32 for the media arts - agfa graphics worldwide · for the media arts the open house. ... cim....
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This issue’s feature
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International Publication for the Media Arts
The Open House.Turning It into an Effective Marketing Tool.
Predictable Colour.The Importance of Quality Control.
Four-Up CtP.Small to Mid-Size Printers Embrace All-Digital Workflow.
Putting Technology to Work.How CtP Can Increase Revenue.
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Putting Technology to Work.
Other things to look at are materialoptions—having more than oneplate supplier is critical. Do youhave other laser options—does thesystem offer an upgrade path?One of the reasons we chose :Polarissystems was because they couldbe refitted with newer violet-lasertechnology when it becameavailable.
Consider the footprint—will thesystem fit in your current space orwill you have to incur reconstruc-tion/floor-planning costs? Considersystem reliability—how easy will itbe to maintain? Look at the produc-tivity of the workflow software—does it offer remote browser-basedaccess? Consider punch and bendequipment options, another keyquality factor.
I also recommend using an indepen-dent consultant when doing yoursystem evaluation. We used theBedford Group, located in Bedford,MA, USA.
Their evaluation led us to theconclusion that Agfa was theonly company that could meet allour short and long-term needs.The company matched all ourcurrent and future criteria, whichincludes closed-loop quality control.Agfa can think outside the box towhere the industry will be five yearsfrom now.
It is important for us to understandthat we are no longer in thenewspaper business. We are inthe content business. We are infor-mation providers. You need suppli-ers who understand and supportthat vision. �
CtP: the Enabler.
The increase in quality and through-put is the direct result of moving toa CtP workflow. Since our firstinstallation in 2000 we have realisedgains not only in speed and qualitybut in efficiency as well. Thatincludes higher press utility andlower maintenance. We are able torun CtP and CtF (computer-to-film)parallel at two different sites withthe same content files. All of thisresults in a lower cost of operation.
Choosing theRight System.
The evaluation process for choosingthe right system requires calculatinga return on investment (ROI). First,let me caution you not to considerthe cost of consumables when doingthe ROI. Look at them separately.You will find that many otherfactors offset the cost of platesover time.
Here are the seven key factors wetook into consideration when doingour evaluation:• The increase in printing quality
and colour capability, which willattract more advertising.
• Increase in speed, meaningshorter time to press and a longereditorial deadline.
• The reduction of steps and errorsand the reduction of waste.
• The total cost of ownership.• The lifetime expectancy of the
system.• Operational re-engineering—
implementing a digital infrastruc-ture and training your staff.
• Competitive value—what does CtPbring to you.
By Allan Marshall.
Allan Marshall is the Group Technology Director forUK-based Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL)and Managing Director of Associated Mediabase
(AMB). He currently sits on the board of IFRA and isChairman of its Operations Committee (its technicaladvisory group). He is also heavily involved with the
World Association of Newspapers (WAN) and is amember of the Steering Committee for the AdsML
(advertising standards consortium).
With 6 newspaper titles in the UK and Ireland,
Associated Newspapers’ 32 print sites generate 24 mil-
lion newspapers per week. Competition is on the rise.
Multiple editions have become the norm. And costs are
increasing. Yet, the newspaper group is flourishing with
growth in advertising. Group Technology Director, Allan
Marshall, tells us to what he attributes this success and
offers advice on choosing the right CtP (computer-to-
plate) system.
As if television were not badenough, when the Internet enteredour homes with immediate newsdelivery, visionaries predicted thedemise of the newspaper. Yet herewe are in 2003, and the circulationof Associated Newspapers’ twolargest national newspapers, DailyMail and Mail on Sunday, is growing.
Higher Qual ity. Faster Throughput.
There are two reasons why circula-tion is up—faster throughput andhigher quality. Editors can nowhold an edition for late-breakingnews till one hour before press time.In fact, we can put an entire news-paper together in 45 minutes.We can also print higher qualitycolour making reading a moreenjoyable experience.
In difficult trading conditionsadvertising revenues are slightly upon last year for the same reasons.Advertisers want to reach a largeraudience with high-quality adverts.Because we can print more colourpages more efficiently, we cansell more colour advertising atreasonable rates.
H O W C t P C A N I N C R E A S E R E V E N U E .
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In a recent conversation with
the head of Agfa’s worldwide
newspaper business, Kurt Smits, he talked about the knowledge his
group gained from the merger between Agfa and Autologic. He told
us that a key lesson came directly from newspaper customers all
over the world. Being responsive to customers’ transitional needs is
as important as being responsive with technology. He called it the
“people factor.” Converting to CtP, particularly in the non-stop
world of newspaper production is an extremely complex process.
Customers want more than the right technology; they want
a reliable ongoing relationship. While customer
relationships have always been high on Agfa’s
list of priorities, Kurt chartered a mission for his
group to speed up response time. In addition
to building the best solution, the goal of the
newspaper group is to forge even stronger,
more co-operative relationships.
By featuring stories from newspaper customers
in this issue, we hope to show how Agfa is
working to respond more readily to customer
needs. We also hope you will see the same
is true for all the segments we serve—
commercial, newspaper and packaging.
But we ask one thing of you, our readers. Keep us informed. Let us
know what you like, what you dislike and how we can serve you
better. Let’s keep an open flow of communication. To help the
Inter:face editorial committee, let us know which of the articles
you like the best and what you would like to hear about more.
Write to [email protected]. �
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Editorial.
Production Notes.
All prepress using Agfa systems.
The following AgfaType fonts
were used: Hermes and Rotis.
:Thermostar plates imaged on
:Xcalibur 45 using :Sublima
screening technology. Imposition
and contract proofing with the
:Sherpa digital proofing system.
Editorial Committee:
Agfa France: Sylvie Gibout
Agfa Germany: Günter Kopp
Agfa U.K.: Tim Light
Agfa Iberia: José Mª Corominas
Agfa U.S.: Susan Wittner
Agfa Nordic: Eli Mago
Editor: Rosemarie Monaco
Managing editor: Marc Verbiest
Associate editors:
Anne-Mie Vansteelant
Bart Verduyn
Credits:
Design, Production and
Co-ordination: Living Stone N.V.
For more info on Agfa products:
http://www.agfa.com
Next Feature: q Making Your Work Flow
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Feature
Marc [email protected]
For your own copy of Inter:face by email or in the post, go to
http://graphics.agfa.com/
| s e e m o r e | d o m o r e |
32
9
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12
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International Publication for the Media Arts
The Open House.Turning It into an Effective Marketing Tool.
Predictable Colour.The Importance of Quality Control.
Four-Up CtP.Small to Mid-Size Printers Embrace All-Digital Workflow.
Putting Technology to Work.How CtP Can Increase Revenue.
Newspapers
This issue’s feature
The printing industry is only now looking at the ways
to integrate the workflow, whi le other manufacturing
industries have been using CIM (Computer-integrated
manufacturing) for decades. Why has it taken so
long for CIM to come to the graphic arts? And now
that it is here, what can we expect from it?
CIM.A U T O M AT I O N F O R N E W S PA P E R S .
