The Heidelberg Workflow System with a Whole Raft of New Functions
04/01/2004
New Prinect functions improve JDF workflow integration and
ensure transparency throughout the entire process
Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) will be presenting a comprehensively extended and further developed Prinect workflow at drupa 2004 with the goal of further improving overall integration with JDF. This will enable printshops to further increase the transparency of their management and production workflows and benefit from the associated cost savings.
New functions in the management sector
In the area of management the Prinect Prinance industry software is an important component in an integrated Prinect workflow. It covers all aspects of the complete printshop management process, from preliminary costing, order processing and invoicing to post-costing. The version which will be showcased at drupa includes additional functions enhancing the suitability of Prinect Prinance as a reliable solution for costing and order processing. The printshop planning tool Prinect Data Control will feature extended JDF functions for drupa. This new interface to industry software systems will comply with the open standard of the CIP4 organization.
New functions in the prepress sector
Thanks to comprehensive enhancements of the Prinect Printready System, the Prinect MetaDimension output system, and the completely newly developed Prinect Signa Station 1.0 software for planning, producing and managing print sheets, Heidelberg has consolidated the Prinect Prepress Workflow into a fully integrated, open, JDF-based prepress workflow. The new Prinect Calibration Toolbox and Prinect Profile Toolbox products enable color to be accurately managed from original to press. The new workflow products' comprehensive array of functions and complete automation ensure high throughput. It is also possible to combine offset and digital in an integrated workflow.
New functions in the press sector
In the press sector, Heidelberg will be showcasing the new version of its high-end color measuring system Prinect Image Control, featuring an enhanced palette of functions and improved integration in the overall workflow. Numerous new functions in Prinect CP2000 enable even more efficient operation and integration of Speedmaster presses into the Prinect Workflow. The Prinect Online Kit offers additional functional enhancements and integration possibilities for the Printmaster PM 52 and PM 74.
"These numerous functional enhancements in the Heidelberg Prinect Workflow are evidence of how seriously the company is taking the development of open JDF-based workflow systems. In this way Heidelberg is underpinning our customers' investments and assuring their long-term competitiveness," says Dr. Klaus Spiegel of the Heidelberg Management Board.
The new Prinect products in detail:
Prinect in the management sector
Prinect Prinance 4.4.2
Prinect Prinance 4.4.2, which will be on show at drupa, features functional enhancements which further improve the suitability of Prinect Prinance as a reliable solution for day-to-day estimation and order processing. For example, the PeP Manager offers new approaches to paper ordering, and can be used without materials management. Delivery distribution lists with up to 2000 customer addresses can now be imported into Prinect Prinance for each job. It is also possible to output several selected delivery notes in one Word document. Further lists and statistics have also been implemented. For instance, records are kept to indicate which operator has deleted which transaction. Customer-related evaluations can be generated for each operator and order lists output. The first customer installations will take place before drupa.
Alongside functional enhancements, Heidelberg has also improved open integration with the production workflow. In addition to being directly linked to Prinect Printready System, Prinect Signa Station, Prinect Data Control, Prinect CP2000 Center, Prinect Online Kit or Prinect FCS 100, Prinect Prinance will also feature an open JDF interface to production areas. As in all Prinect products, the Prinect Prinance JDF interface will comply with the CIP4 Organization's JDF standard, with the goal of enabling open integration of all production areas.
Prinect Prinance is the standard industry software for small and mid-size printshops in the commercial and industrial print sectors. It accompanies and supports the entire flow of information in the printshop - from order winning and production to delivering the finished product to the customer. Prinect Prinance is available in 20 countries worldwide in 10 languages; further versions are already being planned.
Prinect Data Control 6.0 (JDF)
Heidelberg will unveil the new Prinect Data Control Version 6.0 at drupa 2004. This production and information system is based on modern operating system platforms such as Windows Server and Windows XP Professional on the client side. The open interface to industry software systems, which has long been available, has been enhanced with JDF functions. This new interface to industry software systems will comply with the open standard of the CIP4 Organization, in which Heidelberg, a co-founder, intensively participates in the continued development of JDF. The first customer installations with various industry software providers are planned for drupa.
The open JDF integration of industry software systems with Heidelberg presses and postpress machines is already possible with Prinect Data Control. Prinect Data Control automatically transfers job data to the presses and postpress machines and returns the operating and production data to the software for analysis. If the Prinect Prepress Interface is in place, the presetting data and thumbnails are automatically attached to the job. Various applications, including shift monitoring and a convenient job overview, provide information on the current job status. The optional "Production planning" application, an electronic planning board, can be used to schedule connected machines online. This enables an immediate response to any changes that may occur. The current utilization of production facilities and current job status can also be viewed in real time on the clearly set-out display.
