'Tallahassee Democrat' Installs ProImage NewsWay

By: E&P Staff ProImage, which showed version 5.0 of its NewsWay at Nexpo, installed the newspaper workflow automation solution at Gannett's 47,792-circulation Tallahassee Democrat, where plates are now produced by a Kodak thermal platesetter.

Managing files from DTI editorial, classified and Planbuilder through page pairing to plate exposure, the software has streamlined the workflow, added automation, load balancing, and improved proofing before plates are imaged, according to Randy Fingeroot, the Democrat's IT and safety manager, who cited the simple user interface and short learning period.

Modules installed at the Democrat are PDF Distiller load balancing at RIPs and imagers, automated page pairing for tabloids and quarterfold products, on-plate barcode generation, device management, and hard-copy and soft proofing. A future ink module option can bring digital inkers into the workflow.

Newsway now provides full PDF and TIFF prepress workflow for single or multiple sites, and enhances integration with computer-to-plate and press functionality.

Among new features is a plate-allocation tool, which permits users to define the on-press position of each plate. NewsWay calculates the number of plates to be made and expedites plate output with appropriate text identification and barcodes.

Version 5.0 supports data import from press-control systems, and can cross-reference press and editorial plans to ensure that a given editorial pagination and color configuration can be executed.

ProImage developed ABB's MPS Plateworkflow, and version 5.0 creates a tighter and more efficient integration of the program with ABB's production software.

At Nexpo, ProImage also launched two products. NewsWay Blaze, an easily installed boxed PDF workflow solution for smaller papers, includes edition planning and tracking, page pairing and real-time production monitoring. An integrated RIP gives post-RIP WYSIWYG soft previews of pages. For secure Internet proofing and approval, the iNewsProof server enables authorizes users to check ads or pages. If they are approved, the server communicates by encrypted link with the NewsWay production server, allowing approved pages to continue through the workflow.