Speaking of consumer product companies, many experience a disconnect between their design agency's design intent and the resulting print output. Basically, many prepress providers find that files need to be totally re-engineered after the design stage in order to be suitable for print production. One of the issues that comes into play is that of transparency.
"The latest versions of DTP software, including Adobe Illustrator CS2, allow designers to use transparency freely. However, many legacy workflows require that transparent elements be flattened before output, which severely limits the ability to trap, modify or re-use the design in the future. Artwork Systems' workflow products, including ArtPro, Nexus and Odystar Packaging, are fully compatible with transparency, and allow transparency to be preserved throughout all stages of prepress to protect the integrity of the design." says Rottenborn, Artwork Systems.
"If plates are written with digital data, you need a way to proof that data, which means that digital proofing systems must also be integrated. The most significant advancement in this area is soft proofing on monitors. With today's technology, remote proofing has moved from vision to reality. Web-based tools like Kodak InSite software paired with the Kodak MatchPrint Virtual proofing solution, allows narrow web printers to connect their customers into the production workflow to collaborate on projects, and review and approve content and color. Many people and departments can review the same file simultaneously, and high-end monitors and software are now available for critical color evaluation. Soft proofing reduces turnaround times, improves content/placement communications, reduces the costs associated with outputting and shipping hard copy proofs, and improves time to market for new package creation."
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