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Automation Engine 18.1.1 What’s New
Automation Engine 18.1.1 What’s New
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Working with PDF+
1 Create a harmonized experience for all users
Simplify prepress automation & workflow management
Provide conversion-free processing and file exchange
ARTPRO
NORMALIZED PDF
What is PDF+
• PDF+ is a PDF, based on ISO 32000-1:2008. • The '+' in the name PDF+ means 'additional
information'. It does not refer to a conversion. • An important item in this additional
information is the 'Processing Steps and content' (ISO 19593).
FOR MORE INFORMATION
• See the section “PDF+ in Automation Engine” in the updated 18.1(.1) user manual
• See our Knowledge Base article. Click here.
OUR AIM IS TO…
2 3 ST
ILL
SUPP
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New Task: Optimize PDF Combines functionality from the tasks 'Optimize PDF Separations‘, 'Optimize PDF Document' and 'Extract Inks’
Combines the functionality of three extremely useful and well used tasks.
Works with PDFs – no conversion
Works with normalised PDFs
Simplified user interface
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Optimize PDF - A New Task
STIL
L SU
PPO
RTED
Functionality
‘processing step’ layers create/change/remove
layers create/change/remove
separations rename/convert/remove
separation type & printing method
document cleanup
PDF page boxes modify/outline
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Optimize PDF - A New Task
New Task: Step & Repeat CAD based (Dynamic) Completes the 'dynamic' range of Step & Repeat tasks ; uses ArtPro+/PDF+ graphic kernel technology
This new task is based on the task ‘Create Sheet Layout’ and adds support for Dynamic (PDF+) marks and structural design templates.
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Step & Repeat CAD based (Dynamic)
NORMALIZED PDF
PDF+
XML
PDF+ Marks remain live
External links are maintained
MFG/CF2 are recognized
This new task is specifically deigned to work with PDF and ArtPro+.
Overview of the differences between the tasks for CAD based stepping:
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Step & Repeat CAD based (Dynamic) - Comparison
Inputs PDF, Normalised PDF, XML PDF, Normalised PDF, XML
Outputs PDF Normalised PDF, PDFPLA, PDF
Marks Support PDF+ Marks SmartMarks
Editability Output can be opened in ArtPro+, all links and marks remain dynamic
PDFPLA can be opened in Plato, all links and marks remain live For PDF outputs the marks are no longer live
Other Support for Duplex Supports DXF
Supported layout templates
MFG and CF2 structural design templates
structural designs imported to ArtPro+ and saved as PDF+ files
Supported input files:
PDF 1up files (1 or more)
XML job/runlist input Same format as original ‘Create Sheet Layout’ task, only ‘Quantity/Repeats’ + ‘First Page’ value is used. No support for multipage PDF files.
Matching inputs to stations is done by CAD design name (if present in 1up) or by its size
Duplex is supported
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Step & Repeat CAD based (Dynamic)
PDF+ support in ‘ReportMaker’ task Accepts PDF+ files and metadata
Description
The task takes PDF files as input files and generates a PDF file (native PDF or normalized PDF).
