Operation

The product planning system will define the product that it wants to print in terms of

• Number of sections

• Format of each section

• Number of pages in each section

The information will then be transferred to the ColorWare algorithm, which will return a ‘page status’ for each of the pages defined.

The page status indicates the color availability for the page as –

• Full color available

• Full color desirable – i.e. blank plates will be required unless this page is   full color

• Spot color available

• No color available

Once the product planning system has received the initial color availability for its product size, it is able to start booking color pages. As each page is booked, the new product definition is passed to ColorWare, which recalculates color availability for each page and returns the data to the product planning system. This process continues until no more color is required or available.

Technical Details of the ColorWare Interface
The PRIMA ColorWare algorithms and press configurations will run on a high-performance PC under the Windows NT/2000 Server operating system. The system will be set up to interface with each of the product planning system’s client workstations.

Each product planning client will pass data in XML file format to the ColorWare system each time its product requirements are updated. The data file format includes client identification, press type identification and current product definition. If it is possible for the client workstation to work on more than one product, all ‘product management’ tasks must be undertaken by the product planning system as the ColorWare system responds only to the most recent request from a client workstation.

On receipt of a product definition from the product planning system, the ColorWare system will perform its calculations and return a file to the submitting client workstation.

It will be possible for the customer to put pieces of press equipment in and out of service and also to adjust his preferred production methods. These changes will be carried out on the main ColorWare server via modules supplied with the system.

Linking ColorWare to PRIMA Esprit
PRIMA Esprit is a unique product for calculating the best way to run a product on a press. It uses highly sophisticated mathematical algorithms to dynamically calculate the optimum press imposition based on the preferences of the production manager and the current setup on the press.

Taking the product layout entered manually or passed from the layout planning system, in seconds Esprit generates an optimized imposition which can be printed out for your crews, or automatically passed to your press management system.

ColorWare and Esprit integrated into your layout, workflow and press management systems provide the missing link between your editorial, advertising, planning and production departments. We already have interfaces to some of the most popular layout and press management products. Contact us for more details.

Back to top of page

Previous Page