KIRKWOOD PRINTING -- Energizing Color

Along with reducing the amount of operator intervention to check and fix jobs, the system also automatically handles workflow organization tasks, the prepress director notes. "Two weeks after we had the system, our operators were saying it was too good to be true," he recalls.

Kirkwood now converts all files into PDF internally, but many of its clients are still sending application files. Mitchell reports that the company is exploring ways to help clients create proper PDF files. Monfette isn't sure any tool will make an appreciable dent in the number of problem files, though.