Event Recap: America East
Posted: 5/1/2011 | By: E&P Staff
With noticeably fewer exhibitors, the mood was subdued — yet also defiant — at the America East Newspaper Operations and Technology Conference in March. Agfa Graphics showcased its :Advantage N series of platesetters for small to midsize newspapers as well as the :N92-VCF chemistry-free plate. Its new :Arkitex 7.0 provides a soft-proof comparison that saves time by allowing users to highlight and see exactly what has changed between different versions of the same page. They also can place special furniture on the soft proof, such as alignment, to ensure that page files provided by outside customers are correctly positioned before imaging. Version 7.0 includes flip-book soft proofing — of particular value for commercial work and coldset
printers. Also, the new :Arkitex Essentials workflow was designed with the needs of small and medium-size newspapers in mind.
The :Arkitex IntelliTune 5.0 automated image toning offers magazine-like quality on newsprint. It uses Multi-Dimensional Processing (MDP) to analyze the tone, color, and spatial characteristics of each image and
automatically applies
necessary corrections for the best reproduction on press. Meanwhile, OptiInk technology converts color spaces to ensure consistent printed colors. Using Smart Input Space Recognition, the software addresses many PDF/color problems. It also automatically converts spot colors into CMYK and processes them. With OptiInk, newspapers can save up to 30 percent of their ink costs while attaining faster roll-up times and improved press stability, Agfa said.
New Platesetter
The Krause Smart’n’Easy Jet platesetter made its U.S. debut at America East at the Fujifilm Graphic Systems Division booth. A result of the recognized engineering found in the LS Jet series, the Smart’n’Easy Jet is the core component of the new “Community-Newspaper-System” manufactured by Krause. It offers an opportunity for increased flexibility for today’s small to mid-size publishers and web press operations. The Smart’n’Easy is available as a semi-automatic device or full automatic and is able to achieve production speeds of 90 to 100 plates per hour. (The semi-automatic machine may be upgraded to fully automatic at any time.) The system makes use of a 60mW violet diode, resulting in low cost of ownership and replacement costs, and the Krause Monogon Juwel Optics promise high-quality imaging and reliable plate handling. The system also features optimized interfaces to ensure a smooth transition to CTP for smaller, regional newspapers.
Workflow, Too
Also at America East, Fujifilm came together with PuzzleFlow to create and present automated and efficient workflow solutions designed to cover all aspects of newspaper publishing. Its WebPairer, Automator, and InkSaver solutions help to automate production processes, while also ensuring that prepress systems are operating at maximum efficiency. WebPairer is automated workflow management software consisting of a native PDF processing engine that works with virtually any file format to produce CTP-ready plate files for in-house or remote production. PuzzleFlow Automator optimizes incoming documents, auto-corrects them for prepress issues, notifies operators of any problems, autoresizes ads and pages, and automates the imaging, delivery, archiving, and purging of files. Fujifilm also demonstrated PuzzleFlow InkSaver, a program that helps increase efficiencies and cut costs in the pressroom. Capable of working with existing workflows, InkSaver goes beyond cost savings in CMY ink or toner. The solution also provides a more stable gray axis, meaning better press stability, superior color representation, easier press control, and reduced make- ready time. With the added ink savings, users realize faster ink drying time, improved run performance, greater printing speed,
and faster finishing.
printers. Also, the new :Arkitex Essentials workflow was designed with the needs of small and medium-size newspapers in mind.
The :Arkitex IntelliTune 5.0 automated image toning offers magazine-like quality on newsprint. It uses Multi-Dimensional Processing (MDP) to analyze the tone, color, and spatial characteristics of each image and
automatically applies
necessary corrections for the best reproduction on press. Meanwhile, OptiInk technology converts color spaces to ensure consistent printed colors. Using Smart Input Space Recognition, the software addresses many PDF/color problems. It also automatically converts spot colors into CMYK and processes them. With OptiInk, newspapers can save up to 30 percent of their ink costs while attaining faster roll-up times and improved press stability, Agfa said.
New Platesetter
The Krause Smart’n’Easy Jet platesetter made its U.S. debut at America East at the Fujifilm Graphic Systems Division booth. A result of the recognized engineering found in the LS Jet series, the Smart’n’Easy Jet is the core component of the new “Community-Newspaper-System” manufactured by Krause. It offers an opportunity for increased flexibility for today’s small to mid-size publishers and web press operations. The Smart’n’Easy is available as a semi-automatic device or full automatic and is able to achieve production speeds of 90 to 100 plates per hour. (The semi-automatic machine may be upgraded to fully automatic at any time.) The system makes use of a 60mW violet diode, resulting in low cost of ownership and replacement costs, and the Krause Monogon Juwel Optics promise high-quality imaging and reliable plate handling. The system also features optimized interfaces to ensure a smooth transition to CTP for smaller, regional newspapers.
Workflow, Too
Also at America East, Fujifilm came together with PuzzleFlow to create and present automated and efficient workflow solutions designed to cover all aspects of newspaper publishing. Its WebPairer, Automator, and InkSaver solutions help to automate production processes, while also ensuring that prepress systems are operating at maximum efficiency. WebPairer is automated workflow management software consisting of a native PDF processing engine that works with virtually any file format to produce CTP-ready plate files for in-house or remote production. PuzzleFlow Automator optimizes incoming documents, auto-corrects them for prepress issues, notifies operators of any problems, autoresizes ads and pages, and automates the imaging, delivery, archiving, and purging of files. Fujifilm also demonstrated PuzzleFlow InkSaver, a program that helps increase efficiencies and cut costs in the pressroom. Capable of working with existing workflows, InkSaver goes beyond cost savings in CMY ink or toner. The solution also provides a more stable gray axis, meaning better press stability, superior color representation, easier press control, and reduced make- ready time. With the added ink savings, users realize faster ink drying time, improved run performance, greater printing speed,
and faster finishing.