A Good Start for Year 2014

Two Newsflow going into Indonesia at the same time. 
 

{26 Dec, 2013]  Compose received an order from a well-known Newspaper group in Indonesia today - two Newsflow systems to be deployed in Jakarta, Indonesia. This customer expects these two full Systems to be installed together with all the other features like web growth, before end of January, 2014.

Newsflow is a Newspaper page Imposition solution, developed by Compose software engineers. Newspaper page is normally handled by individual editor, when the page is finished, it will then send to Newsflow for imposition.  Newsflow on receipt of each individual page will group them together with other pages to form a signature before making a plate.  The layout diagram on each daily production works in color, showing which page is in waiting, which signature is ready to send to CTP, and which has already been outputted.

Newsflow can be monitored remotely through internet on its daily production, giving greater flexibility to management to understand the progress through an internet browser. 

Web growth is a feature which allows CMYK page to be ripped at different resolution, providing an added compensation for the paper to get stretched as each color is printed.

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Compose System is a specialist in Prepress production solutions: well-known products includes Express Workflow, Express Newsflow, Express RIP, PDF imposition, Quickfit for automatic job ganging, BIB for auto ganging on Greeting cards, Tag Engine for Hang tags, Label Print for roll to roll labels, Velocity-VDP, ePublishing development and ePub production.

Please contact: TomSit@compose.com.hk for detail.

Compose Tag Engine for Hang Tag Prinitng

Express TagEngine is an intelligent workflow solution specifically developed for hang tag printing industry. The goal is to offer a highly sophisticated automation process, to take away some of the repetitive steps, and produce an optimised layout to save cost of printing. Express TagEngine is an end to end solution that includes database manipulation, data grouping, generation of labels with variable data element, cost estimation based on paper usage and print run, generate production reports for proofs and delivery. Most important of all, it takes away all the labor intensive work to make this a simple process.

On the printing front, Express TagEngine caters for both offset and digital printing, user can select sheetwise, work-and-turn, work-and-tumble to suit the printing requirement at the time. A selection of production reports are available for user to choose from, tailoring it to meet the need of packing detail, delivery and management requirement. Express TagEngine is easy to use, just drag and drop an order, we will provide you the most cost effective layout, choice of what size of paper to print.

Taking the advantage of Compose Express Workflow, additional function like preflighting, trapping, proofing, and CIP3/4 generation can all be seamlessly integrated.

Highlight

- Based on the print run of each tag to provide a list optimum imposition layout.

- Cost estimation is based on the paper price and production cost to reflect which solution is most economical for production.

- Instant speed. Save over 90% of time against traditional method.

- Comprehensive reports for production, packing information and management information.

- Integration with Compose’s own variable data software “velocity” to make tags simple and error free.

- A choice of four tag orientation to fit the die cut and ink key requirement

- Provide imposition layout for proofing, digital printing, and offset printing

Compose Partner with vjoon into China

vjoon Pushes for Growth in Asia, Enters China

Business prospects in the APAC region look bright with a new partner in Hong Kong and a prestigious new customer.

Hamburg (Germany)/Hong Kong, May 8, 2013

vjoon GmbH, a global leader in digital and print publishing software, is pushing for revenues growth in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region. The company’s worldwide network was recently extended with an experienced reseller and integration partner, Hong Kong-based Compose System Ltd. At about the same time, the Chinese subsidiary of a global media corporation opted for the cross-media publishing platform vjoon K4^® and Compose will provide technical support for this new customer. What’s more, vjoon succeeded in fast-tracking vjoon K4’s localization so that it is now optimized to meet the demands of the Chinese market.

“The Asia-Pacific region in general and China in particular harbor enormous potential for growth. Like everywhere in the world, customers here expect efficient, forward-looking software solutions,” says vjoon’s CEO Andreas Schrader. “vjoon meets these expectations and is a top player in multichannel publishing platforms, as we have been demonstrating for over a decade in America and Europe. Now we have joined forces with a strong local partner, Compose, to prove our merits in China.”

“The demand for professional publishing solutions is great among Chinese corporations and media companies working toward the digitized society,“ says Tom Sit, Managing Director of Compose. “And our customers believe vjoon K4 is way ahead when it comes to efficiently unifying the traditional world of print with the modern digital world.”

vjoon is already doing business in various Asia-Pacific countries, for example, with Cadgraf Digitals in India, EvioTech in Thailand, and Nexus IT & Communications Solutions in Australia. The company also serves and supports customers such as Vasan Publishing, New Straits Times Press and Trade & Logistics Siam in the APAC region.

