Remote Proofing--Satellite Collaboration

New technologies and applications are emerging for remote proofing. Topping the latest trends are new file transfer technologies for rendering proofs remotely, new software solutions for annotating conceptual proofs and interactive conferencing via the Internet—turning remote proofing into the ultimate, simultaneous satellite collaboration.

BY MARIE RANOIA ALONSO

The motives for exploring and adopting remote proofing are the same this year as they were last year and the year before: Save production time, while at the same time develop a closer, more effective working relationship between printer and print buyer by leveraging remote proofing as a value-added service.

What is different this year? So far, there exists a new fervor in the file transfer component of the remote proofing issue. There is now a glowing fire lit underneath the whole concept of remote proofing, thanks to new file transfer technologies allowing for larger data transfers, and more militant control over file integrity and—through the Internet—security issues. The new zeal over transmitting files for the express purpose of remote proofing is apparent in a series of recent announcements on the transmission side of the remote equation.

RealTimeImage, a provider of Internet-based imaging products, recently announced that it has formed a partnership with Digital Art Exchange (DAX) through which RealTimeProof, RealTimeImage's online proofing service, will become part of the suite of digital workflow tools available to customers of DAX's managed Internet services.

RealTimeProof is an online proofing service offering imaging quality for Web-based soft and remote hard proofing. With RealTimeProof, gigabytes of original production data can be viewed in full resolution with a Web browser in seconds, even over a dial-up connection.

DGNOnline, a graphic arts application service provider, and Group Logic, a networking and telecom software publisher, have recently announced a partnership to provide an Internet-based, interactive conferencing service to graphic arts professionals. TeamProof, the new service, is a Web-based solution that allows graphic arts professionals to communicate effectively while providing fast review and approval of ready-for-print materials. Imagexpo 2.5, the latest version of Group Logic's remote soft proofing and annotation software, is leveraged within TeamProof.

Vio Worldwide has signaled its intentions in this remote proofing direction, as well, by introducing a range of third-party applications for its service, including distribute-and-print workflows with Vio RemoteProof and Vio RemotePrint. Also on the Vio network, users have access to Vio RenderView, a collaborative soft proofing application developed by RealTimeImage.

Miranda Tivey, worldwide marketing director, explains the Vio positioning: "Our goal is for Vio to be the essential link between different and remote elements in any digital production process, automating the transfer of information between applications wherever possible and providing the glue in the workflow."

To proof a job using Vio RenderView, recipients click a Show button that appears on the Vio Job Ticket. The Vio server then renders the requested picture for display and a Vio RenderView window opens on each recipient's desktop, showing the full-resolution file. The file does not move from its location on the Vio server during this process, so the sender and all addressees can share the same file simultaneously, without unnecessary downloads if the job is not approved or requires only soft proofing.

Using Vio RenderView, all parties can view the content of the file, leave marked annotations, measure colors and zoom up to a single pixel. All files sent to the Vio server reside there for five days, giving users a full five-day soft proofing cycle. Tivey reports, "Vio RenderView brings discussion of the file upstream, significantly shortening the correction cycle on jobs."

All users viewing a file through Vio RenderView can annotate the image with "sticky" notes and synchronize comments in order for everybody in the workgroup to see them simultaneously. The image is positioned on an XY grid, enabling users to pinpoint an exact location for their remarks. Users wanting to check specific areas of an image to verify detailed corrections, such as retouching, can use Vio RenderView to zoom into the image to actual pixel level, thus minimizing the margin for error in the proofing process.

All sign-offs are recorded by user name and the annotations logged in a file, which becomes a useful extension of Vio's standard job tracking function. All annotations are held separately from the image file itself, and do not jeopardize the file's integrity. Once the file is approved, any of the addressees can decide to retrieve the file from the Vio server for hard proofing or for final output.

Satellite Approvals
For conceptual proofing, the DGNOnline portal site is a virtual meeting room that affords conceptual and prepress partners involved in a print application the opportunity to be involved in the proofing process, a la TeamProof, by logging onto a virtual meeting site using their Internet browser.

