For a prepress workflow solution that contains hard-to-understand concepts and different approaches, one thing will never change: the prepress workflow is not just a combination of a series of products, it should also be a The progress made in its efficiency and function depends entirely on the human process.
Some professionals believe that "workflow is a combination of knowledge." Other professionals believe that: “The workflow is the continuum of the printing industry that we are tracking. When we consider the scope and approach of the work flow, we must look up and down the transfer path of the work, that is, from the author. What happens to the designer? What happens to the production process? What happens at the manufacturer's stage? What happens when we have to go in other directions?"
As can be clearly seen from the above statement, a good front-end workflow should have good thinking, that is, have a flexible tool and focus each part on a given set of thinking that suits the individual needs operation. Here we will talk about the development trend of front-end workflow from the following aspects.
I. Workflow needs continuous improvement
Revere Graphics prepress companies, all users are sheet-fed, web, screen printing companies and agents, it is a continuous improvement of the company's workflow. The company currently uses the Afga Apogee system (Pilof, PrintDrive, and Taipan RIPs) based on PDF workflows, and has TrapWise, Preps, ScenicSoft Color Central, and Windows NT installed on the server. Currently, on-site testing of the newly introduced Agfa Apogee 2 is being conducted.
According to Revere, “Finding the right workflow is not like buying a car. It doesn’t make sense to go out without thinking about anything else.†They have a good work flow because they are constantly reconfiguring them, they have their own professionals in this area, they constantly research their work processes and communicate with each other to determine where their work processes are lost. Time, where things stuck. It can be said that the progress made in the workflow is driven by them.
The newly introduced Apogee 2 workflow includes all the original components, including the upgraded Apogee Pilot production management software, the faster APogee PDF RIPS and the expanded Apogee PrintDrive output management software. APogee 2 is an open design that supports PDF 1.3 format and Acrobat 4. It can also be integrated into non-Agfa RIPs, engines, and workflows.
In addition, Apogee 2 also features Apogee Create desktop tools, through which the content creator can integrate the content of the files directly into the APogee 2 workflow, thereby working more effectively with the production floor.
To convert QuarkXPress, PageMaker, Photoshop, and other files into the most optimized PDF file, they used Agfa Extreme Normalizer software. When the files are still in the designer's workstation, Create software took up the preparation of these files. . Create generates PDF master files for optimized workflows and PJTF-compatible Apogee job tickets, which can be transmitted to prepress service providers via disk, ISDN, or email, while prepress service providers only need to use APogee Pilot can add them to the PDF workflow.
two. File integrity check
In order to check the integrity of the PDF files entering the system, the new and improved Pilot includes automatic preflight controls and corrections to Enfocus pitStop 4.0, thus eliminating the need to manually open and check access to PDF files. The purpose of this is to make the PDF file a truly productive, high-yielding alternative.
The Sheridan Printing Group has five printing houses that are engaged in printing short editions of books, magazines, periodicals, and samples. For similar reasons, the company will also add the new Apogee 2 to its workflow. However, Sheridan Company stated that because their system is based on an efficient PDF format, there is still some work to be done on the incoming bad files. Although Apogee Creat Software has taken a step forward, this software has not declared to developers. That way the file can be preflighted and controlled. It's just a tool that doesn't allow junk files to get into the system. It's to create an environment to avoid creating bad PDF files, so all they do now is to recreate the uncreated files. kick in.
Three. Diversified design
RGA Reproduction Company is mainly engaged in the front-end operation of sheetfed printing. The relevant person of the company believes that when a diversified front-end workflow arrives, it is no longer necessary for the printer to seriously consider whether to purchase one or two jobs. Process solutions to meet the needs of all workflows. In addition to standard desktop publishing applications and hardware, RGA's own workflow system includes Sun servers with FullPress OPI software and multiple Macintosh G4 computers running PCC ArtPro. Most of the company's color jobs are mainly completed by a Klausfeld roller scanner and two Saturn repair stations; the output devices include an Iris inkjet printer and an Impress 2000 duplex inkjet proofer. Two Dolev 800 film output machines, two PCC RIP servers, a Creo Spectrum proofer, and a Creo Spectrum Trendsetter proofer/direct platemaker.
According to RGA, because of the advances in technology, software, and people, they realize that not every printer is the same, so the same model cannot be used for every printer at work. This has been demonstrated by the company's transition from using the popular Postscript Scitex workflow to PCC ArtPro as the main component workflow. In practical work, they have spent nearly four years to make their systems meet their work needs.
four. Proofing solutions
RGA believes that their decision to supplement the workflow is entirely user-driven. Although many commercial printers are centered on printing plates, their livelihoods for users, including many drug products and drug release materials that have been confirmed on several occasions, are centered on proofing. Their users demand high quality and short cycles, and make multiple modifications, including the ability to make last-minute changes. These factors are the most important foundation for RGA's decision making, including the introduction of ArtPro software. PCC RIP has the ability to access any device on the network, just like a laser printer. It can not only download files to these devices, but also has the same screening method for downloaded files. In addition, under the normal operating conditions of RIP, it is also possible to flexibly stop any output device that is connected to the network.