Prinect in the prepress sector
Prinect Printready System 2.0
Automation for offset and digital printing
JDF 1.2-based Prinect Printready System 2.0 supports highly integrated operation with Prinect MetaDimension 5.0 and NexStation 3.0. All of the output processes supported by Prinect MetaDimension 5.0 can be planned as process steps in the Printready workflow. This means that the generation of thumbnails, proofs, digital sheets in TIFF-B format and the high-resolution output to CTP, the Quickmaster DI and now also the Digimaster are integrated as process steps in the Printready workflow.
The linkup of NexStation 3.0 allows Prinect Printready System 2.0 to output on the NexPress, thus leveraging an integrated workflow for offset and digital printing.
Improved linking of management information systems
Prinect Printready System 2.0 ensures a significantly improved link to management information systems such as Prinance via the new JDF 1.2 standard. Specific customer data, job data and information on the production process such as print run sizes or due dates are transferred from the MIS system's JDF. After the proof has been created and approved and the plate has been imaged, status
information is returned to the MIS system where it can be used for tracking the order's progress and for post-costing.
Modules for integrating the end customer in the production workflow
Prinect Printready PDF Approval Mail and Prinect Printready Remote Access provide the possibility of integrating the end customer in the production workflow - PDF Approval Mail via the mail-based PDF Approval Workflow and Remote Access via the Internet- and browser-based PDF Approval Workflow. These modules also provide an approval workflow based on the pixel data generated for the soft proof and the Internet-based upload and download of data. The Remote Access module supports user rights administration, mail notification functions and secure data transfer. The Content Manager module is a further addition to the Prinect Printready System. Printready Approval Mail, Printready Remote Access and Printready Content Manager are fully integrated into the Prinect Printready Cockpit for Workflow control and automation.
Functional improvements
Prinect Printready System 2.0 makes it possible to automate the complete workflow from creating the job and receiving the data to outputting the plate and forwarding the preset data to the printroom, so that once the PDF data has been transferred to the job folder the proof, form proof and even the printing plate can be output without any further operator intervention. This is just one of the enhancements requested by Prinect Printready 1.0 and 1.2 customers which has now been incorporated in the new 2.0 version to relieve the workload on operators. Prinect Printready System 2.0 features even better performance and scalability.
Prinect MetaDimension 5.0
Even faster with new Adobe technology
The integration of the new Adobe PostScript 3 Interpreter 3016.102 has considerably increased the performance of Prinect MetaDimension. The possibility of parallel processing on several processors has played a major role in significantly improving performance and making output processes much faster. The new interpreter supports unlimited processing of PDF 1.5 documents.
Alongside utilizing Prinect MetaDimension as a RIP in an automated Prinect Printready Workflow, Prinect MetaDimension and Prinect Signa Station can also be used for a layout-controlled workflow if automation and MIS integration are not a high priority. Thanks to the Prinect Workflow components' modular design, such entry-level workflows can be extended easily into the layout design processes of the Prinect Signa Station and Prinect MetaDimension RIP while still retaining existing investments.
Prinect Signa Station 1.0
Efficient print sheet management
Heidelberg will unveil Prinect Signa Station 1.0 at drupa 2004, a completely new software which significantly simplifies the planning, creation and management of print sheets and substantially reduces makeready times thanks to the preparation of preset data for press and postpress.
Easy, reliable operation, shorter job processing
The new software features an assistant which guides the user step-by-step through the impositioning process. Print sheets for the job can be created in a few steps and, since the user can select from a range of templates, processing times are cut per job.
Jobs are displayed and structured in the new Prinect Signa Station in a way that corresponds to the product and production structure. A job might consist of several parts such as cover and contents. The appropriate folding and print sheets are displayed for each part, in order to satisfy the needs of both printroom and postpress. The user can also print out this information in tabular form, where required.
High flexibility, easier job setup, rapid postpress
The impositioning concept of the new Prinect Signa Station allows considerable flexibility. Thanks to the separation of folding sheets and print sheets, changes in production, for example changing over from a Speedmaster SM 74 to a Speedmaster SM 102, can be effected quickly. In addition, several folding sheets can be positioned on one printing sheet or a folding sheet can be combined with individual data sheets.
The new Prinect Signa Station offers many functions to make jobs easier and quicker. It is possible to assign mark sets to the print sheet which dynamically adapt to the paper size used. The user then avoids the task of assigning individual marks in every job.
Using a powerful folding scheme editor, which allows virtual folding on the monitor, customized schemes can be created for sheetfed, web offset and digital printing.
