Mapping a print production process can become complex in large organizations, from data receipt to the finished product. The following requirements are placed on such a process:

• Processes must often be integrated into existing administrative structures and/or be capable of operating independently of those structures.
• Operation must, on the one hand, be intuitive and understandable to every user within the process chain, as well as adapted to their capabilities, and, on the other hand, be executable on end devices such as personal computers, tablets, or smartphones.
• Recurring processes must be automatable, and the ability to exchange data with other systems in use must be ensured.

The application $PRODUCT_NAME_WORKFLOW is a tool that maps the entire prepress workflow, from the incoming source file to the fully rendered print-ready file. The capabilities of the application are based on the integration of products from leading technology partners in the fields of PDF processing, Color Management, and RIP technologies. These capabilities are combined with modern usability concepts, built on a standardized client-server model. The application $PRODUCT_NAME_WORKFLOW covers all processes of a modern data workflow, including data management, data preparation, print approval, print output optimization, and rendering of print data. The application itself runs on a Windows server and provides these diverse and complex functions to all users in a clear, efficient, user-friendly, and platform-independent manner via a web browser.

On the user side, no installation is required other than the use of the Google Chrome browser – one of the most modern, secure, and high-performance browsers available. If the $PRODUCT_NAME_PDF_EDITOR is used as an additional component to support an integrated workflow and is provided as a desktop application, it must be installed separately.

On the backend side, key technologies from established technology partners are utilized – solutions that have already been successfully deployed in applications from other providers on the market. One of the main challenges in developing the application $PRODUCT_NAME_WORKFLOW was integrating these technologies in the background. This ensures that users can access the complex functions seamlessly within their browser. During development, we did not limit ourselves to implementing the existing functionality of our technology partners. Rather, it was a collaborative project to develop additional features required to meet our specific requirements.

In addition to the key technology partners, we also utilize the SDKs of other technology partners that provide hardware and software components for the application $PRODUCT_NAME_WORKFLOW ecosystem. These include Barbieri, X-Rite, Konica Minolta, Techkon, as well as numerous printer manufacturers.

The application is provided as an open system. This is reflected, among other things, in the following capabilities:

• PDF Fixup Profiles from Acrobat Pro DC can be used in the application $PRODUCT_NAME_WORKFLOW,
• all ICC Color Profiles from the application can also be used in other programs at any time,
• REST APIs are available for integration with leading ERP systems as well as machine control systems, and
• open standards such as XML, JDF, XJDF, JSON, C-GATS, CxF, and related formats are supported.

The application provides modules that can be extended at any time and adapted to specific requirements. These modules include solutions for:

• variable data printing for images, text, color, shape, and barcodes based on information from dynamic generators or databases,
• ink cost calculation per print file as well as for the entire Imposition,
• Color Management  as well as the associated optimization of ink coverage on the printing system,
• file management and the associated structured storage and classification of individual print files,
• mapping of the structure of Orders with all information required for managing Orders and Order Lines,
• data check and the provision of production-relevant or production-critical information,
• manual or automated data preparation of checked files based on the information available from this check,
• the automated processing of print data based on the description of a product definition,
• the Automation of recurring processes,
• the coordination of print data via the Approval Portal or at least based on Approval Reports,
• the matching of colors against existing Templates for individual colors,
• the creation of Color Books and Grid Charts,
• the verification of printed products against ISO standards,
• the Imposition of print data by type or across Orders,
• the optimization of Impositions to achieve higher material utilization,
• the management and filling of Die Cuts,
• the integration of leading ERP systems,
• the integration of the application with other workflow systems as well as a PDF Editor,
• and much more.

The application $PRODUCT_NAME_WORKFLOW ensures that:

• print data is stored and retrieved iin a highly structured manner,
• Order data can be easily managed and all information required for decision-making is consolidated within the Order,
• the status of an Order can be accessed at any time by different user groups,
• clear Submit Points throughout the entire process can be defined between customer account managers, prepress technicians, printers and the controlling department,
• a check of the print data in the form of a Preflight Check takes place right from the first step, thereby ensuring production readiness for the printing system,
• readable Preflight Reports are available for customer communication,
• the preparation of print data for printing can be handled almost entirely within the browser window,
• the collaboration with external partners can be managed,
• the data preparation for extensive changes can be handled using specialized Editors, and the necessary interfaces are provided for this purpose,
• personalized content can be generated based on predefined records or through intuitive input options within a browser window,
• order- and Print Item-related variable costs (ink and substrate consumption) are available immediately after the check-in of the print data,
• a color-accurate reproduction of the print result on the selected substrate can be achieved, with continuous monitoring of potential color deviations from target values,
• the ink consumption for the individual Print Item can be controlled through intelligent color arithmetic, without causing visible color differences,
• a color-accurate output can be achieved across different printing systems or lines of the same printers, or across different substrates, without haveing to re-edit the print data,
• the Imposition can be prepared in just few steps with optimized substrate usage, while recurring schemes or Print Items based on existing Die Cuts can be generated and applied to Print Items,
• all details of the executed Processing Steps are logged and made available for tracking and controlling purposes,
• comprehensive logging enables reprints at any time, even if processes, substrates, or printer parameters have changed in the meantime,
• the system deployment is simplified, as all processes are handled via a browser-based platform,
• and there are no significant system requirements for the end device in terms of hardware and software.