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Page 12 March 2001
Color Business Report
Ethernet network. The Imation Matchprint Professional
Server is available for a list price of $29,500. It will be
marketed and distributed by Xerox.
In conjunction with the release of the Matchprint
Professional Server, Imation introduced Imation
Matchprint Co-Branded Xerox Color Laser Proofing
Paper, a line of specialty proofing media designed for
use with the Xerox DocuColor 12. Co-developed by
Imation and Xerox, the proofing media is available in
three finishes: Publication finish, which simulates
papers used by magazine and catalog publishers;
SuperWhite finish, which is a bright white sheet
designed for the European printing market; and
Commercial finish, which simulates Imations
Matchprint halftone proofing system. Imation
Matchprint Co-Branded Xerox Color Laser Proofing
Paper is available through Xerox in boxes of 100 sheets.
List price per 12" by 18" sheet is $4.25.
F
On February 28, 2001, Advanced Hi-Tech
Corporation (El Segundo, CA) introduced the AHT
Document Server for Canon, a controller designed to
drive multiple Canon monochrome imageRUNNER
copiers and color copiers, including the CLC 3100, CLC
2400, and CLC 1000. Running on a companys network,
the AHT Document Server features a load-balancing
function, which allows users to distribute large print
jobs to several connected copiers. The system can also
be configured to split print jobs that have color and
monochrome pages, distributing them to color and
monochrome copiers. The AHT Document Server for
Canon ships with a Windows NT server, software RIP,
and one-year service and support agreement. It supports
two Canon imageRUNNER monochrome copiers in its
base configuration, which costs $25,000. An interface
kit for a single Canon CLC unit costs $15,000.
F
On February 28, 2001, Electronics For Imaging,
Inc. (Foster City, CA) introduced Velocity Balance 2.0,
a software application that can manage and distribute
print jobs to up to 10 network-connected printers.
Velocity Balance 2.0, part of EFIs Velocity suite of
workflow software, is designed to be installed on a
Windows NT 4.0 server with a minimum of 256 MB of
RAM, 10 GB hard drive, and 450 MHz Pentium III
processor. The software can automatically split jobs
between color and monochrome printers, and can
redirect print jobs when a printer is down. Velocity
Balance 2.0 supports all EFI Fiery controllers, and an
EFI spokesperson told us that it supports almost all
print engines that are currently shipping. Velocity
Balance 2.0 will be available during the second quarter
of 2001. The base software package, which supports two
print devices, will be available for $11,995. Support for
more print devices can be added for $3,395 each.
Also on February 28, 2001, EFI introduced three
additional modules to its Velocity workflow software
family. Velocity Scan, Velocity Build, and Velocity
Estimate are slated for availability during the second
quarter of 2001. System requirements for each are the
same as those for Velocity Balance 2.0.
● Velocity Scan is designed to enable
production scanning of color and black and
white photos and documents. It also
automates image manipulation functions
such as de-speckling, de-skewing, rotation,
and masking. Velocity Scan will be available
for $2,495.
● Velocity Build includes an automated page-
imposition feature, and allows users to view
jobs on screen before they are printed. Using
Velocity Build, operators can also edit colors
and fonts in PDF documents before printing.
Velocity Build will be available for $4,495.
● Velocity Estimate, which will be available
for $795, allows print-shop managers to
estimate print job costs, by factoring in
consumables, service, and finishing options.
This data can be used to select a print
device, estimate turnaround times, and can
also be exported to a database for job
accounting and tracking.
EFIs Velocity Balance 2.0 workflow software and
the three software modules will be available through
OEM customers who decide to offer the packages. To
date, none have been announced. In addition, EFI will
sell the Velocity family of products through distribution.
IKON, for one, will offer the software.
EFI has also recently made a significant push into
the variable-data printing market. On February 21,
2001, EFI licensed Pageflexs (Cambridge, MA) Persona
and Mpower variable-data software applications for use
in future EFI products. Persona, designed for the
variable-data novice, allows users to easily create
personalized documents from the desktop. It includes
drivers for PDF and PostScript printing. Mpower
software takes customer information, entered via the
web or onto a database, and generates personalized
documents such as brochures by inserting variable text
and image data into onto templates. Mpower supports
PostScript, PDF, and PPML (Personalized Print Markup
Language) printing.
On February 26, 2001, EFI acquired the Publishing
Group of Dutch IT company FAIR BV (Amsterdam, The
Netherlands). The FAIR Publishing Group will join
EFIs Professional Services Group, also based in The
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