Prinect Signa Station supports five different binding types, which can also be combined in one job. For postpress, Prinect Signa Station can automatically incorporate a gripper fold or a postfold into the folding sheet.
High-quality graphic display and seamless integration in the JDF workflow
The graphic display of the Prinect Signa Station is a further highlight. The print sheet with its folded sheets, pages and marks can be controlled via the monitor. This is facilitated to an even greater extent by the monitor also displaying the dimensions of the print sheet.
The display also shows the printing plate and the start of printing on the press, so that printability can be checked on the monitor at an early stage.
Integrating the new Prinect Signa Station in a PPF- or JDF-based workflow comes with a great many advantages. The Prinect Signa Station can process information from the job costing phase based on the Job Definition Format (JDF). It also generates presetting data for printing and finishing operations, thereby ensuring shorter makeready times and increased reliability throughout the entire production process.
PDF Toolbox
In order to meet the demands created by the increasing use of PDF documents in prepress, Heidelberg has extended its PDF Toolbox.
In addition to its numerous functions for automatic and user-defined trapping, the Prinect Trap Editor 4.0 (formerly Supertrap) now includes special features for packaging printing as standard. Additional new features are overprint settings and the possibility to handle complex bitmaps separately.
The Heidelberg Color Management Module (CMM) is included in Prinect Color Editor 2.0 (formerly Supercolor). Support of the current ICC 4.0 specifications enables conversion of multicolor and grayscale images with customized profiles. A further innovation is the ability to generate a coating separation, a fact that allows the printer to conveniently create object-dependent coating areas with just a few mouse clicks.
Prinect PDF Assistant 1.0 provides numerous ways of analyzing PDFs for their printability and modifying these where necessary. This includes a PDF report which troubleshoots PDFs and clearly identifies any problems. A geometry and separation tool is also included in the scope of delivery. Page parameters can be automatically adapted and "gray" PDFs can be easily repaired. Register control is a further innovation, allowing all the pages or sheets of a PDF to be checked for register accuracy and adapted as necessary. PDF files can also be "merged", for example to combine different language versions into one basic layout. Layout control enables a PDF that has just been imposed to be broken down again, in order to incorporate last-minute corrections like color adjustments, trapping changes, or even content modifications.
Prinect Profile Toolbox
The "Prinect Profile Toolbox" contains the new version 5 of "PrintOpen" for creating ICC output profiles and the all-new "Quality Monitor" program for monitoring the quality of color printing and proofs.
PrintOpen 5 comes with an array of new functions
PrintOpen 5 measures actual spectral values on the test form. This is particularly useful as all desired values, such as LAB, XYZ, CMYK or density values can be calculated from these measurements.
The program also recognizes optical brighteners in papers and the software is capable of filtering these out. The new iterative proof correction enables precise profile calculation for the proof, which minimizes mid-range color inaccuracies from proof to print.
Existing profiles can be adjusted with the new profile conversion function if there are minor changes to the configuration to be profiled. This can often save the time-consuming process of printing and measuring a test form.
New Quality Monitor
The new Quality Monitor enables comprehensive comparisons of two measuring data sets, for example the difference between proof and print and/or the printing standard or the differences occurring in a print run.
The evaluations can be displayed on screen in various different views or output as a printed report. Several measuring data sets can be read in and compared for a long-term evaluation. These enable analysis of the ink behavior over longer periods of time. As a result, the quality standard can be documented and color fidelity is no longer left to subjective decisions.
With the "Certified Proof" control, the Quality Monitor proof report satisfies the very latest requirements for digital proofing and delivers a report on the color accuracy of the proof, based on a media scale which can be freely selected by the user. This report can be output along with the proof in the form of a certificate.
The Color Interface software module of Prinect Image Control comes as standard with the new Prinect Profile Toolbox.
Prinect Calibration Toolbox
The new "Prinect Calibration Toolbox" allows user-friendly generation and management of calibration data as well for for the linearization of filmsetters and platesetters and also offers print process calibration for the entire printing process. The software has been optimized for output with Prinect MetaDimension.
The data sets for the calibration can be organized in groups according to the type of device in question. In plants that have several imagesetters, this provides a means for arranging and managing the curves for every imagesetter. If a printshop is using more than one imagesetter of the same type and with the same consumables, then the Calibration Toolbox is capable of organizing a central data pool which provides the RIP imagesetter stations with the correct curves for each job. This guarantees a consistent level of quality for every station.
The user can easily create new curves based on an existing calibration. If a parameter changes, for example if the dot gain alters within certain limits during printing, then there is no need to go right back to the start and print and measure a new test form. The changes can be factored into the existing curve, meaning that an adjusted curve is quickly available for the next plate set.
