CTP - Computer to Plate
alfaQuest Technologies, Inc. Announces New alfa CTP Workflow Automation
Tuesday 25. March 2008 - alfaQuest Technologies is pleased to announce the release of the new alfa CTP Workflow, an automated workflow designed to greatly simplify the transition from film to CTP.
This new prepress workflow suite is modular and scalable to better meet specific client production requirements and capital budgets. alfa CTP Workflow is based on open industry format standards and runs natively on both OS X and Windows operating systems.
Key features of alfa CTP Workflow include single page processing for post-RIP page proofing and fully automated post-RIP page pairing and imposition. Multiple levels of in-line halftone dot soft proofing are a standard feature to insure that every plate is output correctly and to eliminate job errors from reaching the press.
Advanced features include automated PDF file pre-flighting, RGB to CMYK color conversion, rich black to 100% black type conversion, native processing of transparency layers, PDF 1.2 through 1.6 and, and accurate font emulation.
A powerful Web browser-based Production Manager Console is used to control all aspects of the Raster Image Processor (RIP). Multiple users can simultaneously receive real-time production status reports, control print queues, review detailed job information and soft proof RIPped pages across the network. This integral component provides an easy-to-use graphic interface for monitoring production processes to keep work moving on time to completion.
alfa CTP Workflow incorporates client specified standardized job naming conventions to provide advanced automated file routing and a broad range of dynamic prepress task automation. Actions take place automatically as pages are RIPped, allowing any number of publications to be processed simultaneously as pages are received, in any order and for any number of different jobs or publications.
Full and semi-automated PDF or post-RIP page pairing and imposition is included, depending on client requirements and throughput volume. Any type of layout template for page pairing or commercial imposition is easily created using a built-in layout wizard. Layout templates can be saved and re-purposed, or modified, to quickly meet any production requirement.
The alfa CTP Workflow system can also include an Internet Soft Proofing System for real-time delivery of raster PDF proofing files that accurately show how a job will print down to the actual halftone dot of the screened separations. Proofs of RIPped pages are automatically posted in the Internet Proofing System by publication date, name, section, zone and page number. This in turn provides wide-area production soft proofing, approval and rejection accountability and publication progress reporting capabilities.
The alfa CTP Workflow Internet Soft Proofing System allows standard browsers and PDF viewing tools such as Apple’s Preview and Adobe’s Acrobat to be used to review and remotely print halftone dot proofs to any type of PDF compatible proofer. The system also allows proofs to be emailed out to any recipient.
alfa CTP Workflow also provides production personnel a more extensive raster soft-proofing capability using a client-based application from any licensed workstation on the network. Used for final quality control of page paired and imposition flats, this client software allows users to quickly view and approve output from multiple RIP’s prior to imaging. Advanced features include plate merging, plate deletion, fast selectable image magnification, front to back soft proofing, verification of maximum and minimum ink limits and many other powerful quality control issues.
ROOM (RIP Once Output Many) technology is built into the core of the workflow, allowing jobs to be RIPped just once to provide the workflow with both the proof and one-bit TIFF separations for each process color in the job.
alfa CTP Workflow options which allow refinement to meet virtually any production requirements include: Stochastic Screening, TrapPro Full, CIP3 ink presets, ColorPro ICC Color Management, and JDF enabler