Esko has launched the latest generation of its native PDF editor for packaging pre-press, ArtPro+. With a new Variable Data Printing module and full integration with HELL gravure equipment, the latest version of the software delivers a further boost to pre-press operational excellence. Esko says that ArtPro+ enables operators to reduce unintentional errors when editing and to automate repeating tasks without the need for any special programming skills.
“With ArtPro+, pre-press teams can enjoy the significant benefits of working directly on PDF files with a complete set of editing features,” explained Frank Woltering, Product Manager Graphic Editing at Esko. “With this new release, our next generation pre-press editor further evolves to meet the growing needs of packaging professionals in today’s business environment. With new ArtPro+, we offer a Variable Data Printing (VDP) solution to folding carton converters running Adobe Illustrator or PDF in their pre-press operation. Traditionally, VDP jobs can take hours to expand and rip, for what takes minutes to print on press. Jobs can be cumbersome, involving patchwork data from various sources or vendors and can comprise thousands of variations, making normal human approval processes impossible.
“But now with ArtPro+ users can convert any artwork file to a VDP template and validate the output before print,” he said. “ArtPro+ contains all the functionality needed to go from a customer file to a print ready file in just a few clicks and without leaving the application. Images, text and barcodes can be made variable in size, layout and color by reading a record from a CSV database. The rule-based validation capabilities not only check the database, but also preflight the final output and report on potential printing issues before going to press. The VDP module allows data to be expanded directly into a Step & Repeat template, resulting in a fully stepped and repeated layout file ready to print.”
The HELL integration and the new VDP module add to the list of features in the software, which significantly reduces the time spent on non-value adding tasks and increases the speed of jobs to press.
