| PrintExpress/CPM |
| 
PrintExpress Snap Shots |
PrintExpress/CPM
is a digital workflow system that comprises of a number
of software modules that are used to create a link between
page make-up applications and the printing press. PrintExpress
handles the stages of receiving single pages in PostScript
or PDF form through RIPing, pagepairing, spooling, proofing,
tracking and remote transmission to multiple print sites.
The whole workflow can be monitored and controlled from
any location on the system. The modules which form PrintExpress
are all designed to interlock with each other and to
perform specific functions. The whole system can be
as small as a single site outputting to a single CTP
machine or imagesetter, or as large as many newspaper
publishing sites all using many common printing sites.
PrintExpress can often be configured to provide a solution
to special and unique user requirements. TIFF import
and export together with other interfacing methods and
Laserbus means that PrintExpress can be integrated in
a wide and varied way with other systems and output
devices. |
| PrintExpress
utilises either Sun hardware and the Solaris operating
system or PC hardware with the Windows 2000 Server operating
system. PrintExpress modules can run on as many or as
few platforms as are required to provide the necessary
performance and redundancy at each site. Automatic failover
functions are available to ensure the system keeps working
even if a platform does fail. |
| |
| The set of
modules which form PrintExpress are: |
| PostScript
/ PDF Spooler |
| This module receives
PostScript or PDF files from other system such as the
page make-up machines on PC or Mac or from an OPI server
.It uses standard input protocols such as PAP (Apple),
TCP/IP, drop file, or from the MGS3 OPI server. Here
the input files are spooled for transfer to a RIP process
or can be sent on to other PostScript spoolers which
could be at other sites. PostScript files can be converted
here to PDF format using the Normaliser option before
being passed on either to other spoolers or to the PDF
Export function to be saved as a file for archiving
purposes or for use by other systems. |
| PrintExpress
RIP |
| The PrintExpress
RIP module uses the Adobe PostScrpt3 CPSI to create
bitmap files from the postscript or PDF files. As with
all PrintExpress modules, multiple instances of the
RIP module can run on a single platform. Color calibration
and other modifiers are applied at this stage. The load
across several RIP processes can be leveled by the PostScript
/ PDF spoolers. |
| Bitmap Spoolers |
| These spool and
queue the output files from the RIP processes for forwarding
on to other Bitmap Spoolers (possibly at print sites)
or to other modules for further processing such as page
pairing, double burning, rotation etc. |
| Bitmap Assembler
and Bitmap Pairer |
| The Pairer is
an automatic process which combines specific page bitmaps
according to a specific publication description and
naming convention for page pairing or imposition. The
Assembler can be controlled manually or can take page
bitmaps on a first-in-first-out basis to provide throughput
enhancement for specific recorders. In both cases the
geometry of the layout is defined in a configuration
table. |
| Bitmap Color
Proof |
| This option takes
high resolution separation bitmaps and combines and
processes them to produce a layout proof on a color
plotter such as a HP Design Jet. This may be driven
by Laserbus or over Ethernet. Unlike approaches which
require the job to be RIPped separately for proofing,
this ensures that the proof is representative of the
final print and that there will be no RIP induced variations
when producing the separations. |
| Bitmap Network
Proof |
| High resolution
separation bitmaps are combined and processed for display
on a screen using the Soft Proof client. The screen
displays a gallery of thumbnails which allows the user
to monitor the progress of a publication by watching
the arrival of bitmaps in a queue. As the separations
arrive they are displayed with corresponding separations
from each job overlaying until a composite is displayed.
A thumbnail can be selected to produce a full screen
display of individual separations or of a composite
job. When used in conjunction with the Bitmap Pairer
the gallery display is formatted to show all jobs in
correct page order, so it is simple to see the progress
of the complete publication. |
| Bitmap Ink
Presetting |
| This option
calculates the ink coverage from the separation bitmaps
and formats it for press controls. |
| Look how the
modules can connect together: |
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| Example
practical configurations: |
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