Mako is multi-platform technology for pre-press, document conversion and manipulation and was developed by Global Graphics Software.
Aimed at developers and system integrators, it can be used with the Harlequin RIP to prepare documents for printing. Or it can be used on its own to create custom-print workflow components, such as imposing pages or combining documents into one job.
The system is compatible with Windows, Linux, Mac OS, iOS, Android and Windows 10 IoT, meaning documents destined for print can be processed and previewed on any device.
Product manager David Stevenson said: “Target users are developers who need a multiplatform system that can create, interrogate, manipulate and visualise PDF documents with precise control over colour, fonts, images, vector content and more.”
Stand-out feature was its versatility, he said, Mako was an “extremely competent” software-development kit that excels at many functions, he explained.
“On the one hand you can use it as a component for preparing files for print, such as preflighting or imposition or even combining different files together.
“And on the other you can use Mako to create file previews that are viewable in HTML5 on any type of mobile device.”
On pricing, Stevenson said: “We licence our software to OEMs, system integrators and developers so prices can vary depending on the application.”
He added: “The technology can also be used to visualise documents on screen, in a web browser or on different devices such as tablets or smart phones.”
According to the company, the control Mako provides over source documents makes it suitable for building custom workflow components.
Developers can use Mako to split or combine files, convert colours and add new content, such as 2D barcodes, to ensure that the job is properly prepared to produce the desired output.
The technology can also handle PDFs created at actual size, for example, a wide format banner or 10m wallpaper roll.
Users meanwhile can create dedicated workflow components to reorder pages, split jobs into smaller files by page count, or combine files into larger jobs.
A common requirement of pre-press workflows is to preview a file. With Mako developers can build fast, high-quality visualisation, performance-tuned to the platform.
For example Mako can generate scalable vector graphics (SVG) of a PDF page, complete with overprint simulation, for preview in an HTML5 browser.
