ProductionReady Server enables graphic design and production professionals on a local area network (LAN) to easily design and implement automatic, server-based workflows using intuitive, drag-and-drop design tools. These workflows can be used to preflight and convert job files in PostScript, Encapsulated PostScript (EPS), PDF or TIFF formats to optimized PDF and PostScript files that are ready for prepress production, printing, or cross-media publishing. ProductionReady Server can send processed files to a remote FTP site, a Web server, a raster image processor (RIP), or to an open prepress interface (OPI) server for image replacement. "ProductionReady Server demonstrates the simplicity, power and modularity of our MaxWorkFlow system to be configured to address specific workflow needs," said James Freidah, president and COO, Global Graphics Software. "Using ProductionReady Server, a graphic design professional can build a complete server-based workflow that automatically routes files, identifies those that can't be processed, and optimizes the files that can be processed to ensure they're ready for production and will RIP quickly and efficiently," Freidah added. The new standalone solution includes the unique MaxWorkFlow user interface and four MaxWorkFlow modules out of the more than 25 available in the full product. * Drag-and-Drop User Interface – the intuitive MaxWorkFlow Desktop Design Palette through which users drag and drop simple icons representing each workflow function, to easily configure and implement a custom workflow. The Desktop Design Palette connects workflow functions via an intelligent linking tool that prevents the user from creating incorrect configurations. It also comes with SmartScan hot folders. * SmartScan – a utility module that monitors hot folders for completed files from design workstations and routes them automatically to one or several ProductionReady modules. SmartScan frees designers from waiting for system resources to become available to process their files. It handles files from Macintosh, Windowsand UNIXworkstations. * Max PDF Creator – a module based on Global Graphics' popular JawsPDF Creatorsoftware that automatically creates PDF versions of PostScript, EPS or TIFF files with a variety of user-specified characteristics, and delivers them to a designated file system folder for Web and print production simultaneously. * Max PreCheck – a preflighting module that accepts PostScript language files, EPS and PDF files from the SmartScan module. The PreCheck module automatically checks for required fonts against the available fonts list, detects fonts that are not correctly embedded and logs and sends problem files to an invalid jobs folder for correction. * Max Optimizer – a module that increases overall workflow performance by performing multiple operations on files. MAX Optimizer can convert PostScript, EPS or PDF data into optimized EPS or PostScript Level 2 or Level 3 files, with or without a preview, compress graphic images and crop the unused area of images to reduce file size, and apply OPI images. It also can embed all fonts into a document and convert all spot colors to process colors and then send the data to multiple locations, ready for print production. MaxWorkFlow ProductionReady Server runs in WindowsNT 4.0 and Windows 2000 Professional environments on IntelPentiumPCs running at or above 600 MHz and with at least 500MB of free disk space on SCSI drives with 4GB or greater capacity. The new standalone workflow solution will be sold through Global Graphics' extensive distribution channel of more than 100 OEMs. Pricing will be determined by the OEMs. Shipments will begin this month. It is being demonstrated in the Global Graphics booth (#7105) here at PRINT '01.