Prepress

EFI Launches EFI XF 4.1 Colour Management System for Commercial, Sign & Display, Packaging and Remote Proofing

Monday 01. February 2010 - Offers Comprehensive Cutting-Engine Support, Powerful RGB Workflow, Enhanced Colour Handling, Support for Newest Industry Standards, Extended Printer Support, Seamless Integration to EFI Web Control Center and More

EFI today announced the immediate availability of its newest upgrade to the EFI XF software series. Key features include comprehensive cutting-engine support and powerful RGB print workflow. This offers users a one-stop inkjet production solution. The latest spot colour enhancements and extended support of the Epson WT7900 provides the packaging market with a high-quality, cost-effective solution. EFI XF v4.1 integrates seamlessly with EFI Web Control Center, EFI’s web-based application for remote control and distribution of print jobs. These new features have been added to all EFI XF products: EFI Fiery XF for large to superwide format, production printing, Fiery XF for Rastek, VUTEk and Jetrion as well as EFI Colorproof XF.

“Our goal is to help our customers become as profitable as possible”, said Stefan Spiegel, general manager of EFI’s Graphic Arts Solutions Group in Ratingen, Germany. “The new tools incorporated into EFI XF 4.1 are designed to do just that. We’ve added remarkable colour output improvements, a dedicated cutting solution and updated PDF print engine and standards support that allow XF-driven printers to be more productive and deliver higher quality in any workflow.”

Mario Levers, head of production for Toppack Summen & Bergs GmbH, a leading packaging prepress solution provider based in Ahaus-Wüllen, Germany uses EFI Colorproof XF with the Epson Stylus Pro WT7900 for packaging proofing. “This solution provides the most comprehensive and cost effective solution for packaging proofing in my opinion. The output quality in terms of (spot) colour accuracy and dot quality on both transparent and metallic media, as well as XF’s flexibility in handling white printing, is extraordinary,” said Levers.

NEW FEATURE OVERVIEW

EFI Cutting Engine Support
A dedicated Cut Server provides a seamless connection to 1,200 cutters and routing tables from 70 manufacturers. The software generates cut marks for single jobs, nestings, and step & repeats. It lets users scale, rotate and crop jobs. The Cut Server option can drive up to eight cutting engines at a time.

In addition to the new EFI Cut Server Option, a new “Print & Cut” Option increases productivity by enabling one-step printing and cutting, alternatively cutting-only, on “Print & Cut” supported printers.

Enhanced Linearisation
EFI XF 4.1 includes a new wizard for the creation of advanced linearisations for any VUTEk printer/ink/media combination. In addition to improved ease-of-use, the enhanced linearisation provides a unique custom black point definition. It automatically calculates and recommends various ink limits and linearisation parameters while allowing customers to easily and visually verify linearisation settings. The VUTEk linearisation uses the gamut of any VUTEk printer to its fullest and leads to eye-catching colour output, smooth transitions and sharp text rendering.

RGB Contone Driver, Linearisation and Profiling
EFI XF 4.1 includes RGB contone drivers for many Epson and Canon printer models. The RGB drivers ensure smooth colour gradations, increased RIPing speeds and simplicity of profile generation.

Improved Optimiser Functionality
This new feature optimises matching between CMYK ICC reference and RGB, CMYK, CMYKOG and CMYKRGB media profiles.

Spot Colour Overprint & Measurement Devices
EFI XF 4.1 improves spot colour overprint simulation for spot colours on process colours and spot colours on other spot colours. It also includes new support for the Barbieri Spectro LFP Basic.

Visual Correction Tool
A new LinTool merges Visual Re-Linearisation and Plate Compensation into one Visual Correction tool that can be saved in either format. It also includes an extra spot colour channel that defines printer white and gloss enhancer gradation curves in vcc files and it defines the gradation curve for all spot colours in vpc files.

Enhanced Dynamic Wedge
Enhanced Dynamic Wedge provides an out-of-gamut warning in Job Explorer for spot colours compared against media profile. It also provides job-specific key colours analysis and optimisation of process colours and spot colours, process colours only or spot colours only.

Usability Enhancements

EFI XF 4.1 also provides added ease of use with features such as the XF Uploader tool to quickly upload colour files (e.g. profiles, linearization, spot colour tables etc.) to the XF Server; the server file maintenance tool to flexibly define profile, job and output folders; enhanced footer placement; enhanced systems manager and colour verifier GUI, and much more.

New Supported Technologies and Standards
-Supported Operating Systems:Mac OS X 10.6; -Windows 7
-Adobe CPSI 3019
-Adobe PDF Print Engine 2.0.4004.5
-IDEAlliance ISO 12647-7 2009 Color Control Wedge
-Latest FograCert evaluation test form
-Support of DYMO LabelWriter Series Duo and Twin Turbo for label printing of verification results

New Printer Drivers
Epson Stylus Pro 2880 (RGB Contone)
Epson Stylus Pro 3800 (RGB Contone)
Epson Stylus Pro 3880 (CMYK & RGB Contone, CMYK Halftone)
Epson Stylus Pro 4880/7880/9880/11880 (RGB Contone)
Epson Stylus Pro x700 Series (CMYK & RGB Contone, CMYK Halftone)
Epson Stylus Pro x900 Series (RGB Contone, CMYK Halftone)
Epson Stylus Pro WT7900 (CMYK Contone & Halftone)
OKI C910 (1-Bit / Multilevel) / ES9410dn (Multilevel)
Mimaki CJV30-60/-100/-130/-160 (Windows only / Print & Cut device)
Mimaki JV33-260 (Windows only)
Rastek H650
Seiko ColorPainter H-74s / H-104s