SubscribeExtended functionality for closer desktop integration with Adobe applications
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Esko-Graphics, the market leader in packaging pre-production solutions, announced the release of DeskPack 2.0, a major upgrade of the company’s popular set of software plug-ins for both Adobe® Illustrator® and Adobe® PhotoShop®.
New functionalities include the ArtiosCAD plug-in, animated 3-D VRML files, and a range of new Adobe Illustrator plug-ins including stepX, barX, OutRight, ViewX and Ink Manager. New Adobe PhotoShop plug-ins include Flexotools and spot color tools. These plug-ins bring powerful packaging pre-press production tools to the designer’s and prepress operator’s desktops, including full integration of these popular Adobe applications with Esko-Graphics’ Scope BackStage workflow server.
Closer desktop integration with Adobe
Introduced two years ago, the industry has widely accepted DeskPack’s packaging pre-press functionality for standard desktop applications. DeskPack is an integrated part of Scope, Esko-Graphics' workflow environment for the packaging industry.
DeskPack links Adobe Illustrator and PhotoShop users into the Scope workflow environment. By extending DeskPack with extra modules, users can add valuable automation, step and repeat and collaboration features. Due to the strong ArtiosCAD and Adobe Illustrator integration, it previews packaging designs interactively in realistic 3D.
“Esko-Graphics understands that consumer packaging company product managers and designers are increasingly becoming involved in the packaging supply chain workflow. They are doing so to minimize current and future pain points: industry compatibility, speed to market, quick re-purposing of design assets and cost of ownership,” comments Frank Adegeest, Esko-Graphics Senior Product Manager, Packaging Applications Software.
“They need tools, such as preflighting, ink management, trapping, barcode generation, 3-D soft proofing and step and repeat to provide production-ready artwork to the prepress supplier or converter, without making heavy investments in new production software. We have provided stronger output file compatibility, taking full benefit of our partnership with Adobe, and have further integrated our CAD and graphics products and technologies. The new DeskPack 2.0 version offers an extended functionality and brings Scope even closer to desktop integration with Adobe software.”
Proven value
Worldwide, numerous workstations installed with Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop benefit from the DeskPack tools, and the delivery list for DeskPack 2.0 has been growing rapidly since the product was demonstrated and launched at drupa 2004. Even a number of customers running legacy Barco Graphics software are working with Esko-Graphics to replace their workflows with configurations running multiple DeskPack seats.
“As international brand implementers, data integrity and ease of use are critical.” comments Paul Bean, Managing Director of Watt Gilchrist, UK. “Esko-Graphics’ strategy to integrate high end functionality to the Mac platform and Adobe suite were seen as a significant move away from proprietary systems and data format. It is a key driver in supporting our clients from an R&D perspective.”
DeskPack has received popular attention because it saves costs for designers; the user does not need to purchase expensive, dedicated software and hardware to perform expert prepress functions typically allocated to dedicated prepress tools. The entire Esko-Graphics expertise is bundled in simple to use plug-ins. Because it runs on popular Adobe software, DeskPack does not require much training and expertise, and operators are easy to find.
New features & benefits
Beyond trapping, design control and preflighting, version 2.0 of DeskPack delivers a number of functional improvements and benefits to the user:
- ArtiosCAD plug-in: The ArtiosCAD plug-in imports and exports CAD structural design files and 3D renderings within Adobe Illustrator.
- Animated 3-D VRML files: ArtiosCAD files contain folding angles and animation. DeskPack can produce accurately folded and animated 3-D models along with the design application. The resulting VRML file can be viewed in Internet Explorer by pre-installing free downloadable VRML viewers such as Cortona or Cosmo.
New Adobe Illustrator plug-ins include:
- barX: a complete and powerful barcode tool that allows users to create dynamic barcodes from a full set of standards. The unique features and benefits of Esko-Graphics barcodes have a long proven track record among commercial printers, security printers and converters.
- ViewX: a powerful set of visual inspection tools to check separations, overprint renderings, and registration, including flexographics plate preview. Tools include a total area coverage view, densitometer, simulation of press miss-registration to check trapping values, high resolution image preview including OPI support, and extreme zoom.
- Ink Manager: defines ink properties such as opaque versus normal and varnish, screen rulings and angles.
- stepX: a powerful step and repeat tool for the creation of print-ready layouts. stepX provides a robust set of interactive tools to create step-and-repeat arrangements for single or multiple jobs. Target customers include label printers and converters who can take control and reduce costs by bringing exceptional plate layout capabilities in-house, within Adobe® Illustrator®.
- OutRight: an output module that drives most imagesetters, platesetters and proofers, as well as generating PS/PDF/PDF files with correctly rendered transparencies, overprints, traps, and vignettes from Illustrator/EPS/DCS files at exceptional speeds – maintaining the production critical metadata and the highest level of quality and editability.
New Adobe PhotoShop plug-ins include:
- Spot color tools: Package printers often use special ink sets (other than the standard CMYK process inks) due to Brand colors or to eliminate the risk of critical color fluctuations on long print runs. Spot color tools for Adobe® PhotoShop® such as spot color plane mapping and InkSwitch revolutionizes the separation and editing of multi channel files, using patented Esko-Graphics technology. Each separation is automatically adjusted, including knockouts, while the user views the result that will be printed.
DeskPack 2.0 is completely released and available to customers, accessible through Esko-Graphics’ international network of resellers and distributors. DeskPack plug-ins are sold as a complete modular suite, or purchased individually – prices vary per module. You can apply for a thirty-day free trial through theEsko-Graphics website.