Automation & Pickle Fulfillment

Automated prepress workflows reduce costs and shorten production cycles for those who can afford substantial investments in hardware, software and training. Fortunately, new software from En-focus helps level the playing field.

PitStop Automate features a simple drag-and-drop interface to route files through a variety of rules-based tasks, such as preflighting, color conversion and proofing. Mid-sized shops can use Automate to enable hands-off processing of incoming PDF and PostScript files enroute to their existing RIPs; large printing companies can pair Automate with existing workflow systems to automate ancillary processes, such as archiving and FTP file transfers.

If you need help getting files into PDF format, Markzware FlightCheck Workflow automatically processes QuarkXPress, InDesign and other file formats through user-defined routines. This inexpensive program is available for Mac and PC workstations, making it easy to automate preflighting, file repair, PDF creation and other repetitive tasks.

Workflow automation was a hot topic at the Vue/Point Conference in Orlando last month. During several sessions, participants stressed automating every possible process, from order entry to the loading dock. “We've automated the day-to-day stuff with our ApogeeX system,” said Christy Miners, CTP supervisor at Democrat Printing, Little Rock, AR, “so now our prepress department is just an emergency room for the really messed-up files.”

Soft proofing also played a dominant role in Vue/Point's panel discussions, with Ed Zepernick, technology director for Continental Web Press, Itasca, IL, revealing that his use of online proofing is driven by customer demands. “Print buyers are trying to squeeze the last dollar out of the process by eliminating all prepress charges,” he observed. “We offer our soft proofs for free, but they must sign off on the proof and they also have to accept the liability.”

In an evening session, RIT's Frank Romano and Adobe's Dov Isaacs outlined the key benefits of the new Adobe PDF Print Engine. This recently announced graphics processing system is poised to replace Adobe's legacy Configurable PostScript Interpreter. While stopping short of predicting PostScript's imminent demise, Isaacs emphasized the PDF Print Engine's native support for transparency, layers and color management. (In the April issue, GAM neglected to mention that the new engine is compatible with all PDF files—not only Creative Suite-generated PDFs.)

Fulfillment had its fans, too, with Joe Metzger, president of Metzgers Printing+Mailing, citing his success offering warehousing and distribution services. Tony Packo's Pickle and Peppers was already a print customer when Metzger suggested that he could also fulfill Packo's orders from his Toledo, OH, warehouse. “A good pickle packer can pack a lot of pickles,” chuckled Metzger.

Vue/Point wasn't all giggles and grins—talk turned serious at the “Printing Across Borders” session when Ray Prince, PIA/GATF senior technical consultant, took aim at the latest GRACoL print reproduction specification (known as the G7 Process).

“What is good and new with G7? Nothing,” blasted Prince, whose concerns centered on its “two click” concept. This controversial approach encourages press operators to monitor gray balance rather than maintain consistent solid ink densities. Author and consultant David Zwang sought to defuse the tension, urging the GRACoL committee to stay focused on its original goal of an international CMYK print standard.