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Today, manufacturing operations ofcompanies like General Motors, useIT/Enterprise software to interfacewith every other department fromorder entry to distribution.
The difference between manufactur-ing cars and newspapers explainswhy for newspapers CIM is moreof a revolution than an evolution.Newspapers have very little controlover content. News and advertisingare dynamic; unlike bucket seatsthey are never in the same place.We cannot control the quality of anoriginal image the way you could aspark plug. And unlike car compa-nies, we have to create a newlyoutfitted product overnight, everynight. Until recently, the technologycapable of handling so manyvariables was just not available.
Finally, newspaper automation tech-nology has arrived. Now we cancontrol variable data, automaticallyposition ads, and tell a plate whichcylinder on what press it belongs.Everything you need to implementthe process of CIM is here.
CIM for Newspapers.
Automating the press room is essen-tial, but to realise the full benefitsof CIM, the press needs to communi-cate with prepress, prepress witheditorial and advertising, and all ofthe above with administration, salesand distribution.
For print production environments,automation requires digitisation ofdata and the ability to transmit thatinformation from one end of theworkflow to the other complete withstep-by-step processing instructions.PDF-based workflow softwarestreamlines page processing anddata delivery.
Workflow production software is thekey enabler for newspaper produc-tion. For maximum effectiveness,it needs to provide unlimited flexi-bility. That means it should allowyou to make the digital transfor-mation incrementally, so you canaccomplish your goals comfortably.And it should be ready to respondwhen unexpected needs arise.
Workflow software should beflexible enough to handle complex,
“Newspapers are viewing automa-tion with renewed urgency,” wroteeditor in chief Chuck Moozakis inthe April issue of Newspapers &Technology (U.S.). “The next revolu-tion? Computer-integrated manufac-turing links all print productionfunctions,” wrote contributing editorWilliam C. Lamparter for a recentAmerican Printer cover story.
For other manufacturing industries,computer-integrated manufacturing(CIM), a.k.a. workflow automation,has been evolutionary, not revolu-tionary. And companies have been
using robots to assemble carsand fill cereal boxes for
the same reasons.Newspapers &
Technologypoints outnewspapersare urgentlyseekingautoma-tion—to cutcosts, speedthe process,increasemanufac-
turing flexi-bility, minimise
waste, controlinventory and exchange
data. So why the sudden revolution?What have manufacturers of printbeen doing while other industrieswere getting automated? Mostimportantly, how can newspapersrealise the benefits of automation?
Why a Revolution.
Computer-integrated manufacturingpromises to digitally control everyaspect of manufacturing fromorder entry to product delivery.Surprisingly, it has been around fornearly as long as computers havebeen churning data. It actuallybegan in the 1950s with themachines that took instructionsfrom the coded data contained inpunched paper tape. As computersgot smarter, smart companies gavethem bigger jobs. Before longunattended robots were assemblingcars and computerised assemblylines were counting, bottling andautomatically sealing child-proofingaspirin. Information or Enterprisetechnology was the missing link thatallowed CIM to fulfill its promise.
multi-plant networks as well assingle-site operations. So it cangrow as you do. It needs to auto-mate versioning by swapping pagecontent for multiple editions. Itshould integrate editorial and adplacement and be able to deliverinstructions all the way to the pressand the shipping department.
Automotive CIM manufacturingenvironments engage intelligentrobot cells, replete with scannersand/or video cams, to search outand monitor targets for consistentlyhigh quality. Newspapers have qual-ity-control and camera-equippedclosed-loop communication tech-nology to monitor equipment, auto-matically identify potential problemsand recommend solutions. Futureversions will be able to automati-cally correct certain malfunctions.
CIM environments also have datagateways to integrate businessfunctions with manufacturing. JDFtechnology developed specificallyfor print environments enables theexchange of data between produc-tion and MIS/IT departments. Whiletransmitting instructions is hardlynew for newspaper workflows, theJob Definition Format will be ableto facilitate the exchange of instruc-tions among multiple sites.
CIM also promises automatedprocess control. It includes commu-nication between prepress and pressrooms to provide instructions forink-key settings, colour manage-ment, and quality parameters.
Real-time control involves initiatingan action dynamically from yoursoftware interface. Add to thisbrowser-based remote control, andyou will be able to initiate an actionor check a proof from anywhere,at any time.
The ultimate goal of CIM is to makemanufacturing as simple as possible,with a set of instruments that con-trols every aspect of production theway a pilot controls an aircraft.
It may be a while before newspaperproduction can be controlled from asingle instrument panel. But it won’tbe long before the lines betweenprepress and press fade into acontinuous uninterrupted process. �
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alone at around 700,000 copies,mostly in colour. The entire produc-tion process is designed for quality,flexibility and performance.
The flexibility of the printing centreis apparent in its printing formats,which include broadsheet, tabloidand A4. This allows them to producenewspapers, magazines and supple-ments in a great variety of formatsand number of pages. With fiveinsertion lines, up to 225,000main products can be providedwith supplements and inserts,enabling them to be structuredaccording to regional publishingcriteria. This allows GPD to keepup with the trend toward ever morecolour and a growing number ofregional variations.
Service. A Central Component.
GPD consumes around 30,000 platesper month. To cope with this volumeand at the same time raise the levelof quality, GPD opted for a com-puter-to-plate workflow. Based onthe technical advantages of the:Polaris solution and the servicecapabilities offered by Agfa, GPDdecided to install three Agfa CtPsystems. “For a production plantof this size, service is one of the
Grupo Zeta is one of the largestmedia conglomerates in Spain.In addition to operating radio andtelevision stations throughout Spain,it publishes 14 dailies, roughly80 free newspapers, books andmultimedia.
To produce the newspapers, GrupoZeta has seven printing sites inSpain of which Gráficas de PrensaDiaria is the largest. At the site,just north of Barcelona in Paretsdel Vallès, the state-of-the-artplant has the capacity to offerprinting and distribution servicesto national and internationalcustomers. In addition to producingEl Periódico de Catalunya, a full-colour Grupo Zeta newspaper, GPDprints local editions for the dailies
Cinco Dias and AS, among othertitles. GPD technical manager,Luis Miranda puts the productioncapacity during the night hours
Quality.Flexibility.Performance.
Towards the end of 2000 Gráficas de Prensa Diaria S.A. (GPD) opened its doors with great
ambition. The 80-million euro investment was to be among Europe’s most modern newspaper
printing operations. Of the two million newspapers its parent, Grupo Zeta, produces every day
GPD would be responsible for printing over 700,000. Three years later it appears GPD has more
than accomplished its goals.
“Agfa has reactedvery professional ly to
any problem thathas arisen.”
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N E W S PA P E R P R I N T I N G C E N T R E E X C E E D S I T S G O A L S .
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newspapers on the basis of ISOstandard 12647-3. So far around30 newspaper publishers have joinedthis initiative and are working ondevelopment of a national colourprofile. The aim is to offer advertis-ing customers a constant level ofquality and uniform results, evenwhen production is spread overseveral sites. This is an importantprocess for GPD, because CtP withour new KBA presses has led to asignificant reduction in dot spread.”