To learn more, please visit www.vjoon.com or follow us at www.twitter.com/vjoon

About vjoon

A fixture on the publishing market since 1990, vjoon is a leading developer of workflow solutions based on Adobe^® Creative Suite^® and a global Adobe Digital Publishing Suite reseller. vjoon rapidly integrates all Adobe innovations into its solutions and consistently develops its products to meet market needs. vjoon’s flagship product vjoon K4^® is one of the most innovative cross-media publishing platforms available in the market and lets you deliver your valuable content to any output channel – print, online, mobile, tablet. Based on the time- and cost-saving Unified Publishing Process™ vjoon K4 provides the tools that allow your team to publish anywhere, smoothly and efficiently – wether you produce magazines, newspapers, sales materials, annual reports or books. Renowned customers worldwide and in configurations from 10 to more than 1,200 concurrent users benefit from this sophisticated solution.

About Compose System

Founded in 1987, Compose System is an established developer of prepress workflow, digital color proofing and print publishing solutions. Moreover the company is the first contact for vjoon K4 sales, integration and support in Hong Kong and China. Compose has offices in Hong Kong, China, North America and the United Kingdom. Its solutions are centered on the professional Express WorkFlow™ systems. Compose‘s comprehensive range of high performance and versatile products include Express NewsFlow™, InkScript Optimizer and Star Proof™. These products are sold and supported through a worldwide dealer network. For more information about Compose System please visit the company web site www.compose.com.hk

Media Contact

vjoon GmbH, Carsten Althaber, Director of Marketing

phone +49 (0) 40 55 69 50 - 25, email press@vjoon.com, web www.vjoon.com

Compose Distribute Twixl Media products in China, Hong Kong and Taiwan

Compose System Ltd. has been appointed as distributor of the Twixl media products in China, Hong Kong and Taiwan

Hong Kong, Compose System Ltd., innovative developer and distributor of prepress workflow systems and digital printing solutions for the printing and publishing industry announces their new partnership with Twixl media, developer of the Twixl Publisher product line, a software solution that enables designers to create and publish tablet applications starting from InDesign.

Compose is pleased to announce that they have been appointed as a distributor for the Twixl Publisher product line in China, Hong Kong and Taiwan.

As tablets are overtaking the number of PCs in the market, they are also changing the game of publishing, e-commerce and advertising. Publishers but also design agencies stand for big challenges but also a lot of opportunities in this fast evolving business. They are not only looking for a solution but also for professional advice on how to make the correct technology choice.

Compose, being at the same time a developer/integrator and a distributor has all the know how the market is asking for. It is the perfect match with the Twixl Publisher product line.

With Twixl Publisher, the company targets design agencies, publishers but also the enterprise market. The demand and market potential for interactive reader applications on tablets is tremendous - people are looking for cleverly devised interactive content. Twixl Publisher offers an independent and very fluid publishing solution to an emerging market that finds it difficult to identify qualitative solutions in a jungle of products and solutions which offers no added value except to bringing content to tablets.

The publishers start to understand this new business and the importance of independence when it comes to control the publishing (download) cost.

Agencies embrace a solution that enables them to publish both single- and multi-issue applications to the app stores as well as the enterprise networks, without any limitation.

Companies are also looking for a solution that enables them to manage both creation and in-house distribution.

Twixl Publisher – the ultimate user experience

Twixl Publisher is a publishing solution that takes projects from InDesign to iPads and Android tablets. Specifically, it is a combination of a stand-alone (Mac OS X) application and a plug-in for Adobe InDesign CS6 (and 5/5.5) that converts and exports traditionally created documents into interactive reader applications for tablets. Twixl Publisher makes it possible to translate print designs into digital designs by integrating interactive content such as slide shows, audio, video, HTML5 animations and more into a seamless tablet blend.

With Twixl Publisher designers can create a great variety of applications. Magazines are an obvious application, but Twixl Publisher can also be used for sales presentations, annual reports, newsletters, brand magazines, manuals, brochures, data sheets and more.

