Interface 32, International Publication for the Media

32
International Publication
for the Media Arts
This issue’s feature
Newspapers
2
Putting Technology to Work.
9
The Open House.
How CtP Can Increase Revenue.
Turning It into an Effective Marketing Tool.
10
Predictable Colour.
12
Four-Up CtP.
The Importance of Quality Control.
Small to Mid-Size Printers Embrace All-Digital Workflow.
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2
By Allan Marshall.
Newspapers
Feature
Allan Marshall is the Group Technology Director for
UK-based Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL)
and Managing Director of Associated Mediabase
(AMB). He currently sits on the board of IFRA and is
Chairman of its Operations Committee (its technical
advisory group). He is also heavily involved with the
World Association of Newspapers (WAN) and is a
member of the Steering Committee for the AdsML
(advertising standards consortium).
Putting Technology to Work.
HOW CtP CAN INCREASE REVENUE.
With 6 newspaper titles in the UK and Ireland,
Associated Newspapers’ 32 print sites generate 24 million 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-toplate) system.
Technology
Marketing
q
Points of View
User Profile
Trends
News
As if television were not bad
enough, when the Internet entered
our homes with immediate news
delivery, visionaries predicted the
demise of the newspaper. Yet here
we are in 2003, and the circulation
of Associated Newspapers’ two
largest national newspapers, Daily
Mail and Mail on Sunday, is growing.
Higher Quality.
Faster Throughput.
There are two reasons why circulation is up—faster throughput and
higher quality. Editors can now
hold an edition for late-breaking
news till one hour before press time.
In fact, we can put an entire newspaper together in 45 minutes.
We can also print higher quality
colour making reading a more
enjoyable experience.
In difficult trading conditions
advertising revenues are slightly up
on last year for the same reasons.
Advertisers want to reach a larger
audience with high-quality adverts.
Because we can print more colour
pages more efficiently, we can
sell more colour advertising at
reasonable rates.
CtP: the Enabler.
The increase in quality and throughput is the direct result of moving to
a CtP workflow. Since our first
installation in 2000 we have realised
gains not only in speed and quality
but in efficiency as well. That
includes higher press utility and
lower maintenance. We are able to
run CtP and CtF (computer-to-film)
parallel at two different sites with
the same content files. All of this
results in a lower cost of operation.
Choosing the
Right System.
The evaluation process for choosing
the right system requires calculating
a return on investment (ROI). First,
let me caution you not to consider
the cost of consumables when doing
the ROI. Look at them separately.
You will find that many other
factors offset the cost of plates
over time.
Here are the seven key factors we
took into consideration when doing
our evaluation:
• The increase in printing quality
and colour capability, which will
attract more advertising.
• Increase in speed, meaning
shorter time to press and a longer
editorial deadline.
• The reduction of steps and errors
and the reduction of waste.
• The total cost of ownership.
• The lifetime expectancy of the
system.
• Operational re-engineering—
implementing a digital infrastructure and training your staff.
• Competitive value—what does CtP
bring to you.
Other things to look at are material
options—having more than one
plate supplier is critical. Do you
have other laser options—does the
system offer an upgrade path?
One of the reasons we chose :Polaris
systems was because they could
be refitted with newer violet-laser
technology when it became
available.
Consider the footprint—will the
system fit in your current space or
will you have to incur reconstruction/floor-planning costs? Consider
system reliability—how easy will it
be to maintain? Look at the productivity of the workflow software—
does it offer remote browser-based
access? Consider punch and bend
equipment options, another key
quality factor.
I also recommend using an independent consultant when doing your
system evaluation. We used the
Bedford Group, located in Bedford,
MA, USA.
Their evaluation led us to the
conclusion that Agfa was the
only company that could meet all
our short and long-term needs.
The company matched all our
current and future criteria, which
includes closed-loop quality control.
Agfa can think outside the box to
where the industry will be five years
from now.
It is important for us to understand
that we are no longer in the
newspaper business. We are in
the content business. We are information providers. You need suppliers who understand and support
that vision. ■
3
Marc Verbiest
[email protected]
Editorial.
Newspapers
Feature
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
For your own copy of Inter:face
by email or in the post, go to
http://graphics.agfa.com/
world of newspaper production is an extremely complex process.
Customers want more than the right technology; they want
a reliable ongoing relationship. While customer
Production Notes.
relationships have always been high on Agfa’s
All prepress using Agfa systems.
list of priorities, Kurt chartered a mission for his
The following AgfaType fonts
group to speed up response time. In addition
were used: Hermes and Rotis.
:Thermostar plates imaged on
32
International Publication
for the Media Arts
This issue’s feature
Newspapers
to building the best solution, the goal of the
:Xcalibur 45 using :Sublima
newspaper group is to forge even stronger,
screening technology. Imposition
more co-operative relationships.
and contract proofing with the
:Sherpa digital proofing system.
By featuring stories from newspaper customers
Editorial Committee:
in this issue, we hope to show how Agfa is
Agfa France: Sylvie Gibout
working to respond more readily to customer
2
Putting Technology to Work.
9
The Open House.
How CtP Can Increase Revenue.
Turning It into an Effective Marketing Tool.
10
Predictable Colour.
12
Four-Up CtP.
The Importance of Quality Control.
Small to Mid-Size Printers Embrace All-Digital Workflow.
Agfa Germany: Günter Kopp
Agfa U.K.: Tim Light
needs. We also hope you will see the same
Agfa Iberia: José Mª Corominas
is true for all the segments we serve—
Agfa U.S.: Susan Wittner
commercial, newspaper and packaging.
Agfa Nordic: Eli Mago
Editor: Rosemarie Monaco
Managing editor: Marc Verbiest
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
Associate editors:
Anne-Mie Vansteelant
Bart Verduyn
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.
Credits:
Design, Production and
Write to [email protected]. ■
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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CIM.
Newspapers
Feature
A U T O M AT I O N F O R N E W S PA P E R S .
The printing industr y is only now looking at the ways
to integrate the workflow, while 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?
5
“Newspapers are viewing automation with renewed urgency,” wrote
editor in chief Chuck Moozakis in
the April issue of Newspapers &
Technology (U.S.). “The next revolution? Computer-integrated manufacturing links all print production
functions,” wrote contributing editor
William C. Lamparter for a recent
American Printer cover story.
For other manufacturing industries,
computer-integrated manufacturing
(CIM), a.k.a. workflow automation,
has been evolutionary, not revolutionary. And companies have been
using robots to assemble cars
and fill cereal boxes for
the same reasons.