Optimising the Workflow.
Miranda’s team is now working onfurther optimising the workflow,from data input to plate exposure.“We’re looking for improvementsin data input control, page makeup,imposition and obtaining data forcontrolling the colour areas. Afterthe positive experience with Agfa’s:Polaris CtP systems, Grupo Zetaplans to convert all its printing sitesto digital platemaking.” �
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central components, and we havefound that during the last two yearsAgfa has reacted very professionallyto any problem that has arisen,”says Miranda.
GPD produces 30 or 40% of theoutput within one hour of printing.However, the three :Polaris systemsare easily able to handle the volume,and the centralised control of theentire CtP workflow makes itpossible to supply the presses withthe required plates in good time,further increasing the capacityutilisation factor.
A further advantage of the CtPsystem is that it has allowed GPDto extend copy deadlines. Once apage has been cleared for printing,the plate can be mounted on thepress within 13 minutes, makingit possible to react rapidly to late-breaking news. But in additionto the increase in capacity, theinstallation of the :Polaris systemshas above all brought greaterreliability and control over theentire workflow. “In a conventionalprocess it would take a great manyemployees to reach a comparablelevel,” explains Miranda. “In thisrespect the CtP systems also havebenefits in terms of personnel costs.”The CtP workflow is now used toproduce nine dailies, and the numberis increasing.
Project CINCO.
With the installation of the three:Polaris systems in combinationwith Agfa’s :N91 photopolymerplates, Gráficas de Prensa Diariahas set a level of quality that isrecognised nationally and interna-tionally. When it comes to quality,Luis Miranda emphasises that itis now quite possible to keep upthe same level as heatset offset.“To further raise the level of quality,GPD is now working intensivelyon the ‘CINCO’ project to improvethe quality of colour in Spanish
GPD technical manager, Luis Miranda:“After the positive experience with Agfa’s:Polaris CtP systems, Grupo Zeta plansto convert all its printing sites to digitalplatemaking.”
Grupo Zeta is one of the largest mediaconglomerates in Spain. In additionto operating radio and televisionstations throughout Spain, it publishes14 dailies, roughly 80 free newspapers,books and multimedia.
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purchase in the future will workperfectly with what they have today.This is in addition to the primarygoals of improving productivityand quality, of course.
N&T: How will the technologyshake out between Agfaand Autologic? Will youeventually abandon the :3850for the :Polaris, for example,or vice versa?Smits: You mustn’t think in terms ofthe :3850 or :Polaris. All technologyevolves. It must. Even if Agfa andAutologic had remained separatecompanies, the next :3850 wouldbe very different from the one solda year ago. The idea is to use theknowledge you gain from customersand weave it into the next genera-tion. We have the distinct advantagenow of taking the most attractivefeatures of both technologies andengineering it into the next genera-tion. But no matter what comesnext, we always try and provide anupgrade path for current customers.In Europe, for example, some ofthe older :Polaris systems that hadYAG-laser light sources are beingupgraded with violet lasers becauseit has now proved to be a superiortechnology.
N&T: What challenges do yousee for the industry and howwill Agfa address them? Smits: We will never look at theeconomy in the same way again.Even as it shows signs of improve-ment, people will remain cautious.That means that value is key.All variables need to be weighedwhen making purchasing decisions.
As a manufacturer that meansthat we must continue to developtechnology that offers low cost ofownership with a fast return oninvestment. We actually engineerthose factors into the technology.Our closed-loop CtP solution, forinstance, provides a level of qualitycontrol designed to eliminatecostly errors and unnecessaryplate remakes.
The buyers of technology need toevaluate total cost of ownership—everything from the top line to thebottom line. And that includes theability to take the technology intothe future with quality enhance-ments, such as screening. They haveto factor into the cost of the systemthe growth in revenue they willattain with these added features.
We have to think long term.Newspapers will continue to com-pete with other media. So theywill need to look at other ways ofmaking print attractive. Screeningtechnology that raises resolution,such as :Sublima XM screening,dramatically improves colour andquality. But in addition to morecolour, newspapers will move tomore creative versioning, ways toreach different market niches, andso on. So we are also looking atworkflow solutions that will makeall of this simple and cost effective.
The combined strength of Agfa andAutologic puts us in prime positionto even more effectively deliverthese types of solutions. We areone company now. And far betterfor it. �
N&T: What have you learnedfrom the merger experienceand from taking a closer lookat [the] market?Smits: The merger was a wonderfulopportunity for us to examine whatcustomers liked best about eachcompany and then focus on thoseaspects. For example, U.S. customersliked working with Autologicbecause it was a more flexible,people-centric organisation.What they like about Agfa is itsbreadth of experience and broadproduct range. So by combining thestrengths of both companies, we areshaping an entirely new companythat provides full prepress solutions,but at the same time has the agilityto respond quickly to customerneeds. We also provide the longevityof a financially sound worldwideorganisation. That is an importantconsideration, especially in anunstable economy.
As far as technology is concerned,above all, customers want simplicity.They want all the automation andthe intricacies of a sophisticated,integrated workflow, but theydon’t want the complexity. And theywant to know that whatever they
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Readers may writeto Kurt Smits [email protected]
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Feature
The following is an excerpt from an interview with Kurt Smits, the head of Agfa’s worldwide newspaper business byNewspaper & Technology publisher, Mary Van Meter. The full interview was featured in the September 2003 issueof the publication and can be found at http://www.newsandtech.com/issues/2003/09-03/nt/09-03_autologic.htm.
Agfa andAutologic.
A F T E R T H E H O N E Y M O O N .
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Time it Right.
Would it be best to do this at theend of the working day so yourcustomers can stop by on the wayhome? Or would they prefer anexcuse to leave work early? Askthe clients with whom you have agood relationship what they prefer.Usually it will work for all yourguests. Don’t keep them too late.Or, if there is a good reason to makethis more than two hours—providemore than hors d’oeuvres. A lightbuffet will give them reason to stay.
Provide an Incentive.
This could be in the form of avaluable giveaway or an interestingguest speaker. The valuable give-away could be a paper or brochurewritten specifically for the buyeron how to get the most out of theirprinting purchase. Or invite them tohear it from an expert.
Communicate Well .
Communicate the theme in the invi-tation. Include an agenda as well—the fewer surprises, the better. Youwant them to know you respect theirtime. Let the reader know what theywill gain by attending—once againcommunicate the benefits for thebuyer. Don’t send a letter. Hire adesigner. Make it very professionaland send as many as four invitationsover a period of eight weeks beforethe event. Demonstrate the powerof print! �
The Open House.Know Your Audience.
There are advantages and disad-vantages to mixing the audience.For example, if you invite corporateprint buyers or marketing managersalong with graphic designers, youare giving these groups the oppor-tunity to network. The buyerswill meet new designers and thedesigners may get new business.However, this kind of mix can alsowork against you. The print buyermay resent any solicitation andcan be made to feel uncomfortable.So the very first rule to follow isknow your audience. Make sure itis a compatible mix.