What's more, a central color management workstation can be set up in the printshop thanks to the shared installation of the Profile Toolbox and Calibration Toolbox.
Prinect in the press sector
Prinect Image Control 3.0
The Prinect Image Control high-end color measurement system offers a greater range of functions and improved overall integration in the Prinect Workflow. New functions such as customized user levels and a repeat database for the "single copy comparison and copy transfer in the image" function aim to make handling as user-friendly as possible during setup and the production run. The Memory Plus software module also enables data exchange between several Prinect Image Control systems.
Color Interface is an additional software module for fast and accurate generation of ICC color profiles which is provided with the new Prinect Profile Toolbox profiling software. And Prinect Image Control comes with even more technical innovations to further improve quality control.
The exceptional worldwide sales successes of Prinect Image Control and Prinect Axis Control only serve to confirm the increasing popularity of professional color measuring systems. Both systems perform spectrophotometric measurement and their analysis is based on the colorimetric control patented by Heidelberg. These features coupled with direct online color control mean that process reliability is significantly increased when it comes to color management.
Prinect Auto Register
Prinect Auto Register is the world's first inline register measuring and control system for sheetfed presses and automatically ensures perfect registration on the press. The circumferential, lateral and diagonal registers are controlled fully automatically during both makeready and the production run. As well as the prepress connection, new search marks can also be used to quickly locate marks during makeready. This means that Prinect Auto Register can be utilized more effectively during makeready and guarantees reliable inline register control for all Speedmaster presses in 50x70 and 70x100 formats.
Digital Print Control Elements (Dipco) 2.0
Coordinated, digital measuring elements exercise important control functions in the digital workflow. That's why Heidelberg is offering comprehensive digital measuring and control patches in the form of its new Dipco package. The package is included as standard with the Prinect Signa Station, Prinect Axis Control, Prinect Image Control and Prinect Auto Register. In addition to the various Prinect color bars
which are geared to suit Heidelberg ink zone ranges, the Dipco package also includes register marks, control patches for the plate copy and measuring blocks for determining the process characteristics.
The Prinect/FOGRA color bars for 35x50, 50x70 and 70x100 formats are also new and were developed in close cooperation with FOGRA Forschungsgesellschaft Druck e.V. in Munich.
The latest release of the Dipco package, version 2, now contains all the key measuring elements for digital production from prepress to press.
New features on the Prinect CP2000 Center
At drupa 2004 in Dusseldorf, Heidelberg will be unveiling a great many innovations for the Prinect CP2000 Center which ensure more efficient operation and integration of Speedmaster presses.
The new user interface for the color touchscreen display not only ensures maximum usability but also comes with new functions, such as the central machine overview, maintenance messages, storable washup programs and additional language versions. An expanded characteristics database for selecting different ink presettings and direct transfer of various production parameters (printing stock, ink, etc.) enables an automatic interplay between the Prinect Printready System, Prinect MetaDimension and the new Prinect Prepress Interface version 3.2. And in addition to online connection to the prepress stage with Preset Link, the ManagementGate software module now also comes with the new Prinect Press Reporting evaluation program.
Prinect Press Reporting has the ability to evaluate press and job data from the last 100 jobs and display it clearly in the "job report" or "shift record". The "press status" function also provides up-to-the-minute information on the press status. All reports can be accessed with Microsoft Internet Explorer from one or more PCs which have access to the printshop network. If the Prinect CP2000 Center is equipped with the Prinect Axis Control color measuring system and the Axis Control Reporting software module, five different quality reports can be generated and printed out at any time in with Prinect Press Reporting, in addition to the job reports.
Prinect Press Reporting not only offers a great deal of transparency in the printshop but also records quality, thereby creating a flexible link between production and management.
Prinect Online Kit for the Printmaster PM 52 and PM 74 with Prinect Classic Center
The Prinect Online Kit is now capable of integrating all Speedmaster presses equipped with a CPTronic/CPC 1-04 control console into a printshop's digital workflow in module form. As well as effective job management features which can store up to 250 jobs, presetting data can be transferred online from Prinect Prepress Interface or linked directly to industry software with the ManagementGate software module. The Prinect Online Kit expands the range of functions on the presses considerably and is a significant step toward a networked printshop.
This enhanced range of functions and integration possibilities supported by the Prinect Online Kit will be unveiled for the first time at drupa 2004 on the Printmaster PM 52 and PM 74 with Prinect Classic Center.
