Work Flow: News
Features
E-COMMERCE: wait and see?
Feb 1, 2001 12:00 AM, ALLISON K. MCLEAN
As online solutions evolve, printers are taking a cautious approachThis past year was a roller coaster ride for many e-commerce solution providers. New solutions fought first to establish an identity, and, in the wake of April's stock market downturn, for survival.So what should we expect in 2001? Management realignments and staffing cutbacks were initiated by some of the major players, as others'
FOUR-UP FLATBED CTP
Jan 1, 2001 12:00 AM, AMERICAN PRINTER STAFF
ESun has launched a four-up flatbed computer-to-plate (CTP) system for small to medium-sized printers. Developed using patented holographic imaging technology, the eSunPlater2230 reportedly enables high-quality flatbed CTP imaging. It can be configured with a variety of visible light lasers - including red, blue and green - and image polyester and aluminum plates and film, at 2540 dpi and 1270 dpi.
the WEB gets personal
Jan 1, 2001 12:00 AM, AMERICAN PRINTER STAFF
Digital printer enhances client marketing campaigns through Internet-enabled, variable data printingThe Internet has altered the way companies conduct direct marketing. It has led to detailed customer profiles, sophisticated data mining and one-to-one marketing solutions. SunAmerica Mutual Funds (New York City), which recently entered the 401(k) business, is using the Internet in a marketing campaign
four-up goes mainstream
Jan 1, 2001 12:00 AM, By Don Monkerud
Though printers still need to carefully consider plates and features, cost and technology are no longer barriers to four-up CTP adoptionWhile technological advances made in the CTP area may have less to do with adoption rates than with digital workflow and customer demands for faster job turnaround, CTP manufacturers have nevertheless unveiled an array of new four-up platesetters. By lowering the
PROS AND CONS OF DIGITAL PROOFING
Jan 1, 2001 12:00 AM, AMERICAN PRINTER STAFF
Forty-three percent of customers have unrealistic expectations about the benefits of contract-quality digital proofing, according to respondents of a digital proofing study by GATF (Sewickley, PA). Of those customers, 83 percent had unrealistic expectations about the technology reducing proof price, and 42 percent about the reduction of turnaround times.GATF's Digital Proofing Study, Part VI documents
LARGE-FORMAT SCAN SOLUTIONS
Jan 1, 2001 12:00 AM, AMERICAN PRINTER STAFF
VIDAR introduces three solutions for the large-format market. Designer 1600 is a compact, high-resolution (1600-dpi) sheetfed scanner that accommodates up to A1 (D-size) formats. CopySystems 3.2 is the latest version of the scan-to-print software for reprographics applications. This version offers accounting, job tracking and management capabilities to enable higher profitability in scanning-for-profit.
PROOFING METALLIC COLORS
Jan 1, 2001 12:00 AM, AMERICAN PRINTER STAFF
DuPont Color Proofing has developed a more accurate way to proof Pantone metallic colors. Its Waterproof Color Versatility System can proof process printing colors and thousands of custom colors on both sides of the actual printing stock. A "Metallic Color Blending Guide" for the analog proofer is online at www.dupont.com/proofing. The firm also announced the commercialization of the WaterProof Color
Imagesetters and beyond: CTP options for quick printers
Jan 1, 2001 12:00 AM, by Katherine O'Brien, Editor | kobrien@primediabusiness.com
Much has been written about new CTP options for midsize and larger commercial printers. But what if you're a smaller printer and can't justify investing in a thermal, violet or UV platesetter? What if a digital press doesn't figure into your plans?Not to worry - there's a CTP solution for you, too. Options for quick printers include converted
DOUBLE-SIDED PROOFING
Jan 1, 2001 12:00 AM, AMERICAN PRINTER STAFF
Tekgraf, Inc. announces the SpinJet 1000 double-sided imposition proofing system from TechSage. It is an automated add-on solution for the Hewlett-Packard (HP) DesignJet 1050C and 1055CM large-format printers. The SpinJet 1000 system captures the roll-fed and cut front page from the printer and reloads the cut sheet for printing on the reverse side. Used in combination with the HP DesignJet, it enables
from Quick to Commercial
Nov 1, 2000 12:00 AM, SAMANTHA HOOVER
Taking chances, going digital and just plain moxie put these printers a step aboveDespite the blurring line between quick printers and commercial printers, the former remain distinctive from the start. Unlike commercial printers - many of whom have a long history in the graphic arts - quick printers are more likely to be entrepreneurs who went into printing because of it was an attractive business