Give Them a Reason to Attend.
The installation of a new press isexciting for you, but may not befor print buyers, unless you candemonstrate how it will bring themvalue. On the tour of your facility,explain each technology in termsof advantages for the buyer—how itmakes their jobs easier or providesa benefit they require.
Come Up With a Theme.
Make it intriguing and educational.“Cut Costs with Higher Quality,”for example. Then invite yourguests to see how your new screen-ing technology produces photo-graphic quality, saves time and iseconomical all at the same time.
T U R N I N G I T I N T O A N E F F E C T I V E M A R K E T I N G T O O L .
Make sure youraudience is acompatible mix.
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For many, the open house–an event that brings print buyerson site to see your operation– issimple enough. It is easy to arrangeand often brings new business.But the amount of thought andcreativity that goes into theplanning is directly proportional tothe level of success you will realise.
The open house is an effectivemarketing event because it bringsprint buyers closer, providing themthe opportunity not only to learnmore about your operation, but tounderstand the care and attentionyou give their projects. It is alsorelatively inexpensive. But even so,in today’s economy every pennycounts. Applying a well thoughtout strategy and paying attentionto details will bring a greater returnon your investment.
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Whether you are displaying softproofs or
producing hard-copy proofs, predicting
press behaviour requires a colour
management system (CMS). The CMS lets you
create colour profi les that characterise specif ic devices
so that one can mimic the other. However,
unless you maintain a stable environment, i .e.
institute qual ity control standards, those
profi les are virtual ly useless.
PredictableColour.
T H E I M P O R TA N C E O F Q U A L I T Y C O N T R O L .
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recalibrate using the same targetthat was used in the morning.
Using the same target or standard iskey to maintaining a stable environ-ment. In other words, you need toask the same question and get thesame answer.
Quality control needs to encompassall the variables that can affect colour.Application software also influencescolour perception. Image-manipula-tion software, such as Photoshop,comes with its own colour settings.Once again, the key to avoidingproblems is consistency. Alwaysuse the same application settingsto maintain a stable environment.
More Butterf l ies.
Knowing the many variables thatcan influence colour will help you todevelop a checklist for maintainingstability and implementing qualitycontrol.
Monitors.• Aging affects consistency of
colour displays as the phosphorstend to degrade with time.
• Temperature affects monitorbrightness. So colour can varyfrom morning to night dependingon the length of time the monitorwas in use.
• Different makes and models havedifferent characteristics regardless
Quality control is a prerequisite tocolour management. The reason issimple. A colour profile is createdunder certain conditions. Changingjust one of those conditions canaffect colour behaviour. The profile,therefore, is working with a differentset of specs than you are.
Removing the Butterf l ies.
Chaos Theory states that complex orchaotic environments are sensitiveto their starting conditions. The“butterfly effect” states that thetiniest change in conditions, like theflapping of a butterfly’s wings, canmake predicting the behaviour of acomplex environment impossible.While this discovery was based onthe study of meteorology, it is diffi-cult to overlook the parallel in pre-press. If we make sure the startingconditions are always the same, wecan then predict press behaviourwith a high degree of accuracy.
The tonal values of a proofer, forinstance, can vary over the course ofa day. So even when using the samecolour profile on the same proofer,the colour may shift in a proofprinted in the evening from one thatwas printed early in the morning.A quality control regimen meansyou verify that the proofer isprinting with the same tonal valuesin the evening as it did in themorning, and if it is not, you
of the operating system andsoftware.
• Graphics cards use their ownlook-up tables for colourcharacteristics.
• Desktop wallpaper can alterthe way colours appear. Blackprovides the best backdrop fortrue colour.
Proofers.• Every proofer regardless of make
and model has its own tonalcharacteristics.
• Piezo proofers have a wider colourgamut than thermal proofers.
• Six-colour proofers have a widergamut and smoother tonalrendering than four-colourmodels.
• Dye inks have a much widercolour spectrum than pigmentinks.
• Age and length of time the systemhas been running affect colour.
• Paper cast, opacity and textureaffect colour reproduction.
Software.• Different programmes use
different algorithms to interpretcolour.
Ambient Conditions.• Fluorescent (blue) lights are
harsh and tend to whiten colours.• Incandescent (yellow) lights are
soft and tend to make colourslook warmer. �
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positive return on our investment(ROI). Even at this early stage weknow they are right.
“When the :Palladio was installedon the 21st February we movedseamlessly into production by the27th—and had the weekend off inbetween.” adds Haddow.
The :Apogee workflow system andthe :Sherpa proofing system allowedColt Press to easily integrate itsexisting CtF into the digital work-flow. “It will not be long beforewe are 95% CtP,” says Haddow.“We know exactly where we arewith one supplier who has all thenecessary expertise.
“CtP adds a new dimension to ourbusiness. In such a competitiveenvironment we need every possibleadvantage,” emphasises Haddow.“With the :Palladio and digitalworkflow we’re well underway.”
Economy.
“The violet laser imaging technologyin the :Palladio will save us a lot ofmoney and material in the long
Four-Up CtP.S M A L L T O M I D - S I Z E P R I N T E R S E M B R A C E A L L - D I G I TA L W O R K F L O W.
Neuschmid said, saves hours inprepress time. Capital Colour alsouses the :Sherpa 43 inkjet prooferto provide clients with contractand imposition proofs, anotherbenefit to his customers.
“The pictures and graphics jumpright off the page!” says EstherRondeau, ESAA’s editor/projects co-ordinator. “There is nothingthat we have printed in the pastby any printer that can compareto this quality.”
Rapid ROI.
“To be first is now simply not enoughbut faster and more competitive isvital,” says Paul Haddow, managingdirector of Colt Press located inWitham, Essex in the U.K.
“When we saw the :Palladio violet-laser CtP system we knew that thiswould fit into our customer focussedstrategy perfectly,” says Haddow.“Even so, we determined how manyB2 plates we were making a month,gave the figures to Agfa and theyprovided us with a financial analysisthat showed we would make a
Based in Edmonton, Alberta,Canada, Capital Colour Press, anMGS Graphics Services company,has 20 employees and annualrevenues of 3.1 million euros.The company supplies some ofCanada’s largest corporations andgovernment offices with the highestquality printing materials.
The recent conversion to CtP hashelped to enhance that reputation,by making the company even moreproductive. “Our CtP workflow hascut out hours in our platemakingprocess. Once a job is approved,plates can be at the press withinminutes. The :Lithostar CtP plateshave sped up the make-ready timesand registration on the press, notto mention the excellent differencewe have seen in the improvementof the final printed product becauseof the cleaner dot the presses areprinting,” said Fred Neuschmid,MGS president.
In addition to the :Palladio CtPsystem, Capital Colour uses:Apogee Pilot, which helps toensure an automated, streamlinedand reliable workflow. This,
Kevin Linford, prepress manager (left) and Steve Neuschmid,general manager (right) from Capital Colour Press at the :Palladio.
Higher revenue companies are
usually the first to embrace new
technology, mostly because they are
less vulnerable to risk. But thinking
big is the first step to getting there.