Newspapers &
Technology
points out
newspapers
are urgently
seeking
automation—to cut
costs, speed
the process,
increase
manufacturing flexibility, minimise
waste, control
inventory and exchange
data. So why the sudden revolution?
What have manufacturers of print
been doing while other industries
were getting automated? Most
importantly, how can newspapers
realise the benefits of automation?
Why a Revolution.
Computer-integrated manufacturing
promises to digitally control every
aspect of manufacturing from
order entry to product delivery.
Surprisingly, it has been around for
nearly as long as computers have
been churning data. It actually
began in the 1950s with the
machines that took instructions
from the coded data contained in
punched paper tape. As computers
got smarter, smart companies gave
them bigger jobs. Before long
unattended robots were assembling
cars and computerised assembly
lines were counting, bottling and
automatically sealing child-proofing
aspirin. Information or Enterprise
technology was the missing link that
allowed CIM to fulfill its promise.
Today, manufacturing operations of
companies like General Motors, use
IT/Enterprise software to interface
with every other department from
order entry to distribution.
The difference between manufacturing cars and newspapers explains
why for newspapers CIM is more
of a revolution than an evolution.
Newspapers have very little control
over content. News and advertising
are dynamic; unlike bucket seats
they are never in the same place.
We cannot control the quality of an
original image the way you could a
spark plug. And unlike car companies, we have to create a newly
outfitted product overnight, every
night. Until recently, the technology
capable of handling so many
variables was just not available.
Finally, newspaper automation technology has arrived. Now we can
control variable data, automatically
position ads, and tell a plate which
cylinder on what press it belongs.
Everything you need to implement
the process of CIM is here.
CIM for Newspapers.
Automating the press room is essential, but to realise the full benefits
of CIM, the press needs to communicate with prepress, prepress with
editorial and advertising, and all of
the above with administration, sales
and distribution.
For print production environments,
automation requires digitisation of
data and the ability to transmit that
information from one end of the
workflow to the other complete with
step-by-step processing instructions.
PDF-based workflow software
streamlines page processing and
data delivery.
Workflow production software is the
key enabler for newspaper production. For maximum effectiveness,
it needs to provide unlimited flexibility. That means it should allow
you to make the digital transformation incrementally, so you can
accomplish your goals comfortably.
And it should be ready to respond
when unexpected needs arise.
Workflow software should be
flexible enough to handle complex,
multi-plant networks as well as
single-site operations. So it can
grow as you do. It needs to automate versioning by swapping page
content for multiple editions. It
should integrate editorial and ad
placement and be able to deliver
instructions all the way to the press
and the shipping department.
Automotive CIM manufacturing
environments engage intelligent
robot cells, replete with scanners
and/or video cams, to search out
and monitor targets for consistently
high quality. Newspapers have quality-control and camera-equipped
closed-loop communication technology to monitor equipment, automatically identify potential problems
and recommend solutions. Future
versions will be able to automatically correct certain malfunctions.
CIM environments also have data
gateways to integrate business
functions with manufacturing. JDF
technology developed specifically
for print environments enables the
exchange of data between production and MIS/IT departments. While
transmitting instructions is hardly
new for newspaper workflows, the
Job Definition Format will be able
to facilitate the exchange of instructions among multiple sites.
CIM also promises automated
process control. It includes communication between prepress and press
rooms to provide instructions for
ink-key settings, colour management, and quality parameters.
Real-time control involves initiating
an action dynamically from your
software interface. Add to this
browser-based remote control, and
you will be able to initiate an action
or check a proof from anywhere,
at any time.
The ultimate goal of CIM is to make
manufacturing as simple as possible,
with a set of instruments that controls every aspect of production the
way a pilot controls an aircraft.
It may be a while before newspaper
production can be controlled from a
single instrument panel. But it won’t
be long before the lines between
prepress and press fade into a
continuous uninterrupted process. ■
Technology
Marketing
Points of View
User Profile
Trends
News
t
6
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.
Quality.
Flexibility.
Performance.
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 .
Grupo Zeta is one of the largest
media conglomerates in Spain.
In addition to operating radio and
television stations throughout Spain,
it publishes 14 dailies, roughly
80 free newspapers, books and
multimedia.
To produce the newspapers, Grupo
Zeta has seven printing sites in
Spain of which Gráficas de Prensa
Diaria is the largest. At the site,
just north of Barcelona in Parets
del Vallès, the state-of-the-art
plant has the capacity to offer
printing and distribution services
to national and international
customers. In addition to producing
El Periódico de Catalunya, a fullcolour Grupo Zeta newspaper, GPD
prints local editions for the dailies
“Agfa has reacted
ver y professionally to
any problem that
has arisen.”
Cinco Dias and AS, among other
titles. GPD technical manager,
Luis Miranda puts the production
capacity during the night hours
alone at around 700,000 copies,
mostly in colour. The entire production process is designed for quality,
flexibility and performance.
The flexibility of the printing centre
is apparent in its printing formats,
which include broadsheet, tabloid
and A4. This allows them to produce
newspapers, magazines and supplements in a great variety of formats
and number of pages. With five
insertion lines, up to 225,000
main products can be provided
with supplements and inserts,
enabling them to be structured
according to regional publishing
criteria. This allows GPD to keep
up with the trend toward ever more
colour and a growing number of
regional variations.
Ser vice.
A Central Component.
GPD consumes around 30,000 plates
per month. To cope with this volume
and at the same time raise the level
of quality, GPD opted for a computer-to-plate workflow. Based on
the technical advantages of the
:Polaris solution and the service
capabilities offered by Agfa, GPD
decided to install three Agfa CtP
systems. “For a production plant
of this size, service is one of the
Newspapers
Feature
7
Grupo Zeta is one of the largest media
conglomerates in Spain. In addition
to operating radio and television
stations throughout Spain, it publishes
14 dailies, roughly 80 free newspapers,
books and multimedia.
central components, and we have
found that during the last two years
Agfa has reacted very professionally
to any problem that has arisen,”
says Miranda.
GPD produces 30 or 40% of the
output within one hour of printing.
However, the three :Polaris systems
are easily able to handle the volume,
and the centralised control of the
entire CtP workflow makes it
possible to supply the presses with
the required plates in good time,
further increasing the capacity
utilisation factor.
A further advantage of the CtP
system is that it has allowed GPD
to extend copy deadlines. Once a
page has been cleared for printing,
the plate can be mounted on the
press within 13 minutes, making
it possible to react rapidly to latebreaking news. But in addition
to the increase in capacity, the
installation of the :Polaris systems
has above all brought greater
reliability and control over the
entire workflow. “In a conventional
process it would take a great many
employees to reach a comparable
level,” explains Miranda. “In this
respect the CtP systems also have
benefits in terms of personnel costs.”
