Canon Launches PRISMAproduction And PRISMAsimulate Ultra To Automate Print Production And Predict Cost Efficiencies Securely

Canon has introduced version 6 of its integrated, high-performance workflow and production management platform, PRISMAproduction, and launched PRISMAsimulate Ultra, which includes digital layout proofing, ink estimation, and production simulation feature for graphic arts and business communication applications.

Building on 25 years of experience and customer feedback, PRISMAproduction has been further developed to automate and integrate data input and conversion, prepress, and production management in a single platform to help customers achieve the highest levels of workflow efficiency.

Numerous enhancements have been made to the tool, including improved prepress capabilities, giving customers more flexibility to handle a variety of print file formats, including PDF, AFP, line data, PCL, Postscript, PPML, LCDS, RDO, and VIPP files.

As print jobs continue to become increasingly more complex due to variable data for personalization and runs-of-one, print file sizes are also growing. The capabilities of the new software version include tools for better data optimization to run PRISMAproduction-supported web-fed and sheetfed inkjet and toner presses at full speed, even for essential PDF files such as commercial photo applications. This not only maximizes the throughput of the workflow but also ensures that even the fastest printers achieve the highest productivity level.

Version 6 of PRISMAproduction runs on SLES (SUSE Linux Enterprise Server), supporting even higher security standards than its predecessor. With the improved separation between the application software and the operating system and enhancements to user management, these security features ensure print businesses can keep customer data safe and better comply with their own and industrywide security standards.

Michael Engemann, Head of Production Control at Continentale Krankenversicherung a.G. which had trialed the new version, comments: "When we tested the upgraded version of PRISMAproduction, it turned out that our production operation worked so seamlessly with the new version that our decision was made to stick with this new version. We forgot it was a new version, because it just worked."

"For us, PRISMAproduction is easier and more reliable to use than our previous proprietary solution. Additionally, you don't have to check whether all the data is still there or whether the printer has swallowed data regarding data security. So we see a benefit in the system's reliability and stability.

PRISMAsimulate Ultra – Make offerings and orders more competitive.

Canon strives to help print service providers (PSPs) to streamline their workflows. PRISMAsimulate Ultra provides an easy-to-integrate, on-premises application that supports users in ink estimation, proofing and workflow simulation, enabling them to increase predictability and reduce makeready times. PRISMAsimulate Ultra is the successor of the popular TrueProof and consists of two independent optional modules when purchased with PRISMAsimulate Ultra Server:

• The Universal PDF Estimator gives customers detailed ink consumption for Canon's web-fed inkjet presses, enabling quicker and more accurate quotations for print buyers without having to print the file first, saving time and resources. It supports the comparison of pre-and post-calculations against genuine ink and media consumption and the production of valuable management data for further optimization of quotations and ink-related settings. Print operators can also easily create reports with detailed ink and media consumption estimates based on engine-specific data. The intuitive reports can be automatically or manually exported as PDF or CSV files to allow further processing in other management applications.
• In combination with PRISMAproduction, the Printer Simulation Packages offer layout proofing and production simulation for web-fed inkjet and selected toner presses to ensure first-time-ready output by checking the layout, registration, and printability of each file before printing. This is useful for print service providers growing their applications portfolio as they can avoid trial and error, which takes up valuable printing time. Alongside seamlessly integrating printer simulation into the customer production workflow with PRISMAproduction, the software can help print service providers to save resources, cost, and waste.

In line with market demands for more automation and against increasing resource costs, PRISMAsimulate Ultra is offered on a subscription basis so that no significant investment is required for customers upfront.