eProof success stories:
 

1. cyan supplies eProof to Ogilvy Mather

2. Admagic Group & Vertis PRS part of the Fusion Group are happy users of eProof

3. Accord Holdings, bought an unlimited user version of eProof instead of RealTimeProof

4. cyan supplies eProof to Republica DK

5. cyan supplies eProof to the Terry Smith Group, Innovative Printer of the Year (PrintWeek Awards 2004)

6. Ford Motor decided to use eProof instead of Acrobat 5 for Proofing across Europe

7. Online-Proofing between Ford, Zetweka and Staudt

8. A Short Way from Proof to Release - Faster and convenient approving with cyan eProof

1. cyan supplies eProof to Ogilvy Mather
Ogilvy Mather, an international advertising, marketing and public relations agency with 497 offices worldwide, is using cyan eProof accross Europe to proof retouched photos.

2. Admagic Group & Vertis PRS part of the Fusion Group are a happy users of eProof
Admagic Group & Vertis PRS part of the Fusion Group is a happy user of eProof. They use eProof internally within their group and externally with their clients to proof and approve various marketing material.

"The Fusion Group, one of the UK's largest creative production agencies and part of Vertis Europe, now operates under the Vertis PRS and Admagic brand names. Our size means we have the people and the facilities to take on any scale of advertising and marketing communication, putting together press, TV, DM, outdoor, packaging, anything. Anywhere in the world."

Admagic Group
The Green Building :: 50-54 Beak Street :: London :: W1F 9RN
Switchboard: +44(0)20 7575 7676
www.admagic.co.uk

Vertis PRS
183-203 Eversholt Street :: London :: NW1 1BU
Switchboard: +44(0)20 7388 4114
www.vertis.co.uk

 

3. Accord Holdings, bought an unlimited user version of eProof instead of RealTimeProof
Accord Holdings, bought an unlimited user version of eProof instead of RealTimeProof, because eProof, due to its advanced text annotation and text correction functionality, offers more value to Accord's clients. Both solutions are the
only solutions on the market that offer actually a fast image viewing technology and which allow clients to view a job quickly even over a low bandwidth Internet connection. The requirement of fast image viewing ever low bandwidth connections reduced the choice to these two products.

Cyan integrated integrated eProof seamlessly into the "Accord Workflow Solution". To Accord's clients the soft proofing functionality provided by eProof appears to a part of the Accord Workflow solution. eProof's text correction functions make it easy3 for Accord's clients to perform text corrections. These functions prevent misunderstandings which often occurred when using PDFs and emails for exchanging annotations.

Conrad Advertising, part of the Accord Holdings Ltd., is the market-leading agency specialising in direct response campaigns in overseas travel and tourism, plus major client portfolios in property (UK and Overseas), training, educational and financial services industries.

The agency offers clients creative advertising, planning and buying services across the full spectrum of media, from traditional press to online and DRTV campaigns

Accord is a privately-owned company operating in the marketing services sector. Accord's subsidiary have an active base of several thousand clients, for whom they buy millions of pounds worth of media exposure, every week. The annual revenue totals 100 Million pounds.

Contact:
Accord Holdings Ltd
http://www.accordholdings.com

4. cyan supplies eProof to Republica Denmark
Republica uses cyan eProof accross Scandinavia to edit the sales material of the largest Scandinavian supermarket chain, online. More than 100 users edit the same set of documents simultaneously in eProof.

5. cyan supplies eProof to the Terry Smith Group, Innovative Printer of the Year (PrintWeek Awards 2004)
Terry Smith Group, Innovative Printer of the Year (PrintWeek Awards 2004). Using the latest technology along with a highly skilled team of people, the Terry Smith Group provides their major national and international customers within the retail and FMCG brand sectors with design innovations, POP solutions, in-house manufacturing, project management and field marketing services.

Terry Smith bought eProof, because it is a great technology, easy to use and very fast solution for remote proofing. eProof was one part of a complete workflow solution Terry Smith decided to purchase. When comparing eProof with the soft proofing functionality provided by other suppliers, Terry Smith decided that eProof is a much better fit for its clients needs, due to eProof technology and functionality advantages.

