DIGITAL digest
Growth Seen in Color Digital Printing Output
NEW YORK CITY—Acceptance and use of any new technology is usually a direct function of a decline in cost and an increase in quality or functionality. Digital color printing is following this pattern.
According to a new report released recently by TrendWatch Graphic Arts (TWGA), prices for digital presses and related consumables costs have declined significantly. This, in conjunction with technological advancements that have enhanced output quality, has led to a steady increase in investment in digital color equipment, which reportedly is up five percentage points in the last 12 months.
In addition, demand for digital color printing is steadily climbing. The "Digital Printing: Destination Here" report notes that 12 percent of all responding commercial printing firms said their production of digital color print jobs had increased in the last 12 months. Digital printers reported significantly greater growth, with 40 percent saying demand for digital printing work has increased.
Among the report's other findings are that 13 percent of graphic arts firms and 27 percent of digital printers see variable data printing as a top sales opportunity for their businesses. In addition, the percentage of all firms seeing short-run color as a sales opportunity rose six points—to 16 percent, an all-time high.
CIP4 Publishes JDF Product Directory
ZURICH, SWITZERLAND—The International Cooperation for the Integration of Processes in Prepress, Press and Postpress (CIP4) organization announces the publication of "JDF Marketplace," the first comprehensive directory of JDF-enabled products and services. Designed as a quarterly publication, the PDF document is available free on the CIP4 Website (www.cip4.org). The information is reproduced as submitted by participating companies.
"The first edition of "JDF Marketplace" includes over 120 product and service listings from the industry leaders," notes CIP4 Executive Director James Harvey. "Listings are organized by workflow function, with separate sections for products and services. The "JDF Marketplace" PDF file is optimized for screen and desktop printing."
In other news, the international organization announced it registered a marked increase in membership during the first four months of 2004. A total of 32 new companies joined CIP4 as partner, full or associate members, building its overall roster to more than 220 companies, organizations or individuals.
DIGITAL bytes
HANOVER PARK, IL—Enovation recently celebrated the sale of its 1,000th Fujifilm PictroProof two-page proofing device, which was introduced in October 1999. Last year, the company debuted PictroProof II as its successor. Both proofers use Fujifilm's proprietary Thermal Development and Transfer technology. (www.getitfromtheexperts.com)
PUERTO RICO—In an effort to boost business efficiency and profitability, Martin Printing, Impression Associates and Pronto Printing have each invested in ECRM Mako 2 violet CTP systems. Aleph Graphics, ECRM's Miami-based dealer, handled all three installations. (www.ecrm.com)
ROCHESTER, NY—Mercury Print Productions, a full-service printing and premedia company, has installed an ExaStore scalable storage cluster system specifically adapted for premedia applications. Kodak Polychrome Graphics (KPG) is the worldwide distributor of the system, which is based on industry-standard, off-the-shelf servers and RAIDs. It provides load-balanced access to files with a "No Single Point of Failure" architecture to ensure automatic fail-over of any component. (www.kpgraphics.com.)
FERNDALE, MI—Allied Printing has installed a Xerox DocuColor iGen3 digital production press. The 67-person shop provides digital and offset print production, data and mailing services, full-service bindery, fulfillment and program management. It recently began work on a Web-based marketing solution for its financial industry customers. (www.allied-online.com/www.xerox.com)
CLIFTON, NJ—Sandy Alexander has switched to using two Fujifilm FinalProof digital contract proofers to eliminate the inconsistencies it experienced with previous proofing methods, says Mike Graff, executive vice president. The printer specializes in doing work for clients in the automotive, fashion and cosmetic industries, along with other demanding color jobs. (www.sandyinc.com/ www.getitfromtheexperts.com)
LOS ANGELES—Management of Costello Brothers Lithographers reports the installation of a PlateRite 8100 thermal platesetter from Screen (USA) is being used to feed plates to a stable of six sheetfed presses ranging in size from 18˝ to 40˝, for a total of about 1,000 plates per month. (www.costellolitho.com/www.screenusa.com)
HICKSVILLE, NY—Coral Graphics, a mid-sized printer and prepress shop serving the book publishing industry, is a recent install site for the Kodak Polychrome Graphics Matchprint Virtual proofing system. The SWOP-certified monitor proofing solution combines customized CRT monitors, proprietary color management technologies, and a suite of Web-based image viewing and collaboration tools from RealTimeImage. (www.coralgraphics.com/www.kpgraphics.com)
SANTA CLARA, CA—Progressive Solutions has expanded its digital printing capabilities with the installation of a new HP Indigo 3050 digital color press, the first of its kind to be installed in California. Progressive Solutions offers offset and digital printing, Web-enabled fulfillment, mail house services, collateral management and turnkey print-on-demand systems. (www.printhq.com/www.hp.com)
COSTA MESA, CA—Marking its 40th year in business, Hoover Printing and Lithography has purchased a Heidelberg Prosetter 74 violet CTP system. The shop also recently installed a new Heidelberg Printmaster QM-4 sheetfed press and an HP large-format printer/proofer. It previously had expanded into digital printing services with the addition of a six-color HP Indigo 1000 digital press. (www.hooverprinting.com)
