SkinnyServer creates press quality PDF 100X smaller than PostScript New PDF workflow solution dramatically reduces page layout and prepress file sizes and print time. Also announced: - Ultimate introduces MatchMaker for newspaper publishers - Ultimate announces Xtrap – Simplified economical trapping for OS X & Win XP - Ultimate announces IMPressX for OSX Birmingham, UK, April 9, 2002 – PDF and PostScript workflow provider Ultimate Technographics today announced a revolutionary new product for page layout and prepress workflow, using the latest Jaws technology supplied by Global Graphics Software, the SkinnyServer. The new software server reduces PostScript file sizes by up to 100X, resulting in an accelerated prepress workflow for Trapping, Imposition and RIPing. SkinnyServer includes an Adobe Photoshop plug-in that reduces EPS file sizes by 30X, and a workflow server that accelerates the creation of PDF files with optional modules for OS X & WIN XP automated Trapping with Ultimate’s new XTrap, and Imposition with Ultimate’s Impostrip or IMPress. David Watson, President and CEO of Ultimate says: "The SkinnyServer will have an incredible impact on print production, from page layout through prepress. Growing PostScript file sizes have become a huge burden on the industry and taken a serious toll on productivity," he continues, "our SkinnyServer will help commercial printers get more value from their capital prepress hardware purchases by imaging more plates everyday." Ultimate has just completed several months of testing with select beta customers in North America; the critical factors for measuring success were workflow acceleration and print quality. "We are experiencing amazing results from our beta publishing customer, San Jose Magazine, in California, using the SkinnyServer," explains Joanne David, Vice-President of Marketing at Ultimate, "they’re using our products in the creative and prepress environment and are experiencing astounding production time and cost savings, for example, the reduced SkinnyEPS file sizes accelerate page layout in QuarkXPress, and color proofs are printed in a fraction of the time they used to take. They also have significantly reduced their bandwidth costs, courier costs, creative and prepress production time for a total savings of over $20,000.00 per issue." Gilbert Sangari, Publisher of San Jose Magazine says: "It took us literally half the normal time to do our latest issue. Not to mention handling the files back and forth between the magazine and pre-press via e-mail, instead of jazz disks." San Jose magazine is serving an upscale readership and includes advertising from the most select luxury brands, so image quality was critical. San Jose Magazine used the Ultimate PDF workflow for the complete magazine production, including all advertising: Mercedes Benz, TSE, Roche Bobois and others – considering the reputations and standards of these customers and how Image quality and color accuracy are paramount concerns, the Ultimate SkinnyServer passed the test with flying colors. SkinnyServer benefits overview: - Up to 100X reduction of file size compared to PostScript - Adobe Photoshop SkinnyEPS plug-in for 30X reduced EPS file size, no extensions needed for page layout – SkinnyEPS is a normal EPS, but only skinnier! - Faster Trapping, Imposition (6X faster) and RIPing (10X faster) - Add Trapping with Ultimate Xtrap or Imposition with Ultimate Impostrip & IMPress - Maximizes ROI on capital prepress investments - Reduces costly hardware/software/service requirements for dedicated file transfer systems, file and plate archiving, OPI systems - PDF creation is 8X faster than Adobe Acrobat Server - Reduced file sizes allow for emailing Quark/images or Skinny PDF imposition files The Ultimate SkinnyServer uses the Jaws PDF library and is priced at USD $4,995.00, it ships with a 5 pack of SkinnyEPS Photoshop plug-ins. Extra Photoshop Plug-ins can be purchased for USD $195.00 each or 5 packs for USD $750.00. Bundle SkinnyServer with Client Server Impostrip for a total price of USD $9,995.00, bundle SkinnyServer with IMPress for a total price of USD $5,995.00. The SkinnyServer will be available May 1st, 2002. - Ultimate introduces MatchMaker for newspaper publishers Ultimate will give the first preview of MatchMaker, the page-paring module for Impostrip, at IPEX in the Global Graphics booth. MatchMaker module is designed for newspaper production or publishers requiring speed imaging. MatchMaker module manages individual pages and assembles them when needed to generate a complete signature for imaging, ensuring no waiting time at the rip. The browser based user interface allows client control and simplifies remote job management, tracking job progress or error reporting. MatchMaker complements and adds value to Impostrip’s automated imposition process for newspapers and publishers. - Ultimate announces Xtrap: Economical trapping for OSX & Win XP XTrap is the world’s first OS X / Win XP desktop trapping solution. XTrap is a simple automated raster trapping solution, using the Jaws RIP, designed for commercial printers and creative professionals who are still using QuarkXPress to trap files, but would like to simplify and automate the process. XTrap is automated, simple to use and inexpensive at USD $995.00 - Ultimate announces IMPress X for OSX The world’s most widely used 4-up imposition software for on demand and digital printing now supports OS X. IMPress which is licensed by XEROX, CREO, XEIKON and other major print and prepress manufacturers offers simple, yet sophisticated automated imposition. About Ultimate Technographics Ultimate Technographics invented digital imposition just over a decade ago with Impostrip. Ultimate is a leading PDF and Postscript workflow provider for the printing industry with technology leading applications: Impostrip, IMPress, Trapeze and Full Plate. Ultimate is showing SkinnyServer and all new products in the Global Graphics booth at IPEX, 4-740. About Global Graphics Software Global Graphics Software is a leading developer and supplier of sophisticated high performance RIPs, PDF document, workflow and colour solutions mostly to a customer base of Original Equipment Manufacturers, systems integrators and resellers. These partners include the world's leading vendors of digital pre-press systems, large-format colour printers, colour proofing systems, copiers and printers for the corporate and SOHO markets. Jaws PDF creation tools have been developed since the format's inception in 1994.