Agfa Graphics today announced the launch of the next generation of its award-winning prepress workflow, :Apogee Suite 8.0. Featuring new tools designed to help printers in offset and digital print or hybrid environments become more innovative, it interacts more efficiently internally and with their customers while optimizing every step in the production process. :Apogee Suite 8.0 will be running live and available for demonstrations at the company’s stand at drupa (Düsseldorf, Germany May 3 – 16, Hall 8A). It will be available in the third quarter 2012. 

Among the innovations in :Apogee Suite 8.0 is the new interactive :Apogee StoreFront, the new cloud-based, web-to-print solution. :Apogee StoreFront makes it easy to set up online stores for both printed and non-printed products. Seamless integration with :Apogee Prepress or any other workflow software ensure that orders are automatically downloaded and setup for production based on job specifications. Because it is cloud based and easy to use, printers can launch multiple, customized storefronts with no additional staff or costly infrastructure investment. :Apogee StoreFront gives printers the means to reach new markets and enrich customer experience, thus expanding business. 

:Apogee Impose now supports web offset printing. Designed for the specific needs of web printing operations, this unique rule-based imposition software takes all specifications into account, including web folding and finishing requirements, to generate the optimal imposition scheme. A last minute change of press is no problem for :Apogee Impose. Plus, it supports single, dual and multiple web deliveries. :Apogee Impose lowers setup cost while delivering the level of automation web printers demand. 

A new Merge Jobs function lets :Apogee 8 determine which jobs can be combined in one production run. This cuts costs by optimizing press runs. An innovative algorithm places different jobs on the sheet in the most optimal manner. As a result, there are fewer cuts which translates to less paper waste. 

“:Apogee 8 is loaded with innovations that cater to every type of operation—sheet and web offset as well as hybrid operations including wide format. New 64-bit support combined with virtualization (VMWare) lets high-volume printers consolidate processing. Other tools reduce costs with efficient output management such as the job merge function. All of these improvements are the result of carefully listening to our customers all over the world and incorporating their feedback.” said Andy Grant, Head of Software, Agfa Graphics, worldwide. 

:Apogee Suite 8.0 gives prepress operators more process control. A toolbox of plugins allows them to easily manipulate PDF pages in the workflow. A varnish plugin, for example, lets them create a spot varnish on top of text or an image. The new CSR Dashboard gives customer service representatives or production managers detailed job status reports, allowing them to interact more efficiently and accurately internally and with customers. CSRs can record notes and add customer requests. All information stays with the job to ensure absolute job integrity 

:Apogee Preflight offers improved color management. The new document-based capability verifies that profiles are attached to all objects and automatically updates incorrect profiles. :Apogee Preflight also makes the necessary adjustments should the output target change. A new customer profile wizard generates the optimal calibration profiles for any substrate. This is a critical capability in operations that have offset, digital and industrial inkjet printing. The end result is consistent color output over different media types regardless of the output device or if the operator is generating a proof. 

ICC Profile Regularization is an Agfa patented technology that avoids discontinuities in profiles due to folding. This is especially important for wide-format applications and results in better and more consistent color output. 

:Apogee Suite 8.0 is also built to support digital printing, including variable data printing, giving users an edge when it comes to providing new services for their customers.