This is not an ADVERTISEMENT, i want know your idea on this PRINT&PREPRESS workflow

[printly]

Hi to all,
2 years ago i started to develop an online workflow for my customers.
I was bored to change only the name into their stationery so i have now created htis workflow all PDF based and all with web interface. For customer and for printer.
THIS IS THE WORKFLOW DEVELOPED.
http://www.printly.com/images/workflow.jpg

THIS IS NOT ADVERTISING, please let live this post.
I will know what graphic people think on it, it's a shame because the workflow "stole" graphic profit or can be a solution to reduce text error.
I hope to receive your opinion on it.

With regards
paolo gallo

www.printly.com (http://www.printly.com)

[PrintDriver]

Printly, basicly this could be taken for an ad because what you describe is becoming fairly standard in the form printing industry and is branching out even into the advertising collateral industry now. Obviously it's a good idea where it can be applied, if the customer can be assured that what he sees is what he gets (not always true with pdf files), AND he doesn't care that much about physical color proofs. Until color calibration standardizing evolves, the soft proof pdf or tif is only as good as your clients' monitors. It can work even better if the client can access previous versions of submitted files rather than starting at templates each time. This gives some customizeable options to the client.

PrintDriver is a grande format digital print dude. His advice/opinions may not apply to the 4color/offset/web world of printing

[printly]

Yes printdriver, you have all reason. Color change and calibration it's difficoult into device of the same print factory so by web we can say that is inpossible. ? Maybe but if we dont care about colors calibration because all is based on CMYK paper control and PANTONE(R) standars the workflow can be a good idea to reduce time for prepress (bring right files, install right font, see all the past print story (what colors, what lpi, trap,...). In this case for this customer you have a web interface with their document (not all, only where he can modify the layout as we have agree before) and he can send the NEW file directly to your RIP or PRINTER.
Customer have a personal login and see the document.
I live in Europe and here this is not so applied in prepress environment so i'm interested ti know how is this are in America, more in advantage.
Regards
Paolo

www.printly.com (http://www.printly.com)

[PrintDriver]

You will have to limit your papers and media to only a certain few if you are going to be using an intensive color management system to keep the colors consistent to the pantone standards. ICC updates are a time killer if you use a lot of media.

A lot of the large format 'wide-jet' as you illustrate just don't hit certain PMS colors AT ALL so you couldn't guarantee complete color compliance to your client. As soon as you introduce large format digital to a system such as this, soft proofs become even more difficult.

In the US most of this type of work flow is limited to the 4-color printing world. In the cases where a large formatter is using it, they only offer 'pleasing' color or template only services. Custom color matching is always provided as an additional charge.

Are you proposing marketing such a software system or buying one yourself. Your post was a little ambiguous on that. A tif for a proof will not provide a real good indicator of type quality because of the rasterizing and it's been my experience with pdf proofing large format that text looks extremely bloated when viewed on the screen at a size where the entire image will fit on the monitor.

PrintDriver is a grande format digital print dude. His advice/opinions may not apply to the 4color/offset/web world of printing

[printly]

PrintDriver,
I know all problem color, in fact the JPG preview work in RGB while the master PDF and the output work ever in CMYK + PANTONE®.

If we dont care more about Color Management because the use is from Printer who have an handshake and are in habits to have "same profile output" the workflows works better because your customer, without any graphics software or idea of graphics can compose they print files, the printer receive a job ticket with a READY TO PRINT PDF FILES.

Also for large format this will be a good workflows because we can work on 2 PDF in the same time, 1 low resolution and 1 at high or normal, the customer see all the proofs on the low def. while the printer receive the hig def. (this for have low server usage and low time of wait).

I'm not proposing any marketing, i have worked so long to develop this and now all is working fine.
I'm only looking if i have developed a "stupid" workflow or i have worked on a right way and i have made a new solution in PRINT&PREPRESS.

NOT CONSIDER THE SALE of Business cards on the website, try all the system and see the Proofsand tell me what you think, if someone can find BUGS, if something can be modifyed and developed more.
Thatks
Paolo

www.printly.com (http://www.printly.com)

[Drorain]

. . .let me just say be careful your not stepping on already patented processes. . .The Whole idea is okay, in fact my company has the largest share in this format. Color is an issue, thats true, but customers do like being able to see the PDF. What you do is one part of what the company I work for does

http://www.grivakisgraphics.com/images/img_logomark.jpg

"I Heart Chewie"
Oh Chewie I love U "click (http://wso.williams.edu/~rfoxwell/starwars/sounds/Chewie03.wav)"

[printly]

Yes, i dont want reply an patented process, maybe this is already patented, i dont know but the idea is modify a PDF, produce a proof of the PDF and print them,.

Our customer can see both proof (jpg low resolution) or the complete PDF file.
This is not advertising but try to build your business cards on the website and see after, you can download both pdf or jpg.
If you are not registered and you dot have an account you see the restricted PDF else you can have the full PDF file.


