Agfa Graphics announced the release of the latest version of its Apogee Prepress workflow. Apogee Prepress v9.1 innovates on different features like better support for wide-format printing, optimized imposition layout creation and improved print buyer interaction in Apogee WebApproval. Agfa Graphics keeps up-tuning its flagship workflow, Apogee Prepress, as a true production partner for commercial print providers and print service providers (PSPs).

“Apogee Prepress is the only hybrid prepress production solution that drives wide-format and digital commercial presses, in addition to CTP, CTF and proofing devices,” said Andy Grant, Global Head of Software, Agfa Graphics. That flexibility helps commercial printers and PSPs offer more solutions for their customers.

Apogee Prepress v9.1, which is now available, automates the production for wide-format output with hot ticket support and template-based production and it features enhanced job merging. Thanks to the automation, there are far less manual interventions. The new job-merging feature, which allows for the combination of completely different orders on the same print job, reduces material costs and waste associated with the production process.

Apogee Impose is built-in in Apogee and uses patented technology by Agfa Graphics. It now features automatic bleed generation and better support for perfector presses thanks to the full support for slow down rollers, which is unique. The automatic imposition creation in Apogee lowers production costs thanks to less operator interventions and fewer errors.

The increased focus on printed proofing within Apogee is clearly visible in the significant amount of improvements such as the support for on-the-fly page proofing and the support for ISO12647/2:2013 and ISO 13655 standards. Apogee WebApproval gives print buyers access to softproofs via their web browser. The new easy-upload feature allows them to conveniently drag and drop new PDF pages to a specific job and to then assign them to the correct page slots. Because the WebApproval log-in screen and e-mail messages towards users can be personalized, it allows the print service provider to create a better relation with the print buyers, which in turn results in higher customer satisfaction and loyalty.