A number of smaller companies
has been reaping the rewards of
the all-digital workflow.
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of four, while the printing qualityhas improved by 20 percent. Andthanks to the ink pre-settings theprinting results are good as of thethird sheet, which means consider-able paper savings.
The high degree of automationenables Imprimerie du Marais to dowith one team of operators whatmany other printers do with two.The system operates automatically,without anyone having to attend toit, leaving the operators free to con-centrate on printing and finishing.
According to Przedorski, the:Palladio puts the company anotherstep ahead of the competition.
Integration.
As one of Latin America’s largestgraphic design, prepress and print-ing companies, Sao Paulo, Brazil’sGráficos Burti is a concrete exampleof the need to achieve seamlessworkflow integration. To supportthe high volume of data circulatingdaily through its operation, thecompany runs different workflows.In addition to work generated byits own agency, Gráficos Burtireceives files from other designfirms.
To ensure rigid quality control,Gráficos Burti maintains a definedprocedure for converting allincoming files to PDF format.The procedure requires, above all,the adoption of solutions that canbe easily integrated to company’scomplex structure.
This flexibility was put to the testwhen the company decided toacquire a :Palladio computer-to-plate system for its smaller printjobs. “We thought that it wouldbe somewhat complicated in the
run,” said Susan Goldsmith,president, Marcus Printing inHolyoke, Mass. “The :Palladio canproduce a constant stream of ready-to-use plates that minimises ourdowntime, and keeps the pressescontinuously running. We wanted anaffordable, reliable, automated andfast platesetter—we found that withthe :Palladio,” Goldsmith added.
What made the :Palladio especiallyattractive for Marcus Printing wasthe complete package the companywas able to get.
“I was able to get everythingfrom one vendor, including a newproofing device, the :Sherpa,”says Goldsmith. Other equipmentGoldsmith looked at, she says,offered a less than complete picturefor her business. “The :Palladio isable to run both ‘large’ plates forour 20 x 28 press and ‘small’ platesfor our 12 x 18 presses. This wasnot a viable option with the otherequipment we looked at.”
Productivity.
At Imprimerie du Marais, havingto turn a job around in one day nolonger causes the slightest bit ofworry. “Now we can turn out aproof on our :Sherpa, along witha complete set of plates, all within15 minutes,” says company managerJacky Przedorski.
The market for short-run, high-quality jobs is an attractive one, andif you can offer rapid service intothe bargain then success is guaran-teed. Imprimerie du Marais is aperfect illustration of this. Locatedin central Paris, France, this smallcompany with 17 employeesmade the transition to CtP withthe acquisition of a :Palladio toreplace its :Avantra 30 imagesetter.
“We already had the server and theRIP. The only thing that changedwas the platesetter,” emphasisesPrzedorski. “We were attracted to the:Palladio because of its productivity,flexibility and automation. We turnout 80 plates per day. The majorityof our customers want the workdone the next day.”
The time necessary for makingplates has been reduced by a factor
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Gráficos Burti decided to install an :Apogee workflow and an additional:Palladio, fully automated and with an online processor.
Susan Goldsmith, president, Marcus Printing: “The violet laser imagingtechnology in the :Palladio will save us a lot of money and material inthe long run.”
“Our CtPworkflow has
cut out hours in ourplatemaking
process.”
beginning, since some adaptationswould be needed,” explainedWellington Bastos, operationsmanager. “All our implementationissues were resolved by the Agfatechnicians. The final result wasgratifying. The Agfa solutionsproved to be completely adaptableto our workflow,” he said.
Gráficos Burti also decided to installan :Apogee workflow and an addi-tional :Palladio, fully automated andwith an online processor. Bastossays this minimises human errorsand maximises the productivitygains since only one person is ableto carry out the whole process.According to the Burti numbers,this represents gains of 40% whencompared to equivalent products.
“The great differential has been thefact that we can now dedicate asmaller area to address specific needsof our clients, thus eliminating theproblem of inserting smaller worksinto larger flows, generating obstaclesto productivity,” added Bastos. �
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The Quality Advantage.P R I N T E R S L O O K T O S C R E E N I N G T E C H N O L O G Y.
mobile phone display looks like,even though the photo is verysmall,” says Setterwall.
Improved image detail is not theonly reason Tidningstryckarnaare pleased with the technology.Eva Setterwall and Per Andersson,project manager, say that imagesare now moiré-free and “we are nowable to scan images at a higher reso-lution—300 dpi. Before we couldn’tscan higher than 170 dpi. And nowwe print at 180 lpi compared to85 lpi,” Per Andersson explains.
With :Sublima in place, EvaSetterwall is convinced that heremployer’s competitiveness has beenimproved. “Using this screeningtechnology we are able to print withthe same quality as sheet-fed offset.Customers want higher image qualityboth in flyers, on front pages and invery detailed photos,” says Setterwall.
Higher Qual itywith No Extra Effort .
Ask Robert Sticher, general managerof Sticher Printing in Lucerne,Switzerland, how the market haschanged, and he will tell you itused to be quality first, price second.Now it is the other way around.
prepress staff nor management,wanted to let :Sublima go,” saysEva Setterwall, prepress manager.
:Sublima employs a patentedtechnology known as XM (CrossModulated) screening. It aligns FM(Frequency Modulated) microdotsalong AM (Amplitude Modulated)angles and applies AM dots to
midtones for perfectly smooth gra-dations. The combination retains allthe benefits of AM and FM, yet ithandles as easily as an AM screen.Today, Tidningstryckarna uses:Sublima screening for practically allin-house printing jobs. This includesthe free newspaper Metro and alsotheir largest commercial print job,the Dustin computer catalogue.“In this catalogue the screeningtechnology really proves itself,because it contains many small,very detailed pictures on each page.Consumers want to know what a
In the quest for a competitive
advantage printing companies
around the world and across market
segments look to the newest
screening technologies for answers.
Tidningstryckarna use :Sublima screening for practically all in-house printing jobs. This includes the free newspaper Metro and also their largest commercial print job, the Dustin computer catalogue.
“Our cl ientsare spendingless t ime atthe press.”
Higher quality is a big seller, espe-cially if you produce newspapersand need to attract advertisers aswell as commercial clients. The sameis true for commercial printers, yethere the pressure to print higherquality faster and cheaper is evengreater. Printing companies in allmarket segments are finding thatXM (cross modulated) screeningtechnology delivers the higherquality without the higher price.
Commercial Qual ityon Newsprint.
Having reached the highest imagequality achievable on cold-set webpresses, Tidningstryckarna AB,located just outside Stockholm,Sweden was eager to participatein a pilot programme for Agfa’snew screening technology.
“When the test period ended,none of us, neither press operators,
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Sticher looks for any means thatwill allow his company to offerhigher quality without affectingturnaround and cost.
“We get sharper images and betterdetail rendering, soft skin tones,uniform print quality, no moiré orrosette patterns, photo realisticimage reproduction and no visibleraster dots. It even delivers betterquality than stochastic screening,”says Sticher.
