Workflow that works for offset and digital printing

[RobertK]

We are a book printer, producing in offset and digital.

Our offset plates are generated with a Harlequin run CTP machine. Our digital printwork is processed through Fiery RIP systems on a Canon for B&W and OCE for color. The imposition work is done with Impostrip from Ultimate. We work with PDF only, some output of PS to Harlequin.

The amount of work in increasing with more small jobs and getting harder to maintain 2 totally different ways of processing.

Even more so, because we are busy with implementation of a MIS system with an online supply/semi workflow system. And this is raising alot of questions. We want people to see 'online proofs'. This is not that difficult to do, but the offset and dgital files are processed totally different. And we want some kind of certainty that what the customer sees and approves he also gets!

We dont have a expensive workflow software running. But the MIS will be tackling a huge amount of preflight, color management and normalization of incoming PDFs.

Want to get some advice of ideas/solutions i could look into!

 

[mattbeals]

What MIS package is preflighting, color managing and otherwise preflighting the jobs?

 

[RobertK]

Hey Matt

Currently without MIS im doing my preflighting with Pitstop Server 7.

The MIS is from a dutch based company. With their online module preflighting is done with Callas Toolboxserver integrated in their software.

 

[mattbeals]

Call me on my cell at 2066182537. There may be some very interesting things that we can do with just that component.

 

[RobertK]

Im off to bed now, midnight at the moment. Dont want to wake the daughter with a phonecall ;-)

Whats a convenient time i can call you on monday my time? How many hours earlier is it where you are located?

 

[P.repress]

Odystar

Odystar

Odystar from eskoartwork might be a good solution as well... We're working with in since 2007. Driving different output devices and some digital presses... Works great for us.
Just my 2 cents...

 

[RobertK]

Odystar from eskoartwork might be a good solution as well... We're working with in since 2007. Driving different output devices and some digital presses... Works great for us.
Just my 2 cents...

I am looking for a solution that doesnt involve spending big $$ and ending up with alot of overlapping software. But i am curious....in what kind of price range is Odystar??

 

[mattbeals]

Depending on what the MIS is doing for you, you can prepare files just inside of pdfToolbox. Most all of your color management needs (conversions, remapping, fixing blacks, device links), some imposition, document optimization, transparency flattening, etc is all possible in pdfToolbox.

 

[RobertK]

Depending on what the MIS is doing for you, you can prepare files just inside of pdfToolbox. Most all of your color management needs (conversions, remapping, fixing blacks, device links), some imposition, document optimization, transparency flattening, etc is all possible in pdfToolbox.

Yea, i am depending on that! And hopefully will improve the way im handling files now...ALOT of single file changes/optimizations.

What about font problems? I sometimes have files that look OK, with embedded fonts etc. But occasionaly something still goes wrong in my Harlequin RIP, but can go fine through my Fiery RIP. But i guess you can never be full proof?

And i always have problem with fonts that ARE embedded but have a 'built-in' encoding. This causes problems on all my RIPs. Pitstop server doesnt identify these, so always have to manually check my PDF files...

 

[P.repress]

But i am curious....in what kind of price range is Odystar??

It was an affordable solution. Good price for the value... But you might wanna contact EA for a price within your region.

 

[PDL]

Robert - You say you want a system that can integrate, possibly automate, your imposition process. Integrate with your MIS. Automatic routing of jobs to specific outputs. Upload for an online approval. Trackable versioning of those approvals. Feedback to your MIS. EskoArtwork can do all that. The best tools for prepress production, color management and MIS integration, prepress, and finishing departments .

 

[RobertK]

It was an affordable solution. Good price for the value... But you might wanna contact EA for a price within your region.

Thanks. Ill check it out after i have exhausted all options.