Frank Steyaert, CEO at Twixl media concludes: "Applications for Twixl Publisher are endless as it offers tremendous opportunities to share any interactive content that is available at any time and at any location and we're delighted to work with Compose to market and distribute our solution. They have an extensive network of resellers focusing on adding value for their customers and closing the gap between technology and market.

Being developers themselves, they know and can implement our products within the workflow solutions they deploy. They are an essential link to make our solutions successful.

About Twixl media

Twixl media develops reliable, easy and affordable tablet publishing solutions for interactive applications; solutions that are simple to use, simple to deploy and simple to maintain.

Twixl Publisher is a solution targeting publishers, agencies, printers and corporations. Twixl Enterprise Kiosk is an iPad only, in-house publishing tool for the agency and enterprise market.

Twixl Publisher differentiates itself by being the only independent tablet-publishing tool on the market. Our customers have full control over the creation and publishing process, and are not pushed towards a server-based subscription model. They are free to publish content to wherever they want, even to their own private company network.

This has an enormous impact on the total cost of ownership: with Twixl media solutions users pay a one-time license fee and can then publish as many applications as they want at no extra cost. Distribution of multi-issue apps may involve download fees, but even these fees are very competitively priced compared to other solutions and they even offer a solution for DIY storage.

About Compose

Compose System is a private company with headquarters based in Hong Kong, and offices in China, North America and the Europe. Compose products are sold and supported through our strong network of dealers spanning five continents. Founded in 1987 by Tom Sit, a computer and digital printing industry veteran, Compose has established the reputation as a leading Harlequin OEM.

Compose's team of highly focused and talented experts are passionate about developing RIPs, workflows, and interface solutions. By listening and working closely with our customers Compose has developed a clear understanding of the needs of today's modern prepress production environments.

The Core of our product range is our renowned ripping engine, the Express RIP. Composes Express RIP is noted for its high performance, versatility and reliability. Supporting over 200 different output devices, ExpressRIP drives the prepress industries major imagesetters, platesetters, digital presses, high-speed color copiers, digital printers and large-format inkjet printers.

Close collaboration with our customers has led us to develop a comprehensive range of innovative professional prepress tools and workflow solutions, most notably Express WorkFlow, our professional prepress workflow system. This approach to development has enabled Compose to build productive, flexible and scalable workflow systems and interfaces designed to streamline pre-press production and drive industry's most popular new output devices.

Compose is committed to developing prepress solutions enabling our customers to expand their systems as required, thereby reducing the cost of ownership and maximizing customers' benefits.

Alwan and Compose launch LinkProfiler Plugin on Harlequin RIP

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Alwan Color Expertise and Compose Systems

Launch LinkProfiler Plugin enabling State-of-the-Art 

Color Management, TAC Reduction and Ink Savings 

to Global Graphics Harlequin RIPs

Lyon - HongKong May 20, 2013– Alwan Color Expertise, a worldwide leader in color management and standardization software have made its leading DeviceLink technology available to Harlqequin RIP users thanks to Compose Systems' LinkProfiler® plugin.  Alwan's awarded DeviceLink technology enables Harlequin RIP users to seamlessly apply color management, TAC reduction, and ink savings on their RIP, without any add-on to their production workflow.

Tom Sit, CEO of Compose System is thrilled: "Compose is an Alwan distributor and an OEM partner for Global Graphics Harlequin RIP for last 20 years. We have thousands of satisfied users printing with Alwan and Harlequin technologies worldwide. However these two complementary solutions were separate and available on different platforms. Now, thanks to Alwan, Compose and Global Graphics joint efforts, we have succeeded to integrate Alwan award winning DeviceLink Profile technology in the Harlequin RIP, enabling thousands of additional users to benefit from Alwan's industry reference color management and standardization technology using a Harlequin based RIP. 

Elie Khoury, founder and president of Alwan Color expertise explains the benefits of this new solution: "Matching colors, problem-free printing, and minimum cost are the three requirements that most print providers have. Small print margins and short delays do not allow printers anymore to re-print a job due to imperfectly prepared files. Alwan LinkProfiler plugin allows Harlequin RIP users to use the color management framework provided by their RIP to create and apply Alwan DeviceLink profiles as part of the ripping process. Alwan DeviceLinks will color manage ripped files and/or limit their ink coverage (TAC) and/or optimize their black generation automatically and without any manual intervention. When this is done, printer can be confident that the job being printed on his analog press or digital printer will be free of problem and generating maximum profits.