For further information:
Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
Corporate Communications
Matthias Hartung
Tel.: +49 (0)6221 92 50 77
Fax: +49 (0)6221 92 50 46
E-mail: matthias.hartung@heidelberg.com
Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) will be presenting a comprehensively extended and further developed Prinect workflow at drupa 2004 with the goal of further improving overall integration with JDF. This will enable printshops to further increase the transparency of their management and production workflows and benefit from the associated cost savings.
New functions in the management sector
In the area of management the Prinect Prinance industry software is an important component in an integrated Prinect workflow. It covers all aspects of the complete printshop management process, from preliminary costing, order processing and invoicing to post-costing. The version which will be showcased at drupa includes additional functions enhancing the suitability of Prinect Prinance as a reliable solution for costing and order processing. The printshop planning tool Prinect Data Control will feature extended JDF functions for drupa. This new interface to industry software systems will comply with the open standard of the CIP4 organization.
New functions in the prepress sector
Thanks to comprehensive enhancements of the Prinect Printready System, the Prinect MetaDimension output system, and the completely newly developed Prinect Signa Station 1.0 software for planning, producing and managing print sheets, Heidelberg has consolidated the Prinect Prepress Workflow into a fully integrated, open, JDF-based prepress workflow. The new Prinect Calibration Toolbox and Prinect Profile Toolbox products enable color to be accurately managed from original to press. The new workflow products' comprehensive array of functions and complete automation ensure high throughput. It is also possible to combine offset and digital in an integrated workflow.
New functions in the press sector
In the press sector, Heidelberg will be showcasing the new version of its high-end color measuring system Prinect Image Control, featuring an enhanced palette of functions and improved integration in the overall workflow. Numerous new functions in Prinect CP2000 enable even more efficient operation and integration of Speedmaster presses into the Prinect Workflow. The Prinect Online Kit offers additional functional enhancements and integration possibilities for the Printmaster PM 52 and PM 74.
"These numerous functional enhancements in the Heidelberg Prinect Workflow are evidence of how seriously the company is taking the development of open JDF-based workflow systems. In this way Heidelberg is underpinning our customers' investments and assuring their long-term competitiveness," says Dr. Klaus Spiegel of the Heidelberg Management Board.
The new Prinect products in detail:
Prinect in the management sector
Prinect Prinance 4.4.2
Prinect Prinance 4.4.2, which will be on show at drupa, features functional enhancements which further improve the suitability of Prinect Prinance as a reliable solution for day-to-day estimation and order processing. For example, the PeP Manager offers new approaches to paper ordering, and can be used without materials management. Delivery distribution lists with up to 2000 customer addresses can now be imported into Prinect Prinance for each job. It is also possible to output several selected delivery notes in one Word document. Further lists and statistics have also been implemented. For instance, records are kept to indicate which operator has deleted which transaction. Customer-related evaluations can be generated for each operator and order lists output. The first customer installations will take place before drupa.
Alongside functional enhancements, Heidelberg has also improved open integration with the production workflow. In addition to being directly linked to Prinect Printready System, Prinect Signa Station, Prinect Data Control, Prinect CP2000 Center, Prinect Online Kit or Prinect FCS 100, Prinect Prinance will also feature an open JDF interface to production areas. As in all Prinect products, the Prinect Prinance JDF interface will comply with the CIP4 Organization's JDF standard, with the goal of enabling open integration of all production areas.
Prinect Prinance is the standard industry software for small and mid-size printshops in the commercial and industrial print sectors. It accompanies and supports the entire flow of information in the printshop - from order winning and production to delivering the finished product to the customer. Prinect Prinance is available in 20 countries worldwide in 10 languages; further versions are already being planned.
Prinect Data Control 6.0 (JDF)
Heidelberg will unveil the new Prinect Data Control Version 6.0 at drupa 2004. This production and information system is based on modern operating system platforms such as Windows Server and Windows XP Professional on the client side. The open interface to industry software systems, which has long been available, has been enhanced with JDF functions. This new interface to industry software systems will comply with the open standard of the CIP4 Organization, in which Heidelberg, a co-founder, intensively participates in the continued development of JDF. The first customer installations with various industry software providers are planned for drupa.
The open JDF integration of industry software systems with Heidelberg presses and postpress machines is already possible with Prinect Data Control. Prinect Data Control automatically transfers job data to the presses and postpress machines and returns the operating and production data to the software for analysis. If the Prinect Prepress Interface is in place, the presetting data and thumbnails are automatically attached to the job. Various applications, including shift monitoring and a convenient job overview, provide information on the current job status. The optional "Production planning" application, an electronic planning board, can be used to schedule connected machines online. This enables an immediate response to any changes that may occur. The current utilization of production facilities and current job status can also be viewed in real time on the clearly set-out display.
