Product category:
Management and Administration Software and Systems
News Release from: Positive Focus | Subject: Metrix
Edited by the Printingtalk Editorial
Team on 27 July 2005
Commercial Print Auto Layout Calculator
Wins Award
Metrix-Lithotechnics' automatic layout calculator for commercial printers, has been honoured with a 2005 Intertech Technology Award.
Metrix-Lithotechnics' automatic layout calculator for commercial printers, has been honoured with a 2005 Intertech Technology Award Presented by the Printing Industries of America and the Graphic Arts Technical Foundation (PIA/GATF), Metrix's product was one of 17 to receive the award out of 52 entries submitted this year
This article was originally published on Printingtalk on 10 Jan 2006 at 8.00am (UK)
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JDF Imposition For Layout Optimiser
Metrix, the layout optimiser from Lithotechnics, now allows JDF controlled imposition, giving quicker, predictable results for ganged jobs, said the company.
Layout Optimiser For Multi-Signature Jobs At Ipex
Positive Focus will preview its Metrix 2.0, supporting multi-signature bound jobs at Ipex 2006.
Available from Positive Focus, Metrix is said to allow even the least skilled planner to confidently create layouts of up to 100 products, of different sizes and quantities, mixing flat and folded work, each with bleed and grain direction requirements.
Metrix employs a print industry specific, patent pending algorithm, to optimise press sheet layouts for ganging multiple products, eliminating the complexities of gang printing and minimising waste, said Positive Focus.
Positive Focus's Alan Dixon said: "Jobs that currently take hours to plan are completed in a few minutes.
Further reading
Layout Calculator Software For Ganged Projects
Lithotechnics has made available version 2.0 of its Metrix automated layout calculator, which is claimed to handle up to 160 individual jobs imposed within a composite or ganged layout project.
Imposition Software Compensates Paper Thickness
The latest update to Metrix includes interactive shingling for conventionally bound work.
Northprint Hosts Imposition Software Developments
Metrix, the imposition, ganging and layouts software will be available for a limited time pricing to coincide with its appearance at Northprint on the stand of UK distributor Positive Focus.
We consistently prove that in demonstrations and it's borne out in commercial use." Metrix job layout software is claimed to quickly calculate and create the most efficient, cost-effective press sheet layouts, making it easy and fast for printers to capitalise on gang jobs, even those with varying run lengths.
Estimators and production planners can try 'what-if' scenarios in seconds.
Positive Focus added that the program takes grain direction in to consideration and also supplies folding data.
Metrix can integrate with management information systems (MIS) by importing JDF (Job Definition Format) data and exporting JDF, CIP3, and Preps template files.
Amongst the information that emerged during the assessments, one user provided the comment that: "Metrix has reduced our planning and layout time by 80 per cent 85 per cent." One judge commented: "When I was a CSR, I begged for this." Rohan Holt, Lithotechnics' founder, commented: "A gang printing revolution is taking place.
The internet and digital pre-press technologies are enabling commercial printers to branch in to 'retail' print.
That broad, consumer-driven market of short run work can only be satisfied by gang printing and Metrix is the only tool that removes the remaining barrier to this very profitable manufacturing method." According to Andrew Cester, director of Whirlwind Printing, observed: "Metrix has become an indispensable tool for our workflow.
By automatically calculating all our ganged layouts and enabling us to easily edit these layouts where necessary, while simultaneously checking that our edits don't cause any errors, Metrix has reduced the total work time in our pre-press department by 20 per cent - 25 per cent." Metrix is available in standalone single-user versions as Standard Edition, aimed at estimating departments and the Production Edition, which can export the files necessary for pre-press integration.
Server based, multi user licensing is also available.
An animated overview of the product is now available at the Positive Focus website.
Inaugurated in 1978 to foster awareness and understanding of advanced graphic arts technology, the award recognises excellence in the development of new technology for the graphic communications industry.
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