Sticher also notes that :Sublimarequires no additional efforts orskills from the prepress operators.“When we switched from :ABS to:Sublima our printers didn’t noticeany difference on the press,” he says.
The first customers to notice a dif-ference in quality were the profes-sionals—photographers and graphicdesigners. “But the best thing about
:Sublima is that we can attract newcustomers by offering higher qualityfor the same money.
“:Sublima is a sales tool,” addsSticher. “We organised a trainingsession for our sales people in co-operation with an Agfa specialist,to show them how to promote thisnew added value.”
Current CustomersRemain Loyal .
Kirkwood Printing is an 80-employee commercial printer.Kirkwood does everything fromlarge books for travel agencies topocket folders. After 30 years inbusiness, Kirkwood knows quality.
“The quality we get from :Sublimais a huge leap forward from whatwe used to get with Creo,” saysStan Monfette, prepress director,Kirkwood Printing. “We’ve gained
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about 15 minutes in our makereadies as well.”
“Our results with :Sublima are muchsmoother gradations. There is farless noise, higher levels of grey, andthe 16-bit output definitely shows.We look at tints and screens now,before they had noise in them andnow they are smooth,” Monfette says.
“Our clients are spending less timeat the press adjusting colour. Theyjust walk in, say it looks great, andthey move on. Agfa looks at qualityand speed. That really shows andour clients see that and appreciateit,” Monfette says.
Turning CtP into aCompetit ive Advantage.
Komiyama Insatsu Kougyo, head-quartered in Tokyo, is primarily acommercial book printer, known forits very high-quality colour work.Among its clients are the AsiaticSociety of Japan, as well as Harvard,Cambridge and Princeton UniversityPresses in the U.S.
“I am very happy with the perfor-mance of the :Galileo CtP systems.But if you ask me why I reallychose them, it was because of:Sublima,” says Kazuo Komiyama,president.
Hearing that the screening tech-nology was the deciding factorfor this level of capital investmentmay come as a surprise. But notfrom Komiyama’s point of view.“My Agfa rep showed me :Sublimasamples and explained the XM
Robert Sticher,general managerof Sticher Printing:“The best thingabout :Sublima isthat we can attractnew customersby offering higherquality for thesame money.”
“ I wanted morethan a CtP
system.I wanted
a competit iveadvantage. . .”
technology to me. It was veryimpressive. I wanted more than aCtP system. I wanted a competitiveadvantage.”
And that’s exactly what he got.Now Komiyama can impress hisclients with even higher printingresolutions. Having technology thatdelivers exceptional quality, suchas :Sublima, says Komiyama, is thereason his company wins the bidsfor large quality-conscious clientssuch as Walt Disney Co.
Clients have noticed the qualitydifference with :Sublima. “It’s asimple sale,” says Komiyama. “Allyou have to do is show a sample ofthe printing. It speaks for itself.” �
Kirkwood Printing is an 80-employee commercial printer. Kirkwood doeseverything from large books for travel agencies to pocket folders.
After embarking on its most ambitious project,
The Millenium Map, Getmapping, one of the UK’s leading
aerial photography companies, took its product to the public.
The Millenium Map is a seamless high-definition aerial
photograph of the United Kingdom reproduced to professional
specifications, that is, with the precise scale required for land
surveys and map making. While many might question the logic of
offering this type of product to the public, Getmapping have reaped great
rewards from this bold move.
enlargement, which is 1:2,000,the company requires film capableof capturing exceptional detail.Getmapping uses :Avicolor film toachieve the highest possible resolu-tion. “With a photographic partnersuch as Agfa, we know the qualitywill always be of the highest stan-dard,” says Getmapping marketingdirector Rachel Eddy.
With Getmapping’s online serviceimagexpressplus, companies or con-sumers, can roam and zoom acrossa map to gain highly detailed aerialimagery and then have a selectiondelivered by email within hours.“It’s a superb service,” says Rachel.“It opens up exciting and profitableopportunities for a range oforganisations that need accessto accurate data.”
For hard-copy photographic output,Getmapping uses the 50-inch:Grand Sherpa. When a businessclient or consumer requests photo-graphic output, the information istransmitted to Getmapping’s officesin Coalville, Leicestershire, whereit is output at high speed on the:Sherpa.
According to Rachel Eddy, “Our previous methods involving smallerinkjet and digital printing deviceswere just not coping and now wehave a system which combines highspeed –just two minutes for a full50-inch print– with high qualityusing Agfa’s colour managementprofiling software.
“And with Agfa’s new :AgfaJetmedia, we’ll get the look and feelof high quality photographic printmaterial.”
The Benefit of Risk.
Getmapping is using the interestgenerated at its website toidentify other key markets suchas insurance and estate companiesas well as law-enforcementagencies.
Getmapping is a lesson in theimportance of being willing totake a risk. With a little planningand a lot of ingenuity, anyimaging company can createnew products and generatenew income. �
Getmapping planned its move well.In partnership with the LondonEvening Standard newspaper,Getmapping launched a national pro-motion offering consumers an aerialview of their community within asigned certificate of authenticity.
At the same time Getmappinglaunched a new website whereconsumers could order an aerialimage of any neighbourhood in theUK in the format of their choice—digitally delivered by email, a high-resolution photo-certificate, orA3 photograph delivered by post.The campaign was an overwhelmingsuccess. Its new website now hasGetmapping for Business andGetmapping for the Home to appealto this very profitable new market.
Technology Behindthe Success.
Getmapping photographers shootfrom as high as 25,000 feet, withthe average being 5,500 feet. Usingphotographs captured at theseheights, Getmapping may haveto scale image detail as much as1:15,000. Even at the average
A E R I A L P H O T O G R A P H Y C O M PA N Y
U S E S I N K J E T P R I N T I N G
T O C A P T U R E N E W M A R K E T S .
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Creative Marketing.
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:Ad Manager V, Version 5.1 .
Display ad production and tracking are improvedwith :Ad Manager V 5.1, a highly flexible, custom-built system that provides the capability to easilybuild and manage the creation of display ads. Itcomes with several new features and supports addi-tional applications and client operating systems.
:AdSuite is the newest client applicationthat can be found in version 5.1 of :Ad Manager.:AdSuite offers many display ad functions andcapabilities such as display ad building, web proofgeneration, publication tracking of ads, individualad tracking and on-line/historical reporting.
Like existing :Ad Manager clients, :AdSuiteoffers central and remote ad building and trackingoperations to meet the deadline requirements andposition the operation closer to the advertiser.
:Ad Manager V’s on-line and historical report-ing capability has been expanded in version 5.1.Customers have the ability to take report templatesand generate custom reports for view, output,and/or exporting. Some of these report templatesinclude: Sales, Spec Ad, Advertiser and User.The reports use the system’s relational databaseto quickly generate the desired report.
OS-Friendly :Ad Manager V 5.1 now supportsthe Macintosh OS X operating system as well asthe Macintosh OS 9 and Windows OS. The supportof both OS X and OS 9 on the same system allowscustomers to move display ad building stations andusers to the new OS environment at their own pace.
