All three unveiled new products aimed at smaller sites that can't afford the cost and complexity of full-blown workflows.

Enfocus launched PitStop Automate (pictured), a new 3,400 (4,999) addition to its suite of PDF creation and editing tools that adds automation based on technology from parent company Artwork Systems' Odystar workflow.

"There are no high-end features no ripping, trapping, flattening and load balancing," said Enfocus executive vice president for sales and marketing Patrick Van Dam.

Features include file sorting and conditional workflows and splitting multiple page PDFs into single pages.

Gradual Software launched a new version of its automation tool CaslonFlow, which is aimed at the same section of the market. CaslonFlow 5.5, which "visually glues together third-party applications into one seamless flow" according to the firm, includes what it terms configurators to new third-party workflows.

These include PDF pre-flight specialist Callas Software's pdfInspektor3, pdf-ColorConvert and pdfCorrect tools and use PDF and integration specialist Apago's PDF Enhancer.

Global Graphics launched the Harlequin Print Production Manager (PPM) a simple interface aimed at small- to mid-size printers.
It uses a Submit Once Output Many (SOOM) feature so submitted files can be output to different devices for example proof and then to plate without resubmission. The simple interface has windows to show the input queue, RIP status, output queue, print status and completed job table.

The software is the basis of Presstek's new Momentum workflow and is also being used by ECRM, Esko-Graphics and Polkadots.

Story by Barney Cox