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News Release from: Artwork Systems | Subject: PDF, Odystar
Edited by the Printingtalk Editorial
Team on 09 November 2004
PDF advance for packaging industry
Artwork Systems is using its position as the owner of Enfocus certified PDF technology, which it has integrated into its Odystar, Artpro and Nexus systems, to launch the concept in packaging.
Artwork Systems is using its position as the owner of Enfocus certified PDF technology, which it has integrated into its Odystar, Artpro and Nexus systems, to launch the concept in packaging With PDF so widely accepted as a file format in the graphic arts industry and the increasing need to eliminate and identify production problems, Artwork Systems believes certified PDF technology would have significant implications for any company involved in packaging
This article was originally published on Printingtalk on 25 Apr 2005 at 8.00am (UK)
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"PDF can be saved natively out of almost every standard layout or design application such as Illustrator, QuarkXpress, Indesign or Artpro and PDF has become much more common as a method of handling the early proofing cycles of a packaging job," said Artwork Systems UK managing director Jan Ruysschaert.
"This has reduced the number of hard copies printed out at this stage of production significantly, while cutting down on the time required.
PDF files were also being requested more frequently by brand managers, particularly as labels and packaging become ever more complex with more legal terms, technical and content information and languages, for instance," he added.
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With greater complexity there was a need for control and consistency.
Packaging work generally had elements of the job ready at different times and so the text may be written before the design is finalised.
That meant that text could be sent as a PDF for checking in order to save time later on.
If relevant elements, such as fonts were embedded into the file then anyone receiving the text would be able to view it in the correct format, regardless of the fonts on their particular computer (either PC or Macintosh).
That meant something could be sent in, for instance, Polish or Russian and the recipient would see exactly what they should on their monitor.
"The trend towards using PDFs has been increased by the move towards the centralisation of marketing activities by many large brand owners and retailers.
Increasingly, work is being printed in countries different to the one in which the product is packed, because even with transport costs it can still be cheaper to have packaging printed some distance away.
Again, PDF comes into its own as a means of transmitting digital job data," said Ruysschaert.
However, Artwork Systems' latest certified PDF technology offered a range of advantages not available within an ordinary PDF file, he commented.
For instance, when a PDF has been certified and thus pre-flighted with a certain standard profile, the receiver could confidently trust the quality of the certified PDF and print it.
In packaging the certified PDF label would guarantee not only quality but would provide Artpro and Nexus users with a full edit and history trail on their PDF exchange.
As the Artwork Systems products have adopted certified PDF in its own way, it meant that the traceability of the incoming PDF - even though the file might have undergone serious editing - would never be broken.
"The final PDF would not only carry the certified PDF quality label from preflighting but will also show a full history of the file from its origination in the design environment to the delivered production PDF.
Regardless of who has made what changes on which particular day - everything would be logged automatically by the system and be available for instant checking at any point in the production cycle from the actual creation of the job.
The certified PDF would include even the smallest details, down to an individual trap session made at the last minute.
With packaging and labels being printed in so many languages it was even more important that changes can be monitored, and because work is printed in different countries proofs have taken the place of face-to-face meetings," added Ruysschaert "More than 90 per cent of first proofs are already delivered as PDF files in the packaging arena and we expect certified PDF technology to become the normal method of transferring data both in the packaging and commercial sectors," he continued.
Printers increasingly wanted to have certified PDF security to ensure and prove they have done a good job, not simply to 'pass the buck' if a job goes wrong he believed.
With access to the technical information of the file earlier in the process the printer could avoid surprises at the end of the cycle.
Everyone in the graphical chain would benefit from the technology, from the designer to the brand manager, both of who would have access to files regardless of computer platform.
Jobs could be progressed more quickly because there is less need to constantly recheck copy, while significant savings in cost could be made.
"We believe the huge benefits to everyone in the production chain would result in certified PDF technology being adopted by the industry very quickly.
With faster throughput, more direct contact between individuals, lower costs and fewer errors, everyone would a winner," said Ruysschaert.
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