ArifiQ Development (Östersund, Sweden) has released its new arifiQ Optimizer, which identifies the most cost-saving imposition and production paths for single and gang-run jobs, automatically creates sheet-sized imposed PDFs, then transfers the imposed PDFs directly to any prepress or digital workflow system. One of the greatest competitive benefits of arifiQ Optimizer, said the company, is that it doesn’t require the use of predefined templates, resulting in substantial time savings and many more options for ganging. It also eliminates numerous human touches in production planning and prepress – such as production path and layout/impositions. “This functionality is a dream come true for both the production manager and the prepress operator,” said Stefan Karlsson, CTO at arifiQ. “We’ve wanted to plug this gap because it’s long been a process in desperate need of automation. Without the arifiQ Optimizer, it takes significant time and effort to calculate file layouts for ganging in an efficient way. Also, while imposition templates may handle the most common products, it takes a long time to find the right ones. Most importantly, users will not enjoy the cost savings and other benefits of optimized production.”
ArifiQ Optimizer accepts any number of PDFs. Then, in a few seconds to a few minutes, it calculates the most cost-effective and least wasteful imposition and job-production path. The single or gang-run jobs are automatically transferred to the prepress workflow or digital workflow system as imposed PDF sheets. Overall, the technology is a substantial time saver for prepress operators – as the tasks of selecting a press, finding the right templates and paper sizes, and doing the layout of the pages, are all taken care of. It also eliminates the vast majority of choices and check-boxes in a typical prepress system, along with the risk of human error. The imposed PDF files are stored in a hot folder, to be picked up by a traditional prepress or digital workflow system, and then the sheets can be released to CTP or to a digital press. “When combined with arifiQ Pro’s quote and order system, arifiQ Optimizer offers a true, automated workflow starting at the print customer or the salesperson, and progressing through to production. ArifiQ technology can also be integrated with MIS/order systems,” the company added.
ArifiQ unveils new arifiQ Optimizer that saves time and money