:Ad Manager V also includes many benefits forthe production and tracking of display ads. Some ofthe recent software release benefits include WebProofing, PDF workflow and integration with Agfa’spreflight software.
: Intel l iTune 3.0 Image Processing.
:IntelliTune 3.0 is the newest version of Agfa’simage analysis and tuning software for newspapers.It automatically tunes and perfects images savingnewspapers time and money.
Agfa’s exclusive Multi-Dimensional Processing(MDP) technology automatically analyses tonal,colour and spatial characteristics in every image,then calculates and applies the necessary correc-tions for the best reproduction possible.
Upgraded features include an intuitive icon-driven user interface and new automatic descreen-ing and despeckling capabilities. Interactive editcapabilities make the software easier to learn andmore productive to use. Interactive edit also savestime by allowing standard image editing to beachieved locally instead of switching to Photoshop.
An improved variable, Skin Target, lets usersadjust skin tone to any preference. Advanced
sharpening intelligently compensates for previouslyapplied sharpening and maintains integrity of tones.Improved noise removal corrects artefacts typical innegative film originals and digital camera files.
:N91v Photopolymer Violet Platefor Newspaper CtP.
The :N91v digital plate is a negative-working, violet-sensitised version of the existing :N91 plate,the market leading plate for ‘green’ 532nm lasernewspaper computer-to-plate (CtP) systems.:N91v is undergoing initial customer testing andfirst commercial shipments are expected in thefinal quarter of 2003.
:N91v builds on the same stable and robusttechnology platform of the original :N91, with thesame durable characteristics on press and wideworking latitude that have made :N91 the marketleading CtP newspaper plate.
The new :N91v plate has improved coatingtechnology, which is sensitive to the 405nmviolet diode. This allows the :N91v plate to be fullycompatible with the popular 30mW violet diode.It offers CtP systems unprecedented reliability,low cost of ownership and ultra-sharp imagingtogether with affordable system costs.
Accompanying the :N91v are new universalphotopolymer processing systems, :PD91 and:PD91R. This system –developer and replenisher–allows the user to enjoy the benefits of lowchemistry consumption, combined with minimalprocessor maintenance. The plate making systemhas been designed distinctively to answer thenewspaper market’s needs: reliable, consistentand predictable press performance.
:AgfaJet Media.
Agfa recently added a new universal wet-strengthpaper to its assortment of industry-leading inkjetmedia. Universal Wet Strength Paper (UWSP) is a130 gsm paper, developed for outdoor billboardsthat will resist water for up to six weeks with noloss of image quality. UWSP is a white, generaluse, waterfast, matt paper with blue backing forincreased opacity. It provides vibrant high qualityimages with good colour saturation on a whitebackground.
Also available are three self adhesive materialsincluding: a universal instant-dry photograde paper(UIPP) with a microporous photo-base RC for highcontrast, photo-like images; a 90 gsm premiuminkjet paper designed for high-quality presenta-tions, colour graphics and poster prints with options
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The world’s leading photopolymer plate—now also for violet lasers.
A new universal wet-strength paper for the:AgfaJet media assortment.
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of low-medium or medium-high ink coverage;and a flexible vinyl material for high image qualityoutdoors.
Agfa’s Universal Front Print Film, availablein 4 and 7 mil thicknesses displays graphics withvibrant colours and is compatible with all inkjetinks and printers.
:Sherpa 44m Proofing System.
The newest member of the :Sherpa family ofdigital proofers, the: Sherpa 44m is a high-resolution inkjet system. Agfa combines itsspecially formulated proofing media, advanced in-RIP colour management and quality controlsoftware with the latest seven-colour piezo-electric inkjet technology to deliver a completecontract proofing solution.
The :Sherpa 44m features seven multi-densityinks—CMYKK + LC + LM. The light-density inksimprove accuracy in matching pastel tints andquarter-tone images.
The :Sherpa 44m’s high-resolution piezo-electric inkjet engine takes full advantage of:ColorTune Pro colour management software andAgfa’s resin-coated :AgfaJet Digital Proofing Baseto deliver superior quality contract proofs.
:Sherpa 44m offers high resolution (up to720 dpi) with the smallest possible drop size.And it accepts paper rolls and cut-sheet paper upto 44 inches in width.
In addition to providing the industry-standardoutput profiles (SWOP, Euro Standard, etc):ColorTune Pro lets the user create ICC-basedcustom output and proofer profiles. It uses tech-nology-specific mapping algorithms to preciselymatch the different gamut of presses used forspecific applications such as newspaper or com-mercial printing. Custom profiles are editableand assure accurate reproduction of difficultneutral colours.
The :Sherpa 44m includes the :Apogee ProoferRIP, :ColorTune Pro colour management software,:Quality Management System (:QMS) and :AgfaJetDigital Proofing Base.
Agfa’s “Power of Print”Contest for Young Creatives.
The seventh annual design competition for graphicarts students aged 17-30 is currently being held.The theme of the contest is “The Power of Print”.Contestants worldwide are required to create a posterthat expresses how print influences their world.
The six best designs will be printed on large-format printers at the Drupa tradeshow in Germany,in May 2004 and displayed on the Agfa website.Winners will be invited on an all-expense-paid
Inter:face is an international publication. Some products and services m
ay not be available in all countries. Please contact your local Agfa dealer or sales office for availability.
trip to Belgium where they, in addition to shoppingand sightseeing, will attend educational workshops.
The contest theme, “The Power of Print”, reflectsAgfa’s mission to promote print media as one of themost powerful ways of reaching and influencingconsumers, while encouraging young people to takepart in the future of print media. Full contest rulesare available at www.agfa.com/aycc/2003.
:Advantage DL Violet LaserCtP System.
Agfa has launched its newest violet-lasercomputer-to-plate (CtP) system for newspapers.
:Advantage DL offers extreme reliability andflexibility and a low cost of ownership and at thesame time, thanks to fewer moving parts, the:Advantage DL is also one of the least complexdevices around.
The :Advantage DL uses violet laser imaging,a technology that has gained in popularity all overthe world, thanks to its low cost of operation. Violetlaser imaging is fast and accurate and allows theuser to load and handle plates in a convenientbright yellow safe-light environment.
:Advantage DL works in conjunction with Agfa’shigh-quality screening solution, :Sublima, whichcombines AM and FM screening technology knownas “cross modulation” or “XM” screening.
:Advantage DL can be configured for multipleplate sizes without requiring customisation. Thesystem can use different plates on a day-to-daybasis. It also meets future needs, when newspaperpublishers may be faced with web reductions ornew press line installations.
The small footprint of :Advantage DL isdesigned to take up less floor space, keepingnewspapers’ prepress operations as compact andefficient as possible. This also allows the unit tofit alongside existing imagesetter technology,thereby easing the transition from computer-to-film to CtP. :Advantage DL supports both the new:N91v violet photopolymer plate and the popular:Lithostar Ultra LAP-V.
Gentle Giant :Grand Sherpa Universal .
