Newsday Asura Workflow
James Kober/Newsday
Overview
2006 – Asura 6.5
2007 – Asura 8, Workflow Changes and PlugINKSAVE
2008 – What enhancements do we all need for the future?
2006 Asura Volume at Newsday
...57,000 – Digital Ads processed for the Newspaper
...30,000 – Ads built for the Newspaper
...14,790 – Hoy (Spanish Language Daily)
...8,544 – amNY (Commuter Daily)
...7,652 – Village Voice (Alternative Weekly)
...5,000 – Star Community Publishing
...15,000 – Magazine Pages and Niche Products
...137,986 total pieces processed in 2006
Old Workflow with Asura 6.5 (2006) Too Many Queues!
Asura 1 Unique Logins
Asura 2 Unique Logins
Asura 3 Unique Logins
Why so many Queues?
• Users wanted individual queues to isolate their work
• Custom queues grew out of control
Asura 8.2 Redesign in 2007
Asura 1 Asura 2 Asura 3
Asura now supports sub-folders
User‘s drop files in their folders – based on last name.
34 Users become one queue
Why so many less queues?
Benefits of Redesign
Queues became much more manageable
Faster throughput and redundancy due to load balancer
If one Asura Server goes down, the users don‘t know it
One login and network mount point: users login using email username and password
PlugINKSAVE (2007)
PlugINKSAVE (2007)
Original File With Ink Savings Applied
PlugINKSAVE (2007)
PlugINKSAVE (2007)
Original File With Ink Savings Applied
PlugINKSAVE (2007)
PlugINKSAVE (2007)
Original File With Ink Savings Applied
Village Voice Edition Testing – PlugINKSAVE
Compared original Ink Presets vs. Ink Savings Presets on a 64 page edition of The Village Voice
Ink Savings Based on Preset Data
Newsday Ink Spending in 2006 – $2.8M
1% = 28K
5% = 144K
10% = 288K
Etc..
Why Use PlugINKSAVE and Heavy GCR?
Save money on your ink bills
No Visual deviations from original file
Better stability and predictibility on press
Less setoff due to reduced ink on page
Less ink and water on press. Reduced drying time.
Heavy Black helps brings out image contrast and detail
DeltaE Claims – How to Verify Results
Run targets in-line on Press
One target is original
One target is processed through Ink Savings software
Compare DeltaE between targets
Original ECI Target
ECI Target via Ink Savings Software
An average DeltaE <2 won‘t be visible
An average DeltaE>5 should be checked carefully
DeltaE Claims – How to Verify Results
DeltaE Claims – How to Verify Results
Newsday‘s PlugINKSAVE Settings
Asura Wish List (2008 and Beyond) Automatic image correction – Color Cast Removal
Asura Wish List (2008 and Beyond) Automatic image correction – Color Cast Removal
Asura Wish List (2008 and Beyond) Automatic image correction – Auto Exposure Correction
Asura Wish List (2008 and Beyond) Automatic image correction – Intelligent Image Sharpening
Asura Wish List (2008 and Beyond)
Asura needs better reporting capabilities
Thank you!