Prinect in the prepress sector
Prinect Printready System 2.0
Automation for offset and digital printing
JDF 1.2-based Prinect Printready System 2.0 supports highly integrated operation with Prinect MetaDimension 5.0 and NexStation 3.0. All of the output processes supported by Prinect MetaDimension 5.0 can be planned as process steps in the Printready workflow. This means that the generation of thumbnails, proofs, digital sheets in TIFF-B format and the high-resolution output to CTP, the Quickmaster DI and now also the Digimaster are integrated as process steps in the Printready workflow.
The linkup of NexStation 3.0 allows Prinect Printready System 2.0 to output on the NexPress, thus leveraging an integrated workflow for offset and digital printing.
Improved linking of management information systems
Prinect Printready System 2.0 ensures a significantly improved link to management information systems such as Prinance via the new JDF 1.2 standard. Specific customer data, job data and information on the production process such as print run sizes or due dates are transferred from the MIS system's JDF. After the proof has been created and approved and the plate has been imaged, status
information is returned to the MIS system where it can be used for tracking the order's progress and for post-costing.
Modules for integrating the end customer in the production workflow
Prinect Printready PDF Approval Mail and Prinect Printready Remote Access provide the possibility of integrating the end customer in the production workflow - PDF Approval Mail via the mail-based PDF Approval Workflow and Remote Access via the Internet- and browser-based PDF Approval Workflow. These modules also provide an approval workflow based on the pixel data generated for the soft proof and the Internet-based upload and download of data. The Remote Access module supports user rights administration, mail notification functions and secure data transfer. The Content Manager module is a further addition to the Prinect Printready System. Printready Approval Mail, Printready Remote Access and Printready Content Manager are fully integrated into the Prinect Printready Cockpit for Workflow control and automation.
Functional improvements
Prinect Printready System 2.0 makes it possible to automate the complete workflow from creating the job and receiving the data to outputting the plate and forwarding the preset data to the printroom, so that once the PDF data has been transferred to the job folder the proof, form proof and even the printing plate can be output without any further operator intervention. This is just one of the enhancements requested by Prinect Printready 1.0 and 1.2 customers which has now been incorporated in the new 2.0 version to relieve the workload on operators. Prinect Printready System 2.0 features even better performance and scalability.
Prinect MetaDimension 5.0
Even faster with new Adobe technology
The integration of the new Adobe PostScript 3 Interpreter 3016.102 has considerably increased the performance of Prinect MetaDimension. The possibility of parallel processing on several processors has played a major role in significantly improving performance and making output processes much faster. The new interpreter supports unlimited processing of PDF 1.5 documents.
Alongside utilizing Prinect MetaDimension as a RIP in an automated Prinect Printready Workflow, Prinect MetaDimension and Prinect Signa Station can also be used for a layout-controlled workflow if automation and MIS integration are not a high priority. Thanks to the Prinect Workflow components' modular design, such entry-level workflows can be extended easily into the layout design processes of the Prinect Signa Station and Prinect MetaDimension RIP while still retaining existing investments.
Prinect Signa Station 1.0
Efficient print sheet management
Heidelberg will unveil Prinect Signa Station 1.0 at drupa 2004, a completely new software which significantly simplifies the planning, creation and management of print sheets and substantially reduces makeready times thanks to the preparation of preset data for press and postpress.
Easy, reliable operation, shorter job processing
The new software features an assistant which guides the user step-by-step through the impositioning process. Print sheets for the job can be created in a few steps and, since the user can select from a range of templates, processing times are cut per job.
Jobs are displayed and structured in the new Prinect Signa Station in a way that corresponds to the product and production structure. A job might consist of several parts such as cover and contents. The appropriate folding and print sheets are displayed for each part, in order to satisfy the needs of both printroom and postpress. The user can also print out this information in tabular form, where required.
High flexibility, easier job setup, rapid postpress
The impositioning concept of the new Prinect Signa Station allows considerable flexibility. Thanks to the separation of folding sheets and print sheets, changes in production, for example changing over from a Speedmaster SM 74 to a Speedmaster SM 102, can be effected quickly. In addition, several folding sheets can be positioned on one printing sheet or a folding sheet can be combined with individual data sheets.
The new Prinect Signa Station offers many functions to make jobs easier and quicker. It is possible to assign mark sets to the print sheet which dynamically adapt to the paper size used. The user then avoids the task of assigning individual marks in every job.
Using a powerful folding scheme editor, which allows virtual folding on the monitor, customized schemes can be created for sheetfed, web offset and digital printing.
