Software

 

EFI today launched the EFI Fiery XF 4.5 advanced RIP solution for inkjet production printing as well as EFI Colorproof XF 4.5 for proofing. Brand owners, packaging printers, sign and display companies, commercial printers, agencies and publishers can benefit from new features in these industry-leading software products to increase workflow productivity and achieve higher quality and accurate colour materials printed on a variety of inkjet printers across many production facilities.

"The new release gives our customers the tools they need to be more profitable", said Stefan Spiegel, general manager of EFI's Inkjet Applications Group in Ratingen, Germany.  "It extends RIP functionality to give customers complete control of colour throughout their supply chain. Colour accuracy is optimal and additional functionality not only improves production productivity but allows printers to offer dedicated cutting and finishing options. With the new XF 4.5 EFI once again demonstrates its commitment to lead the industry in RIP, colour management and production workflow".

Increased productivity

 

• EFI XF 4.5 offers both faster RIP performance and features to cut time and errors in the printing process.
• New native 64-Bit Windows operating system support and multi-threaded halftone production bring faster ripping times. EFI benchmark testing confirmed ripping accelerations of up to 177% and more for PDF files compared to the previous XF 4.1 version.
• A new Job Merge feature allows job printing with variable content by dynamically combining master and content jobs.
• A new EFI Cut Marks Option allows iCut, FOTOBA and Grommet marks as well as Zünd Cut Center connectivity.
• New workflow templates offer significant performance improvements.

 

Colour Accuracy and Control

 

• Already an industry leader in colour management software, EFI XF 4.5 version now gives customers additional capability and control in the colour supply chain including improved control of spot colours, more versatile colour verification, and new support for special white, varnish, and metallic inks.
• Dynamic Wedge technology for verification and on-the-fly optimisation of spot colours, now even available for Lab, RGB, Grey, CMYK, 6-/7-colour jobs and spot colour shades.
• New PANTONE Plus library with new solid and metallic colours.
• A new Color Verifier with updated verification standards and additional controls and options for current and future ISO and house standards.
• A Dynamic Rendering Intent feature that job-specifically and automatically achieves the best possible output quality for photo and production environments. It also gives users better control of colour throughout the supply chain.
• Improved JDF-based server connectivity links EFI Web2Print (Digital StoreFront), MIS and Web Control Center.
• Sophisticated support and handling of specific printer inks such as white, varnish and metallic opens the world of refined packaging mock-ups, labels, decors, posters, banners, signs and fine art prints that incorporate special white, varnish and/or metallic effects.

 

In addition to supporting hundreds of printers in the industry, EFI XF 4.5 now adds 19 more printer drivers for the latest models from Canon, Epson, HP, Roland and Xerox:

 

• Canon (iPF815, iPF825)
• Epson Stylus Pro (7890, 9890, 4900)
• HP (L25500 Designjet, Designjet Z6200)
• Roland (DG SolJET Pro II V SJ-1045EX, SolJET PRO III XC-540MT, Hi-Fi EXPRESS FP-740, VersaUV LEC-540, VersaArt RS-540s, and RS-640s, VersaCAMM VS-300, VS-420, VS-540, and VS-640)
• Xerox (Phaser 7500, 7142)

 

All users of previous versions can purchase an upgrade to EFI XF 4.5. Contact EFI or EFI resellers for more information.

 

 

 

 

Color-Logic has released a version of its popular Color-Logic Process Metallic Printing System specifically for inkjet printers.  The system enables licensed inkjet printers to produce striking metallic effects heretofore possible only on offset lithographic presses.  The inkjet version of the Color-Logic software is immediately available.
 
Announcing the new inkjet version of the Color-Logic Process Metallic Printing System, Color-Logic Director of Sales and Marketing Mark Geeves commented: "The inkjet version of our popular metallic color printing system has been tested extensively and produces outstanding results on wide-format printers manufactured by Epson, Roland and Mimaki, as well as flatbed printers manufactured by EFI VUTEk, AGFA, and Fujifilm.  Using the Color-Logic process, as many as 250 metallic hues, in addition to other special effects, can be produced effortlessly and consistently.  The process is particularly effective when used on machines capable of printing on metallic substrate and running white inks."

 

InfoTrends has announced the release of its global forecast for the Print Production Workflow Software Market for 2009 through 2014. While this market, like many others, experienced a notable drop as a result of the recent economic downturn, InfoTrends believes that it is beginning to recover and will experience sustained growth through the next several years, at an average yearly rate of just over 5%. International markets, especially in emerging economies like Latin America and Asia Pacific, are also expected to be a significant source of growth.

