One day, all workflows will be built this way
More enhancements to Fujifilm's groundbreaking workflow
June 2009 saw an enhanced version of XMF hit the market, with the commercial launch of version 2.1 of Fujifilm's cross-media workflow solution. With a wide range of new features, XMF v2.1 manages complex, multi-process production environments, maximising both print quality and efficiency.
XMF v2.1 boasts an array of new features for advanced performance and improved efficiency. Enhanced support for existing digital presses includes high resolution rendered and colour managed files combined with JDF job tickets to ensure data integrity and improve operational efficiency. Support for the HP Indigo 3500, 5500 and 7000 digital press has been added, further expanding XMF's cross media functionality. A number of enhancements are also included within XMF's JDF based imposition including the smart positioning of custom marks and the ability to dynamically add proof control strips.
John Davies, workflow business manager for FUJIFILM Europe, says: "Printers are looking to reduce costs while increasing their flexibility in order to maximise their opportunities in these difficult times. XMF delivers faster processing while providing the flexibility to move jobs between presses, either offset or digital, at the click of a mouse, which in turn helps press utilisation. Couple this with an efficient web portal delivering print ready jobs direct to the workflow to maximise production efficiency, and you have an extremely competitive advantage."
Online XMF expansion
Fujifilm also announced the commercial availability of XMF Remote, a comprehensive web portal and soft-proofing module to complement the company's XMF cross-media workflow.
XMF Remote allows a printer to offer additional online services to its clients. These include the ability for clients to preflight and submit jobs online and, once in production, to review, annotate and approve jobs and receive real-time notification of the job status. XMF Remote also helps printers to improve their operational efficiency, speeding up job hand-off, review, correction and turnaround.
Significant features include online job submission via a web portal, which can be easily customised with the client's branding, where users can upload their production jobs as single or multiple files. Preflighting commences as soon as the files are received, and the client can view both a detailed preflight report and a production-ready version of the actual job. Any errors listed in the preflight report can then be corrected by the originator and new versions uploaded.
XMF Remote is a print production tool that allows printers' clients to view the RIPped pages for approval - what clients see online are the pages that have actually been RIPped by the Adobe PDF Print Engine within XMF. Annotation tools are provided in the web portal window. Multiple reviewers can comment on jobs and see others' comments, enabling comparisons of the latest and previous revisions for confirmation of changes, with the option to automate the notification of approval status and set reminders by email. Once a job is approved, XMF Remote can be configured to directly notify prepress operators or to automatically add the job to the appropriate queue for hardcopy proofing or final output.
John Davies, workflow business manager for FUJIFILM Europe, comments: "XMF Remote allows printers to expand the client services they offer through a simple but extremely powerful tool. More and more, online job submission is high on a printer's wish list when looking for a new workflow solution as it allows much greater interaction with the customer and can make the whole process much more efficient, saving time and ultimately money. If you can get print-ready jobs coming in, you can get more work through the business."
