Rob van den Braak
Met de nieuwe release 8 van de geïntegreerde offset en digitale workflow met uitgebreide proofingmogelijkheden en verbeterde workflowautomatisering, kunnen Kodak-klanten hun productiekosten nog verder drukken en hun productiviteit verhogen. En met de nieuwe, universele Digital Job Ticket Editor kunnen productiebeslissingen worden genomen op basis van real-time informatie. Binnen de nieuwe Prinergy Workflow 8 is er nu ook een connectie voor perscontrole met digitale persen van Ricoh, Konica Minolta en Komori. Daarnaast zijn er ook UWS software-upgrades gerealiseerd voor producenten van verpakkingsdrukwerk.
‘Kodak Prinergy Workflow 8 is aanzienlijk verbeterd’, zegt Pim Nijenhof, sales director Kodak Benelux. ‘Kodak Prinergy Workflow 8 is een onderdeel van het Kodak Unified Workflow Solutions (UWS)-portfolio. Daar zijn deze verbetering aan het UWS portfolie een bewijs van.’
Lees verder....
Chili Publish heeft TWERK, een werkgelegenheidsproject voor autistische mensen, gesteund met het inrichten van een pop-up webshop. De webshop verkoopt gepersonaliseerde kerstkaarten met een chocoladeverrassing. Meer informatie over dit bijzondere project lees je in onderstaand persbericht.
NOT SO SECRET SANTA MAKES PERSONALIZATION (T)WERK FOR EVERYBODY
TWERK is an employment initiative where normally gifted people with autism work on extraordinary things. This sheltered workshop and labor care center not only provides B2B companies with administrative and packaging services, but also delivers chocolate gimmicks.
They were considering a one-off webshop opportunity for personalized Christmas cards with a chocolate treat inside. A chance meeting with CHILI publish at #hetcongres16, hosted by VIGC, followed by added support from Graphique Alliance resulted in a brand-new pop-up webshop, the TWEBSHOP (www.twebshop.be).
A chance meeting
Bram Verniest, COO at CHILI publish, met with Bart Michiels, business coordinator at Twerk vzw at the #hetcongres16, an e-commerce focus initiative event by VIGC, bringing together web2print experts in Belgium. Bart explained the opportunity he saw to launch a pop-up webshop to expand their token expertise with the online ordering of personalized holiday cards containing a chocolate treat. The webshop would be live between 12 and 18 December and would allow the Twerk team to do what they do best: show their added value despite certain limitations. What they lacked was an online editing tool to personalize the cards, the Woocommerce plug-in expertise to create the webshop within their WordPress website and alas, the financial resources to set it up.
Paying it forward
CHILI publish reached out to its partner Graphique Alliance and suggested a selfless cooperation to provide Twerk with the tools they needed to realize their objective as part of a larger Corporate Social Responsibility effort. CHILI publish would provide a free license to CHILI publisher. Graphique Alliance coordinated the practical set-up of the webshop by integrating Woocommerce in the WordPress website of Twerk. Bram Verniest comments: “We’ve all paid our dues. But we feel any cooperation has a social responsibility to carry when wonderful opportunities such as these pop-up. It’s an original and imaginative initiative, inspiring the employees at Twerk to make the most of their strengths. It’s not just about supporting a good cause; it’s about enabling Twerk to lead by example and inspire others.”
Festive sweet treat
The Implementation and integration ran effortlessly and the web shopwas officially launched December 12th at 16h. Visitors to the webshop can create, tailor and order their personalized cards, which will be delivered December 23rd via snail mail. Each card will be a one of a kind, containing Fair Trade chocolate treats.
Bart Michiels concludes: “The endorsement and guidance by CHILI publish and Graphic Alliance have been invaluable to us. The webshop works flawlessly; team spirit is boosted and we’re getting crazy traffic to our web shop. This was by far the best gift under our Christmas tree.”
NOT SO SECRET SANTA MAKES PERSONALIZATION (T)WERK FOR EVERYBODY
TWERK is an employment initiative where normally gifted people with autism work on extraordinary things. This sheltered workshop and labor care center not only provides B2B companies with administrative and packaging services, but also delivers chocolate gimmicks.