Once logged onto DGNOnline, Group Logic's Imagexpo technology can be launched and connected to other participants via the DGNOnline service. Documents to be shared are automatically opened within Group Logic's Imagexpo application on all users' desktops.

Once all users have joined the virtual meeting, they can all see the shared documents on-screen and can review them simultaneously while talking on the phone. As they talk, users can scroll, zoom, pan and move between documents. All changes to the view of the document are reflected instantly on all users' screens. Each user can make annotations on top of the document using a sophisticated set of object-oriented drawing tools. Annotations are visible instantly to all parties.

Group Logic's Imagexpo 2.5 supports the integration of its annotation and interactive conferencing capabilities into digital asset management systems; offers new features for enhancing screen-based review and approval of CMYK color; and generates preview images from saved Imagexpo documents. Imagexpo 2.5 also supports additional file formats, including JPEG and GIF.

Imagexpo is a complete remote proofing solution. It gives customers the ability to create soft proofs—static bitmaps of pages and images —as well as to transmit them, view them on-screen and mark them up. Soft proofs can be transmitted quickly from the prepress or design facility to the client via standard telecommunication links, such as ISDN and the Internet, and mark-ups can be returned with equal speed.

Imagexpo also provides an interactive conferencing feature that allows both client and provider to connect remote locations via telecom links and interactively review and mark up soft proofs while talking on the phone. The electronic workflow enabled by Imagexpo reduces or eliminates the need to courier physical proofs back and forth, and creates a dramatically faster, more efficient review and approval process.

The Internet-based print procurement and print management movement hitting the industry in the form of Impresse, Noosh, Collabria and the latest Internet endeavor, printCafe—an Internet-based print procurement and production management technology collaboration that fuses Creo with computer management system vendors Prograph, Programmed Solutions, Logic, Hagen Systems and others—also promises to cast more attention on the technological viability of satellite proofing, for both conceptual, production and contract proofs.

The coming months will show more links between remote proofing technology providers—the output side linking with the growing range of file delivery solutions and Internet services. Speculation as to how the e-commerce print procurement trend may impact the status of the remote proof is up for grabs, as new digital proofers prepare to enter the market.

For example, Polaroid's Betty LaBaugh reports that a new Polaroid proofer, to be launched at DRUPA 2000 next month, will be prime for remote proofing. The new PolaProof—a two-up, digital halftone proofing system, will be the first in a new generation of products using PolaProof technology.

The two-up halftone proofing system has been developed using the company's Laser Ablation transfer technology and is aimed at a wide variety of users, including commercial printers, repro houses, publishers and corporate accounts. The automatic, digital halftone proofing system will provide sharp and dry digital color proofs imaged at resolutions of 2,540 dpi or 2,400 dpi, and up to 400 lpi.

Also, Imation has announced an alliance with Collabria that will enable the two companies to deliver a new remote proofing solution based on Imation's Matchprint Ink-jet System. The agreement will center around Collabria's Intelligent Print Workplace eBusiness solution.

As for a prediction on the short-term status of remote proofing, given the heated effort on the part of proofing system vendors, as well as file delivery and Internet providers, to facilitate remote collaboration between the printer and the print buyer, one can only ponder . . .

If the print buyer and the printer are going to communicate over the Internet to detail print jobs specifications and confirm print quotes, and if the Internet is going to be a prime designation for a range of computer management services—shades of printCafe—will remote proofing be far behind the e-trend?

If all of these new e-commerce companies are investing millions of dollars to put print procurement and remote collaboration onto the Internet for the print buyer and the commercial printer to maximize, doesn't it then seem logical that remote proofing, at least conceptual proofing, is next on the e-trend agenda?

The call for proofing high-resolution files via the Internet, or a managed network, is only going to increase, especially as the file delivery segment continues to improve processes and convince the printing and print buying communities of the financial and logistic rationale of satellite proofing. Certainly, the Internet is allowing the practice of remote proofing to be a more universal reality.

Watch for more news as technology advances during the course of the year. More likely than not, the Internet will make remote proofing an irresistible alternative for the concept proof. As for the contract proof, can it really be that far behind?