21 new features and enhancements that simplify wide format print production and make printing more predictable 

SALT LAKE CITY – Onyx Graphics, Inc. today announced ONYX^® 11 software, the next generation of the company’s wide format workflow and RIP products.  Built on the proven platform of X10 RIP software and ONYX Thrive workflow software, ONYX 11 can increase operator productivity and reduce waste, and offers tools to help print providers gain a greater insight into their printing operations. ONYX 11 software was on display throughout the 2013 Specialty Graphic & Imaging Association (SGIA) exhibition in Orlando, FL.

Specifically developed to make printing more predictable, ONYX 11 software enables print operators to print jobs right the first time. ONYX 11 software is available for the full ONYX software product line including ONYX Thrive™ workflow software and ONYX ProductionHouse™, ONYX PosterShop^® and ONYX RIPCenter™ RIP software.

"Thanks to the new Job Ticketing feature in ONYX 11 I can find any archived job within seconds,” stated Tyler Nylund of Integrity Color, an ONYX software user. “This tool has enabled me to save countless time and effort along with providing a simple-to-use, yet powerful archival solution."

Included are 21 new features and enhancements that simplify wide format print production and optimize color quality. Below are highlights of some of the new items to be found in ONYX 11 software.

Color swatch books for best color matching

With the new ONYX 11 swatch books tool, users can print variations of a specified color and quickly determine the best match between printed output and the desired color. This makes it simple to match color right the first time without unnecessary guesswork, saving both time and materials. 

Integrated job ticketing helps track all aspects of a job

Tracking job and customer information through the production process can be time consuming and challenging when job tracking systems and production software are different.  With job ticketing in ONYX 11 software, users can input job identification numbers from their job tracking system, customer data and job-specific notes. This data can be tracked and edited in RIP-Queue and the job editor module as well as the Thrive Production Manager module, providing the entire production team with data to ensure the job is printed right the first time.  Another time saving feature in ONYX 11 software gives users the ability to quickly search for jobs in the print queue based on any of the job ticket information, making it easy to locate and manage jobs.

Job previewing and simplified tools make printing more predictable

ONYX 11 software includes new features that simplify job preparation that help take the guesswork out of the printing process. This release adds the ability to rotate images when they are being opened, which can save up to 50 percent of job preparation time. Simplified sizing and cropping tools, and the addition of disproportionate scaling make it easy for users to quickly adjust images the way they want. A redesigned job properties window now includes a new sewing marks tool that add printed guidelines to the printed piece, helping reduce overall finishing time. 

With the addition of accurate color-managed previews in RIP-Queue, a large preview in job properties, and a visual preview of how images will nest together, print operators will gain confidence in knowing their jobs will print as expected.

ONYX Color innovations improve quality, consistency and profiling

Building upon Onyx Graphics’ industry leading color technology, three significant color innovations have been added to ONYX 11 software. ChromaBoost™ technology – unique to ONYX Color – significantly improves the appearance of bright colors on difficult-to-profile media, increasing the chroma (the intensity of the color) by as much as 40 percent. Spectral calibration makes it easy to ensure consistent printing across time by accurately adjusting for color changes due to environmental changes or even differences in media or ink batches. Advanced tools for specialty inks enable users to more easily create profiles for applications such as backlit printing, and help them take full advantage of white, varnish, metallic and other non-CMYK inks.

ONYX Connect helps gain greater insight into printing operations

ONYX Connect™ is an open system that provides a simple developer interface to connect a print service provider’s current business workflow solutions to ONYX production software, without needing to replace existing business workflows with a proprietary or RIP-specific solution. ONYX Connect enables business owners and production managers to gain greater insight into valuable production information such as estimated ink consumption, media usage and production times. It also includes the ability to automate job submission through JDF (Job Definition Format) and hot folders providing control of critical job settings and reducing errors introduced by manual intervention during the production process. Additionally, ONYX Connect extends the capabilities of the browser-based ONYX Thrive Production Manager by adding remote access to the printed job information.

21 New Features and Enhancements

A complete list of the 21 new features and enhancements is below.

Productivity Tools

• Color swatch books
• Integrated job ticketing
• Nesting with image preview
• Color managed previews for RIP-Queue
• Expanded job properties window
• Rotate jobs immediately when opening files
• Rotate jobs directly in RIP-Queue
• Job and key word search tool
• Disproportionate scaling 
• Custom sewing marks
• Latest generation in RIP technologies
• Enhanced cutting technologies
• Auto configuration for Thrive installation
• Thrive Production Manager II
• ONYX Connect
• Innovation in Color
• ChromaBoost
• Spectral calibration
• Specialty and spot color ink restriction
• Improved i1 device support 
• Pause and resume color measurements
• New quality evaluation Images

Availability

ONYX 11 software is now available. To purchase ONYX 11 software or to upgrade through the ONYX Advantage™ software maintenance program, customers should contact their authorized ONYX reseller or visit www.onyxgfx.com for more information.

The ONYX Advantage program gives ONYX software users an easy way to keep their software current and secure their investment. ONYX Advantage provides product upgrades, new printer drivers, and access to on-demand training and support videos. Current ONYX Advantage agreement holders can obtain ONYX 11 now by contacting [email protected] and requesting a key update.