Cambridge, UK; June 11, 2003 -- Global Graphics, a leading developer and supplier of sophisticated high performance RIPs, and PDF document, workflow and color solutions, has increased the range of printing devices its Harlequin RIP supports for proofing applications with the addition of a new ProofReady Plugin for the popular medium-format Epson Stylus Photo 2100 and 2200 desktop color printers. ProofReady software provides users of products based on the new Harlequin RIP Eclipse Release and Harlequin RIP version 5.5 with an easy way to manage the precise color output from a variety of medium- and large-format printers merely by selecting the printer and the type of paper used from a simple user dialog. The Harlequin RIP automatically selects the appropriate resolution and type of screening needed to deliver a color-accurate proof to Specifications for Web Offset Publications (SWOP) standards — a widely-recognized, published printing standard. For Harlequin RIP OEMs, ProofReady Plugin software makes it easy to develop color-managed workflows, enabling users of specific Epson, Hewlett-Packard, Encad and Canon printers to achieve color-accurate proofs through a simple mouse click in their Harlequin RIP-based products. The Epson Stylus Photo 2100 and 2200 printers (available in Europe and North America, respectively) are high-speed ink jet devices designed to create long-lasting photos and artwork on a variety of media up to 13" x 44" (A3). Seven-color Ultrachrome inks, resolutions to 2880 x 1440 dpi, and ultra-fine 4-picoliter ink droplets enable the printers to deliver archival quality photo output. Coupled with the new ProofReady Plugin, the Epson Stylus Photo 2100 and 2200 also deliver color-perfect and press-accurate proofs on glossy, semigloss and matte papers. With their low price (2200 SRP of $699), the new printers present graphic design and production professionals with an inexpensive solution for proofing when coupled with the popular A3-format polyester CTP platesetters commonly used in short-run printing. Color-Accurate Proofs As digital workflows have become the norm in prepress production, the need for color-accurate proofs without film has become imperative. System developers want solutions that will give them color-accurate proofing capabilities “out of the box.” And design and print professionals want cost-effective proofing solutions that will closely predict color performance on-press. ProofReady Plugin software achieves both goals by making it easy for Global Graphics’ Harlequin RIP OEMs to set up pro-forma, color-managed proofing workflows for end users who don’t want or don’t need custom-tailored color managed workflow capabilities, such as those available through the ColorPro option in the Eclipse Release. The end user chooses the desired workflow configured by the OEM with a single mouse-click from a simple ProofReady pull-down menu. The ProofReady Plugin takes over from there, automatically selecting the appropriate print resolution and type of screening the Harlequin RIP needs to deliver a color-accurate proof. Advanced Color Management ProofReady Plugin software for the Epson Stylus Photo 2100 and 2200 printers includes the SetGold utility for optimizing a printer before profiling and Genlin for calibrating the Epson printers, along with pre-configured color set-ups for a variety of ink, media and output resolutions. It also lets OEMs and end users modify supplied profiles and to create and import their own ICC profiles to suit different paper selections and workflow demands. The ProofReady Plugin also includes 1-bit Harlequin Error Diffusion Screening (HEDS1) and new 2-bit Harlequin Error Diffusion Screening (HEDS2) designed specifically to support Epson’s variable dot technology. The new plugin also supports multi-color inks and mixed color spaces (CYMK plus RGB, named color, or LAB) to consistently deliver high-precision, color-accurate ink-jet proofs. The new software supports the 360, 720, 1440 and 2800 dpi print resolutions of the Epson Stylus Photo 2100 and 2200, and also comes with profiles for Epson Professional Gloss, Epson Premium Semigloss and Epson Enhanced Matte (archival quality) papers. ProofReady Plugin software runs on Windows 98/ME/NT/2000 and XP and Macintosh OS X (10.2.4) operating systems. With the addition of the new Epson printers, ProofReady Plugin software now supports the following range: · Epson Stylus Color 2100, 2200 and 3000; Epson Stylus Pro 5000, 7000, 7500, 9000 and 9500; and Epson Stylus Pro 5500, 7600, 9600 and 10600; · Hewlett-Packard DesignJet 1050C/1055CM, 2000CP/2500CP and 3000CP/3500 CP; and DesignJet 10/20/50PS, 5000 and 5000PS; · Encad Novajet 750 and 850; · Canon ImagePROGRAF W2200, W7000 and W7500.