Software solves inkjet quality issues says Global Graphics at the IJC USA

In his presentation to delegates at the inaugural Inkjet Conference USA Global Graphics Software’s CTO Martin Bailey will outline how software can solve problems that have been thought of up to now as addressable only in “hardware”.  He points specifically to the role of halftone screens in avoiding mottle and streaking on printed output by controlling ink coalescence, and to how software is effective in correcting non-uniformity across the web.
 
“If your press is producing an orange peel effect”, he observes, “the temptation is to think that it can be fixed with inter station pinning or corona treatment to increase ink adhesion.  Taking this action may reduce tonal mottle but it increases color mottle.  If you try to solve the problem with Under Color Removal or Grey Component Replacement it reduces tonal mottle but increases graininess. The good news is that the orange peel effect CAN be corrected with a halftone with specially designed characteristics without increasing color mottle, noise or grain.”

Halftone screens create an optical illusion depending on how you place the dots.  Having worked with vendors across at least a dozen inkjet presses Global Graphics Software’s engineers realized that the common denominator is the substrate used.  The result is the recently released Advanced Inkjet Screens™:  the Pearl screen produces a very natural effect on more or less absorbent substrates, whereas the Mirror screen is ideal for non-absorbent and poorly-wetting surfaces such as tin cans and flexible packaging, and also areas of dense metallic ink.  

Advanced Inkjet Screens have been found to be effective with all the major inkjet printheads and combinations of electronics at any device resolution with any ink technology and with lots of different media.

Software is also effective in correcting non-uniformity across the web that may be caused by variation within a head, pressure or voltage changes or head wear, and results in a ‘smile’ shape.

“The temptation is to think that you can fix that by tuning voltages,” comments Bailey. “But not all heads have sufficient adjustment points to correct the smile and it can be difficult in overlap/stitching regions.  There are other disadvantages too. Adjusting voltages reduces jetting stability and causes ink pressure and timing/drop speed variation.  This increases the randomness of ink coalescence on the substrate, which causes texture artifacts.  Now where have I heard that before?!”

Ends

Editors notes

About Global Graphics Software
Global Graphics Software http://www.globalgraphics.com is a leading developer of platforms for digital printing, including the Harlequin RIP®, ScreenPro, Fundamentals and Mako. Customers include HP, Canon, Durst, Roland, Kodak and Agfa. The roots of the company go back to 1986 and to the iconic university town of Cambridge, and, today the majority of the R&D team is still based near here. Global Graphics Software is a subsidiary of Global Graphics PLC (Euronext: GLOG).

Global Graphics is a trademark of Global Graphics Software Limited which may be registered in certain jurisdictions.  All other brand and product names are the registered trademarks or trademarks of their respective owners.

Contact

Jill Taylor/Global Graphics

+44 1223 926489
Jill.Taylor@globalgraphics.com

Paula Halpin/Global Graphics Software

+44 1223 926017
paula.halpin@globalgraphics.com

Global Graphics: Notice of Annual General Meeting

Cambridge (UK) 23 March 2018: Global Graphics PLC (Euronext: GLOG) announces details of its Annual General Meeting.

Notice is hereby given that the Annual General Meeting (“AGM”) of Global Graphics PLC (the “Company”) will be held at the Sheraton Brussels Airport Hotel, 1930 Zaventum, Belgium on Tuesday 24 April 2018 at 14:00 hrs (CEST).

A copy of the complete notice and other supporting information, including explanatory notes, requirements for proof of ownership of shares and the proxy form, is available for download from the investors section of the Company’s web site at https://www.globalgraphics.com/investors/shareholders-annual-general-meeting.

Ordinary Business

To consider and, if thought fit, pass the following resolutions which will be proposed as Ordinary Resolutions:

1.        To receive the Company’s annual financial statements and consolidated accounts for the financial year ended 31 December 2017.
2.        To reappoint KPMG LLP as auditor to hold office from the conclusion of this meeting until the conclusion of the next general meeting of the Company at which financial statements are laid.
3.        To authorise the Directors to determine the remuneration of the auditors.
4.        To re-elect Guido Van der Schueren as a Director of the Company and as Chairman of the Board.
5.        To re-elect Gary Fry as a Director of the Company and as Chief Executive Officer.
6.        To re-elect Johan Volckaerts as a non-executive director.
7.        To re-elect Graeme Huttley as a Director of the Company and as Chief Financial Officer.
8.        To approve the Directors’ Remuneration Report (excluding the Directors’ Remuneration Policy) set out on pages 14 to 17 of the annual report for the year ended 31 December 2017.
9.        To approve the Directors’ Remuneration Policy, the full text of which is contained in the Directors’ Remuneration Report, as set out on pages 17 to 19 of the annual report for the year ended 31 December 2017, which will take effect immediately after the end of the Annual General Meeting on 24 April 2018.