The earth-friendly :Grand Sherpa Universal madeits debut in September 2003 as the most advanced,high-productivity, large format printer available onthe market—and the cleanest too.
:Grand Sherpa Universal uses Eco-Solvent PlusPlus inks made by Mutoh, which do not spreadvolatile organic compounds (VOCs). It does notrequire any ventilation equipment in the productionfacility, making it a cost effective environmentalsolution.
For more information about Agfa’s“Power of Print” Contest for YoungCreatives, go to www.agfa.com/aycc/2003.
:Grand Sherpa Universal prints ontouncoated as well as coated media.
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image other media types, such as :Set PrintPluspolyester plates making it optimal for entry levelCtP applications.
The :Avanxis VIII is an external drum image-setter for 8-up application. It images at outputresolutions of 1200-4000 dpi. :Avanxis VIII hasa take-up cassette that can easily combine twodifferent media flows in the same machine. It easilyhandles difficult tasks such as multiple separationsof a singe page on the same sheet of media. It canswiftly process 17-20 forms per hour.
Both :Avanxis models feature a user-friendlyinterface that communicates input and outputconditions to the operator. Auto loading-functionspunch, cut and process jobs automatically. Eithersystem can be incorporated in a multiple vendorenvironment using :Apogee RasterBlaster, whichconverts files between various output devices.
Please note that :Avanxis IV and VIII will beavailable only in the following countries: France,Iberia, Italy and all Asian countries.
:Arkitex Workflow Automation—Built from a Sol id Foundation.
:Arkitex is a new solution for achieving editorial-to-press workflow automation. The new softwarewas built upon the proven functions of :PlateroomManager and :IntelliNet software. Agfa addedgreater ease of use, systems integration andscalability so that a wider variety of newspapers,as well as contract printers, could benefit from it.
Agfa took the most successful features of theAgfa and Autologic products—features customerssaid they prefer, such as Autologic’s page-pairingfunction and :IntelliNet’s planning and reportingfeatures, and combined them into a single solution.With this as its foundation, :Arkitex is alsoscalable and easy to integrate into any productionenvironment.
Because it is built on existing technology,:Arkitex provides an instant upgrade path forcurrent customers and allows new customers toincorporate the benefits :Arkitex brings intotheir existing workflow. :Arkitex’s open-systemsapproach allows it to integrate with ease into non-Agfa planning and press control systems, forexample. With :Arkitex you do not have to startfrom scratch to build an automated workflow;newspaper printers can use systems that arealready in place. :Arkitex simplifies automation.
:Grand Sherpa Universal makes it possible toprint high-quality displays, banners, posters andthe like onto the majority of all available uncoatedmedia, such as vinyl and canvas. It produces equallywell on coated material.
The :Grand Sherpa Universal with Eco-SolventPlus inks offers six colours –CMYK+LC+LM–and eight ink cassettes for up to eight colours.The solvent inks are UV and weather resistant,which make them ideal for photo-realistic outdoorapplications such as long-term backlit signageand vehicle graphics.
The :Grand Sherpa Universal’s long-life piezo-electric heads print at 360, 720 and 1440 dpi. It is driven by the Agfa edition OnyxRIP 6.0, with versatile tools specifically designedfor large format printing that streamline jobmanagement.
Agfa Edit ions of Onyx WorkflowDesigned for :Sherpa Large-Format Printing Systems.
From a single photo enlargement to a high-volumecommercial print operation, Agfa’s newest work-flow solutions are designed to fit the individualneeds of large-format printers of all sizes.
Onyx RIPCenter 6.0, Agfa Edition, produces highquality images for the smaller print environment,such as ad agencies, graphic design firms andquick-print shops.
Onyx RIPCenter PHOTO 6.0, Agfa Edition, printsphoto quality images for photographers, portraitstudios and quick print shops. Users can printdirectly to the queue from creative applications,even across networks and platforms.
Onyx PosterShop 6.0, Agfa Edition, hosts exten-sive pre-flight capabilities and streamlines jobmanagement from multiple printers and creativesources. It is designed to manage high volume,large-print operations, such as fine-art reproduc-tion, advertising, trade show displays and highvolume photo printing shops.
Onyx ProductionHouse 6.0, Agfa Edition, offersoptimal automation for versatility and productivityin the high-volume commercial printing environ-ment, such as short run package production. Thesoftware package comes with two RIPs and supportfor four :Sherpas with multiple Hot Folders.
Two New CtF Systems—:Avanxis IV and :Avanxis VII I .
The :Avanxis IV is a capstan based imagesetter for4-up format jobs. The system’s high repeatabilityand accuracy produces quality output at highspeeds. :Avanxis IV can image positive and negativefilms such as :Alliance or :Impower-Plus. It can also
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Agfa’s edition of Onyx workflow fits theindividual needs of large-format printersof all sizes.
AGFA, the Agfa-Rhombus and :AgfaJet are trademarks of Agfa-Gevaert AG,Germany. :Arkitex, :AgfaScan, :Alliance, :Avantra, :ColorTune, :CristalRaster,:Galileo, :ImPower, :IntelliTune, :Lithostar, :Polaris, :Palladio, :Sherpa,:Sublima, :Thermostar and :Xcalibur are trademarks of Agfa-Gevaert N.V.,Belgium. PostScript, Acrobat, PDF, PageMaker and Photoshop aretrademarks of Adobe Systems, Inc. which may be registered in certainjurisdictions. All other trademarks are held by their respective companiesand are used in an editorial fashion with no intention of infringement.
:Arkitex Workflow Automation was builtupon the proven functions of :PlateroomManager as well as :IntelliNet.
Agfa-Gevaert LtdGraphic Systems Division27 Great West RoadBrentfordMiddlesex. TW8 9AXTel.: 020 8231 4929
Printed in BelgiumPublished by Agfa-Gevaert N.V.B-2640 Mortsel-BelgiumNF4G2 GB 02200311
It’s all around us. Everywhere we go wesee some form of printed material—froma store coupon to a highway billboard.Print is one of the most powerful of allcommunications mediums. Yet, we takeit for granted. What’s worse, new mediasuch as flash advertising and emailmarketing are attracting the attentionof print buyers and turning it awayfrom print.
Agfa believes that all of us who areinvolved in the production of print,need to wake up the industry andremind brand owners and print buyersof the importance of print. So, the
company will begin a worldwidecampaign targeted to print buyers,reminding them that print is a criticalcomponent of the media mix. Agfa willalso take part in a number of industryinitiatives to revitalise print.
Another way Agfa is helping its cus-tomers to revitalise print is by showingthem how they can turn technologyinto value. For example, rather thansimply telling their clients that theyuse new screening technology, printersneed to translate the benefits intovalues clients can understand, such asthe ability to capture fine details and
deliver photo-like reproduction withoutit costing any more than conventionalscreening.
We aren’t stopping with printbuyers/brand owners and printers.To bring the power of print to theattention of young designers, Agfa ishosting the “Power of Print” contest. Visit http://www.agfa.com/aycc/2003/for all the details.
For more information about the Power of Print [email protected]
The Power of Print.
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