They were considering a one-off web shop opportunity for personalized Christmas cards with a chocolate treat inside. A chance meeting with CHILI publish at #hetcongres16, hosted by VIGC, followed by added support from Graphique Alliance resulted in a brand-new pop-up web shop, the TWEBSHOP (www.twebshop.be).
A chance meeting
Bram Verniest, COO at CHILI publish, met with Bart Michiels, business coordinator at Twerk vzw at the #hetcongres16, an e-commerce focus initiative event by VIGC, bringing together web2print experts in Belgium. Bart explained the opportunity he saw to launch a pop-up web shop to expand their token expertise with the online ordering of personalized holiday cards containing a chocolate treat. The web shop would be live between 12 and 18 December and would allow the Twerk team to do what they do best: show their added value despite certain limitations. What they lacked was an online editing tool to personalize the cards, the Woocommerce plug-in expertise to create the web shop within their WordPress website and alas, the financial resources to set it up.
Paying it forward
CHILI publish reached out to its partner Graphique Alliance and suggested a selfless cooperation to provide Twerk with the tools they needed to realize their objective as part of a larger Corporate Social Responsibility effort. CHILI publish would provide a free license to CHILI publisher. Graphique Alliance coordinated the practical set-up of the web shop by integrating Woocommerce in the WordPress website of Twerk. Bram Verniest comments: “We’ve all paid our dues. But we feel any cooperation has a social responsibility to carry when wonderful opportunities such as these pop up. It’s an original and imaginative initiative, inspiring the employees at Twerk to make the most of their strengths. It’s not just about supporting a good cause; it’s about enabling Twerk to lead by example and inspire others.”
Festive sweet treat
The Implementation and integration ran effortlessly and the web shopwas officially launched December 12th at 16h. Visitors to the web shop can create, tailor and order their personalized cards, which will be delivered December 23rd via snail mail. Each card will be a one of a kind, containing Fair Trade chocolate treats.
Bart Michiels concludes: “The endorsement and guidance by CHILI publish and Graphic Alliance have been invaluable to us. The web shop works flawlessly; team spirit is boosted and we’re getting crazy traffic to our web shop. This was by far the best gift under our Christmas tree.”
Als eerste in Nederland introduceert FP-Ruys, in samenwerking met onder meer Sandd, een frankeermachine voor het MKB. Sandd en FP-Ruys maken hiermee voordeliger versturen van post, met een bezorging van twee keer per week, ook haalbaar voor het MKB. Het prijsvoordeel kan oplopen tot 35%.
Met deze samenwerking, waaraan ook DPD en PS Nachtdistributie meewerken, zijn Sandd en FP-Ruys in de voorhoede van het ontwikkelen van een concurrerende postmarkt, in het belang van het MKB in Nederland.
Hans Hofman, Managing Director FP-Ruys: “Wij zijn er trots op dat we als eerste frankeermachine leverancier in Nederland, naast onze uitstekende oplossingen in samenwerking met PostNL, nu ook een Sandd-frankeermachine aan het MKB kunnen leveren. Alle samenwerkende partijen bezien de afnemende postvolumes en stijgende prijzen met zorg en denken dat deze ontwikkeling de brief en de frankeermachine opnieuw zeer relevant kunnen maken.”
Meer informatie over deze nieuwe frankeermachine is te vinden op de site van fp-ruys.
FP-Ruys maakt deel uit van de FP-groep, wereldwijd koploper met innovatieve frankeermachines en postoplossingen.
Lees verder....
The latest PDF Aktuell by PDF expert Stephan Jaeggi is again full of important PDF news. He explains why the 15 year old PDF/X-1a standard is no longer suitable and PDF/X-4 should be used instead, how to compare PDF files with D-accord 3.0, and what is new in PDF at Callas and Kodak. Read the full newsletter via this link.
Lees verder....