Prinect Signa Station supports five different binding types, which can also be combined in one job. For postpress, Prinect Signa Station can automatically incorporate a gripper fold or a postfold into the folding sheet.
High-quality graphic display and seamless integration in the JDF workflow
The graphic display of the Prinect Signa Station is a further highlight. The print sheet with its folded sheets, pages and marks can be controlled via the monitor. This is facilitated to an even greater extent by the monitor also displaying the dimensions of the print sheet.
The display also shows the printing plate and the start of printing on the press, so that printability can be checked on the monitor at an early stage.
Integrating the new Prinect Signa Station in a PPF- or JDF-based workflow comes with a great many advantages. The Prinect Signa Station can process information from the job costing phase based on the Job Definition Format (JDF). It also generates presetting data for printing and finishing operations, thereby ensuring shorter makeready times and increased reliability throughout the entire production process.
PDF Toolbox
In order to meet the demands created by the increasing use of PDF documents in prepress, Heidelberg has extended its PDF Toolbox.
In addition to its numerous functions for automatic and user-defined trapping, the Prinect Trap Editor 4.0 (formerly Supertrap) now includes special features for packaging printing as standard. Additional new features are overprint settings and the possibility to handle complex bitmaps separately.
The Heidelberg Color Management Module (CMM) is included in Prinect Color Editor 2.0 (formerly Supercolor). Support of the current ICC 4.0 specifications enables conversion of multicolor and grayscale images with customized profiles. A further innovation is the ability to generate a coating separation, a fact that allows the printer to conveniently create object-dependent coating areas with just a few mouse clicks.
Prinect PDF Assistant 1.0 provides numerous ways of analyzing PDFs for their printability and modifying these where necessary. This includes a PDF report which troubleshoots PDFs and clearly identifies any problems. A geometry and separation tool is also included in the scope of delivery. Page parameters can be automatically adapted and "gray" PDFs can be easily repaired. Register control is a further innovation, allowing all the pages or sheets of a PDF to be checked for register accuracy and adapted as necessary. PDF files can also be "merged", for example to combine different language versions into one basic layout. Layout control enables a PDF that has just been imposed to be broken down again, in order to incorporate last-minute corrections like color adjustments, trapping changes, or even content modifications.
Prinect Profile Toolbox
The "Prinect Profile Toolbox" contains the new version 5 of "PrintOpen" for creating ICC output profiles and the all-new "Quality Monitor" program for monitoring the quality of color printing and proofs.
PrintOpen 5 comes with an array of new functions
PrintOpen 5 measures actual spectral values on the test form. This is particularly useful as all desired values, such as LAB, XYZ, CMYK or density values can be calculated from these measurements.
The program also recognizes optical brighteners in papers and the software is capable of filtering these out. The new iterative proof correction enables precise profile calculation for the proof, which minimizes mid-range color inaccuracies from proof to print.
Existing profiles can be adjusted with the new profile conversion function if there are minor changes to the configuration to be profiled. This can often save the time-consuming process of printing and measuring a test form.
New Quality Monitor
The new Quality Monitor enables comprehensive comparisons of two measuring data sets, for example the difference between proof and print and/or the printing standard or the differences occurring in a print run.
The evaluations can be displayed on screen in various different views or output as a printed report. Several measuring data sets can be read in and compared for a long-term evaluation. These enable analysis of the ink behavior over longer periods of time. As a result, the quality standard can be documented and color fidelity is no longer left to subjective decisions.
With the "Certified Proof" control, the Quality Monitor proof report satisfies the very latest requirements for digital proofing and delivers a report on the color accuracy of the proof, based on a media scale which can be freely selected by the user. This report can be output along with the proof in the form of a certificate.
The Color Interface software module of Prinect Image Control comes as standard with the new Prinect Profile Toolbox.
Prinect Calibration Toolbox
The new "Prinect Calibration Toolbox" allows user-friendly generation and management of calibration data as well for for the linearization of filmsetters and platesetters and also offers print process calibration for the entire printing process. The software has been optimized for output with Prinect MetaDimension.
The data sets for the calibration can be organized in groups according to the type of device in question. In plants that have several imagesetters, this provides a means for arranging and managing the curves for every imagesetter. If a printshop is using more than one imagesetter of the same type and with the same consumables, then the Calibration Toolbox is capable of organizing a central data pool which provides the RIP imagesetter stations with the correct curves for each job. This guarantees a consistent level of quality for every station.
The user can easily create new curves based on an existing calibration. If a parameter changes, for example if the dot gain alters within certain limits during printing, then there is no need to go right back to the start and print and measure a new test form. The changes can be factored into the existing curve, meaning that an adjusted curve is quickly available for the next plate set.