Alex Sumarta, a Director at InfoTrends, stated, “This market faced a lot of challenges in the last couple of years, and the 2009 numbers reflect those trying times. We have already begun to see improvements in 2010, however, and we expect that growth to continue for the foreseeable future.

Advancements in technology and changing communication methods are among the growth drivers in this market. New software provides vast improvements in workflow efficiency as well as increased personalisation of communications materials. Today’s marketers are evolving toward a multi-channel approach, and that is evidenced by the fact that multi-channel software managed to attain growth even during the recent economic dive.

A rebound is expected for most segments as there is some pent-up demand, particularly regarding customised communication and e-enablement solutions. Although some organisations continue to hold off on investments, print service providers need software solutions to diversify into higher-margin offerings. Investments are also a must for maintaining an automated and cost-effective workflow, which is essential to business success.

InfoTrends has released two forecasts on this market that are available for purchase. They are: Global & North American Print Production Workflow Market Forecast: 2009-2014 and Global & Western Europe Print Production Workflow Market Forecast: 2009-2014.

 

 

 

Caldera, the award winning RIP software company, has launched version 8.01 of its range of RIP products.

Caldera is now shipped with a new, Debian-based, Linux distribution which is highly customisable and is easy to install.

Version 8.01 has been integrated with the recently released Pantone Plus - an upgrade to the PANTONE Color System. Five new colour files are available in the Spot Color editor: PANTONE+ Solid Coated, PANTONE + Solid Uncoated, PANTONE+ Premium Metallics Coated, PANTONE+ Pastels+Neons Coated and PANTONE+ Pastels+Neons Uncoated.

A complete N-Color Printing workflow has also been added and all printer drivers now support the media compensation mechanism.

New Printer Drivers:

 

• Agfa : Anapurna 2500 LED, Anapurna Mw
• HP-Scitex TJ 8600, LX600, LX800, FB500, FB700
• HP Designjet Z5200, Z6200
• Oce Arizona 550GT, 550XT
• Fujifim-Sericol Acuity Advance HS
• Canon IPF 6300, 6350, 8300, 8310, 815, 825
• KIP Color UJV 180j
• Durst Tau 150i, Rho 750, 162 TS, Rhotex 320
• Gerber CAT | UV
• Mutoh Viper 100 TX, Viper TX Extreme, ValueJet 1304W, ValueJet 1604W
• Océ ColorWave 600
• Grapo Manta, Octopus II, Shark
• Roland VS640, VS540, VS420, VS300, RS-640, LEC-300, LEC-330, LEC-540
• Epson Stylus Pro 7890, 9890
• Teckwin TeckPro-H5000, TeckProUV-3200, TeckStar, TeckStorm-TS, Minoteck
• Vutek GS3200, GS5000r
• swissQprint Impala
• d.gen Artrix-GT, Teleios-GT

 

New Cutter Drivers:

 

• GCC: Expert 24, Expert 24 LX, Expert Pro

 

 

 

Clarity Software launches new v4.0 of Clarity Professional this week.  Containing a fresh icon, a wealth of new functionality and hundreds of architectural developments, version 4.0 is Clarity's biggest upgrade release since v3.0 was deployed in 2005.

Richard Gamlin, Clarity Software’s Managing Director, was delighted with the response to v4.0’s new features received from customers who saw it unveiled at the Clarity User Group Meeting in October. “Version 4.0 is a significant release for Clarity, providing some fantastic new day-to-day features to help customers increase their efficiency”, Gamlin said.

“Value-add enhancements such as Microsoft Outlook integration, spellcheck and increased JDF compatibility sit alongside our superb new browser-based Shop Floor Data Collection (SFDC) module. This has been successfully Beta tested at selected customer sites, returning excellent time and cost-saving benefits for them. SFDC runs on Chrome, Firefox, Safari and Internet Explorer and paves the way for Macs and PCs to work together within the workplace.”

Some of the most important modifications, however, can be found under the bonnet of v4.0. Clarity Software’s Road Map for the next couple of years is an exciting and challenging one, so the architecture has been restructured to allow for the significant expansions it has planned.

David Steward, Clarity Product Designer and Developer, disclosed: “The real jewels of v4.0 are not that obvious and are largely invisible to our users. We needed to lay the foundations and install a toolkit for the new features we shall be launching in 2011, when Clarity will augment radical new directions in its product growth.”