The CtP workflow is now used to
produce nine dailies, and the number
is increasing.
Project CINCO.
With the installation of the three
:Polaris systems in combination
with Agfa’s :N91 photopolymer
plates, Gráficas de Prensa Diaria
has set a level of quality that is
recognised nationally and internationally. When it comes to quality,
Luis Miranda emphasises that it
is now quite possible to keep up
the same level as heatset offset.
“To further raise the level of quality,
GPD is now working intensively
on the ‘CINCO’ project to improve
the quality of colour in Spanish
GPD technical manager, Luis Miranda:
“After the positive experience with Agfa’s
:Polaris CtP systems, Grupo Zeta plans
to convert all its printing sites to digital
platemaking.”
Technology
Marketing
newspapers on the basis of ISO
standard 12647-3. So far around
30 newspaper publishers have joined
this initiative and are working on
development of a national colour
profile. The aim is to offer advertising customers a constant level of
quality and uniform results, even
when production is spread over
several sites. This is an important
process for GPD, because CtP with
our new KBA presses has led to a
significant reduction in dot spread.”
Optimising the Workflow.
Miranda’s team is now working on
further optimising the workflow,
from data input to plate exposure.
“We’re looking for improvements
in data input control, page makeup,
imposition and obtaining data for
controlling the colour areas. After
the positive experience with Agfa’s
:Polaris CtP systems, Grupo Zeta
plans to convert all its printing sites
to digital platemaking.” ■
Points of View
User Profile
Trends
News
t
8
The following is an excerpt from an interview with Kurt Smits, the head of Agfa’s worldwide newspaper business by
Newspaper & Technology publisher, Mary Van Meter. The full interview was featured in the September 2003 issue
of the publication and can be found at http://www.newsandtech.com/issues/2003/09-03/nt/09-03_autologic.htm.
Agfa and
Autologic.
AFTER THE HONEYMOON.
purchase in the future will work
perfectly with what they have today.
This is in addition to the primary
goals of improving productivity
and quality, of course.
Newspapers
Feature
Technology
Marketing
Points of View
User Profile
q
Trends
News
Readers may write
to Kurt Smits at
[email protected]
N&T: What have you learned
from the merger experience
and from taking a closer look
at [the] market?
Smits: The merger was a wonderful
opportunity for us to examine what
customers liked best about each
company and then focus on those
aspects. For example, U.S. customers
liked working with Autologic
because it was a more flexible,
people-centric organisation.
What they like about Agfa is its
breadth of experience and broad
product range. So by combining the
strengths of both companies, we are
shaping an entirely new company
that provides full prepress solutions,
but at the same time has the agility
to respond quickly to customer
needs. We also provide the longevity
of a financially sound worldwide
organisation. That is an important
consideration, especially in an
unstable economy.
As far as technology is concerned,
above all, customers want simplicity.
They want all the automation and
the intricacies of a sophisticated,
integrated workflow, but they
don’t want the complexity. And they
want to know that whatever they
N&T: How will the technology
shake out between Agfa
and Autologic? Will you
eventually abandon the :3850
for the :Polaris, for example,
or vice versa?
Smits: You mustn’t think in terms of
the :3850 or :Polaris. All technology
evolves. It must. Even if Agfa and
Autologic had remained separate
companies, the next :3850 would
be very different from the one sold
a year ago. The idea is to use the
knowledge you gain from customers
and weave it into the next generation. We have the distinct advantage
now of taking the most attractive
features of both technologies and
engineering it into the next generation. But no matter what comes
next, we always try and provide an
upgrade path for current customers.
In Europe, for example, some of
the older :Polaris systems that had
YAG-laser light sources are being
upgraded with violet lasers because
it has now proved to be a superior
technology.
As a manufacturer that means
that we must continue to develop
technology that offers low cost of
ownership with a fast return on
investment. We actually engineer
those factors into the technology.
Our closed-loop CtP solution, for
instance, provides a level of quality
control designed to eliminate
costly errors and unnecessary
plate remakes.
The buyers of technology need to
evaluate total cost of ownership—
everything from the top line to the
bottom line. And that includes the
ability to take the technology into
the future with quality enhancements, such as screening. They have
to factor into the cost of the system
the growth in revenue they will
attain with these added features.
N&T: What challenges do you
see for the industry and how
will Agfa address them?
We have to think long term.
Newspapers will continue to compete with other media. So they
will need to look at other ways of
making print attractive. Screening
technology that raises resolution,
such as :Sublima XM screening,
dramatically improves colour and
quality. But in addition to more
colour, newspapers will move to
more creative versioning, ways to
reach different market niches, and
so on. So we are also looking at
workflow solutions that will make
all of this simple and cost effective.
Smits: We will never look at the
economy in the same way again.
Even as it shows signs of improvement, people will remain cautious.
That means that value is key.
All variables need to be weighed
when making purchasing decisions.
The combined strength of Agfa and
Autologic puts us in prime position
to even more effectively deliver
these types of solutions. We are
one company now. And far better
for it. ■
9
The Open House.
TURNING IT INTO AN EFFECTIVE MARKETING TOOL.
For many, the open house
Know Your Audience.
Time it Right.
There are advantages and disadvantages to mixing the audience.
For example, if you invite corporate
print buyers or marketing managers
along with graphic designers, you
are giving these groups the opportunity to network. The buyers
will meet new designers and the
designers may get new business.
However, this kind of mix can also
work against you. The print buyer
may resent any solicitation and
can be made to feel uncomfortable.
So the very first rule to follow is
know your audience. Make sure it
is a compatible mix.
Would it be best to do this at the
end of the working day so your
customers can stop by on the way
home? Or would they prefer an
excuse to leave work early? Ask
the clients with whom you have a
good relationship what they prefer.
Usually it will work for all your
guests. Don’t keep them too late.
Or, if there is a good reason to make
this more than two hours—provide
more than hors d’oeuvres. A light
buffet will give them reason to stay.
–an event that brings print buyers
on site to see your operation– is
simple enough. It is easy to arrange
and often brings new business.
But the amount of thought and
Technology
q
Marketing
creativity that goes into the
planning is directly proportional to
the level of success you will realise.
Points of View
User Profile
Trends
News
Make sure your
audience is a
compatible mix.
The open house is an effective
marketing event because it brings
print buyers closer, providing them
the opportunity not only to learn
more about your operation, but to
understand the care and attention
you give their projects. It is also
relatively inexpensive. But even so,
in today’s economy every penny
counts. Applying a well thought
out strategy and paying attention
to details will bring a greater return
on your investment.
