Newspaper publishers can learn how to improve efficiency and reduce their production overhead at the Agfa Graphics stand at IFRA, where the company will be demonstrating the newest enhancements to its market-leading :Arkitex workflow software suite. The entire :Arkitex suite is designed to provide a competitive edge by increasing productivity and quality while reducing costs. Agfa Graphics’ :Arkitex workflow suite includes :Arkitex Portal, :Arkitex Director, :Arkitex PlateReady, :Arkitex Vantage and :Arkitex OptiInk.

“Software can help you get out in front in the most efficient way when faced with challenging economic conditions. Advanced software solutions such as those in the :Arkitex family provide newspaper printers with the added advantage they need to help optimize resources and increase their bottom line,” said Barry Landsberg, Agfa Graphics, Product Manager, Newspapers.

:Arkitex Portal
:Arkitex Portal offers a cost-effective means to help newspaper printers develop or expand their hybrid printing business. :Arkitex Portal allows print customers to conveniently and efficiently upload pages, which then go through an automated sequence of printer-defined processing steps. :Arkitex Portal allows all participants throughout the project to collaborate within a 24/7-accessible web environment resulting in higher productivity for the printer, a shorter number of steps before printing, and reduced costs associated with reworks and errors.  Online soft proofing helps lower costs and speeds production.
IFRA attendees will see a preview of Portal V2 which includes a number of publisher focused features such as colour managed soft proofs, improved communication by adding notes onto soft-proofs, and simplified publication planning.

:Arkitex Director
The :Arkitex Director workflow management system acts as a control centre for the entire workflow, automating complex tasks with ease and allowing the monitoring of production all the way to press. Visitors to the Agfa Graphics stand can see demonstrations of the newly-enhanced Version 8, which includes the ability to display soft-proofs as a flip-book, and to stitch advertisements into the page.

:Arkitex Vantage
:Arkitex Vantage tracks production systems, Agfa and third-party, to ensure everything is working properly. Additionally, it now monitors imaging hardware with a remote infrared camera, allowing platesetter operation to be reviewed online, thus ensuring quality printed products. By monitoring the hardware – such as CTP and processor – :Arkitex Vantage allows customers to identify potential quality issues before they occur. Vantage also helps to identify possible production bottlenecks early in production, helping to prevent costly missed press deadlines.

:Arkitex OptiInk
:Arkitex OptiInk increases printing quality while reducing costs. The new version features an "OptiColor" functionality, which accepts PDFs prepared for any press colour space, and automatically converts it to coldset specific output while maintaining the highest possible quality.

:Arkitex PlateReady
PlateReady software enhances the Barenschee Plate Tower by giving it a more intuitive user interface. The Plate Tower plate buffer, which stores plates after imaging and before punching and bending, allows the press room to get plates when needed without having to wait for all of the plates to image or without sorting through stacks of pre-imaged plates