Agfa And Esko Demo Combined Workflows At Drupa

Agfa and Esko-Graphics are showing the results of their close cooperation to link Esko-Graphics' Scope packaging pre-production tools with Agfa's production automation servers.

Agfa and Esko-Graphics are showing the results of their close cooperation to link Esko-Graphics' Scope packaging pre-production tools with Agfa's production automation servers through PDF and JDF at Drupa 2004.

The companies believe that the mixed workflows clearly demonstrate the power of PDF as the preferred data carrier for graphics, and for packaging applications.

In their mutual commitment to the CIP4 standards organisation, Agfa and Esko-Graphics also cooperate to drive the appropriate developments of JDF capabilities to better support packaging workflows.

Sample configurations using Deskpack (for one-up creation) and Plato (for step-and-repeat) at the creation side, and then driving Apogee X for output are being demonstrated live on Agfa's Drupa stand (Hall 6, Stand D27) and subsequently in Agfa's main demo centres.

"With this cooperation and the joint demonstrations, we want to highlight that Agfa systems seamlessly integrate through industry standards with dedicated tools for the packaging industry," commented Kris Vangeel, Agfa's packaging business director.

"Agfa is not directing its development of packaging solutions towards creative tools, but rather strives to integrate its products with those from market leaders in packaging design solutions.

With Apogee X, we focus on openness, connectivity, productivity and production automation.

Combining Esko-Graphics' Deskpack and Plato with our Apogee X proves that our solutions can seamlessly be integrated with best-in-class packaging front-end applications," he added.

He said that it allowed packaging pre-press professionals to build their pre-press configuration completely according to their specific needs by combining the components of their choice.

Deskpack comes with a series of plug-ins turning Macs or PCs running Adobe Illustrator software into Scope workflow clients.

Plato is Esko-Graphics' toolkit for step-and-repeat operations for labels, folding cartons or other packaging designs, and offers both automated and interactive modes of operation.

"Esko-Graphics is totally committed to facilitate the integration of its own components as well as those from third party in any pre-press and pre-production workflow," said Jan De Roeck, Esko-Graphics marketing director for packaging software.

"That is why the use of open industry standards such as Adobe PDF and JDF, as well as embracing popular desktop applications as clients.

They are essential elements of our Scope workflow philosophy.

The combination of our leading pre-production products with Agfa's output workflows clearly demonstrates to the industry that Adobe PDF is fully able to support demanding packaging applications.

The days of proprietary packaging systems are over, for good," commented De Roeck.

Agfa and Esko-Graphics will continue their technical and strategic cooperation in the packaging area on the further expansion of the JDF standard for inter-operability between their respective software products.

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