But Steward was equally quick to highlight the additional functionality available right now: “You will be far from disappointed this week, as we have incorporated some superb wish list items and advancements, including improved multi-user price list control, printable calendars and data grids, a more user-friendly Calc-Wizard setup and Sage 2011 integration. These will help our users streamline their daily processes immediately.”

Clarity Professional v4.0 and Clarity Lite Edition v4.0 will be rolled out to its users from Wednesday 24th November. For those wishing to experience the product, free trials of Clarity Professional v4.0 can be found at www.claritypro.com/trial.

Clarity Free Edition, currently at v1.4, is penned for a v2.0 upgrade next year.

 

GMG, a leading developer and supplier of high-end colour management software solutions, officially launched the www.proofr.com Internet platform this week. The worldwide network of remote proofing locations makes it possible to provide online proofing services in compliance with the GMG quality standards, and can be used from now on. Paul Willems, CEO of GMG GmbH & Co. KG, says: "We are delighted to have already been able to recruit numerous professional partners for our proofing network. Proofr.com already covers key locations in Europe, Asia, and the USA, meaning that we can literally offer many customers the possibility of sending colour-accurate proofs around the globe in a very short space of time. We're permanently seeking and recruiting new partners to improve the network's coverage even further."

Due to the increasing globalisation of the working world, even digital hardcopy proofs today regularly have to be transported over long distances, e.g. by courier, if rapid customer approval is needed. That is an expensive procedure in terms of both money and time. GMG is catering to this situation by introducing its innovative Internet platform called Proofr.com. The new development from GMG was recently even nominated for the "German Printing Industry Innovation Awards 2010", making it into the Top 10 in the "Prepress" category. "This clearly shows that we have come up with exactly what people need," says Paul Willems.

The working principle is very simple: via an online portal at www.proofr.com, interested users can order a color-accurate contract proof in GMG quality, and select a Proofr partner in their area for the job. This partner then produces the proof in the recipient's vicinity, sending it out within a matter of hours. The PayPal online payment system is used for payment.

In the opinion of Kristian Wells, Prepress Manager at Think Repro in the UK and Proofr network partner, it is, on the one hand, "no problem at all for a GMG user to become a Proofr partner, because preconfigured workflows can simply be downloaded from the Web site, enabling every partner to guarantee consistent proof quality. On the customer side, it's very easy to use the online portal, upload data, and select a partner. Since every partner uses the same GMG ColorProof proofing software and GMG ProofPaper semimatte 250, the customer can depend on every partner producing top-quality proofs."

Maxime Dumesnil from DLW, a prepress company in Paris, describes the business advantages from the point of view of a network partner: "Many of our customers have their printing done outside France. The Proofr community puts us in a position to select a trustworthy partner for our customers at the individual printing locations, and to deliver a colour-accurate proof to the print provider on the same day. That results in direct economic and ecological benefits for our customers. Since transport is eliminated, the costs are lower and the carbon footprint improves." Angela Zoglowek from Oestreicher+Wagner in Munich adds: "Being a long-standing GMG customer, it was instantly clear that Oestreicher+Wagner would join the global platform. Proofr is a very good opportunity for offering our services in cooperation with international partners. We're pleased to see the network being launched, and look forward to lots of international jobs."

Proofr.com networks service providers using GMG proofing software with customers around the globe. It creates a network of remote proofing locations that use identical technology and comparable equipment to produce identical proofs all over the world. Proofr.com combines GMG's technology for producing consistent, reproducible contract proofs with today's capabilities for networking, data communication and payment via the Internet.

The technological principle of Proofr is based on:

• GMG's calibration technology, which harmonises the printing characteristics of different printers worldwide,
• GMG's ProofStandards, which enable perfect simulation of all important printing conditions on different printers,
• High-quality, globally available proofing media with very narrow production tolerances; an identical white point and identical ink acceptance make it possible to print identical proofs anywhere in the world in combination with GMG ColorProof proofing software.

"Since we already use GMG ColorProof ourselves at various company locations, we know for sure that proofs are output identically and reproducibly everywhere. That's why we're also convinced that the Proofr partners around the world will deliver proofs of the same, high quality," says Jim Kos from Edge Pre media in the Netherlands. "After all, GMG itself tested and certified the proof quality of the partners beforehand."

GMG users can apply to become proofing providers at www.proofr.com. Customers who would like to use the network in regions where there are not yet any Proofr partners, can send their inquiries to info@proofr.com, since GMG can quickly expand the network in popular regions.