Agfa announced new versions of its IntelliNet modular newspaper workflow system and IntelliTune image processing suite at Newstec.


The firm acquired IntelliNet (then WideNet, an ex-Crosfield product) when it bought DuPonts film and plate business in 1998. I dont think DuPont had the faintest idea what to do with WideNet or how to develop the product, but its now the glue that allows us to sell Polaris, stated graphic systems director Laurence Roberts.



Andy Grant, Agfas worldwide marketing manager for newspaper workflow systems, emphasised that IntelliNet Series 2 was not a derivation of Apogee its workflow designed for newspapers.



The NewsFlow 2.0 software at the heart of the system has a new communications and improved user interface, along with drivers for Autologics 3850, which Agfa highlighted as evidence of the openness of its system.



Elsewhere within the IntelliNet suite of software, Agfa has added InkSet 2.0 for taking ink key settings to press control systems, and has introduced NewsRip 2.0 based on its Apogee PDF Rip, but removing functionality not required by newspapers. TIFFProof 2.0 allows newspapers to automate colour proofing.



Grant claimed that planning tool Planner 2.0 was the most comprehensive on the market.



The new version of Agfas IntelliTune image processing software includes a simpler user interface, improved skin tone control and upgraded mutli-dimensional processing (MDP) for automatic image correction.



Grant said there were now 250 IntelliNet sites worldwide, and that he expected to achieve 1,000 user seats this year.