De nieuwste PDF Aktuell van PDF expert Stephan Jaeggi staat weer boordevol belangrijk PDF-nieuws. Zo legt Stephan uit waarom je de 15 jaar oude PDF/X-1a standaard niet meer moet gebruiken, maar in plaats daarvan de nieuwe PDF/X-4, hoe je met D’accord 3.0 PDF files met elkaar kunt vergelijken en wat er nieuw is bij Callas en Kodak op het gebied van PDF.
Lees de complete nieuwsbrief via deze link.
Lees verder....
Xitron, the leading independent developer of RIP and workflow products for commercial, digital, and high-speed inkjet printing, and Global Graphics, developer of the Harlequin RIP and recognized experts in printing, PDF, and digital document software have announced a joint partnership with Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio.
Xitron and Global Graphics are providing a Harlequin version 11 RIP and workflow to drive the program’s existing platesetter (Kodak Trendsetter)
“Support for the education of future industry professionals is the culture at Xitron,” said president Karen Crews. “The more knowledgeable and prepared students are when they enter the workforce, the stronger our industry becomes as a whole.” Paul Hagen, Vice President of Print Sales at Global Graphics echoes the sentiment. “It’s imperative that today’s students learn with state-of-the art software. Our industry moves so quickly that even a year or two of age can make a difference in their understanding of modern pre-press production.”
Visual Communication Technology at BGSU is a cross-media program of study. This lab-based program is the largest in the College of Technology, Architecture and Applied Engineering, with more than 300 majors. Students study in contemporary labs that are generously supported by Xitron, Global Graphics and a number of other graphic arts companies. Students also work in three semester-long industry-based co-operative work experiences, as a requirement for graduation.
Chuck Spontelli, a VCT professor commented. “Five different VCT print classes (100 students) have already used the Xitron Harlequin RIP. This contribution helps them prepare for their co-op experiences and understand typical workflows commonly used in industry. Industry support from partners like Xitron are what enables our VCT program to stay current with the latest production technology methods.”
Xitron has an installed base of over 30,000 Navigator RIPs and workflows and nearly 5,000 Raster Blaster TIFF Catchers worldwide. Driving CTP devices from Agfa, ECRM, Creo, Kodak, Presstek, Heidelberg, Fuji, and Screen, they provide prepress independence® to customers who want to maximize their investments by extending the life of their prepress systems. More information is available at www.xitron.com.
Lees verder....
Inkjet offers solutions using variable data to make every print unique. In the 14th article in the Wild Format Series Paul Lindström writes about how a variable workflow can be set up, the practical applications and the possible problems. Read the article on our articles page via this link.
Lees verder....
Inkjet biedt mogelijkheden om met variabele data elke afdruk uniek te maken.
Paul Lindström laat in nummer 15 van de Wild Format Serie zien hoe een variabel data workflow opgezet kan worden, wat de praktische toepassingen zijn en waar de voetangels en klemmen zitten. Lees deze informatie op onze artikelen pagina via deze link.
Lees verder....
All digital printing technologies share the unique feature of being able to print very short runs, down to one copy. This opens up a lot of interesting applications, like personalised print and print on demand. While this is a well-known capability of high volume toner-based digital printing systems, using variable data printing on wide-format digital printers isn’t quite so well developed or widely used. Variable data printing means that each page or sheet of output can have different content – a component, such as an image, name and address, that varies. You can use this to create personalised versions of your project, or simply to change some or all the content with each print. If implemented properly, variable data printing can both save time and money as well as offer unique opportunities for wild format projects.
Every successful variable data print project starts with a properly managed and maintained database. A much-hyped phrase today is “Big Data”, which refers to exploiting all the data available for a given topic or activity. The data are generally managed via the internet, but you can also build your own database, rich with metadata about your customers, or potential customers. The trick with variable data printing is to find or build such a well-managed database. For example, if you want to reach young women aged 20-30 with sales promotions about your product, of course the database you might be interested in needs to contain metadata about individuals’ gender and age.