Contacts:
The Terry Smith Group
6 Heathrow Summit Centre,
Skyport Drive,
West Drayton
Middlesex, UB7 0LJ
United Kingdom
www.terrysmith.co.uk
 

6. Ford Motor decided to use eProof instead of Acrobat 5 for Proofing across Europe 
Remote Proof Article from a leading German PrePress magazine
Online proofing calls to mind the kilometer-long lines of washed clothes in washing powder advertising. It indeed sounds promising: someone browses to a Web site, selects the right document and reviews it - a fast and easy process. The Ford Motor Company does it, for example, this way. The Zetweka production agency of the auto manufacturer uses the cyan eProof online proofing system of cyan soft for its Europe-wide production of Ford Motor brochures, catalogues, panel boards, banners, "posters" and other sales materials. "With the introduction of DTP and digitalizing of their workflow, Ford did not give up analog proofing", reports Klaus Dienstbier, General Manager of Staudt Lithographie, Bochum. "The shipment of proofs for approximately 20 teams across Europe used to take about 2 or 3 days. Especially grave were Last-Minute corrections, for which the decision makers were for some reason hard to reach, thus making us run out of time", explains Dienstbier.

 As at that time no solution existed to meet the requirements of the car manufacturer, the Zetweka production agency in tandem with Staudt Lithographie and the cyan soft software developer started developing their own solution. "For practical and cost reasons, no installation of additional client software had been supposed to be required. Instead, all functions had had to be made available through a standard web browser on every platform", explains the CEO at cyan. Additionally, an easy-to-use system had been the top priority since Zetweka and Staudt Lithographie wanted to keep the training and support expenses as low as possible. "Last October we started introducing the system in the production workflow. We invited representatives from each partner company and offered a training session of several hours, so that they could then communicate their know-how to their colleagues", reports Dienstbier, who confesses to his being rather skeptical in the beginning since there were so many different people involved. But the feedback was much more positive than expected. Initially, the production team was intended to start with smaller jobs, but very soon a complete switch to the new eProof system was demanded by the European partners. The new solution was apparently not only easy to use, it proved to be a highly appreciated simplification of their work. "Therefore, we have additionally developed a table editor, so that now we can proof catalogues with as many as 80 pages over the Internet", says Dienstbier.

However, the virtual proofing is not simply faster, it assures a higher quality and provides more reliable proofing processes. "Formerly, the European branches wrote their changes on printed proofs and, in order to save time, sent them back to us by fax. Due to indecipherable annotations in several languages and foreign alphabets, this would sometimes lead to misunderstandings and to more and longer proof cycles than we wished", says Dienstbier. With the cyan eProof online system, this problem cannot occur, as all corrections come digitally as either annotations or actual changes.
In order to prevent unauthorized proofing, the permission system based on user accounts determines which users can see which files, which of the "allowed" files can be edited and which can be approved for printing. The user interfaces can be customized according to the different sets of user rights so that the usage is as simple as possible, and several users can work simultaneously on the same document. By linking the user account, the job number and the performed function, eProof tracks who did which steps and when it was done. This way the system ensures explicit and transparent processes, and therefore it guarantees high product quality. It also allows searching for jobs using certain criteria, such as customer, date, name, status, tracking number, etc.

Meanwhile, PDF-respective Acrobat claims to carry out virtual soft proofing comfortably as well. Version 5 offers using ICC-Profiles and overprint previews, soft-proofs and the option to exchange annotations and digital signatures by using a server. Staudt Lithographie was among those who tried the way to proof using Acrobat first. However, they had to quit that trial balloon soon, as it turned out that not all involved people had a full version of Acrobat 5 installed (and, consequently, the required annotation tools), or they were not willing to invest in the Acrobat software. "Further, annotations happened to be deleted accidentally - and there was no history log to check them up", says Dienstbier. "eProof's formatted text editor module, which allows users to conveniently change original text paragraphs by simply clicking on text in the proof file, is the key advantage over the full version of Acrobat 5 in our workflow", emphasizes Dienstbier. Still, he welcomes an optional PDF module that eProof offers as an additional feature. The module allows integrating the proofing system into already existing PDF-workflows. "This way everybody can decide on one's own whether to view a PDF document using the Acrobat Plug-In combined with the eProof additional text functions or to use the pixel-based option of eProof, which downloads higher-resolution image data only on demand and which even allows proofing high-resolution files", says Eimann. In addition, the PDF module integration offers a convenient printing option.

Case Study - Ford Motors proofs its sales materials Europe-wide online with cyan eProof

For proofing Ford Motor sales materials Europe-wide, both Zetweka production agency and Staudt Lithographie publish their layouts as PDF, TIFF, JPEG, Photoshop, BMP, PNG, PICT, PostScript, EPS, CT or GIF files on the eProof server for corrections and, after that, notify by eMail or telephone the particular company, which forwards this notification internally. By using the Internet browser, the clients can mark up the corrections as annotations on the proof file and correct the proof's text directly in the browser-based text editor - including the Cyrillic and Greek fonts. What's more, they can even make simple format changes. Usually, the corrections are sent back within a few hours. As soon as a layout is marked as released (approved), the producers check the document out. After that, the European partners can still see the approved document, but they cannot change it anymore. "This eventual check out is very important, as such a system could allow to get into an endless correction cycle", says Dienstbier. In eProof, corrections are highlighted in different colors, so that Staudt can easily see and apply their corrections or just transfer the corrected text paragraphs right into the layout file using drag'n'drop.

