Xenith Extreme

The ultimate in professional pre-press workflow systems, Xenith Extreme combines practical functionality with ease of use. Offering PDF and pure PostScript® workflow, Xenith Extreme improves your throughput and accuracy through a clear and consistent job ticket interface that includes built-in pre-flight control.

Automated imposition – accommodating late page replacement – is a standard feature that takes your workflow to imposed flats or plates, without additional intervention by your pre-press operators. Add JDF and CIP4 and extend your control and functionality all the way to the press.

Features and Benefits Xenith Extreme

Reduced Waste
Centralized control of the entire pre-press process reduces labor costs and helps eliminate material waste.

Automated
PDF creation, preflighting, trapping, proofing, imposition, plate imaging and archival can all be automated using Xenith Extreme.

Control
Every aspect of your workflow is controlled through unlimited PC and Macintosh clients.

Power
Change just one page on an imposed job and experience the power of late-page replacement with Xenith Extreme’s impose module.

Flexible
Choose what devices you would like to drive from over 150 proofing, imagesetter and CTP engines. Maintain the devices you have and add new technology as it emerges.

Scalable
Xenith Extreme can scale from one to four RIP and trap engines and still be fully controlled by a single client interface.

Modules

Xenith uses a job ticket-based interface to provide easy definition and control of pre-press work. Each step in the workflow is defined by a “Module” that instructs the system how to process jobs before being passed to the next stage. Job tickets can be simple, such a RIP-Trap-Proof-Output. Or they can be more complex and include instructions for PDF conversion, preflighting, proofing and post-RIP imposition.

Job tickets are fully editable and scalable, which allows total flexibility in defining your workflow. Click the links on the right to discover the various actions available within a Xenith job ticket.

Document Color Management

Xenith Document Color Management provides ICC-based color management of all page elements in a PostScript or PDF document. Processing can occur in the Primer or in the RIP itself. This means all elements are color manageable for any selected print process, including production of print-ready PDF files.

Color management is Job Ticket-based, which automates and streamlines the process. Since it is an “open” system, it allows the use of any ICC-compatible profile and can automatically correct job files that have not been properly color managed.

Primer

Xenith’s Primer Module is the key component in the creation of a PDF workflow. Primer provides a range of tools that create print-ready PDF files, which are then routed further through the RIP process. “Normalizing” a PostScript file with Primer optimizes the job into a known and stable state that may include full font embedding, color management, preflighting, and in-RIP trapping parameters. Being print-ready, the file is exportable to any print production workflow with assurance of expected results.

Normalizing jobs with Primer reduces the possibility of failure during processing and ultimately improves RIPing efficiency. Adding Primer to Xenith further automates the workflow by applying Enfocus Action List support, which provides automated editing of PDF files during processing. Further, Primer generates a report describing problems within the file, and allowing correction before RIPing.

Preflighting

In conjunction with the Primer Module, Xenith uses Enfocus’ Preflight Libraries and PitStop Professional for all preflighting functionality. PitStop Professional is the industry standard for PDF preflight, auto-correction and editing. A single seat license is included as part of the Xenith Primer package.

Preflight profiles and action lists check critical PDF attributes and automatically correct common errors. PitStop Professional features comprehensive interactive inspection and editing tools that make it possible to change text, images, line-art, colors and a wide range of other PDF attributes. Global change functionality enables universal changes throughout a page or an entire document.

Xenith Adobe^® RIP

All Xenith packages are built around the latest Adobe^® Configurable PostScript^® Interpreter (CPSI); the standard in today’s pre-press industry. Adobe invented PostScript and the Portable Document Format, which is why Xenith is the most advanced RIP available today.

Xenith’s client-server architecture allows control and status reporting of the RIP from both Macintosh^® and Windows platforms while providing support for PDF 1.5, in-RIP trapping and smooth shading. Xenith also accepts input in the most common and popular formats, such as PostScript, PDF, TIFF and DCS2.

In-RIP Trapping

Xenith’s in-RIP trapping module uses the reliable Adobe trapping engine to quickly calculate proper traps on the fly. Trapping is available through zone or global settings, offering extreme flexibility for variable trapping needs, while trap style templates allow customization and make set-up fast and simple.