Tom Sit concludes: "Alwan LinkProfiler plugin is in line with Alwan and Compose's strategy to offer integrated solutions that will allow users to automate as much as possible their printing processes. With the global adoption of printing standards on one hand, and the increasing need for cost effective printing on the other hand, we decided to give Harlequin RIP users the ability not just to manage their colors, but to produce standardized colors that will print without any problem and with minimum ink consumption on any printing machine. Alwan, Compose and Global Graphics did a great job in providing to the printing industry an elegant and proven solution that is widely recognized for its performance and adoption. Alwan LinkProfiler will be an excellent addition to our Harlequin RIP plugins. This is great news for our market."

Alwan LinkProfiler plugin is available in 3 versions - Prepress, Press and ECO - with a price starting from 1,800€/$2,340.

About Alwan Color Expertise

Alwan Color Expertise (www.alwancolor.com) was founded in Lyon, France, in 1997 by the current President Elie Khoury. His vision - to demonstrate how important standardizing and controlling color is throughout every stage of production - has resulted in the company becoming a world leader in standardization and color management implementation. 

Today, Alwan provides software and consultancy to key players throughout the graphic arts industry, from printers to publishers and from software developers to hardware manufacturers.

For more information about Alwan company or Alwan solutions, please contact:

adeline.leduc@alwancolor.com

www.alwancolor.com

About Compose Systems

Compose System Limited is a private company with headquarters based in Hong Kong with offices in China, America and Europe. Compose products are sold and supported through our strong network of dealers spanning five continents.

Founded in 1987 by Tom Sit, Compose has established the reputation as a leading Harlequin OEM. Compose's team of highly focused and talented experts are passionate about developing RIPs, workflows, and printing solutions.

Compose is committed to developing prepress solutions to enable our customers to grow their systems as required, thereby reducing the total cost of ownership and maximizing customer’s  benefits.

For more information about Compose Systems or our products, please contact:

Tom.Sit@compose.com.hk

www.compose.com.hk

Tel: +852 2811 4228

Trademarks
Alwan and LinkProfiler are trademarks of Alwan Color Expertise,

Global Graphics and the Harlequin RIP are trademarks of Global Graphics Software Ltd,

Compose is a trademark of Compose System Ltd,

which may be registered in certain jurisdictions. All other brand and product names are the registered trademarks or trademarks of their respective owners.

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Una buena historia para contar - Parte Dos

En el inicio de la segunda etapa, File Distribute volvía a parecer en la escena, ahora decidiendo a que publicación correspondía el archivo. Buscando en la regla en el nombre del archivo PDF, File Distribute entendía que las publicaciones “OAX” eran para Oaxaca y las “SJBT” eran para San Juan Bautista

Una vez resuelto a que publicación iban cada PDF, llegaba la hora de preparar las planchas o placas. Para esto, el operador del flujo entraba al NewsFlow Monitor y seleccionaba la planificación de cada periódico de ese día. Está, es la única intervención que tiene el operador en toda la tarea del día.

La planificación era creada por NewsFlow Planner y la creaba el sector de digramación. Venía  separadas en Secciones: A, B, C y D, con la cantidad de páginas por sección y si estas eran color o solamente negras y las preparaba el sector de digramación.

Después lo único que quedaba era esperar a que las páginas sean aprobadas por los diseñadores y ver como las paginas se iban ubicando dentro del Monitor que automáticamente, ya buscaba el lugar correspondiente a través de otra clave del nombre “A1”, “B5”, “C8”, Etc.

Cuando se juntaban los pares, NewsFlow Monitor, sueltaba la plancha y de esa manera el proceso continua sin la necesidad de esperar que lleguen todas las paginas como ocurría con un flujo de trabajo para comercial.

Uno de los mayores problemas que nos habían comentado era referente a la comunicación de las diferentes áreas. Como hacer que redacción en el primer piso supiera que pagina faltará para poder completar la sección o la edición. Es por eso que a cada sector se le dio acceso al NewsFlow Monitor Web, un sistema  que permitía ver lo que ocurría al instante en el Newsflow Planner, a través de cualquier navegador web y de esta manera, darle la posibilidad a los jefes de sección saber como iba su sección para antes de llegar al cierre. También permitía nuevamente poder abrir los PDF individuales para una chequeo de ultimo minuto. De ocurrir un cambio, al enviar una nueva página con la misma descripción de la anterior era automaticamente ubicada en su lugar y la página desplazada se ponia en la zona de espera por lo que nos informaba que hubo cambios de ultimo minuto.

