Valhalla, N.Y. – Advanced Color Graphics, a State College, Pa.-based full-service printer, recently installed Fujifilm XMF Workflow and Fujifilm XMF Remote, replacing its previous workflow system. The workflow upgrade increases the printer’s output speed and quality.  

In business since 1993, award-winning Advanced Color Graphics produces print media for individuals, non-profit organizations and small to mid-sized businesses – everything from business cards and envelopes to slick magazines. The experienced team of professionals provides offset, digital and variable-data printing, and custom die cutting and finishing, and is easily able to handle small and large quantity orders. Known for its superior quality, Advanced Color Graphics’ customers of all sizes receive the same unmatched attention to detail and consistency. 

Advanced Color Graphics started a search for a new workflow system when it needed to upgrade due to the large, complex files typical of the current industry, and increasing customer demands for fast delivery.  They needed a system that was Adobe PDF Print Engine (APPE) compatible to easily flatten transparencies without complicated workarounds, and that could integrate with several devices. The printer considered a number of solutions, including Fujifilm’s XMF Workflow. 

XMF Workflow is a powerful and flexible prepress production workflow built around PDF and JDF technologies. It provides a rich set of capabilities in pre-flighting, color-management, imposition and screening for a variety of output devices including platesetters and digital presses. It delivers intelligent automation, flow and color control, flexibility and improved communication. It also integrates the latest Adobe technology APPE and is JDF compliant. 

“We represent quality and so does Fujifilm – we are a good match. We have a strong history with Fujifilm and know the company delivers unparalleled products and technology. They stand behind their products,” said Patti Worden, prepress manager, Advanced Color Graphics. “In addition to the unmatched speed and quality that XMF Workflow enables, the technology is a great value for us as the cost of ownership is minimal. We are confident in its longevity as well, knowing it will fit anything we install in the future. We are not even using XMF Workflow to its full potential yet and already benefiting immensely from the upgrade.”

XMF Workflow simplifies jobs for Advanced Color Graphics that were previously much more challenging. With one particular client job, a 76-page hobby magazine, color matching is extremely important with specific calibration requirements. By using XMF Workflow, Advanced Color Graphics precisely and quickly meets that challenge. The job also involves incredibly large files, which were slow to process with the earlier technology. 

“An important factor in our decision to go with XMF Workflow was that imposition is fully integrated. Our previous system relied on impositions made separately.  Although it was possible for all prepress operators to access impositions, full control was only possible by one operator, which caused not only a bottleneck but also less engagement of our staff overall,” said Worden. “Before, only one team member was truly proficient at imposition and now all of us can handle this aspect of production well, making us better and more capable prepress techs. We use XMF’s built-in imposition feature to quickly set up proofs whereas we used to either waste time getting a unique imposition proof to save paper, or waste paper using the press-size imposition.”

In addition to XMF Workflow, Advanced Color Graphics also installed Fujifilm’s XMF Remote software that allows XMF Workflow users to offer their customers online job supervision. It has since enabled Advanced Color Graphics’ customers to upload, pre-flight, proof and approve jobs online, expediting approvals and streamlining production. One Advanced Color Graphics customer uses XMF Remote to get a magazine to the pressroom as quickly as individual pages are completed, regardless of the time of day. The magazine is a fast-moving project and the customer knows which pages fill a signature for the press. With that knowledge and XMF Remote, full signatures can be ready for plating throughout the process with several changes along the way. 

“XMF Remote is an essential part of our production workflow because most of our business is done online in some form and most of our customers upload files and prefer to view electronic proofs over hardcopy proofs,” said Worden. “The proofing stage is now so much smoother and quicker. Our customers can review in detail, request changes, or approve jobs with minimal – if any – assistance from us; it’s very intuitive, and we can see their input immediately. A real ‘wow’ is the feature that compares a revised proof to a previous proof, which we often use for in-house quality control since it is so specific. XMF Remote makes production more efficient for us, and provides a professional experience for our customers as they send files to us and proof their work.”