Give Them a
Reason to Attend.
The installation of a new press is
exciting for you, but may not be
for print buyers, unless you can
demonstrate how it will bring them
value. On the tour of your facility,
explain each technology in terms
of advantages for the buyer—how it
makes their jobs easier or provides
a benefit they require.
Come Up
With a Theme.
Make it intriguing and educational.
“Cut Costs with Higher Quality,”
for example. Then invite your
guests to see how your new screening technology produces photographic quality, saves time and is
economical all at the same time.
Provide an Incentive.
This could be in the form of a
valuable giveaway or an interesting
guest speaker. The valuable giveaway could be a paper or brochure
written specifically for the buyer
on how to get the most out of their
printing purchase. Or invite them to
hear it from an expert.
Communicate Well.
Communicate the theme in the invitation. Include an agenda as well—
the fewer surprises, the better. You
want them to know you respect their
time. Let the reader know what they
will gain by attending—once again
communicate the benefits for the
buyer. Don’t send a letter. Hire a
designer. Make it very professional
and send as many as four invitations
over a period of eight weeks before
the event. Demonstrate the power
of print! ■
10
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 .
Predictable
Colour.
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 profiles that characterise specific devices
so that one can mimic the other. However,
unless you maintain a stable environment, i.e.
institute quality control standards, those
profiles are virtually useless.
11
Quality control is a prerequisite to
colour management. The reason is
simple. A colour profile is created
under certain conditions. Changing
just one of those conditions can
affect colour behaviour. The profile,
therefore, is working with a different
set of specs than you are.
recalibrate using the same target
that was used in the morning.
Removing the Butterflies.
Quality control needs to encompass
all the variables that can affect colour.
Application software also influences
colour perception. Image-manipulation software, such as Photoshop,
comes with its own colour settings.
Once again, the key to avoiding
problems is consistency. Always
use the same application settings
to maintain a stable environment.
Chaos Theory states that complex or
chaotic environments are sensitive
to their starting conditions. The
“butterfly effect” states that the
tiniest change in conditions, like the
flapping of a butterfly’s wings, can
make predicting the behaviour of a
complex environment impossible.
While this discovery was based on
the study of meteorology, it is difficult to overlook the parallel in prepress. If we make sure the starting
conditions are always the same, we
can then predict press behaviour
with a high degree of accuracy.
The tonal values of a proofer, for
instance, can vary over the course of
a day. So even when using the same
colour profile on the same proofer,
the colour may shift in a proof
printed in the evening from one that
was printed early in the morning.
A quality control regimen means
you verify that the proofer is
printing with the same tonal values
in the evening as it did in the
morning, and if it is not, you
Using the same target or standard is
key to maintaining a stable environment. In other words, you need to
ask the same question and get the
same answer.
More Butterflies.
Knowing the many variables that
can influence colour will help you to
develop a checklist for maintaining
stability and implementing quality
control.
Monitors.
• Aging affects consistency of
colour displays as the phosphors
tend to degrade with time.
• Temperature affects monitor
brightness. So colour can vary
from morning to night depending
on the length of time the monitor
was in use.
• Different makes and models have
different characteristics regardless
of the operating system and
software.
• Graphics cards use their own
look-up tables for colour
characteristics.
• Desktop wallpaper can alter
the way colours appear. Black
provides the best backdrop for
true colour.
Proofers.
• Every proofer regardless of make
and model has its own tonal
characteristics.
• Piezo proofers have a wider colour
gamut than thermal proofers.
• Six-colour proofers have a wider
gamut and smoother tonal
rendering than four-colour
models.
• Dye inks have a much wider
colour spectrum than pigment
inks.
• Age and length of time the system
has been running affect colour.
• Paper cast, opacity and texture
affect colour reproduction.
Software.
• Different programmes use
different algorithms to interpret
colour.
Ambient Conditions.
• Fluorescent (blue) lights are
harsh and tend to whiten colours.
• Incandescent (yellow) lights are
soft and tend to make colours
look warmer. ■
Technology
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Product News
t
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.
Kevin Linford, prepress manager (left) and Steve Neuschmid,
general manager (right) from Capital Colour Press at the :Palladio.
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.
Based in Edmonton, Alberta,
Canada, Capital Colour Press, an
MGS Graphics Services company,
has 20 employees and annual
revenues of 3.1 million euros.
The company supplies some of
Canada’s largest corporations and
government offices with the highest
quality printing materials.
The recent conversion to CtP has
helped to enhance that reputation,
by making the company even more
productive. “Our CtP workflow has
cut out hours in our platemaking
process. Once a job is approved,
plates can be at the press within
minutes. The :Lithostar CtP plates
have sped up the make-ready times
and registration on the press, not
to mention the excellent difference
we have seen in the improvement
of the final printed product because
of the cleaner dot the presses are
printing,” said Fred Neuschmid,
MGS president.
In addition to the :Palladio CtP
system, Capital Colour uses
:Apogee Pilot, which helps to
ensure an automated, streamlined
and reliable workflow. This,
Neuschmid said, saves hours in
prepress time. Capital Colour also
uses the :Sherpa 43 inkjet proofer
to provide clients with contract
and imposition proofs, another
benefit to his customers.
“The pictures and graphics jump
right off the page!” says Esther
Rondeau, ESAA’s editor/projects
co-ordinator. “There is nothing
that we have printed in the past
by any printer that can compare
to this quality.”
Rapid ROI.
“To be first is now simply not enough
but faster and more competitive is
vital,” says Paul Haddow, managing
director of Colt Press located in
Witham, Essex in the U.K.
“When we saw the :Palladio violetlaser CtP system we knew that this
would fit into our customer focussed
strategy perfectly,” says Haddow.
“Even so, we determined how many
B2 plates we were making a month,
gave the figures to Agfa and they
provided us with a financial analysis
that showed we would make a
positive return on our investment
(ROI). Even at this early stage we
know they are right.
“When the :Palladio was installed
on the 21st February we moved
seamlessly into production by the
27th—and had the weekend off in
between.” adds Haddow.
The :Apogee workflow system and
the :Sherpa proofing system allowed
Colt Press to easily integrate its
existing CtF into the digital workflow. “It will not be long before
we are 95% CtP,” says Haddow.
“We know exactly where we are
with one supplier who has all the
necessary expertise.
“CtP adds a new dimension to our
business. In such a competitive
environment we need every possible
advantage,” emphasises Haddow.
“With the :Palladio and digital
workflow we’re well underway.”
