Enfocus today announces the next
major upgrade to its Enfocus Connect product line — Connect 13, available for
purchase late February 2015. Connect 13 will focus on expanding file delivery
controls, and will deliver an all new Connector that streamlines remote
installation, while providing a single point of access for designers to create
and verify print quality PDFs and automatically deliver them to their print
service provider.
Enfocus Connect – taking the pain
out of preparing, submitting and receiving consistent PDFs
Enfocus Connect is a solution to
remove technical barriers from consistent PDF creation and total job delivery
to remote servers. With Connect, all the settings are encapsulated in a custom
application called a Connector, which is easy to access and provides
consistency even for novice users. Connect comes in three versions, Connect YOU
for individual designers and production artists, and Connect ALL/SEND for print
service providers and other graphics organizations who want to distribute
Connectors to remote users.
Fabian Prudhomme, Vice President
of Enfocus, says: “Print service providers around the world still tell us that
up to 50% of the PDFs they receive have serious issues involving colour
formats, fonts, bleeds, images and more. This is not a sustainable business
model for either printer or designer, and it’s why we brought Enfocus Connect
to market in 2013. The solution has been well received, a validation that this
approach is needed in the marketplace.”
The Enfocus Connect evolution continues
Connect 13 will focus on workflow
and delivery enhancements for print service providers while delivering a new
advanced Connector structure that is easier to install, manage and access for
all users. Key new workflow functions include the ability to restrict or allow
delivery of files based on file type. With this feature, print service
providers can limit what types of files are delivered to their servers and
communicate any issues before the file leaves the designer’s workstation. In
addition, users will be able to select what type of Enfocus PitStop Report is
created and delivered with files, and apply PitStop Action Lists to locally
saved PDF files processed by a Connector in order to apply watermarks, reduce
image resolution, and more.
“We’re very excited about the
direction our customers are driving the Connect product line.” said Michael
Reiher, Enfocus Connect Product Manager. “Connect is about making it easy on
designers to consistently create high quality PDFs and deliver them to their
print service providers in a hassle-free manner. Now our print service provider
customers want to take it further and use Connect Connectors as simplified
entry points to their existing web to print and workflow systems.”
Connect delivers flexibility when
it comes to PDF creation and job delivery. One of the advantages of Connect is
that Connectors can be completely customized to meet the needs of an individual
user or product workflow. Not only can the settings for each major function of
Connect be customized, Connectors can be tailored to perform just one function
or several. With more focus on adding workflow features such as the ability for
an HTTP server to send custom web page URL or trigger a job file delivery based
on preflight results, Connect 13 will be able to be more integrated to existing
systems providing user level or product level customized entry points. This can
help reduce end user confusion when submitting jobs and ensure what’s sent in
meets the production requirements.
The bottom line is that designers
can be assured that their intent is communicated accurately, and print service
providers can streamline production processes, taking the bulk of the file
correction burden off busy prepress personnel.
Price & Availability
Connect 13 will be released late
February 2015. At that time, Connect YOU will be available online and through
authorized resellers for 149.00 EUR. Connect ALL and Connect SEND will be
available through Enfocus authorized resellers for 3,499 EUR and 1,499 EUR
respectively.
Customers with a maintenance
contract and customers who purchased any Connect 12 product after December 1,
2014 (until release date) will receive the Connect 13 upgrade at no charge.
Customers who bought Connect 12 earlier or using older versions of Connect
should contact Enfocus or their authorized Enfocus reseller for upgrade
pricing.
