CTP - Computer to Plate
Fujifilm delivers ongoing improvements at Friday-Ad
Friday 02. July 2010 - One of the best known names in the magazine publishing world, Friday-Ad, is now benefiting from the implementation of Fujifilms XMF Processor, a native PDF and JDF RIP, which has been installed at the companys factory in Hassocks, West Sussex. The site, which Friday Ad moved into in 2000, already boasts two Fujifilm Luxel News 80 CTP systems that output around 800 Fujifilm violet photopolymer plates per week.
“The Fujifilm pre-press equipment serves our 128-page web offset Goss Universal 45, which is used to print the various editions of Friday-Ad, and our five-colour Sakurai B2 press that handles a wide range of high-quality commercial work,” says pre-press operator Chris Green. “These two presses obviously operate in very diverse spectrums of the market and we rely on the flexibility of the Fujifilm technology to ensure a seamless supply of plates to meet both requirements.
“The majority of files for the Friday-Ad work are created internally in PostScript format, while most commercial jobs arrive direct from customers as PDFs. Among its many tasks, XMF Processor has to convert, on an ongoing basis, large numbers of colour images into black and white for reproduction in Friday-Ad. As with all of the other functions it carries out, the RIP does this seamlessly.”
The West Sussex plant uses around 600 Fujifilm Brillia LP-NNV plates a week on its Goss press and 200 Brillia LP-NV plates on its Sakurai press, the latter usually printing at 200 lpi. The two Fujifilm Luxel News 80 CTP systems are operated side by side, linked to one plate punch-bender.
“Fujifilm did an excellent job in squeezing the two CTP systems into the limited space that was available and provided very good training immediately afterwards,” says Chris. “With the flexibility offered by the pre-press system and the installation of the Sakurai press, we were able to target a wide range of markets such as the local garden centres, car salerooms, estate agents, etc.
“Most of these require short run lengths and were very pleased with the versatility of the Fujifilm line in meeting these changing requirements. The implementation of XMF Processor has improved the workflow even further. Today, the productivity through our pre-press system is more than 70 per cent higher than what we could achieve with our previous equipment. In addition, this has been accompanied by less plate damage and improved image quality.”
XMF Processor features an easy-to-use interface with simple job management and workflow creation, combined with the power of the Adobe PDF Print Engine (APPE). The integrated normaliser allows Postscript to PDF conversion along with document colour management and a suite of other controls. Optional preflight, trapping, JDF import and PDF export are available.
“The Fujifilm equipment has proved to be very user-friendly while Fujifilm itself has provided a very comprehensive and professional after-sales service,” says Chris.