Special business

To consider and, if thought fit, pass the following resolutions which will be proposed in the case of Resolutions 10 and 12 as Special Resolutions and in the case of Resolution 11 as an Ordinary Resolution:

10.        That the Company be generally and unconditionally authorised in accordance with section 693A of the Companies Act 2006 (the “Act”) to make one or more off-market purchases (within the meaning of section 693(2) of the Act) of ordinary shares of €0.40 each in the capital of the Company (ordinary shares) for the purposes of or pursuant to an employee share scheme (within the meaning of section 1166 of the Act) in such manner and upon such terms as the directors may determine, provided that:

  • the maximum aggregate number of ordinary shares authorised to be purchased is 1,000,000 (representing 8.45% of the issued ordinary share capital);
  • the minimum price (excluding expenses) which may be paid for an ordinary share is the par value of the shares;
  • the maximum price (excluding expenses) which may be paid for an ordinary share is an amount equal to the higher of (i) 105% of the average closing price for an ordinary share as derived from Euronext Brussels for the five business days immediately preceding the day on which that ordinary share is purchased, and (ii) the higher of the price of the last independent trade and the highest current independent purchase bid as stipulated by the Commission-adopted Regulatory Technical Standards pursuant to article 5(6) of the Market Abuse Regulation;
  • this authority shall expire at the conclusion of the next Annual General Meeting of the Company, or, if earlier, at the close of business on 24 July 2019 unless renewed before that time; and
  • the Company may make an offer or agreement to purchase ordinary shares under this authority before the expiry of the authority which will or may be executed wholly or partly after the expiry of the authority, and may make a purchase of ordinary shares in pursuance of any such offer or agreement.


11.        That, in substitution for all existing authorities conferred on the Directors, in accordance with section 551 of the Act the Directors be and they are generally and unconditionally authorised to exercise all powers of the Company to allot equity securities (within the meaning of section 560 of the Act), or grant rights to subscribe for, or convert any security into, shares in the Company up to an aggregate nominal amount of €2,000,000, provided that this authority shall expire on the conclusion of the Company’s Annual General Meeting in 2019, or, if earlier, at the close of business on 24 July 2019, save that the Company may before such expiry make an offer or agreement which would or might require equity securities to be allotted after such expiry and the Directors may allot such equity securities in pursuance of such an offer or agreement as if the authority conferred by this resolution had not expired.

12.        Subject to the passing of Resolution 11 of the notice of meeting, that, in substitution for all existing authorities conferred on the Directors, the Directors be and they are empowered pursuant to section 570 of the Act to allot equity securities either pursuant to the authority conferred by Resolution 11 above or by way of a sale or transfer of treasury shares as if section 561 of the Act did not apply to any such allotment, sale or transfer provided that this authority shall expire on the conclusion of the Company’s Annual General Meeting in 2019, or, if earlier, at the close of business on 24 July 2019, save that the Company may before such expiry make an offer or agreement which would or might require equity securities to be allotted, sold or transferred after such expiry and the Directors may allot, sell or transfer equity securities in pursuance of such an offer or agreement as if the authority conferred by this resolution had not expired.

Editors notes

About Global Graphics

Global Graphics PLC (Euronext: GLOG) http://www.globalgraphics.com is a leading developer of platforms for digital printing, including the Harlequin RIP®. Customers include HP, Canon, Delphax, Roland,  Kodak and Agfa. The roots of the company go back to 1986 and to the iconic university town of Cambridge, and, today the majority of the R&D team is still based near here. The font foundry, URW++ Design and Development GmbH, and the industrial printhead driver solutions specialists, Meteor Inkjet, are subsidiary companies of Global Graphics PLC.  Global Graphics has offices in: Boston, US; Tokyo, Japan; and Hamburg, Germany.

Contact

Jill Taylor
Corporate Communications Director
Tel: +44 (0)1223 926489
Email: jill.taylor@globalgraphics.com

Graeme Huttley
Chief Financial Officer
Tel: +44 (0)1223 926472
Email: graeme.huttley@globalgraphics.com

Global Graphics in speaker line-up at major inkjet industry conference

Speakers at the inaugural US InkJet Conference in Chicago (April 12 – 13) include Global Graphics Software’s CTO Martin Bailey and the business development director of Meteor Inkjet, Jonathan Wilson, sister companies within Global Graphics PLC (Euronext: GLOG)

The event is billed by the organisers as “the place to be for inkjet engineering and inkjet chemistry” and both companies have attended the equivalent Europe event in Dusseldorf for several years.

