Gent (Belgium) -- EskoArtwork announces a successful collaboration with HP to support HP Indigo digital label and packaging presses with EskoArtwork Digital Front End tools. This combination has been well received by converters who are making the transition to digital production in a highly competitive market. HP SmartStream Labels and Packaging workflow solutions are powered by EskoArtwork to bring advanced RIP, workflow and color management tools to HP Indigo users for unmatched quality and production efficiency.

"The collaboration between EskoArtwork and HP has brought a new level of predictability and ease-of-use to the demanding digital label and packaging market," said Carsten Knudsen, CEO of EskoArtwork. "By leveraging the combined expertise of these two market leaders, a growing number of label and packaging converters are taking advantage of the seamless integration of EskoArtwork's powerful software suite with the HP SmartStream workflow family for a unified approach to business and production management. Owners of HP Indigo ws4000, ws4050, ws4500 and WS6000 digital presses benefit from the ability of this professional and highly automated digital front end to increase their share in the rapidly growing digital segment of the label and packaging market."

"With the latest version of the already successful HP SmartStream Labels and Packaging Print Server, HP and EskoArtwork continue to accelerate the significant growth of digital," said Alon Bar-Shany, vice president and general manager, Indigo division, HP. "The combination of this print server and the new HP Indigo WS6000 Digital Press empowers converters to pursue profitable growth with higher-volume, high-quality label and packaging production printing."

HP SmartStream Labels and Packaging workflow solutions, powered by EskoArtwork, simplify prepress and color management in digital label and packaging workflows for HP Indigo industrial presses. The combination of EskoArtwork's leading workflow tools and the unmatched quality and efficiency of HP Indigo digital presses has set a new standard for the label and packaging converting markets. Advanced capabilities include color space conversions and color management, bar code generation, step & repeat and variable data capabilities. "By integrating the proven EskoArtwork suite into the HP SmartStream workflow family," added Knudsen, "label and packaging converters have the added flexibility of late-stage decisions about whether to produce a job conventionally or digitally, depending upon individual job economics, for a seamless hybrid workflow unique to the industry."

HP SmartStream Labels and Packaging workflow solutions consist of a broad range of well-integrated tools, combined with expert training and consulting services. This includes the HP SmartStream Labels and Packaging Print Server, capable of driving the HP Indigo ws4000, ws4050, ws4500 and WS6000 digital presses and features HP Indigo SmartStream Designer PPML connectivity for variable printing applications.

EskoArtwork solutions are unique in their ability to manage packaging and label jobs from initial creative design through high-quality screened and color-managed output. The color management capabilities that are embedded in EskoArtwork applications deliver consist color regardless of the output device selected, using the same proven, industrial strength methodology and technologies that are at the heart of EskoArtwork's market-leading workflow solutions for commercial printing. As a result, label and packaging converters benefit from increased daily production with streamlined prepress processes; the ability to match PANTONE and spot colors with greater efficiency; enhanced color consistency, repeatability and predictability; and the ability to satisfy more customer demands with an expanded color gamut.

Product Details

HP SmartStream Labels and Packaging workflow solutions, powered by EskoArtwork, include the following components:

•    HP Indigo Labels and Packaging Server, powered by EskoArtwork, establishes PDF 1.6 workflows, eliminates time needed to prepare files for raster image processing (RIPing), and enables on-screen soft proofing and ICC color management. The server also gives operators the ability to reduce waste by creating repeat-length settings in prepress, plus it offers HP Indigo press users PANTONE-certified conversion tables for four-, six-, and seven-color printing; "double-hit" separations for more effective use of white ink; and options for high-definition or standard screening.

•    HP SmartStream Labels and Packaging Color Kit expands color gamut by mapping any seven colors installed on the HP Indigo digital press, then performing an automatic conversion from any given color or color space to the color space of the press. The kit includes EskoArtwork's Kaleidoscope, a device-independent color management tool that delivers absolute color accuracy.

•    HP SmartStream Labels and Packaging VDP Tools feature a new level of automation and accuracy for VDP prepress. Creative professionals can create simple or complex variable elements, including barcodes, numbers, text and images, in the familiar Adobe Illustrator environment, quickly producing print-ready layouts with robust automated tools. Featured EskoArtwork components include VDP, an authoring tool that addresses industrial VDP needs from within Adobe Illustrator; BarX, an advanced barcode tool for Adobe Illustrator; and StepX, a comprehensive set of automatic and interactive tools to create Step & Repeat arrangements for single or multiple jobs.