Solimar Systems, a provider of workflow solutions for print production and digital communications, says its new ReadyPDF PrePress Server has achieved impressive reductions in PDF size and processing times in customer trials and lab tests.
“ReadyPDF server is a PDF-centric production print solution that features a host of industrial file cleansing and optimization capabilities as well as standard print management functionality,” says a press release from the California-based global software company.
Solimar customer advisory council member Chris Beech, manager, Composition Services at Gilmore Doculink, was an early tester and adopter. With ReadyPDF, Beech reported the reduction in the size of one application resulted in the processing time being cut by 23 hours.
“This particular job was e-delivery for internal and third-party distribution,” Beech said. “We host and archive 100% of the output and print the content on a colour roll press. Pre-ReadyPDF, this application would have a 24-hour turnaround. Using ReadyPDF it takes just 1 hour – the savings are quite incredible!”
“Typically, we saw a 660MB file reduced to just 50MB. Although the ReadyPDF files were smaller, they also contained more content, ensuring there was zero impact on the downstream systems. ReadyPDF also enabled a more streamlined approach, eliminating the need for multiple resources as all files, whether archived or printed, are optimized for print production.”
Industry research consultancy Keypoint Intelligence agreed to put ReadyPDF to the test in its UK lab - equipped with a Konica Minolta press - as part of its speed and RIP testing experiments. McGrewGroup, experts in business and industry best practice, supplied both technical and real-world test files to the lab, all of which were selected for their complexity and processing challenges, with high-resolution data, graphics, BITMAPS, images of forms and Adobe InDesign PDFs. All the technical files – a Direct Mail flyer, commercial, full-colour invoice and notebook with a Shutterstock image on every page – were processed with ReadyPDF and were reduced in size (up to 7 x smaller), while the real-world test file – an office supplies catalogue – was 14 x smaller.
“With the incredibly complicated catalogue file, we expected to see some performance enhancements using ReadyPDF, but we did not expect the file to reduce in size,” said Pat McGrew, MD McGrewGroup.
“The overall reduction in file size we saw was, therefore, very significant and, in particular, the decreased document overhead, which affects how the RIP is processing, was truly remarkable. For production managers, the size of the document overhead has a huge impact on production time, which affects contractual delivery agreements and service level agreements (SLAs). Reducing the document overhead and taking even seconds out of this process makes a massive difference as you have to multiply those seconds by the number of copies being printed.
“Add the benefit of a smaller file, resulting in less storage space needed, all companies that have to print and store – which is almost all print businesses due to more comprehensive audits – now have a solution that can significantly improve their bottom line.”
ReadyPDF also features a new obfuscation capability that allows users to jumble text content in the PDF. This capability allows businesses to conceal confidential data and support adherence to GDPR, the California Data Protection Act and other data protection guidelines when sending files to third parties for review or testing. Other highlights include font embedding, consolidation, and replacement (including subsets.
https://www.solimarsystems.com
