Giesbeek, The Netherlands -- Elpical, specialists in automated image enhancement and image management solutions, announces the integration of its Claro image manipulation and enhancement technology with Digital Media Partners' DMP FLO Suite web-to-print solutions.

The move makes broader application of Elpical's high quality image technology possible. While there has been a significant focus on improving the quality of automatic image enhancement technology, Claro goes beyond image optimization to offer easily integrated server-based image processing. Software developers in need of any kind of image manipulation, from image resizing to color conversions, can easily get access to the Claro engine. On top of this basic functionality, they can also take advantage of Claro's state-of-the-art image enhancement features.

Ton Kuypers, Director of DMP, explains: "Extend and improve the image manipulation capabilities inside our DMP FLO solutions and, on top of that, offer superior image optimization...that's what DMP wants to offer our current and new customers. The integration of Elpical Claro technology into DMP FLO Suite meets both objectives."

DMP FLO Suite is a web-based publishing system offering capabilities including asset management, database publishing and web content management.

Professional imaging know-how makes the difference
John de Jong, Elpical's Managing Director, emphasizes: "To improve current capabilities inside DMP FLO-based workflows, in terms of resizing and resampling of images, color conversions, advanced cropping and more; Elpical uses its professional Claro imaging know-how that guarantees high quality results. Special sharpening algorithms, anti-halo filtering, local contrast enhancement, and ICC-based color conversion are part of how we get results that are substantially better than ever before. We are very pleased we can add this level of performance to the already outstanding solutions delivered by the DMP FLO Suite software."

Easy integration of a range of new capabilities
Integrating Claro is truly simple. This made the integration of Claro technology into DMP FLO Suite a highly efficient task. The XML files control all of the Claro functionality: origin and destination of the file to process, crop & size information, file format, enhancements to apply; even the name and extension of the output file. Increasingly important in professional publishing environments is the fact that Claro handles the largest range of file formats in the industry, including EPS and PSD files. It can also read and write IPTC and XMP metadata. This adds traceability with regards to what happened to the file but also increases the automation capabilities of the software with which it is integrated.

Faster and better image processing
The key to improved automation is simple: automatic image processing based on individual image analysis. Elpical believes that it is best to first analyze sharpness, brightness, contrast, color balance, natural greens, skin tones, EXIF information; and only then do the image manipulation. With this approach, Claro is faster than simple batch processing because its specific image analysis excludes reworks due to 'averaged output quality'. It therefore also delivers higher quality.

This process allows the DMP FLO Suite user to improve batch processing of image optimization actions by starting with individual image analysis. Benefits are higher productivity and also, strongly improved quality. Important additional file formats such as EPS are now also fully supported in DMP FLO Suite.

Directly improve all images inside the PDFs
Claro technology now enables DMP FLO users to enhance, resample and color convert images at the moment of image input and even inside their PDF files. These powerful new features enable the development of new services for customers as well as improve the print quality of customer PDF files.  The results are dramatic timesavings and a more standardized operation to further streamline and improve automatic image processing.