Inputs
PDF (single or multipage)
PDF+ (single or multipage)
Normalized PDF (single or multipage)
Output
Normalized PDF
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PDF+ support in the ReportMaker task
PDF+ NORMALIZED PDF
Behavior
Ink properties, barcode information, CAD information & ink coverage data of a PDF+ file can be used in the report
The task only processes a single input file at a time
If the input file is a native PDF file, the file will be converted into a normalized PDF
If the input file is a multipage PDF file and no page selection is used, the output report will be a multipage PDF file
The separations in the generated report will in general consist of the inks from the input file, completed with the (fixed) inks of the template file
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PDF+ support in the ReportMaker task
New Task: ‘Trap’ Built from the ground up using ArtPro+ technology
ArtPro+ uses a brand new trapping technology that can cope with highly complex packaging designs
Innovative trapping algorithms optimise the final trapping result towards the aesthetical expectations of human beings
A patented method to tag individual objects in ArtPro+ with trapping instructions, removes the need for rework after design changes and allows for keeping product ranges in sync
New Trap Task
PLEASE NOTE:
Trap Tags only work with PDF and are applied in
ArtPro+
This new trapping task uses the latest ArtPro+ trapping technology
This task honors the trap tags that you assigned to objects and groups in ArtPro+
The global trap settings of a PDF+ file can be overwritten by the task
New Trap Task
Honors all trap settings applied in ArtPro+
Ignores global trap settings applied in
ArtPro+
Introducing Automation Engine Cloud Connector Connecting the Automation Engines in your different locations
Connect your Automation Engine to Esko Cloud:
Three new tasks allow you to: Upload
Download
Select Jobs and files to and from Esko Cloud (and then serve as input in a next workflow step)
Enables Job sharing across multiple Automation Engines
Automation Engine Cloud Connector
ESKO CLOUD
A
B
CUSTOMER
Share and Approve
Automation Engine Could Connector enables:
Easy synchronization of Job data
Automatic file transfer
Enables you to balance work load across locations
Transfer Jobs to where the skills reside
Take advantage of technology across locations
Integrate with Share & Approve for quick approvals
Flexo Platemaking Module Simplifying file processing and management of the flexo platemaking process
When adding a label (text) to a press plate, a 4 mm margin was added on all 4 sides
Now the margin is only added to the side where the label is placed
New Merging Algorithm
Plate waste with 18.1.1
Plate waste with 18.1
New in Browser Client As used in QuickStart for Labels
HTTPS support
The browser client can now be configured to use a secure HTTPS connection to the Automation Engine server.
Note that an official SSL certificate from a recognized certificate authority is required to properly set up for an HTTPS connection.
Dark mode
A preference set the browser interface in 'dark mode'
New in the Browser Client
Other New Functionality Worth mentioning
To further drive prepress automation, these new actions have been added:
Expand object
Position crosshair
Place PDF file
Place Structural Design
Clip on Page Box
Create shape by parameters
Create shape on selection
Update Structural Design
A 'Transform' category with new actions: Move Objects - Mirror Objects - Scale Objects - Rotate Objects - Shear Objects - Set Objects Size
New PDF Action Lists
Right click any area in the workflow canvas to "Add Sticky Note”
Ability to select/pick a color when creating a sticky note.
Importing/Exporting workflows keep the coloring of the sticky notes (if your version is AE 18.1.1 or higher)
A sticky note can only be dragged by its toolbar
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Colored sticky notes
New tab in Substrate Queue Settings: ‘Offcuts’
The task ‘Export Nested Layouts’ now exports descriptions of offcut areas to XML files
These XML files appear on a dedicated output pin ‘Offcuts’
Substrate queues can be set to save these offcut XML files
Or create them manually in i-cut Layout
The task ‘Import Substrate Sizes from XML’ then makes those offcut sizes available as sheet sizes for the selected Substrate Queue
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Gang Run Printing | Support for Offcuts
The task ‘Step & Repeat Tabular’ can now make the layout for continuous printing
Like the tasks ‘S&R Template based’ and ‘Create Sheet Layout’ already did implicitly
In this mode, the bleed (masks) will be adjusted by taking into account that the layout is printed endless (web direction = vertical).
The top and bottom rows of stations will get the same bleed adjustment as the rows in the middle of the layout
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Continuous printing
Improved file ‘Info’ dialog for PDF+ files
Esko DFE support for Domino and Epson
Improved control of Workflow Parameters at a Checkpoint
New task ‘Exporting a Print Item from a CAD file’ (requires ‘Connect’ module and Solution Services)
‘Preflight with PitStop’ task now based on PitStop 2019
‘Inspect Barcode’ task now supports additional method of grading, using numbers
‘Submit to CDI’ task was renamed ‘Submit to Flexo CTP Device‘
Client support for MacOS 10.15 (Catalina)
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Other items