And if you are "printer" you can modify the template, add new, change or insert new, manage the order,... all by a web interface user friendly.

www.printly.com (http://www.printly.com)

Post Edited (printly) : 12/6/2004 6:08:51 PM GMT

[Drorain]

i guess self serve online printing is getting larger, your company is about the second or third one I've seen

http://www.grivakisgraphics.com/images/img_logomark.jpg

"I Heart Chewie"
Oh Chewie I love U "click (http://wso.williams.edu/~rfoxwell/starwars/sounds/Chewie03.wav)"

[printly]

Yes, we are not the first but look the workflows developed and the USER FRIENDLY INTERFACE to customer, we are the first.
We work all on PDF so is standard.
I know we are not the first but i will know what you think on it.
I have lost time developing this?.
Or can be used in other print sector.

www.printly.com (http://www.printly.com)

[printly]

Nobody else have question, suggestion or critical bugs about this workflow?

www.printly.com (http://www.printly.com)

[PrintDriver]

Pointed out the critical bugs. Wide format and color management on multiple machines and multiple media. And you gotta know how to set up a pdf to rip on a million different rips (well several anyway). What works on Fiery may not work on Colorburst or Postershop. Plus ICC profiles. And ICC profile updates. Most times we don't even want pdfs.
Grande format Inkjets and Photo process lasers are far, far different from press runs.

I don't see this working as a remote service just yet for large format. Only as an in-house workflow. Most of the big stuff is fairly unique in design, not template based.

Unless, and that's a BIG 'unless', you manage to work individually with large format vendors to find out what they want and need. I do imagine you will run into the tech here and there who will not want outside sources mucking with the file he has to take responsibility for printing. More often than not, actually. Most consider their machines to be one of their own children...

And as Drorain has pointed out, many press companies here and in parts of Europe are already using a system like this in house.

PrintDriver is a grande format digital print dude. His advice/opinions may not apply to the 4color/offset/web world of printing

Post Edited (PrintDriver) : 12/8/2004 11:41:24 PM GMT

[printly]

Well, PDF have embedded a kind of ICC profiles and we can control color management.
If you think our PDF dont work under different RIPs you can try, we give all the files. We can use a originale PDF made directly from you where add text and image.
For example, for wide print, if you have to print the panels for markets you can use our system and give to the market marketing this feauture, he can add and change text, promotions and price offer of thei product over a standard layout (as he use a DTP software) and send all to your printer directly.
Many printer are already using system like ours but nobody have all into a webservice and have a user friendly customization.
We have developed all into diffeent modules, such as puzzleflow® but our system manage all online on internet.

www.printly.com (http://www.printly.com)

[PrintDriver]

Don't push the sell man.

Why on earth would I pay you to store files, make changes, and deal with my clients, and effectively become a middle man with a markup I can't justify (remember what I was saying about the tech who is responsible for getting the prints to come out right on a deadline?)

Like I said, internally, this system is fine. And maybe you can work with a few press houses that can use templates (dull as they are). Most large print collateral just isn't designed from a template or a previous version. It has to be a New and Different look every time. Templates are the bain of the Graphic Design industry as well. It's gonna be a very hard sell to large format guys. Or maybe just this guy cuz we aren't just used to doing multis. That's it from me.

Anyone else from the print side?

PrintDriver is a grande format digital print dude. His advice/opinions may not apply to the 4color/offset/web world of printing

[Drorain]

The workflow. . .Its fine for small businesses, not many designers use our services, some do, but the fact is that sometimes people want more options like spot color. I do a bit of design on the side from my main job, and I use our printer, the process is okay the workflow is fine, but I dont know how many designers you'll honestly draw. It depends on the cost of a job as well. Seeing as I get a huge discount where I work, I'll stick to my own company. I wish you luck tho, the european market is a good market for your business.

http://www.grivakisgraphics.com/images/img_logomark.jpg

"I Heart Chewie"
Oh Chewie I love U "click (http://wso.williams.edu/~rfoxwell/starwars/sounds/Chewie03.wav)"

[printly]

Thank for all reply,
i think the workflows is ok and now i show why:
- we can use what we need (font, PANTONE® spot colors, image, size, ... add barcode, add data from database...)
- the workflow is made for 'not so variable' work and is made to give customers the power of change themselves the text inside (think on the management of the 'coca cola® stationery' without any software, without any high knowledge of prepress and with an online proofs (no other hand do work before print so if you write 'Simone' you can not receive your stationery with wrote 'Simmone' (for example).
- all is modular so to all people around the world have a little graphic software on a computer (also of a internet point) where produce the layout.
And more.
We are printer but we are sfotware developer so interested to all idea on it.
By the Way Thanks a lot to all.
Regards
Paolo

www.printly.com (http://www.printly.com)

[printly]

The workflow is made for BRAND IDENTITY MANAGEMENT, so all printed product are made in the same factory, same ink, same machine, same workflow, same files, same web,... with the COMPLETE CONTROL by MARKETING MANAGER of the reports...
He will see who order print and when, ...
Nobody else have suggestion on it?
Regards

www.printly.com (http://www.printly.com)