Extending the workflow
Oct 1, 2000 12:00 AM, AMERICAN PRINTER STAFF
An all-digital workflow and the Internet boost productivity Sexton Printing (St. Paul, MN) is like any smaart printing company trying to stay efficient while keeping up with industry demands.Seeking ways to streamline and speed up its operations, the 50-year-old, 80-employee company - which produces multi-page, four-color publications for corporations, learning and medical institutions, and non-profit
Choices 2000: What's new in CTP
Oct 1, 2000 12:00 AM, MAYU MISHINA
NEW AND EXISTING TECHNOLOGIES OFFER COMPUTER-TO-PLATE OPTIONS FOR ALL PRINTERS The many introductions into the computer-to-plate (CTP) arena at Drupa 2000 and Graph Expo are a boon for printers seeking platesetter options.With these entries have come discussions over the merits of violet technology versus thermal, and the potential of processless plates in the future.Agfa unveiled the 430-nm Galileo
CREOSCITEX - PLATELESS TECHNOLOGY
Oct 1, 2000 12:00 AM, AMERICAN PRINTER STAFF
CreoScitex (Vancouver, Canada) demonstrated its SP plateless digital printing technology at Graph Expo 2000 in Chicago. The SP process utilizes fluid lithographic materials that are applied to a press as thin coatings. After application, a thermal laser imaging system switches the lithographic properties of the coatings to create an image. Creo Products Inc. holds fundamental patents on this technology
TELECOM TURNS ASP
Aug 1, 2000 12:00 AM, MAYU MISHINA
As printers get a handle on their electronic transmission needs, telecom providers move to a broader ASP model.What a difference a year makes! It's trite but true. A year ago, a discussion of telecommunications would have centered around digital file transfer, and which providers offered the security, speed and other benefits necessary to deliver the MB-heavy files common to the graphic arts industry.A
DIGITAL WORKFLOWS
Jul 1, 2000 12:00 AM, DAVID L. ZWANG
Drupa's workflow offerings confirmed the industry's direction to all things digital and PDF-based.The term "workflow" has lost much of its meaning over the past few years as marketing teams have begun applying it to even the simplest of tasks. Computers have allowed us to automate many of the production tasks that are a part of our daily lives, and it seems as if any form of process or task automation
Who's who in E-commerce
Jun 1, 2000 12:00 AM, Mayu Mishina
Many e-commerce vendors say they enhance workflow--here's howIf the 1980s were the "me" decade, will the 1990s and early millennium qualify as the "e" decades?Even at a few years old, e-commerce has already begun to dominate the printing industry marketplace. According to Steven Schnoll, a former printer of 30-some years and principal of e-commerce consultancy Schnoll Media Consulting (New Providence,
THE WEB IN YOUR WORKFLOW
Jun 1, 2000 12:00 AM, David L. Zwang
New tools for print procurement, file transfer, preflighting and moreThe process of print publishing is being transformed. Unlike the changes that have occurred during the past 10-15 years, however, these new changes go beyond just affecting the production processes that occur in the prepress area or pressroom. Many new products and services are beginning to address the business of doing business,
KNOW YOUR RIP
May 1, 2000 12:00 AM, Douglas E. Roorbach
RIP is an acronym for raster image processor. What it does may be a little tougher to explain. To truly grasp the concept, think back more than 150 years to the invention of the telegraph. Samuel Morse discovered that he could send a message by alternating the current, off and on, and by varying the length of how long it was off or on. Now let's jump forward about a hundred years. Computers take the
DESPERATELY SEEKING PERFECT PROOFS
May 1, 2000 12:00 AM, Brian P. Lawler
When a printer spends $2,599,950 on a new press, he or she expects perfection in the printing produced by that machine.When a printer spends $259.95 for an inkjet printer, he or she expects nothing less than the same perfection and-by extension-that the sub-$300 printer should easily make a proof that equals the quality of the more valuable press.A few years ago, we would have found the same printer
STRENGTH IN NUMBERS: CLUSTER PRINTING
May 1, 2000 12:00 AM, Paris Walker
A short-run, on-demand solution targets midrange marketFor this article, we asked Paris Walker, a charter member of PrintImage International who operated his own printing business for 24 years, to conduct a panel discussion with cluster printing system users. Walker, a PrintOwners list participant (see www.printweb.org), posted a message inviting users to contact him privately. Six printers did: Derek