What's more, a central color management workstation can be set up in the printshop thanks to the shared installation of the Profile Toolbox and Calibration Toolbox.
Prinect in the press sector
Prinect Image Control 3.0
The Prinect Image Control high-end color measurement system offers a greater range of functions and improved overall integration in the Prinect Workflow. New functions such as customized user levels and a repeat database for the "single copy comparison and copy transfer in the image" function aim to make handling as user-friendly as possible during setup and the production run. The Memory Plus software module also enables data exchange between several Prinect Image Control systems.
Color Interface is an additional software module for fast and accurate generation of ICC color profiles which is provided with the new Prinect Profile Toolbox profiling software. And Prinect Image Control comes with even more technical innovations to further improve quality control.
The exceptional worldwide sales successes of Prinect Image Control and Prinect Axis Control only serve to confirm the increasing popularity of professional color measuring systems. Both systems perform spectrophotometric measurement and their analysis is based on the colorimetric control patented by Heidelberg. These features coupled with direct online color control mean that process reliability is significantly increased when it comes to color management.
Prinect Auto Register
Prinect Auto Register is the world's first inline register measuring and control system for sheetfed presses and automatically ensures perfect registration on the press. The circumferential, lateral and diagonal registers are controlled fully automatically during both makeready and the production run. As well as the prepress connection, new search marks can also be used to quickly locate marks during makeready. This means that Prinect Auto Register can be utilized more effectively during makeready and guarantees reliable inline register control for all Speedmaster presses in 50x70 and 70x100 formats.
Digital Print Control Elements (Dipco) 2.0
Coordinated, digital measuring elements exercise important control functions in the digital workflow. That's why Heidelberg is offering comprehensive digital measuring and control patches in the form of its new Dipco package. The package is included as standard with the Prinect Signa Station, Prinect Axis Control, Prinect Image Control and Prinect Auto Register. In addition to the various Prinect color bars
which are geared to suit Heidelberg ink zone ranges, the Dipco package also includes register marks, control patches for the plate copy and measuring blocks for determining the process characteristics.
The Prinect/FOGRA color bars for 35x50, 50x70 and 70x100 formats are also new and were developed in close cooperation with FOGRA Forschungsgesellschaft Druck e.V. in Munich.
The latest release of the Dipco package, version 2, now contains all the key measuring elements for digital production from prepress to press.
New features on the Prinect CP2000 Center
At drupa 2004 in Dusseldorf, Heidelberg will be unveiling a great many innovations for the Prinect CP2000 Center which ensure more efficient operation and integration of Speedmaster presses.
The new user interface for the color touchscreen display not only ensures maximum usability but also comes with new functions, such as the central machine overview, maintenance messages, storable washup programs and additional language versions. An expanded characteristics database for selecting different ink presettings and direct transfer of various production parameters (printing stock, ink, etc.) enables an automatic interplay between the Prinect Printready System, Prinect MetaDimension and the new Prinect Prepress Interface version 3.2. And in addition to online connection to the prepress stage with Preset Link, the ManagementGate software module now also comes with the new Prinect Press Reporting evaluation program.
Prinect Press Reporting has the ability to evaluate press and job data from the last 100 jobs and display it clearly in the "job report" or "shift record". The "press status" function also provides up-to-the-minute information on the press status. All reports can be accessed with Microsoft Internet Explorer from one or more PCs which have access to the printshop network. If the Prinect CP2000 Center is equipped with the Prinect Axis Control color measuring system and the Axis Control Reporting software module, five different quality reports can be generated and printed out at any time in with Prinect Press Reporting, in addition to the job reports.
Prinect Press Reporting not only offers a great deal of transparency in the printshop but also records quality, thereby creating a flexible link between production and management.
Prinect Online Kit for the Printmaster PM 52 and PM 74 with Prinect Classic Center
The Prinect Online Kit is now capable of integrating all Speedmaster presses equipped with a CPTronic/CPC 1-04 control console into a printshop's digital workflow in module form. As well as effective job management features which can store up to 250 jobs, presetting data can be transferred online from Prinect Prepress Interface or linked directly to industry software with the ManagementGate software module. The Prinect Online Kit expands the range of functions on the presses considerably and is a significant step toward a networked printshop.
This enhanced range of functions and integration possibilities supported by the Prinect Online Kit will be unveiled for the first time at drupa 2004 on the Printmaster PM 52 and PM 74 with Prinect Classic Center.
For further information:
Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
Corporate Communications
Matthias Hartung
Tel.: +49 (0)6221 92 50 77
Fax: +49 (0)6221 92 50 46
E-mail: matthias.hartung@heidelberg.com
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