Martin Bailey will be giving an update on new technology developments that improve inkjet image quality in a session entitled Avoiding the orange peel.

Mr Bailey will be presenting a technology breakthrough that mitigates the most common problems faced by inkjet press vendors when it comes to output quality. These are orange peel effects that is seen when solid colors are used on non-absorbent substrates such as tin cans, plastics or flexible packaging or when metallic inks are used, and, visible streaking on fairly absorbent substrates.  Both can be corrected in software that has been developed in Cambridge by Global Graphics Software’s development teams.

Sister company Meteor Inkjet will be giving a session called Complex engineering for complex challenges: Stepping up inkjet consistency and reliability. Mr Wilson will be arguing the case for a multi-disciplinary approach to inkjet press development.  In his conference session he cautions against the pitfalls of getting trapped in what he calls “a loop of infinite adjustment” which can occur if each element of a system is treated in isolation.

“The growing demand for high speed, single pass industrial inkjet systems in a myriad of applications presents manufacturers with ever trickier technical challenges,” he says. “Tackling these issues requires a multi-disciplinary approach, uniting skills from hardware, software and color management to meet reliability and print consistency requirements.”

Ends

Editors notes

About Global Graphics PLC
Through its operating subsidiaries, Global Graphics PLC (Euronext: GLOG)   http://www.globalgraphics.com is a leading developer of platforms for digital inkjet printing and type design and development. Customers for digital inkjet technology include press manufacturers such as HP, Canon, Durst, Roland, Hymmen and Mark Andy.  Those for font design include numerous international brands, from manufacturers such as Mercedes Benz and Siemens, to digital media and epublishing companies.

Global Graphics PLC is headquartered in Cambridge UK.  Its subsidiary companies are printing software developers Global Graphics Software; the type foundry, URW++ Design and Development GmbH, and the industrial printhead driver solutions specialists, Meteor Inkjet.      Global Graphics has offices in: Florida, US; Tokyo, Japan; and Hamburg, Germany.

Contact

Jill Taylor/Global Graphics

+44 1223 926489
Jill.Taylor@globalgraphics.com

Global Graphics Software and GMG in strategic cooperation on inkjet color

Global Graphics Software and GMG announce a technology partnership that will overcome the color management and quality issues often found in digital packaging and label production.  The partnership will make GMG’s award-winning technology available within Fundamentals, Global Graphics Software’s toolkit for building a digital front-end for inkjet presses. Fundamentals is a software and engineering services package that helps inkjet press manufacturers get to market quicker.

Justin Bailey, managing director of Global Graphics Software comments “We are really excited to be working with the go-to company for high quality color management in the labels and packaging market. GMG’s unique technology enables brand colors to be accurately reproduced on a digital press without loss of color accuracy. It’s important in digital printing to be able to convert spot colors designed for a traditional press to the process colors available in digital. This enhancement to Fundamentals will benefit our OEM customers who need this capability in their DFE.”

Ian Scott, GMG managing director explains “High-speed inkjet technology continues to develop at an impressive rate. However, color management needs have not been fully addressed. The combination of Global Graphics DFE technology and GMG OpenColor prediction and profiling technology fulfils the ever-increasing quality and production demands. We are very pleased to be working with Global Graphics in overcoming the many challenges that lay ahead in the shift from analogue to digital production.”

.

Editors notes

Notes to editors
About Global Graphics

Global Graphics Software http://www.globalgraphics.com is a leading developer of platforms for digital printing, including the Harlequin RIP®, ScreenPro, Fundamentals and Mako. Customers include HP, Canon, Durst, Roland, Kodak and Agfa. The roots of the company go back to 1986 and to the iconic university town of Cambridge, and, today the majority of the R&D team is still based near here. Global Graphics Software is a subsidiary of Global Graphics PLC (Euronext: GLOG).

Global Graphics, are trademarks of Global Graphics Software Limited which may be registered in certain jurisdictions. Global Graphics is a trademark of Global Graphics PLC which may be registered in certain jurisdictions. All other brand and product names are the registered trademarks or trademarks of their respective owners

Contact

Jill Taylor/Global Graphics

+44 1223 926489
Jill.Taylor@globalgraphics.com

Une innovation logicielle pour finaliser les impressions à jet d’encre

  • Des trames avancées pour les impressions à jet d’encre permettent de disposer d’un plus grand nombre d’options pour obtenir des images et des textes de haute qualité sur les presses à jet d’encre
  • Compatible avec tous les RIP PDF d’Adobe®, notamment Esko

À compter d’aujourd’hui, Global Graphics Software lance une nouvelle série de trames logicielles qui permettent d’apporter la « touche finale » aux impressions sorties sur presse à jet d’encre.  Les trames Advanced Inkjet Screens™ s’appliquent à tous les workflows industriels d’impression. Grâce à leur flexibilité, il est possible de les ajouter à des presses déjà disponibles sur le marché, ou de les intégrer à une presse à jet d’encre en cours de conception.