Trapping can be set through Primer, Xenith Job Tickets, or Adobe design applications and Xenith honors all trap parameters embedded within PDF files. Features such as sliding traps, corner mitering, rich black trapping and advanced gradient processing are all part of the package. In-RIP trapping is a standard feature on all Xenith configurations.

Generic Proofing

Xenith’s Generic Proofer capability allows the system to produce Normalized output to any proofer, even those without a direct interface to Xenith. This means that environments with existing proofing systems can continue to use them after integrating Xenith into pre-press production.

For these systems, Xenith provides a non-editable, contone composite TIFF consumable by the existing proofer’s RIP. The RIP processes the file with the specifications rendered by Xenith, which insures data and output integrity.

Device Interface

Xitron’s Raster Blaster creates the link between Xenith and the most popular output devices being used in pre-press production. Raster Blaster accepts screened, one-bit TIFFs from Xenith and converts them into the specific raster formats necessary for imaging.

Raster Blaster supports over 150 different output devices from the industry’s top manufacturers of imagesetters, platesetters, and even digital presses.

Imposition

The Xenith Imposition Module creates low-resolution PDF or EPS placement files for use within many of today’s most popular imposition packages, such as DynaStrip (available through Xitron), Preps, and ImpoStrip. This functionality, known as “post-RIP” imposition allows for late page replacement even in deadline-critical environments. It also eases network congestion; a common problem in today’s high-volume shops.

Using the imposition module, low-resolution files created during the initial RIPing process are automatically sent to the imposition platform. Once the imposition software completes each flat, it directs the flat back through Xenith, which replaces the low-res versions with the already RIPed and trapped pages, on-the-fly.

Room Proofing

Room Proofing (RIP Once, Output Many) eliminates the need to RIP a job twice; once for proofing, and once for final output. With ROOM proofing, the high-resolution file intended for final output is simply de-screened and re-sized for output to a lower-resolution proofing device, guaranteeing data integrity.

Archiver

Xenith Archiver provides automated archival and restoration functionality for all jobs sent through the system. Archiver stores all the elements of each individual job on a regularly scheduled or manual basis, helping keep job queues organized while eliminating inefficient use of disk space.

Jobs can be archived for days, months, or even years and still be easily retrieved from any location on the network. Archives can consist of original documents, RIPed pages, RIPed templates, imposition placement files, or even job tickets.

Options

Xenith offers several optional packages to increase the capability and power of the system. Increase throughput, reduce press make-ready time, or directly drive and color-manage the most popular proofers on the market today. Click the links on the right to find out how.

Ink Jet Drivers and CMS

Xenith’s Ink Jet Driver option allows Xenith to output color managed proofs directly to any one of several Epson or HP models. Instead of outputting to a proofer through another RIP, the ink jet driver assures that the same RIP processing the job for high-resolution output has also processed the proof.

The Ink Jet Driver option supports standard ICC profiles as well as the new Xenith Media Profiler software, which offers a step-by-step linearization procedure.

CIP4

Xenith’s CIP4/PPF option creates Print Production Format (PPF) files for transmission to digital presses and digital press consoles. The PPF file contains data that “pre-sets” the press’s ink keys, resulting in faster make-ready times and less waste during the press run.

Versioning

Xenith’s Versioning option simplifies the process of producing multiple language or multiple zone versions of a generic document. Jobs are created with several black text versions and a single set of magenta, yellow, and cyan separations. Xenith digitally recombines each version of the black plate with the original C, M, and Y plates, eliminating the need to re-RIP the color plates.

Versioning can be used with process or spot colors as well as ROOM and RIP proofing.

Additional RIPs and Multi-Platform

Xenith’s architecture allows for growth in a variety of ways. One of the most unique methods is the ability to add RIPs and/or multiple platforms for increased throughput. Additional RIPs boost pure interpretation power. Multiple platforms allow “off-loading” of other CPU-intensive functions such as Primer and ROOM Proofing, which can result in better overall performance for high-volume installations.

Updated 04/27/2007

webmaster@c-doc.com

Most of the above are Registered Trademarks and/or Copyrights of their respective companies . And are used for informational purposes only.