ink. With PrintFactory, a predictable and consistent output is generated and colour consistency can be achieved on different machines.

ProofMaster, eligible for high-end proofing

ProofMaster provides a complete quality control solution that allows verifying and correcting incoming files and provides colour accurate proofs. ProofMaster provides effortless setup and allows for out-of-the box contract proofs in line with the ISO 12647-7 and other industry colour standards.

Together with PrintFactory and ProofMaster, the two new Canon imagePROGRAF large format printers provide the perfect balance between quality, productivity and colour accuracy making it ideal for the production, proofing, photographic and in-house print markets. These new additions to the large format range will enable Canon to expand its share of the large format print market and take advantage of the new opportunities offered by the growing demand for large format printing solutions.

PrintFactory software suite and ProofMaster for the Canon imagePROGRAF iPF6300S and iPF8300S printers are available from the 1st of April 2011.

Shiraz Software today announced support for the Canon imagePROGRAF iPF6300S (24”) and imagePROGRAF iPF8300S (44”) large format printers.  Drivers and media profiles for these new Canon printers are now available for download for all current Shiraz products.

Launched in the USA in February this year, the 8-colour Canon imagePROGRAF 24” and 44” printers feature similar technology found in the award-winning 12-colour iPF8300, iPF6350 and iPF6300 printers, including Canon’s LUCIA EX ink set and Canon’s FINE (Full-photolithography Inkjet Nozzle Engineering) technology.

These new additions to the imagePROGRAF line-up broaden Canon’s offering to the graphics arts, photo and production markets and combine high productivity with exceptional print quality.

The Canon imagePROGRAF iPF6300S and imagePROGRAF iPF8300S large format printers are due to be released across Europe from 1st April 2011.

The new drivers and media profiles can be downloaded immediately via Shiraz’s Live Update feature.

Further information on Shiraz Software can be found at http://www.shiraz-software.com

 

Wasatch SoftRIP is helping White Meadows Farms, a Canadian-based, family-owned company known for its maple products, keep up with the demand for its delicious homemade treats. Thanks to SoftRIP's versatile Variable Data Printing (VDP) Option, powerful colour management tools, efficient workflow, and easy-to-navigate interface, White Meadows Farms has been able to move the label production for their ever-increasing product line in-house, helping them save time and money.

VDP—The Perfect Solution

Wasatch SoftRIP's VDP Option was the perfect answer to White Meadows' question of how to produce short-run labels, personalised wedding favours, customised gifts, and more. "It is an incredibly powerful tool," says Richard Bering, Director of Marketing and Advertising. "There are so many things we wouldn't be able to do without SoftRIP's VDP Option."

Combined with the iTech AXXIS Digital Label Printer by Allen Datagraph Systems, Inc. that they purchased about a year ago, SoftRIP's VDP gives White Meadows the flexibility to change, adjust, or create new labels in a matter of hours and at a fraction of the cost as when they had to outsource production.

Accurate Colour Matching

In order to accurately match the colours from the labels they used to order offsite, White Meadows turned to SoftRIP's powerful Spot Color Replacement and Correction Curves tools. "Each label we print has a specific colour scheme," explains Richard. "The ability to save our colour settings and easily go back to them has been a big time saver."

Flexible & Powerful

SoftRIP's layout and workflow tools have also played an integral role in ensuring the success of White Meadows' on-site label production. "SoftRIP's Layout screen gives us a lot of flexibility," says Richard. "It's easy to adjust and layout the different sizes of labels to help us get the best use of the media." The Cost Estimator also helps White Meadows control costs by providing an accurate estimate of every job they print before they even start production.

Wasatch SoftRIP is available in the UK and Europe from Tech8

Rotherham’s Bluetree Ltd has guaranteed colour consistency across its diverse portfolio of large format digital printers by centralising colour management with GMG ColorServer and GMG SmartProfiler colour management software. The sign and display specialist has also realised savings on ink costs of around 25% with the GMG InkOptimizer package.

Bluetree runs six digital inkjet machines: a roll-fed Epson Stylus Pro 1180 and Scitex XP2700, a flat-bed Inca Spyder, a Develop Ineo 5501 and two flat-bed HP Scitex FB7500s, and turned to GMG to address colour consistency issues.  By managing colour though a centralised GMG workflow instead of fragmented device-specific RIPs, Bluetree has accelerated its pre-press operations – saving time and money – and can now match corporate colours quickly and accurately, guaranteeing customers same colour results on different output devices and media.

“The bigger the client, the more important correct colour becomes, and either directly or through agencies we have been producing for some very well known national and international brands. So the main thing it’s given us is confidence,” says Managing Director Bryan Shirley.  “With an almost infinite range of variables from artwork, substrate, RIP and output device I can now look a client in the eye and tell him his job has gone through a GMG workflow, making it as close as anyone can possibly get.”