Economy.
“The violet laser imaging technology
in the :Palladio will save us a lot of
money and material in the long
13
run,” said Susan Goldsmith,
president, Marcus Printing in
Holyoke, Mass. “The :Palladio can
produce a constant stream of readyto-use plates that minimises our
downtime, and keeps the presses
continuously running. We wanted an
affordable, reliable, automated and
fast platesetter—we found that with
the :Palladio,” Goldsmith added.
What made the :Palladio especially
attractive for Marcus Printing was
the complete package the company
was able to get.
“I was able to get everything
from one vendor, including a new
proofing device, the :Sherpa,”
says Goldsmith. Other equipment
Goldsmith looked at, she says,
offered a less than complete picture
for her business. “The :Palladio is
able to run both ‘large’ plates for
our 20 x 28 press and ‘small’ plates
for our 12 x 18 presses. This was
not a viable option with the other
equipment we looked at.”
Productivity.
At Imprimerie du Marais, having
to turn a job around in one day no
longer causes the slightest bit of
worry. “Now we can turn out a
proof on our :Sherpa, along with
a complete set of plates, all within
15 minutes,” says company manager
Jacky Przedorski.
The market for short-run, highquality jobs is an attractive one, and
if you can offer rapid service into
the bargain then success is guaranteed. Imprimerie du Marais is a
perfect illustration of this. Located
in central Paris, France, this small
company with 17 employees
made the transition to CtP with
the acquisition of a :Palladio to
replace its :Avantra 30 imagesetter.
“We already had the server and the
RIP. The only thing that changed
was the platesetter,” emphasises
Przedorski. “We were attracted to the
:Palladio because of its productivity,
flexibility and automation. We turn
out 80 plates per day. The majority
of our customers want the work
done the next day.”
The time necessary for making
plates has been reduced by a factor
of four, while the printing quality
has improved by 20 percent. And
thanks to the ink pre-settings the
printing results are good as of the
third sheet, which means considerable paper savings.
“Our CtP
workflow has
cut out
hours in our
platemaking
process.”
The high degree of automation
enables Imprimerie du Marais to do
with one team of operators what
many other printers do with two.
The system operates automatically,
without anyone having to attend to
it, leaving the operators free to concentrate on printing and finishing.
beginning, since some adaptations
would be needed,” explained
Wellington Bastos, operations
manager. “All our implementation
issues were resolved by the Agfa
technicians. The final result was
gratifying. The Agfa solutions
proved to be completely adaptable
to our workflow,” he said.
Gráficos Burti also decided to install
an :Apogee workflow and an additional :Palladio, fully automated and
with an online processor. Bastos
says this minimises human errors
and maximises the productivity
gains since only one person is able
to carry out the whole process.
According to the Burti numbers,
this represents gains of 40% when
compared to equivalent products.
“The great differential has been the
fact that we can now dedicate a
smaller area to address specific needs
of our clients, thus eliminating the
problem of inserting smaller works
into larger flows, generating obstacles
to productivity,” added Bastos. ■
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According to Przedorski, the
:Palladio puts the company another
step ahead of the competition.
Integration.
Gráficos Burti decided to install an :Apogee workflow and an additional
:Palladio, fully automated and with an online processor.
As one of Latin America’s largest
graphic design, prepress and printing companies, Sao Paulo, Brazil’s
Gráficos Burti is a concrete example
of the need to achieve seamless
workflow integration. To support
the high volume of data circulating
daily through its operation, the
company runs different workflows.
In addition to work generated by
its own agency, Gráficos Burti
receives files from other design
firms.
To ensure rigid quality control,
Gráficos Burti maintains a defined
procedure for converting all
incoming files to PDF format.
The procedure requires, above all,
the adoption of solutions that can
be easily integrated to company’s
complex structure.
This flexibility was put to the test
when the company decided to
acquire a :Palladio computer-toplate system for its smaller print
jobs. “We thought that it would
be somewhat complicated in the
Susan Goldsmith, president, Marcus Printing: “The violet laser imaging
technology in the :Palladio will save us a lot of money and material in
the long run.”
t
14
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.
In the quest for a competitive
advantage printing companies
prepress staff nor management,
wanted to let :Sublima go,” says
Eva Setterwall, prepress manager.
mobile phone display looks like,
even though the photo is very
small,” says Setterwall.
:Sublima employs a patented
technology known as XM (Cross
Modulated) screening. It aligns FM
(Frequency Modulated) microdots
along AM (Amplitude Modulated)
angles and applies AM dots to
Improved image detail is not the
only reason Tidningstryckarna
are pleased with the technology.
Eva Setterwall and Per Andersson,
project manager, say that images
are now moiré-free and “we are now
able to scan images at a higher resolution—300 dpi. Before we couldn’t
scan higher than 170 dpi. And now
we print at 180 lpi compared to
85 lpi,” Per Andersson explains.
around the world and across market
segments look to the newest
screening technologies for answers.
Higher quality is a big seller, especially if you produce newspapers
and need to attract advertisers as
well as commercial clients. The same
is true for commercial printers, yet
here the pressure to print higher
quality faster and cheaper is even
greater. Printing companies in all
market segments are finding that
XM (cross modulated) screening
technology delivers the higher
quality without the higher price.
Commercial Quality
on Newsprint.
Having reached the highest image
quality achievable on cold-set web
presses, Tidningstryckarna AB,
located just outside Stockholm,
Sweden was eager to participate
in a pilot programme for Agfa’s
new screening technology.
“When the test period ended,
none of us, neither press operators,
“Our clients
are spending
less time at
the press.”
midtones for perfectly smooth gradations. The combination retains all
the benefits of AM and FM, yet it
handles as easily as an AM screen.
Today, Tidningstryckarna uses
: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.
“In this catalogue the screening
technology really proves itself,
because it contains many small,
very detailed pictures on each page.
Consumers want to know what a
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.
With :Sublima in place, Eva
Setterwall is convinced that her
employer’s competitiveness has been
improved. “Using this screening
technology we are able to print with
the same quality as sheet-fed offset.
Customers want higher image quality
both in flyers, on front pages and in
very detailed photos,” says Setterwall.
Higher Quality
with No Extra Effort.
Ask Robert Sticher, general manager
of Sticher Printing in Lucerne,
Switzerland, how the market has
changed, and he will tell you it
used to be quality first, price second.
Now it is the other way around.
15
Sticher looks for any means that
will allow his company to offer
higher quality without affecting
turnaround and cost.