Fives. Serving big advertisers
The Premium Color Plates Company has only 26 employees and annual sales of 3.2 million U.S. dollars. The users are major advertisers in New York. The company uses the PageFlow and ArtPro of the PCC system and uses the Raster Blaster interface to connect the two to the Agfas Avantra 44 Cresfield/Fuji Ceix 4000 and Sae Angel Dolev 450 film output machines. According to Premium, the greatest benefit of their workflow is that they can drive the film output machines of Agfa, Fujifilm, and Sai Angel. PCC RIP allows them to have stable outlets, network cables, and web corners. Without having to reconfigure the network, they can not only switch between the three output devices through the workflow, but also through the selector, they can complete the output whenever they want. No matter which film output device is output, as long as each device is calibrated, the output results are the same. PageFlow has a built-in controller for the Avantra output machine. This built-in controller can change the form of take-up, locate and punch holes on and off, and save as Plot DCS2, TIFF-IT, PS, and PDF files. The biggest advantage of this solution is that once a workflow is created and saved there, they can extract it with the selector, and Trapping is quite accurate. About 80% - 90% of the documents are simply not in use, PageFlow will overprint according to their required printing, if some things do not need, you can use Insight software to edit.
six. RIP, proofing and film output
Whitmore Print & Imaging, a 54-year-old company with annual sales of US$11 million, has used Saturn's workflow for nine years and has upgraded its front-end workflow from a simple RIP machine to RIP, proofing and film. Output device. The reason they have chosen Saturn equipment for many years is that these output devices have the ability to "RIP once, produce multiple times" files. They believe that there are many workflows that will cause mistakes, but they need a stable customer base. In other words they want to operate in a common workflow, RIP on a specified platform, save RIP data to some kind of server and then proof on any number of proofers. Despite the addition of the platesetter, there was no major change to the company's film workflow. All they did was connect the platesetters to their network. In the past, they were exporting the file to a film, but now it is directly exported to the plate. This is a smooth transition in the field, but the entire workflow has not been redesigned.
Seven. Mac Solutions
Finger Lakes Printing Company has 50 employees and has recently installed a complete set of Angels' workflow. The company uses Apple Computer's Macintosh computer and uses Scheele's Brisque workflow to drive the Iris proofer and Dolev film exporter. Finger Lakes said that at the beginning they wanted to use a non-dedicated system and combine it by themselves, but at the time there were only two people in the department, and it was virtually impossible for the two individuals to become experts in all parts of the system. Without external support, it would not seem feasible for them to learn all aspects of the system themselves and maintain it. As a result, the company decided to find a developer, because Sai Angel provided good support in resolving the problem, while Saiyan's Brisque workflow's friendly user interface and the combination with Mac computer avoids additional conflicts, and the operator The training was simple, so they found Saatchi.
Eight. Promote the development of Extreme
Manufacturers are developing Adobe Extreme-based workflows. To provide more automated features and reliability, and scalable solutions, Heidelberg and Creo have introduced Adobe Extreme-based Prinergy 2.0 and improved Prinergy Connect and Prinergy Diret workflows.
Prinergy Connect workflows automatically automate document optimization, overprinting, proofing, grouping, archiving, job tracking, and exposure to film or media. Upgraded features include automated management of multiple versions of a job, live ticketing for remote proofing, and third-party integrated input or output capabilities. More input and output file formats.
Prinergy Direct is an entry-level software that can be used by companies that are just beginning to move to PDF-based workflows. It can be used in conjunction with existing digital front-ends to handle pre-version jobs, and can be expanded to Prinergy. Prinergy Direct for the Connect solution accepts Postscript and PDF files after the build, and can also enter print jobs from the job ticket system.
Sells Printing provides customers with all electronic prepress, sheet-fed, and hot-dry web printing services, using the Delta RIP workflow provided by Heidelberg. According to the company, if the workflow does not develop and it is not open to new products, it will make mistakes.
nine. Reliability factors
Sells printing company thinks that for the short version they still can not see that the program based on Delta or other RIP will be replaced by PDF workflow. The use of Delta technology guarantees 99.999% digital integration, but using PDF can only see 99% accuracy. Although Adobe Acrobat 4.05 has improved on this point, they believe that Adobe has not fully noticed the responsibility of the printer when they took out proofs. Because something is missing on the plate, it can easily be lost