The platform allows users to manage, review, proof and approve graphic arts content within an online Amazon Cloud Service-hosted soft-proofing environment. Multimedia file support will be offered by the end of the year.

"It is cloud-based – there’s no software or hardware to install and users do not need anything more than a web browser. Unlike other solutions CoZone offers no restriction on user numbers, file sizes or even storage," said product manager Marcus Wright.

He added: "CoZone Collaborate has been developed from the ground up so it meets the needs of people looking for a cost-effective, scalable and easy-to-use system for collaborating, reviewing, proofing and approving media files prior to production."

While CoZone Collaborate provides a soft-proofing and approval toolkit, future GMG CoZone modules to be released will incorporate connections to GMG-calibrated hard-copy output devices for end-to-end workflow.

"Consumers have embraced cloud-based solutions for the storage, management and retrieval of their data, be it music, photos, documents or films and they now want the same flexibility in the workplace," said Wright.

"The way that jobs are produced, and the growing expectations of customers, mean that the industry has to sit up and take note. Adopting a more distributed and collaborative methodology that exploits the clear benefits of the cloud when producing content means easier, faster and more streamlined output, which is good for the industry as a whole."