“We get sharper images and better
detail rendering, soft skin tones,
uniform print quality, no moiré or
rosette patterns, photo realistic
image reproduction and no visible
raster dots. It even delivers better
quality than stochastic screening,”
says Sticher.
Sticher also notes that :Sublima
requires no additional efforts or
skills from the prepress operators.
“When we switched from :ABS to
:Sublima our printers didn’t notice
any difference on the press,” he says.
The first customers to notice a difference in quality were the professionals—photographers and graphic
designers. “But the best thing about
“I wanted more
than a CtP
system.
I wanted
a competitive
advantage...”
:Sublima is that we can attract new
customers by offering higher quality
for the same money.
“:Sublima is a sales tool,” adds
Sticher. “We organised a training
session for our sales people in cooperation with an Agfa specialist,
to show them how to promote this
new added value.”
Current Customers
Remain Loyal.
Kirkwood Printing is an 80employee commercial printer.
Kirkwood does everything from
large books for travel agencies to
pocket folders. After 30 years in
business, Kirkwood knows quality.
“The quality we get from :Sublima
is a huge leap forward from what
we used to get with Creo,” says
Stan Monfette, prepress director,
Kirkwood Printing. “We’ve gained
Kirkwood Printing is an 80-employee commercial printer. Kirkwood does
everything from large books for travel agencies to pocket folders.
about 15 minutes in our make
readies as well.”
“Our results with :Sublima are much
smoother gradations. There is far
less noise, higher levels of grey, and
the 16-bit output definitely shows.
We look at tints and screens now,
before they had noise in them and
now they are smooth,” Monfette says.
“Our clients are spending less time
at the press adjusting colour. They
just walk in, say it looks great, and
they move on. Agfa looks at quality
and speed. That really shows and
our clients see that and appreciate
it,” Monfette says.
Turning CtP into a
Competitive Advantage.
Komiyama Insatsu Kougyo, headquartered in Tokyo, is primarily a
commercial book printer, known for
its very high-quality colour work.
Among its clients are the Asiatic
Society of Japan, as well as Harvard,
Cambridge and Princeton University
Presses in the U.S.
technology to me. It was very
impressive. I wanted more than a
CtP system. I wanted a competitive
advantage.”
And that’s exactly what he got.
Now Komiyama can impress his
clients with even higher printing
resolutions. Having technology that
delivers exceptional quality, such
as :Sublima, says Komiyama, is the
reason his company wins the bids
for large quality-conscious clients
such as Walt Disney Co.
Clients have noticed the quality
difference with :Sublima. “It’s a
simple sale,” says Komiyama. “All
you have to do is show a sample of
the printing. It speaks for itself.” ■
Technology
Marketing
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“I am very happy with the performance of the :Galileo CtP systems.
But if you ask me why I really
chose them, it was because of
:Sublima,” says Kazuo Komiyama,
president.
Hearing that the screening technology was the deciding factor
for this level of capital investment
may come as a surprise. But not
from Komiyama’s point of view.
“My Agfa rep showed me :Sublima
samples and explained the XM
Robert Sticher,
general manager
of Sticher Printing:
“The best thing
about :Sublima is
that we can attract
new customers
by offering higher
quality for the
same money.”
t
A E R I A L P H O T O G R A P H Y C O M PA N Y
USES INKJET PRINTING
TO CAPTURE NEW MARKETS.
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.
Creative Marketing.
Getmapping planned its move well.
In partnership with the London
Evening Standard newspaper,
Getmapping launched a national promotion offering consumers an aerial
view of their community within a
signed certificate of authenticity.
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At the same time Getmapping
launched a new website where
consumers could order an aerial
image of any neighbourhood in the
UK in the format of their choice—
digitally delivered by email, a highresolution photo-certificate, or
A3 photograph delivered by post.
The campaign was an overwhelming
success. Its new website now has
Getmapping for Business and
Getmapping for the Home to appeal
to this very profitable new market.
Technology Behind
the Success.
Getmapping photographers shoot
from as high as 25,000 feet, with
the average being 5,500 feet. Using
photographs captured at these
heights, Getmapping may have
to scale image detail as much as
1:15,000. Even at the average
enlargement, which is 1:2,000,
the company requires film capable
of capturing exceptional detail.
Getmapping uses :Avicolor film to
achieve the highest possible resolution. “With a photographic partner
such as Agfa, we know the quality
will always be of the highest standard,” says Getmapping marketing
director Rachel Eddy.
With Getmapping’s online service
imagexpressplus, companies or consumers, can roam and zoom across
a map to gain highly detailed aerial
imagery and then have a selection
delivered by email within hours.
“It’s a superb service,” says Rachel.
“It opens up exciting and profitable
opportunities for a range of
organisations that need access
to accurate data.”
For hard-copy photographic output,
Getmapping uses the 50-inch
:Grand Sherpa. When a business
client or consumer requests photographic output, the information is
transmitted to Getmapping’s offices
in Coalville, Leicestershire, where
it is output at high speed on the
:Sherpa.
According to Rachel Eddy, “Our
previous methods involving smaller
inkjet and digital printing devices
were just not coping and now we
have a system which combines high
speed –just two minutes for a full
50-inch print– with high quality
using Agfa’s colour management
profiling software.
“And with Agfa’s new :AgfaJet
media, we’ll get the look and feel
of high quality photographic print
material.”
The Benefit
of Risk.
Getmapping is using the interest
generated at its website to
identify other key markets such
as insurance and estate companies
as well as law-enforcement
agencies.
Getmapping is a lesson in the
importance of being willing to
take a risk. With a little planning
and a lot of ingenuity, any
imaging company can create
new products and generate
new income. ■
17
:Ad Manager V, Version 5.1.
Display ad production and tracking are improved
with :Ad Manager V 5.1, a highly flexible, custombuilt system that provides the capability to easily
build and manage the creation of display ads. It
comes with several new features and supports additional applications and client operating systems.
:AdSuite is the newest client application
that can be found in version 5.1 of :Ad Manager.
:AdSuite offers many display ad functions and
capabilities such as display ad building, web proof
generation, publication tracking of ads, individual
ad tracking and on-line/historical reporting.
Like existing :Ad Manager clients, :AdSuite
offers central and remote ad building and tracking
operations to meet the deadline requirements and
position the operation closer to the advertiser.
:Ad Manager V’s on-line and historical reporting capability has been expanded in version 5.1.
Customers have the ability to take report templates
and generate custom reports for view, output,
and/or exporting. Some of these report templates
include: Sales, Spec Ad, Advertiser and User.
The reports use the system’s relational database
to quickly generate the desired report.