Bluetree had already experienced the reliability of GMG RIPs first hand on one of their output devices and, through dialogue with a number of industry peers, established that GMG is the market leader in colour management.  The power and efficiency of the GMG workflow is evident in Bluetree’s prepress department. Bluetree receives artwork from clients created in a variety of ways in a variety of formats. GMG ColorServer reliably automates tasks such as transparency flattening and CMYK colour conversion so that, regardless of how the original is presented, the RIP receives a quality job resulting in far fewer hold ups.

To complement GMG ColorServer, Bluetree opted for profiling solution GMG SmartProfiler for guaranteed repeatability and maximum production reliability. After the initial set-up of profiles the company need only pick the right media, the right device and the right running speed for the job, before queuing it for output resulting in improved productivity and accuracy.  Bluetree has also taken advantage of GMG InkOptimizer, developed to provide smart ink coverage and ensure that no more – or less – ink is used than required. It allows printers to reduce the amount of chromatic ink used on a job, replacing it with black, yet retain all the image quality. The result is less ink application, lower ink consumption and a reduced burden on the environment.
 
Says Mr Shirley: “Before we heard about GMG InkOptimizer we didn’t think it was an issue, but ink is expensive and savings are worth attempting. The results have been amazing – we estimate it’s knocked around a quarter off our ink costs, with no discernible difference to the appearance of the print.”

Says Ian Scott, Managing Director, GMG: “The industry seems to be waking up to the importance of accurate and consistent colour management for wide-format signs and displays. Companies like Bluetree have integrated colour management to help differentiate their business offering from competitors’, and selling the concept of colour-accurate output will help to retain sales margins. GMG has worked hard to make what was once a time-consuming, difficult to teach and often inconsistent “black art”, into an efficient, measurable and repeatable process – and Bluetree is now reaping the benefits.”

[picture: Bluetree's Managing Director, Bryan Shirley]

Enfocus, a leader in quality control and automation software, is pleased to announce that it will showcase its cutting-edge Switch automation technology and famed PitStop family of quality control products at Enfocus booth 2032 at On Demand 2011, March 22-24 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C.
 
Enfocus executives will be available to provide individualised demonstrations of the latest versions of its modular, powerhouse automation solution, Switch; and new PitStop Connect solution.
 
In addition, Enfocus Switch will be featured in the Publishing Automation: Latest Tools and Technologies session being held March 23, at 2 pm, in Room 146.
 
Enfocus Switch Automation Platform

Enfocus' state-of-the-art, modular Switch solution lets users automate repetitive tasks, thereby standardizing their work and reducing errors. Switch offers an easy-to-use visual interface to automate processes using simple drag-and-drop, and allows users to easily integrate with other third-party applications.
 
Switch 09, Update 2  - This latest update of the Switch automation software suite includes a new tool for routing Enfocus Certified PDF files, depending on their preflight status. The Switch Update also adds compatibility with the newest features in PitStop Server 10, which was released in October. PitStop Server 10 users can now create Switch flows to not only preflight files, but to also automate transparency flattening - with or without preflighting. Switch 09 Update 2 also adds four new configurators - for solutions from Dynagram, Elpical, ColorLogic and Axaio - and updates existing configurators.
 
Enfocus PitStop Quality Control Family

Enfocus' 2010 breakthrough tool makes communication between designers and production or publishing partners easy.
 
PitStop Connect lets printers and publishers create Connectors to deliver files directly into Switch via an FTP server, including metadata. It also allows them to incorporate Enfocus' bulletproof PDF preflighting and correction technologies to receive PDFs that meet their requirements.
 
Printers and publishers can distribute Connectors -- without incurring additional costs -- to as many creative professionals as needed, either via an FTP site or by posting it on a website. The no-installation-necessary Connectors are free to the creative professional, who just drops completed files on the Connector icon for automatic preflight and delivery according to the printer or publisher's specifications. Files are delivered to the printers' FTP or right into Switch.
 
New in PitStop Connect 09, Update 1
This first update to PitStop Connect 09 allows updating Connectors and live feedback during operations, and is free to all existing PitStop Connect users.
 
Enfocus PitStop Pro, Update 1
PitStop Pro has long been recognized for its many PDF editing features and user-friendly design, enabling easy management and customization of presets and tools. The feedback Enfocus gathers as part of its 'You first' commitment to customers contributed to the further expansion of these features in PitStop Pro 10, which was introduced in September 2010. Update 1 offers compatibility with the latest Adobe® Acrobat® X Standard and Pro. It also introduces compatibility with the latest PDF/X-4:2010 and PDF/A ISO standards.

Color-Logic, developer of the popular Process Metallic Color System, reports an excellent reception of its new software at the recent Graphics of the Americas exhibition in Orlando.

Commenting on the show, Color-Logic Director of Sales and Marketing Mark Geeves said: “We were extremely gratified by the enthusiastic reception afforded the Color-Logic Process Metallic Color System at the Orlando show. Several exhibitors utilised our software to showcase their printing technologies at the show, and attendees were particularly interested in our ability to print metallic images and special effects on wide-format printers. This was the first commercial showing of our new multiple process software, which now supports offset, flexographic, wide-format, and digital printing.”