7. Online-Proofing between Ford, Zetweka and Staudt

Ford motor company, its print and production agency Zetweka in Cologne and the prepress agency Staudt in Bochum as well as 7 another prepress agencies are involved in online collaboration of correcting and approving their multilingual materials. Within several correction sessions Staudt translates and prepares jobs for printing and than sends them to all Ford selling countries.

The Staudt Lithography GmbH is a prepress agency providing design, typesetting, repro and printing services since its establishment in 1977. Fine retouching for the auto advertisements in digital image processing requires highest professionalism, and security is necessary for the typesetting and typographic processing. They use the up-to-date scanning and proofing equipment but high-quality cigarette advertisements should be still proofprinted, before sending them to the production printer. "Our customers operate in the digital age," comments the founder and managing director Dietmar Staudt, "and we help them in that - and they keep on prospering".

Modern on-line products
The largest Staudt's customer is Ford Motor Company. For many years, production and print agency Zetweka has been providing repro and typesetting services for their high gloss brochures. And the main problem it faced were jobs in different languages created in various European countries but sent for central printing to Germany.

In 1997 Zetweka and Staudt tried to find an electronic replacement for the blueprints and proofs in order to make communication between customer, agency and prepress faster and safer. They start the cooperation with cyan software for developing the pdf-based online proofing system. As the solution did not cover all the production needs cyan start developing a web-based database system ideally fitting its customer's needs in submitting correction requests and remote proofing. Now this solution is offered by cyan soft ltd. as eProof "RapidImageView". More information on its functions is available on the company's web site www.cyansoftware.com or at Drupa in hall 9, easel E75.

cyan eProof is installed on a database server at Staudt and serves as a central data pool for the layouts and communication between Fords, Zetweka and all Ford foreign agencies. Ludger Lanwert, technical manager shows me the server, a Dell Power edge 2650, with dual xenon processors of 3,06 GHz, 6 GB ECC GDR RAM, and a Raid level 5 with 1,4 Terrabyte net capacity.

Typical workflow
Klaus Dienstbier, commercial manager, opens Internet Explorer browser window and logs in to eProof. 30 folders containing different foreign language versions appear on the screen. He clicks on the German folder and shows me a number of subfolders each containing layouts for one Ford car model. Then he explains me a typical workflow for a new brochure.

Staudt and other typesetting and repro partners receive from Zetweka layout draft in Quark or InDesign file with English text and pictures. Staudt places the document on eProof server, so that Ford agencies in different countries could access and 220 Ford agencies can access the document it. Thereafter all the concerned parties receive an e-mail notification on server through their browsers and translate the brochure text using eProof's text editor.

The system is multilingual, so that Cyrillic and Greek fonts can be used. In addition it is multitasking, so that several users can access and work on the same documents at the same time. Further the system is highly reliable, as all customer changes are documented along with the date, time and user name and special tools allow making the corrections extremely clear. This also enables approving jobs through eProof with appropriate legal validity.

High Res documents are placed on the server to enable users to view jobs in details. Though the Streaming technology developed by cyan allows loading on client computer only the data necessary to view it in each individual case. Thus user can quickly see the document in the overview or at one pixel zoom with very low data transmission rates. As the translation is finished, e-mail is sent to layouter who then copies the texts from eProof into production document. Further, the data are placed into eProof again, so that Ford agencies could keep on working on the job. They enter the system on-line, look through the text and images and submit new corrections attached to page areas as "stickers". As soon as the document is proofread, pre-press agency is informed by e-mail notification and can implement the corrections in corresponding Quark or InDesign document. Then Zetweka places the corrected document on eProof server again. Normally a document undergoes 3-4 such correction cycles.

Then the printable, high-resolution pdf file is placed on eProof server for the final customer's approving. If the job is approved, Staudt sends pdf and all the language versions on disk to the printer's four-color pressure. The language is kept separate as fifth color, so that the printer can accomplish the language changes over the fifth printing element.

Integrated solution
This cyan eProof RapidImageView workflow is used not only by Ford, Zetweka and Staudt, but by all the typesetters and repro enterprises and printers, who work with Zetweka and Fords. Thus it could be now one of the largest examples of Web-based co-operation of the graphic arts industry. Of course companies like Staudt use the eProof solution also for co-operation with other customers, e.g. intaglio printing of building companies catalogs is made through the eProof system.