Filtering out what is of interest to you in your variable data project is called “data mining”, and how well this is done depends on the quality of the database and how up to date it is. But the effectiveness also depends on the quality of the search engine, and the algorithms used to select the interesting and valuable data from what is often a huge database. If you manage your own database, you need to constantly update it and keep it relevant so that when you want to create a wild format project for specific interests, you can find the data you want. Such straightforward housekeeping is unfortunately often neglected, which can mean that the potential of the database is never fully exploited or the variable data project results are disappointing.
Dos and Don’ts
When designing a variable data project you need to strike a balance between addressing the receiver of the printed product in a personal way, and respecting their integrity. While it’s tempting to use an intimate and friendly tone, some people will just be put off if you try and pretend to be a close friend, when you are addressing a stranger. This is particularly true if you have access to what can be seen as confidential or private information. Instead of striking a personal tone you might find that the receiver is put off by what comes across as an intrusion. So, while we normally will benefit from creating a personalised message, we shouldn’t push this too far.
Planning for a variable data print project is top heavy, so most of your variable data project time should be used in proper planning. The printing part should be quite easy, with the right tools in place.
Some techy stuff to consider
Technically we now need to couple the extracted data with the artwork created for the print project. For small and very simple projects you can get along with a data file created in Excel and imported to, for example, InDesign. But for more complex and larger projects you will need a dedicated solution for variable data production. There are many software tools on the market to help with this, for example SmartStream Designer from Hewlett-Packard, PrintShop Mail from Objectif Lune and PersonalEffect and uDirect from XMPie, just to mention a few, because there are hundreds.
Your next technicality is to link the artwork and the data with the printing system, specifically the Raster Image Processor (RIP) which drives the output device. This is sometimes called the Digital Front End (DFE), or the workflow system. The EFI Fiery RIP is one of the most popular and successful DFEs for digital devices and is compatible with many, many variable data solutions. Your print service provider will know what features and functions their workflow system (RIP) supports, and can advise on the best approach for a successful variable data printing project.
While a name badge perhaps isn’t thought of as a job for a very large format printer, it can be if we talk hundreds or even thousands of badges, each printed with variable data content.
Use case
So, what type of variable data applications using wide format printers are possible? Well, digital printing in general offers a huge plethora of opportunities and possibilities, and frankly the limiting factor is probably your imagination.
But let’s take a simple use case: name badges for an important conference you are planning. Name badges are normally printed one by one, often using analogue screen printing, or possibly a small digital printer dedicated to printing badges. But what if you have an idea of a snazzy badge in pink Plexiglas, in the shape of your company logo? This might be thought of as too ambitious and expensive a project, and written off as too wild an idea to pursue. But wait a minute! What if you treat it as a variable data project and use a flatbed large format printer? Now you can probably print all the badges on one sheet of coloured Plexiglas, positioned by the RIP system using the merged artwork and database info (let’s say the person’s name and company name and perhaps their title) and then cut to size using a laser cutting board. The final product is not a very large print, but the device that printed it certainly was. This is a very simple example, but it demonstrates what’s possible, once you have the tools and an idea of how to use them.
Business benefits
Whether you are a publisher, designer or print company owner, being aware of the opportunities and possible benefits of variable data printing, means that you are ready and prepared when and if the opportune moment comes along. Needless to say, you will benefit both from unique, and what are perceived as “cool”, applications but also because applying variable data print technology can reduce cost and turnaround times in printing projects. These two aspects are surely of value. Go explore and go wild in some upcoming large format digital print project.
Paul Lindström
The Wild Format guides are intended to expand awareness and understanding of the craziness that can be created on wide format digital printing devices, from floors to lampshades and everything in between.
These guides are made possible by a group of manufacturers working together with Digital Dots.
This article is supported by Agfa (www.agfa.com), Mimaki (www.mimakieurope.com) and Digital Dots (www.digitaldots.org).
Together we hope you enjoy the articles and that you put into practise what you learn. If you want to talk about it, go to our LinkedIn group via this link.
Enjoy and Go Wild!
