Forthcoming Fujifilm attractions showcased at drupa 2008
Drupa is about new technologies and future possibilities for printers as much as products you can buy now. Fujifilm had plenty of both to show at this year’s event.
Perhaps the most exciting and revolutionary of the new technologies demonstrated by Fujifilm at drupa was that embodied in the Jet Press 720, a prototype B2 inkjet press that was the centre of attention on the stand (and is discussed in more detail on page 7). But there were many other Fujifilm developments and complementary third party products on display that provide a glimpse of how Fujifilm is aiming to add value to print operations in the future.
To meet the growing need for better quality and colour control, Fujifilm previewed Taskero Universe, a tool that allows printers to monitor and analyse print production performance against defined standards. Already installed at a number of sites in the US, Taskero will be made available in the UK in early 2009.
For the packaging market, Fujifilm also used drupa to announce its move into CTP flexo plates, previewing a DLE (direct laser engraving) plate technology that offers high productivity and a wide application range, fine image reproduction and excellent performance, thanks to flexible polymer materials. DLE has previously not been able to match the performance or quality of laser ablation mask (LAM) flexo plate imaging, but the latter still requires UV exposure and a development process after laser imaging, similar to a conventional film-based system, which is not ideal. The new Fujifilm DLE plate addresses these quality and productivity issues, while cutting an hour from plate production times compared to LAM processes. It will be available in 2009.
Another addition to Fujifilm's extensive wide-format inkjet range was shown. The as-yet-unnamed model uses the latest Fujifilm Dimatix print-heads with mild solvent-based inks to print on roll-fed media and incorporates a spectrophotometer to ensure colour accuracy and consistency. Expected to be launched in late 2008, it will fit below the Acuity HD 2504 in Fujifilm's wide-format inkjet range.
Software demonstrations in the colour management area included a preview of Pure Proof M, a soft-proofing tool for multi-ink printing systems. This allows printers to accurately simulate five- or six-colour systems such as Hexachrome that include orange or green inks in addition to standard CMYK process colours. A related technology, Dynamic Colour Management, was also on display, designed to preview how print jobs would appear under different lighting conditions, including D65 and D50 standard sources as well as tungsten and daylight.
For those interested in the variable data capability of digital print, Fujifilm also demonstrated Form Magic. This is a high speed variable data and automatic composition software tool for print-ondemand applications, with the particular benefit of being able to produce sophisticated graphs and bar charts from variable data on-the-fly. Third-party products featured on Fujifilm's stand that extend the range of options and services a printer can offer its customers included HumanEyes' Producer3D software for creating 3D, flip and motion lenticular print via offset or digital presses. The software also supports ‘lens-free' print onto clear substrates via wide-format UV inkjet printers such as the Acuity HD 2504.
Here's a quick guide to the new products launched and previewed by Fujifilm at drupa:
Brillia HD PRO-V - Chemistry-free violet plate that provides productivity to match processed alternatives. Suitable for run lengths of up to 200,000 impressions and able to work with UV inks without baking. Available from autumn 2008.
Brillia HD LP-NV2 - High quality processed violet plate, capable of 1 to 99 per cent at 200 lpi and 20-micron FM screening when used in Fujifilm V-6 HD or V-8 HD platesetters. Available by the end of this year.
Emblaze spot coater - Unique digital system for UV spot-coating print from A5 to B2 sheet size. Greyscale support enables gloss, satin and silk finishes on the same sheet in a single pass and with the same coating solution. Available late 2008.
Excelight - Film for backlit or reflective POS/display use, able to achieve near photographic quality with UV or solvent based inkjets at a fraction of the media cost. Manufactured at Fujifilm's plant in the Netherlands and available late summer.
PhotoBook and Photo Genie - Web- and PC-based software respectively for consumer-level digital photo selection, album layout, previewing and ordering. Developed by iP Labs, acquired by Fujifilm in early 2008.
XMF Workflow 2.0 - Latest update to native JDF cross-media workflow for offset or digital print processes. Includes sophisticated remote 3D previewing and proofing, optional XMF C-Fit intelligent image optimisation, automated imposition and job (re)routing. Available October 2008.
