Prepress
PrintFactory sets the reference for large format production efficiency
Monday 08. November 2010 - PrintFactory 4.1 introduces JDF compliancy, variable data handling and true shape nesting
Four Pees, exclusive world-wide distributor of the PrintFactory software suite for banner, sign and super wide format printing announces the immediate availability of PrintFactory 4.1. With this new version, PrintFactory becomes the most complete large format production suite in the market.
Advanced automation and integration through JDF
With Four Pees as alliance partner of HP in the creation of JDF features and specifications for wide-format applications, PrintFactory 4 is one of the first software suites to extensively support JDF for standards-based integrated production automation. It produces and consumes JDF on different levels.
The PrintFactory Editor prepares a job for production: tiles, grommets, tunnels, true shape nesting, color edits, shape edits, etc. It produces JDF instructions directly to the PrintFactory RIP or to the next workflow component (e.g. 3rd party RIP).
The PrintFactory RIP consumes JDF and processes a job according to the embedded specifications, including standardized/normalized printing.
PrintFactory offers different possibilities to fully automate most tasks and integrate with Web-to-print and MIS/ERP systems. This is done through JDF-based logging of each of the processes so that jobs can be tracked throughout the flow.
JDF-based variable data template files, populated with the actual variable data in the RIP, can be used by PrintFactory.
Expanded Editor functionality
The Editor is the PrintFactory application for job preparation, job verification and correction. Version 4.1 features a completely new Finishing Tool. This tool makes applying finishing elements like folds and tunnels for flags, grommets (or eyelets) and seams for banners a breeze. You can freely set folds, extra bleed, grommets and fold lines to the design. The new Combine Tool introduces True Shape Nesting and Variable Data handling. On Step-and-Repeat jobs, True Shape Nesting will detect the actual edges of an object and optimize the media usage based on the actual shape of the object rather than its bounding box. The Combine Tool also allows introducing variables in a design and link them to a data file with text and images for variable data printing.
PrintFactory 4.1 also adds “Preflighting”. Preflighting can check color space, text size, image resolution and other aspects of a file before sending it to production. The PrintFactory Editor allows you to create checklists and reports and fix errors when opening a file, avoiding expensive mistakes or other quality issues, not immediately visible on screen.
More intuitive and faster color profiling
PrintFactory 4.1 has a completely revamped Calibration and Profiling Wizard for more accurate, more productive and more economic printer profiling. Apart from a new ink-bleeding chart the wizard also features new quality/ink consumption presets:
“Economy”: uses a minimum amount of ink but can compromise print quality
“Quality”: maximizes the print quality, no restriction on ink amount
“Quality ECO”: optimizes the ink usage while maintaining the quality, providing best of both worlds
New printers
This new version of PrintFactory introduces support for the HP Scitex LX and Roland VP, XC, SP and RS models.
Pricing and availability
PrintFactory 4.1 is available immediately and is free to existing 4.0 users. The JDF and Variable Data capabilities come as Add-On options.