Lees verder....Op 20 april 2016 nam de gemeente Amsterdam het besluit om in Amsterdam een opt-in-systeem voor reclamefolders te introduceren. Amsterdam passeerde de branche bij het voorbereiden en aannemen van het opt-in-systeem. De input van de branche is structureel genegeerd. De gemeente weigert nu te wachten met de invoering van de JA|JA sticker totdat de rechter een uitspraak heeft gedaan over de rechtmatigheid daarvan. De reclamebranche, onder aanvoering van MailDB en het KVGO, dagvaarden de gemeente Amsterdam nu.
Consument de dupe versus symboolpolitiek
Als de invoering doorgaat, kan ongeadresseerd commercieel reclamedrukwerk straks alleen bezorgd worden als een JA|JA sticker op de voordeur staat (‘opt-in-systeem’). Dit leidt tot grote schade voor de retailers in Amsterdam die via de folders 67% van hun klanten bereiken. Naast de negatieve gevolgen van dit voorstel voor de economische belangen van retailers en de reclamebranche, zijn er ook vraagtekens bij de milieuwinst, wordt een perfect landelijk systeem ondermijnd en worden de marktverhoudingen verstoord. De beoogde milieuwinst, die de Amsterdamse wethouder Choho de inwoners voorrekent, is gebaseerd op een onderzoek dat door de onderzoekers zelf in twijfel is getrokken. De vermeende behoefte aan consumentenbescherming is evenmin bewezen. Symboolpolitiek met verstrekkende gevolgen voor retailers en reclamebranche. Stephan van den Eijnden, voorzitter MailDB (brancheorganisatie van ongeadresseerd drukwerk): “Uiteindelijk is straks de consument de dupe. Zoals het er nu voorstaat, wordt een geordend systeem omver getrokken en zal dit tot enorme onduidelijkheid leiden, niet alleen voor consumenten, de reclamebranche en retailers, maar ook voor gemeenten en toezichthouders.” De bezwaren van de reclamebranche tegen invoering van het opt-in-systeem luiden in de kern als volgt:
Gebruikte cijfers van gemeente kloppen niet
De gemeente Amsterdam verwijst in het besluit naar een onderzoek van MilieuCentraal om de stelling te onderbouwen, dat drie op de tien folders ongelezen wordt weggegooid. De gemeente probeert met invoering van de JA|JA sticker naar eigen zeggen “ongevraagde verspilling” te voorkomen. Opmerkelijk is, dat MilieuCentraal is teruggekomen op deze cijfers en aangeeft dat zij niet meer achter de interpretatie staat van deze cijfers. Ander bewijs voor de stelling dat folders verspilling zijn, heeft de gemeente Amsterdam niet. Toch houdt de gemeente vast aan de beslissing om het opt-in-systeem in te voeren.
Stephan van den Eijnden: “Het lijkt hier te gaan om een “duurzaamheidstheater”. Feiten doen er niet toe. De onnodige schadelijke gevolgen voor onze branche, voor retailers en voor het MKB (die van reclame afhankelijk zijn) onderzocht de gemeente evenmin. Ook de belangen van de grote groep consumenten die de folders graag ontvangen lijken er niet toe te doen.” Daarbij komt dat de gemeente wil, dat de retail de kansen van digitaal adverteren oppakt. Voorbij wordt gegaan aan de milieudruk van digitale media en het geringere effect van digitale folders. De vermeende verspilling doet zich in grotere mate voor bij digitale reclamefolders.
Ondermijning landelijk systeem
Nederland kent al twintig jaar een opt-out-systeem. De reclamebranche investeert in het ter beschikking stellen van NEE|NEE- en NEE|JA-stickers aan consumenten. Consumenten kunnen gratis in onder meer gemeentehuizen deze stickers krijgen. Met groot succes. Ongeveer 42% van de Amsterdammers heeft al een dergelijke sticker. Het huidige systeem werkt dus uitstekend. Op landelijk niveau heeft de staatssecretaris van Infrastructuur en Milieu onlangs ook vastgesteld dat het opt-out-systeem behouden dient te worden. Het is niet duidelijk waarom de gemeente Amsterdam ervoor kiest om uit de pas te lopen en hiermee partijen die jarenlang hebben geïnvesteerd in het opt-out-systeem te schaden. Als elke gemeente zich vrij voelt om eigen regels te stellen voor de bezorging van drukwerk, wordt het maken van reclame in Nederland onmogelijk.