OS-Friendly :Ad Manager V 5.1 now supports
the Macintosh OS X operating system as well as
the Macintosh OS 9 and Windows OS. The support
of both OS X and OS 9 on the same system allows
customers to move display ad building stations and
users to the new OS environment at their own pace.
:Ad Manager V also includes many benefits for
the production and tracking of display ads. Some of
the recent software release benefits include Web
Proofing, PDF workflow and integration with Agfa’s
preflight software.
[email protected]
sharpening intelligently compensates for previously
applied sharpening and maintains integrity of tones.
Improved noise removal corrects artefacts typical in
negative film originals and digital camera files.
[email protected]
Technology
Marketing
Points of View
User Profile
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:N91v Photopolymer Violet Plate
for 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 laser
newspaper computer-to-plate (CtP) systems.
:N91v is undergoing initial customer testing and
first commercial shipments are expected in the
final quarter of 2003.
:N91v builds on the same stable and robust
technology platform of the original :N91, with the
same durable characteristics on press and wide
working latitude that have made :N91 the market
leading CtP newspaper plate.
The new :N91v plate has improved coating
technology, which is sensitive to the 405nm
violet diode. This allows the :N91v plate to be fully
compatible with the popular 30mW violet diode.
It offers CtP systems unprecedented reliability,
low cost of ownership and ultra-sharp imaging
together with affordable system costs.
Accompanying the :N91v are new universal
photopolymer processing systems, :PD91 and
:PD91R. This system –developer and replenisher–
allows the user to enjoy the benefits of low
chemistry consumption, combined with minimal
processor maintenance. The plate making system
has been designed distinctively to answer the
newspaper market’s needs: reliable, consistent
and predictable press performance.
The world’s leading photopolymer plate—
now also for violet lasers.
[email protected]
:IntelliTune 3.0
Image Processing.
:IntelliTune 3.0 is the newest version of Agfa’s
image analysis and tuning software for newspapers.
It automatically tunes and perfects images saving
newspapers 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 corrections for the best reproduction possible.
Upgraded features include an intuitive icondriven user interface and new automatic descreening and despeckling capabilities. Interactive edit
capabilities make the software easier to learn and
more productive to use. Interactive edit also saves
time by allowing standard image editing to be
achieved locally instead of switching to Photoshop.
An improved variable, Skin Target, lets users
adjust skin tone to any preference. Advanced
:AgfaJet Media.
Agfa recently added a new universal wet-strength
paper to its assortment of industry-leading inkjet
media. Universal Wet Strength Paper (UWSP) is a
130 gsm paper, developed for outdoor billboards
that will resist water for up to six weeks with no
loss of image quality. UWSP is a white, general
use, waterfast, matt paper with blue backing for
increased opacity. It provides vibrant high quality
images with good colour saturation on a white
background.
Also available are three self adhesive materials
including: a universal instant-dry photograde paper
(UIPP) with a microporous photo-base RC for high
contrast, photo-like images; a 90 gsm premium
inkjet paper designed for high-quality presentations, colour graphics and poster prints with options
A new universal wet-strength paper for the
:AgfaJet media assortment.
t
18
of low-medium or medium-high ink coverage;
and a flexible vinyl material for high image quality
outdoors.
Agfa’s Universal Front Print Film, available
in 4 and 7 mil thicknesses displays graphics with
vibrant colours and is compatible with all inkjet
inks and printers.
trip to Belgium where they, in addition to shopping
and sightseeing, will attend educational workshops.
The contest theme, “The Power of Print”, reflects
Agfa’s mission to promote print media as one of the
most powerful ways of reaching and influencing
consumers, while encouraging young people to take
part in the future of print media. Full contest rules
are available at www.agfa.com/aycc/2003.
[email protected]
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:Sherpa 44m Proofing System.
:Advantage DL Violet Laser
CtP System.
Agfa has launched its newest violet-laser
computer-to-plate (CtP) system for newspapers.
:Advantage DL offers extreme reliability and
flexibility and a low cost of ownership and at the
same time, thanks to fewer moving parts, the
:Advantage DL is also one of the least complex
devices around.
The :Advantage DL uses violet laser imaging,
a technology that has gained in popularity all over
the world, thanks to its low cost of operation. Violet
laser imaging is fast and accurate and allows the
user to load and handle plates in a convenient
bright yellow safe-light environment.
:Advantage DL works in conjunction with Agfa’s
high-quality screening solution, :Sublima, which
combines AM and FM screening technology known
as “cross modulation” or “XM” screening.
:Advantage DL can be configured for multiple
plate sizes without requiring customisation. The
system can use different plates on a day-to-day
basis. It also meets future needs, when newspaper
publishers may be faced with web reductions or
new press line installations.
The small footprint of :Advantage DL is
designed to take up less floor space, keeping
newspapers’ prepress operations as compact and
efficient as possible. This also allows the unit to
fit alongside existing imagesetter technology,
thereby easing the transition from computer-tofilm to CtP. :Advantage DL supports both the new
:N91v violet photopolymer plate and the popular
:Lithostar Ultra LAP-V.
[email protected]
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Agfa’s “Power of Print”
Contest for Young Creatives.
For more information about Agfa’s
“Power of Print” Contest for Young
Creatives, go to www.agfa.com/aycc/2003.
The seventh annual design competition for graphic
arts 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 poster
that expresses how print influences their world.
The six best designs will be printed on largeformat 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
Gentle Giant
:Grand Sherpa Universal.
The earth-friendly :Grand Sherpa Universal made
its debut in September 2003 as the most advanced,
high-productivity, large format printer available on
the market—and the cleanest too.
:Grand Sherpa Universal uses Eco-Solvent Plus
Plus inks made by Mutoh, which do not spread
volatile organic compounds (VOCs). It does not
require any ventilation equipment in the production
facility, making it a cost effective environmental
solution.
Inter:face is an international publication. Some products and services may not be available in all countries. Please contact your local Agfa dealer or sales office for availability.
:Grand Sherpa Universal prints onto
uncoated as well as coated media.
The newest member of the :Sherpa family of
digital proofers, the: Sherpa 44m is a highresolution inkjet system. Agfa combines its
specially formulated proofing media, advanced
in-RIP colour management and quality control
software with the latest seven-colour piezoelectric inkjet technology to deliver a complete
contract proofing solution.
The :Sherpa 44m features seven multi-density
inks—CMYKK + LC + LM. The light-density inks
improve accuracy in matching pastel tints and
quarter-tone images.
The :Sherpa 44m’s high-resolution piezoelectric inkjet engine takes full advantage of
:ColorTune Pro colour management software and
Agfa’s resin-coated :AgfaJet Digital Proofing Base
to deliver superior quality contract proofs.
