Upgraded Software Plug-Ins For Adobe Products

Esko-Graphics has released Deskpack 2.0, the upgrade of the companys software plug-ins for both Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop.

Esko-Graphics has released Deskpack 2.0, the upgrade of the company's software plug-ins for both Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop.

New functions include the ArtiosCAD plug-in, animated 3-D VRML files and a range of new Adobe Illustrator plug-ins including StepX, BarX, Outright, ViewX and Ink Manager.

New Adobe Photoshop plug-ins include Flexotools and spot colour tools.

The plug-ins are claimed to bring powerful packaging pre-press production tools to the designers and pre-press operators desktops, including full integration of the popular Adobe applications with Esko-Graphics' Scope Backstage workflow server.

Introduced two years ago, Deskpack is an integrated part of Scope, Esko-Graphics' workflow for the packaging industry.

Deskpack links Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop users in to the Scope workflow.

By extending Deskpack with extra modules, users can add valuable automation, step and repeat and collaboration features.

Due to the ArtiosCAD and Adobe Illustrator integration, it previews packaging designs interactively in realistic 3D claimed Esko.

"We understand that packaging company product managers and designers are increasingly becoming involved in the packaging supply chain workflow.

They are doing so to minimise current and future pain points - industry compatibility, speed to market, quick re-purposing of design assets and cost of ownership," commented Frank Adegeest, Esko-Graphics' senior product manager for packaging applications software.

"They need tools, such as pre-flighting, ink management, trapping, barcode generation, 3-D soft proofing and step and repeat to provide production-ready artwork to the pre-press supplier or converter, without making heavy investments in new production software.

We have provided stronger output file compatibility, taking full benefit of our partnership with Adobe, and have further integrated our CAD and graphics products and technologies.

The new Deskpack 2.0 version offers an extended function and brings Scope even closer to desktop integration with Adobe software," he added.

Esko said that worldwide, numerous workstations installed with Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop benefit from the Deskpack tools and the delivery list for Deskpack 2.0 has been growing rapidly since the product was demonstrated and launched at Drupa 2004 last October.

Even a number of customers running legacy Barco Graphics software are working with Esko-Graphics to replace those workflows with configurations running multiple Deskpack seats.

"As international brand implementers, data integrity and ease of use are critical, Esko-Graphics' strategy to integrate high end functions to the Mac platform and Adobe suite were seen as a significant move away from proprietary systems and data format.

It is a key driver in supporting our clients from an R and D perspective," commented Paul Bean, the managing director of Watt Gilchrist UK.

Esko believes that Deskpack has received popular attention because it saves costs for designers.

The user does not need to purchase expensive, dedicated software and hardware to perform expert pre-press functions typically allocated to dedicated pre-press tools.

It added that its expertise is bundled in simple to use plug-ins and because it runs on popular Adobe software, Desppack does not require much training and expertise and operators are easy to find.

Beyond trapping, design control and pre-flighting, version 2.0 of Deskpack delivers a number of functional improvements and benefits to the user.

The ArtiosCAD plug-in imports and exports CAD structural design files and 3D renderings within Adobe Illustrator.

ArtiosCAD files contain folding angles and animation.

Deskpack can produce accurately folded and animated 3-D models along with the design application.

The resulting VRML file can be viewed in Internet Explorer by pre-installing free downloadable VRML viewers such as Cortona or Cosmo said Esko.

BarX is a tool that is claimed to allow users to create dynamic barcodes from a full set of standards.

The features and benefits of Esko-Graphics' barcodes have a long proven track record among commercial printers, security printers and converters claimed Esko.

ViewX is a set of visual inspection tools to check separations, overprint renderings and registration, including flexographics plate preview.

Tools include a total area coverage view, densitometer, simulation of press miss-registration to check trapping values, high resolution image preview including OPI support and extreme zoom, added Esko.

Ink Manager defines ink properties such as opaque versus normal and varnish, screen rulings and angles.

StepX is a step and repeat tool for the creation of print-ready layouts.

It is said to provide a robust set of interactive tools to create step-and-repeat arrangements for single or multiple jobs.

Target customers include label printers and converters who can take control and reduce costs by bringing exceptional plate layout capabilities in-house, within Adobe Illustrator claimed the company.

Outright is an output module that drives most imagesetters, platesetters and proofers, as well as generating PS/PDF/PDF files with correctly rendered transparencies, overprints, traps and vignettes from Illustrator/EPS/DCS files.

Package printers often use special ink sets (other than the standard CMYK process inks) due to brand colours or to eliminate the risk of critical colour fluctuations on long print runs.

Spot colour tools for Adobe Photoshop such as spot colour plane mapping and Inkswitch improves the separation and editing of multi-channel files.

Each separation is automatically adjusted, including knockouts, while the user views the result that will be printed said Esko.

Deskpack 2.0 is available to customers, accessible through Esko-Graphics' international network of resellers and distributors.

Deskpack plug-ins are sold as a complete modular suite, or purchased individually - prices vary per module.

The company said it is possible to apply for a 30-day free trial through the Esko-Graphics website.

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