New Workflow System For Labels And Packaging

In a major addition to its Artpro and Nexus pre-press systems, Artwork Systems has developed a version of Odystar for the packaging and label sector.

In a major addition to its Artpro and Nexus pre-press systems, Artwork Systems has developed a version of Odystar for the packaging and label sector.

Odystar 2.5 was launched at Labelexpo along with a plug-in module - inPDF - that enables Adobe Illustrator to operate without restrictions in a 1.5 PDF environment, said Artwork Systems.

The company said that Odystar workflow has gained a reputation for its ease of use and effectiveness in improving the efficiency of pre-press production.

The introduction of a version aimed at companies operating in the packaging and label fields is a natural progression for Odystar and complements the features already offered within Artpro and Nexus.

Artwork Systems' European sales director Jan Ruysschaert, explained: "Artpro has become the standard pre-press production software in packaging, with more than 9,000 seats in use around the world, whilst Nexus is an extremely popular digital workflow that we see continuing to be an important product for us for many years to come.

Nexus provides dedicated functions designed for complex work, incorporating large amounts of editing at various stages of the job.

However, a large percentage of packaging and label work is much more straight forward, requiring only standard templates and minimal changes.

The new version of Odystar is designed to enable companies operating in that area to automate their workflows and benefit from the significant reduction in operator involvement, production time and errors that our Odystar commercial customers report." Odystar is an automated digital workflow that does not require a skilled operator.

The system can be integrated with RIPs and workflows from other manufacturers, turning existing output equipment - proofers, imagesetters and platesetters - in to PDF 1.5 compliant devices.

Odystar, which runs on Macintosh OSX, is a native PDF 1.5 workflow and provides a range of automatic pre-press production tools, including pre-flighting, correcting, advanced trapping, step and repeat, proofing, screening and printing.

Artwork Systems has designed Odystar to work with 'gateways' that provide a range of functions within a PDF format.

For example, there are direct drivers for proofing purposes, such as Sherpa, Epson and HP, for instance, and specific FTP outputs, whilst pre-press gateways provide the flexibility to convert elements, such as text to outlines, overprints and Pantone colours.

The merge and separation gateway accepts separated PDF files and converts the job in composite PDF, before recombining objects.

Ruysschaert added: "We obviously view JDF as an important technology and the JDF to PDF gateway accepts JDF layout files from imposition front-end systems, whilst there is the ability to save in to PDF.

Odystar incorporates a step and repeat editor that allows users to generate JDF templates.

For highly complex jobs the operator can utilise the step and repeat capabilities within Artpro or Powerlayout." By entering certified PDF 1.4/1.5 data in the workflow, the operator can greatly enhance security and increase productivity, since no additional pre-flight checks are necessary at that stage.

Odystar 2.5 is equipped with the latest certified PDF 1.4/1.5 library from Enfocus and all related pre-flighting, certification and correction functions are available.

According to the company, that technology allows communication between the front-end applications and the workflow based on SOAP - simple, object access protocol.

Using Shuttle, the operator can control job parameters, whilst any workstation can submit and retrieve jobs to the workflow.

There is the ability to tailor individual elements where it is beneficial on specific jobs not to have all functions automated.

"A typical Artwork Systems customer might have five to 10 seats of Artpro, but may operate more than 20 Macintosh terminals with Illustrator, Photoshop and Quark Xpress, for instance, which now all allow access to the Shuttle communication application.

The new Shuttle technology is also available as a plug-in for Adobe Illustrator, enabling operators access to their preferred application at all times," said Ruysschaert.

Artwork Systems estimates that around 80 per cent of design for packaging work is created in Adobe Illustrator CS and has, therefore, it has developed a plug-in called inPDF that enhances Illustrator's file exchange with native PDF pre-press environments.

Artwork Systems will provide a local area licence, so the customer pays only one set fee regardless of how many seats of Illustrator there are.

Ruysschaert commented: "The new plug-in lets the user have the best of both worlds by retaining the extensive capabilities of Illustrator, whilst reaping the benefits of operating in a PDF environment.

One of the difficulties that can occur when an Illustrator file is converted in to a PDF file is that data on elements such as layers, groups, text block or image links can be lost if the file is taken back in to Illustrator.

Some editing facilities may also no longer be available, such as brushes, libraries and pallets when the file is returned to Illustrator.

By shielding the Illustrator editing capabilities when the file is modified in PDF, the inPDF plug-in restores the Illustrator functions without risk of losing job information.

The inPDF plug-in enables the operator to open native PDF documents from other pre-press editors and workflows, such as Artpro, Nexus and Odystar, (including documents that were not originally created in Illustrator).

The files can be edited and saved as native Illustrator files.

The new plug-in will accept PDF 1.5 documents, including the pre-press oriented device N colour space and turn them in to editable Illustrator jobs, maintaining all layers, groups and external image links." The trapping capabilities of Odystar are based on a four-stage process that retains all PDF 1.4 transparencies with no flattening.

Artwork Systems has now enhanced the capabilities in the latest version of Odystar.

Trapping can be based on ink libraries to distinguish opaque inks, whites, varnishes and technical inks.

Trapping within a PDF document can be carried out as a separate layer or a separate session (incremental save) of a Certified PDF document.

Trapped jobs can be returned to Adobe Illustrator as a separate layer, or as a trapped PDF file using the new inPDF plug-in to increase Illustrator's PDF handling, said the company.

Jan Ruysschaert said: "We believe that the main market for Odystar 2.5 will initially be from existing customers because one of the beauties of Odystar 2.5 is the interaction that can be achieved with Artpro and Nexus.

For example, if a printer was handling a label job that was straightforward apart from some intricate nesting, then the operator could use the step and repeat facilities available in a front-end application, such as Artpro, Powerlayout or Powerstepper to handle that part of the work.

Once that task was completed the data would automatically be picked up by the Odystar system and the job would continue to be processed in the workflow." In addition to existing customers Artwork Systems said that it believes the ease of use, low installation cost and effectiveness of Odystar 2.5 makes it appeal to the packaging and label market.

Packaging printers will be able to purchase Odystar, along with a local network licence for the inPDF plug-in, for around 32,000 Euros.

Existing Odystar users can upgrade to the new version 2.5, which may include printers handling both commercial and packaging work that want to take advantage of the new facilities.

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