:Sherpa 44m offers high resolution (up to
720 dpi) with the smallest possible drop size.
And it accepts paper rolls and cut-sheet paper up
to 44 inches in width.
In addition to providing the industry-standard
output profiles (SWOP, Euro Standard, etc)
:ColorTune Pro lets the user create ICC-based
custom output and proofer profiles. It uses technology-specific mapping algorithms to precisely
match the different gamut of presses used for
specific applications such as newspaper or commercial printing. Custom profiles are editable
and assure accurate reproduction of difficult
neutral colours.
The :Sherpa 44m includes the :Apogee Proofer
RIP, :ColorTune Pro colour management software,
:Quality Management System (:QMS) and :AgfaJet
Digital Proofing Base.
19
:Grand Sherpa Universal makes it possible to
print high-quality displays, banners, posters and
the like onto the majority of all available uncoated
media, such as vinyl and canvas. It produces equally
well on coated material.
The :Grand Sherpa Universal with Eco-Solvent
Plus 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 outdoor
applications such as long-term backlit signage
and 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 Onyx
RIP 6.0, with versatile tools specifically designed
for large format printing that streamline job
management.
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image other media types, such as :Set PrintPlus
polyester plates making it optimal for entry level
CtP applications.
The :Avanxis VIII is an external drum imagesetter for 8-up application. It images at output
resolutions of 1200-4000 dpi. :Avanxis VIII has
a take-up cassette that can easily combine two
different media flows in the same machine. It easily
handles difficult tasks such as multiple separations
of a singe page on the same sheet of media. It can
swiftly process 17-20 forms per hour.
Both :Avanxis models feature a user-friendly
interface that communicates input and output
conditions to the operator. Auto loading-functions
punch, cut and process jobs automatically. Either
system can be incorporated in a multiple vendor
environment using :Apogee RasterBlaster, which
converts files between various output devices.
Please note that :Avanxis IV and VIII will be
available only in the following countries: France,
Iberia, Italy and all Asian countries.
Technology
Marketing
Points of View
User Profile
Trends
News
[email protected]
Agfa Editions of Onyx Workflow
Designed for :Sherpa LargeFormat Printing Systems.
From a single photo enlargement to a high-volume
commercial print operation, Agfa’s newest workflow solutions are designed to fit the individual
needs of large-format printers of all sizes.
Onyx RIPCenter 6.0, Agfa Edition, produces high
quality images for the smaller print environment,
such as ad agencies, graphic design firms and
quick-print shops.
Onyx RIPCenter PHOTO 6.0, Agfa Edition, prints
photo quality images for photographers, portrait
studios and quick print shops. Users can print
directly to the queue from creative applications,
even across networks and platforms.
Onyx PosterShop 6.0, Agfa Edition, hosts extensive pre-flight capabilities and streamlines job
management from multiple printers and creative
sources. It is designed to manage high volume,
large-print operations, such as fine-art reproduction, advertising, trade show displays and high
volume photo printing shops.
Onyx ProductionHouse 6.0, Agfa Edition, offers
optimal automation for versatility and productivity
in the high-volume commercial printing environment, such as short run package production. The
software package comes with two RIPs and support
for four :Sherpas with multiple Hot Folders.
[email protected]
:Arkitex Workflow Automation—
Built from a Solid Foundation.
:Arkitex is a new solution for achieving editorialto-press workflow automation. The new software
was built upon the proven functions of :Plateroom
Manager and :IntelliNet software. Agfa added
greater ease of use, systems integration and
scalability so that a wider variety of newspapers,
as well as contract printers, could benefit from it.
Agfa took the most successful features of the
Agfa and Autologic products—features customers
said they prefer, such as Autologic’s page-pairing
function and :IntelliNet’s planning and reporting
features, and combined them into a single solution.
With this as its foundation, :Arkitex is also
scalable and easy to integrate into any production
environment.
Because it is built on existing technology,
:Arkitex provides an instant upgrade path for
current customers and allows new customers to
incorporate the benefits :Arkitex brings into
their existing workflow. :Arkitex’s open-systems
approach allows it to integrate with ease into
non-Agfa planning and press control systems, for
example. With :Arkitex you do not have to start
from scratch to build an automated workflow;
newspaper printers can use systems that are
already in place. :Arkitex simplifies automation.
[email protected]
Two New CtF Systems—
:Avanxis IV and :Avanxis VIII.
The :Avanxis IV is a capstan based imagesetter for
4-up format jobs. The system’s high repeatability
and accuracy produces quality output at high
speeds. :Avanxis IV can image positive and negative
films such as :Alliance or :Impower-Plus. It can also
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 are
trademarks of Adobe Systems, Inc. which may be registered in certain
jurisdictions. All other trademarks are held by their respective companies
and are used in an editorial fashion with no intention of infringement.
Agfa’s edition of Onyx workflow fits the
individual needs of large-format printers
of all sizes.
:Arkitex Workflow Automation was built
upon the proven functions of :Plateroom
Manager as well as :IntelliNet.
t
The Power of Print.
It’s all around us. Everywhere we go we
see some form of printed material—from
a store coupon to a highway billboard.
Print is one of the most powerful of all
communications mediums. Yet, we take
it for granted. What’s worse, new media
such as flash advertising and email
marketing are attracting the attention
of print buyers and turning it away
from print.
Agfa believes that all of us who are
involved in the production of print,
need to wake up the industry and
remind brand owners and print buyers
of the importance of print. So, the
Agfa-Gevaert Ltd
Graphic Systems Division
27 Great West Road
Brentford
Middlesex. TW8 9AX
Tel.: 020 8231 4929
company will begin a worldwide
campaign targeted to print buyers,
reminding them that print is a critical
component of the media mix. Agfa will
also take part in a number of industry
initiatives to revitalise print.
Another way Agfa is helping its customers to revitalise print is by showing
them how they can turn technology
into value. For example, rather than
simply telling their clients that they
use new screening technology, printers
need to translate the benefits into
values clients can understand, such as
the ability to capture fine details and
Printed in Belgium
Published by Agfa-Gevaert N.V.
B-2640 Mortsel-Belgium
NF4G2 GB 02200311
deliver photo-like reproduction without
it costing any more than conventional
screening.
We aren’t stopping with print
buyers/brand owners and printers.
To bring the power of print to the
attention of young designers, Agfa is
hosting the “Power of Print” contest.
Visit http://www.agfa.com/aycc/2003/
for all the details.
For more information about
the Power of Print contact
[email protected]
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