EFI has announced that its Fiery digital front ends are the first in the industry to achieve JDF certification for digital printing. It has also announced new system software, Fiery FS100.
The Fiery System 9R2, FS100 and newer servers now have JDF1.3 Integrated Digital Printing Interoperability Conformance Specification (ICS) certification.
This means that in principle it will be easier to integrate the servers into a JDF-driven workflow, with set-up and feedback information exchanged between the various components, such as workflow, MIS and digital front end. Interoperability should reduce the need for custom coding to make the systems communicate. EFI already has 11 JDF certificates for its MIS/ERP products.
‘The Fiery DFE certification is a significant step forward as the industry moves increasingly into digital production,’ said Dr Mark Bohan, vice president, technology and research at Printing Industries of America. ‘Automation is one of the ways in which print providers can differentiate themselves to become more profitable. The certification of DFEs is crucial for digital printing as it provides the ability to achieve excellent integration with already-certified MIS systems. It gives print providers confidence that automation will work efficiently and integrate into their workflow systems.’
Fiery FS100 is a digital front end for users of Fiery based digital printers. It combines file management, workflow, JDF integration and links to EFI’s MIS families. It is being launched at the Graph Expo show in Chicago this week and the first systems will ship in Q1 2013.
Features include:
Fiery HyperRIP, a speed-enhancing technology that splits individual files so that they can be processed with multiple interpreters simultaneously to reach the print engine up to 40% faster than current systems.
Fiery JobMaster, a new make-ready solution which allows operators to assemble complex documents efficiently. This includes visual tab insertion and design, easy-to-use page editing and numbering, page-level ticketing, chapterisation, ability to import and modify scanned pages into jobs, and late-stage editing features.
JobFlow. This innovative, browser-based workflow solution allows print operations to automate file processing routines in an intuitive and simple manner. This includes the ability to convert, preflight, edit, image enhance and impose documents directly before printing, saving time and money by automating repetitive tasks and preventing printing errors.
Fiery Command WorkStation 5.4. The latest update to the Fiery user interface includes integration with the Color Profiler Suite and inline editing of the copies, job names and workflow data. In-RIP interactive image enhancement technology now offers improved tools for facial skin tones independent from other image areas and improved red-eye detection/correction.
Fiery Ticker provides an ‘at a glance’ update on Fiery job status, presenting a large display view of key information for an operator such as processing and printing speeds of the current job, pages remaining to print for the current job, error messages, and tray information.
JDF Integration to the latest standards. Users of EFI MIS and web to print products can integrate EFI and other third party products with Fiery digital front ends.
* Online Print Solutions (OPS), which EFI acquired last week, has expanded its portfolio with two new modules. MPrint is a smartphone app with web to print functions, that allows customers to edit, proof, order, and approve jobs. CallTarget is a module for turning printed items of all types into trackable marketing pieces via unique phone numbers.
Contact: www.efi.com
