Apogee help

[ajr]

I wonder if any one can help me, I have to go to a company next week and get there prepress system going ( long story ) They have Apogee dont know what version so presume fairly recent last couple of years. Could someone give me a brief outline how it all works from file to plate, I ve downloaded some stuff from Agfas site so will go through it over the weekend but would love to hear from some users and if you have an idiots guide that would help as well. Only used Rampage so presume a bit different.

Thanks

AjR

 

[Lukas Engqvist]

It's hard to give a short post to explain how to configure a workflow. Also not knowing what configuration makes it tricky.
There is a client and a server, there may or may not be several satelites (other servers to run certain processor intens systems). There may or may not be a web interface (webapproval). There may or may not be several proofers, plotters digital output queues. There may or maynot be a platemaker (a small app that just images plates). There may or maynot be CIP 3 and JDF flows. Not to mention options such as in rip trapping, colour management, ink save, and imposition modules.

With so many parameters it is not easy to give you a setup. Having said that it still is fairly intuitive... (while you're answering the variables can you tell me how to configure a search engine I have a friend that would like one on his site ;P.... sorry couldn't help myself)

PS: you will need to know password for system and admin for some of the functions, also some functions only work from a PC (System configurations)

 

[ajr]

Lukas,

I dont know the setup, just would like to know how it works basically.

Ie

I presume PDF is preflight, normalised, pdf placed in imposition impo saved as pdf than sent to platesetter or print drive. I used to use Agfa rips about 10 years an old Taipan, printdrive set up.

Cheers

A

 

[Lukas Engqvist]

Ye that's the normal summary.

A file is input to the system, hot folder/print Q or drag n drop.
Most configurations have prefligt and normalisation, but that can be configured differently, and depends on wether you have pitstop licence if you can use pitstop actions.

The admin will configure settings, and template workflows, that can branch out to quite complex options. The clients can edit or choose parameter sets from pop up menus (that need care and planing to be logical)

There can be auto choosing of templates, and if it is they don't know version there is probably a preps template manager in the system. (there is an option to impose rendered pages, but that is not the most common as far as I know)

You decide what is your main workflow. What intent you are moving to, and then you will normally match proofing and imposition to be inline with that. You can have a paper matching a curve, and screen and profile so that client selects the paper type.

Good luck and get back if there is a specific issue