Concurrentievervalsing
Vreemd genoeg vallen huis-aan-huisbladen en politieke folders in het besluit niet onder het in te voeren opt-in-systeem. Deze mogen dus bezorgd blijven worden, tenzij een NEE|JA of NEE|NEE sticker is geplakt. Dit is zeer tegenstrijdig. Huis-aan-huisbladen maken immers ook reclame voor producten en diensten, net als reclamefolders. Verwacht wordt dat een verschuiving van reclame zal plaatsvinden, van reclamefolders naar huis-aan-huisbladen. Dit betekent dikkere huis-aan-huisbladen. Bram ter Beek, manager bij brancheorganisatie KVGO (Koninklijk Verbond van Grafische Ondernemingen): “De gemeente houdt totaal geen rekening met deze verschuiving, terwijl dit effect ieder theoretisch resultaat ondermijnt om ongevraagde verspilling tegen te gaan.” Slotsom is, dat verspreiders van huis-aan-huisbladen een concurrentievoordeel krijgen. Het besluit van de gemeente verstoort dus de marktverhoudingen.
Bron: papierenkarton.nl
EGM Colour Laboratories has expanded the range of materials it can utilize following the installation of Kongsberg digital finishing tables from Esko. The investment by the Spanish integrated photographic laboratory that offers a comprehensive range of photographic services, has also helped it maintain a competitive advantage with its greater ability to deliver a wider range of production capabilities.
Founded in 1971 by Enric Galve Montero and Joaquim Canal Brunet, the Barcelona-based business has more than 50 employees. It began life specializing in developing slides, prints and copies. In 1987, the company moved into digital imaging. Continuing its evolution in 1994, EGM Colour Laboratories integrated its analogue and digital services to provide a fully comprehensive photographic system. It is a founding partner of the Catalan industrial photographic association ALFIC and a partner in the Spanish photographic laboratories association ALFE.
The company invested in its first Kongsberg XN40 digital cutting table in 2013, replacing it two years later with a Kongsberg XN44 and adding a second XP44 with High Power Milling unit at the same time. EGM also invested in structural design software ArtiosCAD to support a wide range of sign and display capabilities.
General manager Enric Galve says, “With Esko’s systems, we have been able to use a wider range of materials and increase our service offerings. We strongly believe that working with Esko will allow us to continue expanding our possibilities into the future, in particular our focus on fine art.”
Galve was pleased with the ability of its Kongsberg tables to complement its digital printing on rigid and flexibles materials. “They allow us to expand the range of printed materials we can work with, including Dibond, PVC and foam, and more,” he commented.
Esko’s Kongsberg X versatile digital finishing tables offer unlimited versatility with their ability to operate on vinyl, boards or wood. They bring the best quality to any job or application and come with a wide range of specialty tools offering speed, power and flexibility to automatically handle a wide variety of materials, including corrugated, folding carton, solid board, foam, coating blankets, wood and a long list of plastics. They combine MultiCUT-HP (High Power) with a super-strong, water-cooled milling spindle delivering up to three times faster milling speeds.
Galve continues, “We chose Esko’s solutions because Esko offers very reliable machines and because the cutting head allows us to be much more versatile. At drupa 2016, we also learnt more about Esko’s workflow solutions. And we will further explore this field in the near future.”
Galve concludes, “Thanks to Esko’s solutions, we have been able to increase productivity and expand our catalogue of services. The performance of our Kongsberg tables has allowed us to increase the number of jobs we can manage within tighter and tighter production schedules, critical to maintaining our competitive advantage.”
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BLOKBOEK.COM EN PRINTMEDIANIEUWS: HET OPTIMALE DOELGROEP BEREIK