Heidelberg will base its future pre-press workflow products entirely on PDF.


It has also revealed that its violet diode platesetter, based on the Primesetter imagesetter, will be called the Prosetter and will be launched at Print 01 in Chicago in September. It will have its UK debut at Print UK later that month.


MetaDimension, a modular and scalable workflow, will become the firms entry-level pre-press workflow and will eventually replace Delta.


Delta, which is on version seven, will cease to be developed after version eight, which is scheduled for release next year, although it will continue to be supported.


"Developed out of Delta Direct, I see MetaDimension as a replacement for Delta," said Heidelberg UK divisional manager, marketing, Sascha Fischer. "It enables Delta users to migrate to PDF."


The company sees it as being suited to small- and medium-sized printers, who dont need the automation and throughput of Prinergy. "It wont replace Prinergy," added Fischer.


It will be scalable from a basic system with in-RIP trapping, OPI and colour management to a fully-fledged workflow.


"Its an entry-level workflow that can grow with a company, offering it a full investment guarantee," said Fischer.


The Prosetter will be launched with MetaDimension 2.1 as the standard front-end when it goes on controlled sales in the UK in the autumn.


Story by Barney Cox