Accompanied introduction
Those who acquire eProof RapidImageView from cyan or its regional dealers have to configure all connections and settings on server. Though when you buy cyan software from Staudt you are offered three possibilities of co-operation. As a first option Staudt provides hosting on its server, so that the user saves on the purchase of the server, setting-up dedicated line with sufficient capacity in the Internet, backup system and system administrator. Training and support can be provided by Staudt as well. As a second option customer uses the system on Staudt's server but performs all the administration himself. As a third option customer purchases its own server and performs the system administration, and Staudt provides the installation consultation. In all three cases the buyer can benefit from cooperating with customers online and avoid the unnecessary problems.

Kurt K. Wolf
Uitikon, 13.2.2004

8. A Short Way from Proof to Release

Faster and convenient approving with cyan eProof

Proof costs still often include considerable transport expenses. Though nobody wants to give up necessary proofing. An innovative combination of software and services speeds up the proofing process and considerably decreases costs.

… A glance at the clock makes the product manager cringe. The Litho assured hours ago that its Proof was on the way. And now there is no time really. He must approve the job, otherwise he will unhinge something. Surely he takes the telephone and dials the number of the repro house...

Murphy is everywhere

For sure this is known to everyone: deadline is close but necessary proofs are missing - either the messenger is stuck somewhere in traffic jam or the package lies at reception unconsidered. Or these bills proving the proofing and transport costs together occupy a leading position in the expenses. And remember the discussions on why sides or forms have to move back and forth x times.

Dispatching such “analog” data media as Proofs should already be in the past. But clients need accuracy, especially when it comes to custom publications or required quality.

It makes a difference

The following example shows benefits of combining Litho house accuracy with smart software and Internet as transportation medium.

eProof software is developed by a world-wide software development company - cyan soft ltd. The services are provided by their pre-press partner - Staudt lithography GmbH in Bochum.

All the page and job information resides on a central server (in this example on Staudt’s one) - just as it was with litho's and flongs before. All the required materials: texts, graphics, contacts, product management and pre-press information are included into this central job holder. Connection is set via www or dedicated line.

Fast and accurate proofing

As soon as a page or a job appears on the server, it becomes available for approving as a digital Proof. All the involved parties are informed about this via email. They view jobs and pages in browser and place their comments - correction requests:

Text corrections are created with a single mouse-click as easily, as in the text editing program. Desired text fragment is selected with a cursor and immediately displayed in a separate window, where it can be edited - including formatting, Cyrillic and Greek fonts. Processed text blocks are marked up with a color frame and the page status is changed to "containing open corrections".

Corrections to colors or pictures are also created with a single click on the desired point or page area. Densitometer makes acceptance on monitor easier, even without calibration. Ruler and Measure tool help with the positioning.

Several editors can attach their corrections to the same page at the same time and no matter whether they are sitting next door or on another continent. As soon as an authorized user approves the job, it can be released from a computer. Each step of this process is stored in detailed logs.

Multifunctionality

eProof web-based system can be used for the whole proofing cycle. And Staudt Litho workflow shows its capabilities.

The pre-press specialists have been working in this way with the production agency Zetweka and their customer Ford Motor Company for three years. They produce brochures in various languages and other promotional materials. Users from different countries create corrections through eProof. Currently more than 260 users are involved into Ford productions at Staudt service provider.

Staudt in Bochum provides all the services - from the server setup to proofs output. And the customer pays only for the service - either per hour of proofing session or per Proof, thus saving both time and money.

As created for...

Thus design and advertising agencies could benefit from using eProof. Customers’ and suppliers’ accounts can be easily created in the system. Server with all the production stuff may locate either in the agency or, if desired, at service provider. The wider is producing area and the greater is production capacity - the faster the investments are returned and greater are the savings.

Production agencies, whether pre-press or publishing, may extend their range of services a lot with eProof. Those who count on efficiency and cooperation with customer easily benefit from this intuitive and innovative system and quickly adopt it.

Innovation and costs reduction

Transnational and transcontinental companies quickly come to synergy effect. Here multilingual and customizable user interface as well as integrated user administration can help.

And all this is available through different license models. According to the simplest one the end customers, advertising or production agencies pay per individual proof thus saving money. In this case the server is set up and maintained by a service provider. And this is only one out of the several license options for you to choose.

System requirements to clients machines are very low and do not include any commercial software. Normally, the only necessary application is a free Internet Explorer. Though those who want to see proofs more accurately should invest into professional displaying equipment.

Result

Easiness of proofing process really surprised me. Without any assistance or training I was working with the demo system via WWW and DSL connection. The speed of viewing high quality images, proofreading and attaching corrections was fascinating.

eProof system provides a double benefit. It speeds up the proofing processes and quickly and permanently decreases production costs. Costs decrease affects all the involved parties - from client through agency to service provider.

And those who still need a paper proof can use a "Print" button in cyan eProof!