ORLANDO, FL - Pioneering software firm, PrintFactory, is setting out to challenge the status quo at ISA Sign Expo 2018 (Booth 4942). In keeping with the show’s ‘Dare to be different’ theme, the PrintFactory team will present a new perspective on an age-old problem in wide-format print: color management.

Exhibiting alongside its U.S. distributor, GMG Americas, the technology company that has focused its most recent R&D efforts on automation is getting back to basics. In a bid to make clear the benefits of an improved workflow and the upshots new technologies can bring in terms of consistency of output - leading to significant time, media and ink savings - the global operation is returning to its RIP roots to relay an important message to the world’s print shops.

“Daring to be different isn’t necessarily about staying ahead of the technology curve - sometimes it’s simply about having the foresight to question the norm,” says PrintFactory’s CEO, Erik Strik.

“In-built inefficiency could be stalling progress and very often that comes down to the color management platform of choice. The issue being, of course, that few operations are actually relying on the platform of their choice - nor a single platform.

“More often than not it’s dictated by which products their distributor organizations support and what deals technology providers have struck with OEMs. To further complicate matters, many are using a number of different systems to drive their printer networks. So, it is little wonder that the inherent complexities involved in color management are being exacerbated and inconsistency of output remains a challenge.”

The management team behind PrintFactory’s holding company, Aurelon - formerly of GMG Color - have long made it their mission to remove the complexity - and with it the inconsistencies - that have plagued wide-format set-ups from the start. This vision is what has driven its developers to pursue the path leading to total automation, already achieving streamlined workflows that remove multiple touchpoints and reduce room for human error for its growing software-as-a-service (SaaS) client base.

“While we’re making significant in-roads with our SaaS offer, there is a significant chunk of the market that isn’t ready to take it that far yet,” observes Strik.

“Transitioning from legacy platforms, fear of change or security concerns with the cloud are common perceived obstacles. Having a system in place that can support longer term ambitions of going automated, however, is a savvy move while short to medium term issues are resolved with the pre-press process. Be confident the fundamentals are covered off and then look to move forward.

“In the meantime, the message to LFPs is clear: don’t be inefficient by default - demand more from your color management. Only then can you benefit from truly transformative technologies that could take your business to a level of productivity you never thought possible.”