According to InfoTrends, the process of preparing and proofing a print job costs six times more than the production of it, and claims speeding up this process will alleviate this bottleneck.
Xerox has announced prototype software developed in its US research labs that it claimed allowed customers to assess all print options open to them, including texture, folds, binding and finish, without having to understand the complex nature of print technology, and allow printers to eliminate problems ahead of production.
Rob Rolleston, research manager at Xerox's Research Center Webster said: "3D virtualisation helps prevent costly mistakes and re-work. Seeing the finished piece before it is printed can cut out any possible errors - orientation, cutting, or even how a certain image sits on the page."
The Xerox technology is some way off becoming a commercial product. A spokesperson for the company said: "No decision has been made yet, but the Xerox Innovation Group is actively working with the product teams to understand both the best way for this to help our customers, and the fastest path to inject the technology into our products."
Fujifilm though is closer to making this idea a reality in its XMF Remote platform which it will launch in the UK at this year's Total Print! Expo as part of XMF 2.0. The company demonstrated a beta version of the software at Drupa, and Fujifilm workflow solutions manager Andy Walker said the company had already taken orders and will be installing XMF Remote at pilot sites this month.
The 3D element will be introduced to XMF Remote when full scale commercial availability begins in December. But the key properties of rendering image imposition against paper stock and finish of a printed product are already in place, enabling the customer to proof colours as well as the overall look and feel.
To achieve this, Fujifilm has introduced a movable light source element to the software that allows the viewer to change the lighting position to pick up varnish and other effects.
Walkers said that the rendered image is wired directly into the RIP and imposition data that will be used in the printing process ensuring its accuracy.
Xerox too is looking at both standalone applications as well as client/server architectures that would enable remote web-based access.
Fujifilm and Xerox take proofing and workflow into 3D
Proofing and workflow is to step into three-dimensions following the release of new software from Fujifilm and Xerox aimed at giving users the tools to virtually build a 3D model of a product ahead of production.
