EFI unveils Fiery Workflow Suite
EFI has launched a digital workflow to allow large single and multi-site printers to manage job submission, prepress, colour management and output across multiple digital print engines.
14 Dec 2012 | 922 Views | By Samir Lukka
The Fiery Workflow Suite, which is compatible with both Fiery-driven and other select digital production printers, includes three new applications: Fiery JobFlow, Fiery JobMaster, and Fiery Central; it will also integrate with EFI's range of web-to-print and MIS software.
Fiery JobFlow, which is the main workflow element, is based on Enfocus Pitstop and includes tools for PDF conversion, preflighting, correction and editing of PDFs, image enhancement, document imposition and job ticketing. Once files have been passed for print it funnels them to a Fiery DFE or to Fiery Central.
Fiery Central is a load balancing and colour splitting tool used to optimise output across multiple digital print engines, including both Fiery-driven and other select printers. It can split colour and mono pages and route all parts of a job to the most productive and cost-efficient printers.
Kaspar Roos, associate director for InfoTrends' production workflow and customized communication service said: "Print service providers are increasingly replacing standalone workflow solutions with integrated, customisable solutions.
"In our 2012 Digital Front-End Study, we found strong evidence that print providers want to move their workflow solutions to the DFE so that they can run their workflow from a central location that easily integrates with other systems."
Roos added that this was particularly useful for franchise printers with standardised workflows and multiple production sites because it would allow them to consolidate the number of workflow solutions and procure it from a single vendor. "When their digital hardware kit is up for renewal, they can swap it without changing their workflow," he said.
Fiery Central also includes configurable error rerouting that automatically sends a job to a similar printer to continue production and works with EFI's Digital StoreFront web-to-print, as well as EFI's MIS/ERP and scheduling software.
Fiery JobMaster is a flexible in-RIP interactive job preview tool that allows visual tab insertion and design, page-level ticketing, finishing, scanning and late-stage editing features.
Toby Weiss, senior vice president and general manager of EFI's Fiery business unit said: "Print service providers can quickly adapt to changing market demands by adding the modular Fiery Workflow Suite products and dramatically grow their bottom line by offering personalization, quick turnaround on complex documents, and the ability to keep jobs that demand precise colour quality in house."