Review: Alwan Software - CMYK Optimizer and Print Standardizer

Since 1997, Alwan has been providing users with services and standardisation tools, and secondly since 2003, by developing production software to enable printers to become ISO compliant. AGS has very recently been appointed to represent Alwan in India.

25 Feb 2013 | By Noel D'Cunha

Who is it targeted at?
The target audience for these products are printers who are doing sheetfed and web offset printing and mainly those customers doing CMYK Printing.

What are the available software?
There are two types of software which are primarily the main – the Alwan CMYK Optimizer and Print Standardizer.

What is the USP of these software?
These software not only help you process your files and match ISO 12647-2  and  G7 but also helps in ink saving on your press to the tune of 20% to 30%. On top of that the Print Standardizer as the name suggest, helps you control and  standardise press dot gains values generating an automatic dot gain compensation curve for any RIP.

What is the speed?
The software works on Hot Folder modes making processing and integration easier and faster. Hot folders are predefined for each queue and the operator has to just dump the files in the appropriate folder.

How flexible is the machine? Can the machine be custom built as per the customer’s requirement? 
These software are available in different editions based on the needs of the customer. AGS analyses the customers requirement and expectations then suggests suitable software edition.

Explain the features of the machine.
Print Standardizer exists in manual edition as in a fully automated TVI and Gray Balance control and correction for matching and assessing ISO 12647 / G7 in an Automatic Dot gain Compensation generation way. It can also generate compliance reports. CMYK Optimizer allows printers to pre-flight, optimise, standardise files and significantly reduce ink and toner consumption and makeready time of the presses without any visible change to the printed colors, eliminating all wet ink and set-off problems caused by heavy ink

How easy is it to use?
They work as mentioned earlier on hot folders basis so it is much easier to use for the operator. The operator has to just drag and drop the files in the appropriate hot folder and you will get a processed file out.

What training/service support is on offer?
The Alwan software calls for a lot of application support to implement the software.  AGS offers training and service support to implement the products.

How many installations worldwide? In India?
There are more than 1000 installs worldwide. AGS launched the product a few months ago and are yet to touch base.