Aquí terminaba la segunda etapa.

El mayor desafió para este flujo llego en la tercera etapa. Nos encontrábamos con 3 configuraciones del RIP que eran necesarias. Planchas a color, planchas blanco y negro y plancha que iban a ser impresas en la Torre 4/4, por lo que debíamos utilizar el sistema de compensación WebGrowth. Teníamos que encontrar la forma que automáticamente permitirle al Flujo de Trabajo determinar a través de File Distribute cual plancha debía ir a su correspondiente RIP. Con las paginas en negro no teníamos problemas ya que las mismas salían con el nombre Black en el nombre del archivo, pero el problema lo teníamos con las paginas CMYK y las que iban a la torre que también eran CMYK. ¿Cómo lo podíamos resolver?

En este caso, no había herramienta existente que nos podía ayudar, por lo que la gerencia comercial y técnica de compose decidió crear una nueva herramienta para poder resolver este problema. Es lindo por decir que si no existe, lo creamos.

Se decidió crear un sistema que nos permitiría desde el Newsflow Planner crear colores personalizados y llamarlos como deseáramos, como por ejemplo Torre 1 o C4S4. De esta manera podiamos ponerle colores diferentes para identificarlos visualmente y un nombre diferente para que FileDistribute pueda saber de que color se trata. Esto llevo desarrollo y tiempo pero en 15 días ya estaba funcionando de manera real y concreta.

Así ahora cuando se diagrama los periódicos no solamente se toma en cuenta las paginas a color y blanco y negro, sino que también se toman en cuenta las paginas que van en la torre con color rojo y magenta y hasta las que utilizan un papel diferente en verde y amarillo, pero esa es una historia que contare más adelante.

La cuarta etapa que es la ultima, es la que File Distribute se encarga de enviar las planchas a los CTP o lo envia a San Juan Bautista, donde la filmadora esta esperando los archivos. Solamente hay que decidir que CTP se usa hoy o si no si se va a usar el violeta para las blanco y negro y el termal para las de color o viceversa. Al comenzar el operador lo único que tenía que hacer es seleccionar el flujo de trabajo que va a usar en el día y automáticamente se le abre para tener todo los seteos preconfigurados ya están listos para usar desde la mañana.

Newsflow es capas de realizar todo este proceso en menos de 2 minutos teniendo los pares de paginas juntas, pasando por todos los chequeos y correcciones que se necesitaron. En 2 minutos, el CTP ya esta comenzando a quemar las planchas. Recuerdan algo, nunca nadie toco el flujo desde que se lanzaron los archivos al Newsflow, el operador esta esperando que el CTP haga ruido para ir y poner las planchas. Y esto es lo que compose puede lograr para su periódico.

Esta historia aún no concluye...

The Best from Compose is yet to come

Happy New Year to everyone, 

Wishing you a successful New Year.
Best wishes from all of us in Compose Systems.

PDF Imposition new features:

Show and Hide – it is now possible to toggle between the Layout of the page and its page marks, making it easier to approve the markings are correct.  Grid lines can be toggled as well.

One of the popular features on PDF imposiiton is the ability to impose a book with Saddle stitch and perfect bind Imposition together.  Now we also allow creep values to be applied on different signature, offering the possibility to accurately adding creep values for different type of paper.

The multiple pages per sheet will make it easier to place multiple signatures on any given sheet sizes, this will help to increase productivity.

User can make changes on individual page alignment; this will automatically have the effect on the front or back pages.  Likewise, moving the left and right margins will affect the back pages.

Two identical collating marks can be applied on the same signature, eg, when two 4 up signatures are placed side by side on an 8-up signature, a collating mark can now be applied to each of the 4-up signatures.

Operator can set the placement reference on paper or plate, allowing exposure bar to be placed on the plate area outside the paper.

Customized strings can be placed on the plate or the paper.

Operators can set the label text to be imaged on all the colors or on of any Cyan, Magenta, Yellow or black, or a combination of colors.