I have a shop that produces about 800 jobs a month. The split between press (2 color and 4 color) and digital printing is about 50/50. I am looking for a streamlined workflow that is highly automated, easy to learn, and catches errors with files. About 80% of the jobs start with client provided files so they frequently have all sorts of issues - no fonts, low-res images, etc. We are currently using a 9 year old CTP from Heidelberg and Prinect / Signa / Meta. I am looking to replace everything from preflight through plate-making. I'm very interested in hearing suggestions to the "dream" system. Also, is best of breed better than single-vendor solution?
Thanks in advance for all responses!
Our shop runs a 6-color Heidelberg SM74, a 4-color Ryobi 520, a 2-color Ryobi, a 2-color ABdick set up for envelopes, and two digital machines, a Xerox 700i and KM BizHub 920. Our CTP system is an AGFA Acento S 4-up, and we run a processless FUJI Ecomaxx-T plate.
We started about 8 years ago with Xitron's Xenith Extreme RIP and upgraded 3 Years ago to their Sierra RIP. It is AMAZINGLY flexible, and a completely PDF based workflow. The Sierra RIP has built-in inposition in the RIP and handles pagination and auto flow amazingly! It cut our layout time at least in half, more for large books and complex layouts. We also use the layout and PDF export features to do layouts for our digital machines. it has the ability to store layouts for frequent jobs (ex 4-up 8.5x11 W/T on 19x25) Custom colorbars and marks. "3D" proofing for pagination and I'm told the newest version does folding too. you can replace PMS colors, flag for RGB or missing fonts, adjust trap settings, and manage your color profiles. it will drive your Epson proofer with a ROOM concept and can also drive your CTP. (which I didn't find out until AFTER we put an Apogee "lite" comp in the middle when we installed the Acento, buggers... that was AGFA though, not Xitron that messed that one up.)
I love our RIP! in case you can't tell. when I talk to other prepress people, and say, "oh, just do this and this in the RIP before you output" and I get a silent pause and then, "yeah, my RIP doesn't do that" it makes me smile and be VERY thankful that we have this system.
The Flip side of this system though, as with any RIP I would assume, is to make sure your prepress people understand how all the parts work and how much control they have to adjust things. The guys at Xitron are great, especially Kevin, and are there to help. The bad that I've heard about the RIP are from people who don't know how to adjust settings, or don't ask tech support for help to fix things when glitchy.
feel free to email me if you have more questions.
[email protected]