Les trames Advanced Inkjet Screens™ atténuent les imperfections dues à la projection de l’encre sur le substrat.  Deux versions sont disponibles : la trame Pearl produit un effet très naturel sur les substrats plus ou moins absorbants, tandis que la trame Mirror est idéale pour les surfaces non-absorbantes et peu mouillables, comme les boîtes de conserve et les emballages souples, ainsi que pour les zones d’encrage métallique dense.

« La plupart des logiciels d’impression partent du principe qu’une presse peut imprimer une grille de points parfaite », constate Tom Mooney, responsable produit. « En pratique, différents facteurs à l’œuvre dans la presse à jet d’encre peuvent provoquer des changements de taille, de forme ou de position dans chaque goutte. Même si chacune de ces gouttes est minuscule, elles finissent par fusionner, ce qui conduit à l’apparition d’artefacts et d’erreurs souvent visibles sur l’impression finale à la distance de visualisation prévue. »

« En mesurant les caractéristiques de la création des gouttes et de leur interaction avec le substrat, il est possible d’affiner la forme et le placement des points de demi-teinte au niveau du tramage pour réduire les variations non désirées. Ainsi, l’impression ne comporte pratiquement plus aucune erreur visible, car une fois optimisée, la trame compense et atténue les erreurs durant le processus d’impression. »

« Elles sont particulièrement efficaces lorsque l’impression à jet d’encre fait partie du marketing prévu par la marque pour le produit, par exemple dans le cas d’un emballage, car nos trames Advanced Inkjet Screens permettent aux convertisseurs et aux imprimeurs d’étiquettes qui souhaitent utiliser des stocks moins coûteux ou ceux dont ils disposent déjà pour les impressions flexographiques de proposer un produit vendable. »

Les trames Advanced Inkjet Screens, très rapides à déployer, améliorent de façon immédiate la qualité d’impression de nombreuses presses à jet d’encre. Elles peuvent être appliquées à n’importe quel RIP permettant l’accès à des données raster non détectées, comme Esko, avec ScreenPro, le moteur de tramage ultra-haute vitesse de Global Graphic pour le jet d’encre. Alternativement, ils peuvent être appliqués pendant le rendu dans le RIP Host Renderer Harlequin®

Substrats absorbants

Sur des substrats relativement absorbants et/ou mouillables, les gouttes ont tendance à fusionner le long de la surface du substrat, causant l’apparition de trainées visibles. Ceci prévaut en particulier pour les demi-teintes et les trois-quarts de teinte. Pearl est une trame dispersée (FM) avancée, optimisée pour créer des images naturelles sur un substrat plus ou moins absorbant. Elle vise avant tout à éliminer les trainées et les irrégularités.

Substrats non absorbants et peu mouillables

Sur les substrats non-absorbants et peu mouillables, les impressions se caractérisent par un effet moucheté ressemblant à une pelure d’orange.  Le problème semble être causé par la contraction de l’encre lors du séchage et se remarque particulièrement dans les zones plus largement couvertes.

La trame Mirror est conçue avec une microstructure destinée à contrer l’effet moucheté ou « pelure d’orange » pouvant apparaître lorsque des couleurs solides sont utilisées sur des substrats non-absorbants ou peu mouillables comme les boîtes de conserves et certains plastiques, notamment les emballages souples. Elle s’avère également utile lorsque des encres denses comme les encres métalliques sont utilisées, ou lorsque l’impression ne doit avoir aucune incidence sur l’aspect réfléchissant d’un substrat brillant.

Global Graphics est à l’origine d’un grand nombre d’innovations dans le domaine du tramage, en commençant par sa technologie FM brevetée ou sa technologie de trame stochastique dans les années 1990. À l’ère de l’impression numérique, et de l’impression à jet d’encre en particulier, Global Graphics a mis au point de nouvelles technologies de tramage en réponse aux préoccupations des fabricants de presses concernant la qualité d’image des applications jet d’encre à un seul passage.

Editors notes

À propos de Global Graphics
Global Graphics Software http://www.globalgraphics.com est l’un des principaux développeurs de plates-formes logicielles pour l’impression numérique, notamment RIP Harlequin ®, ScreenPro, Fundamentals et Mako. Nous comptons parmi nos clients HP, Canon, Durst, Roland,  Kodak et Agfa. L’entreprise a été créée en 1986 dans la ville universitaire emblématique de Cambridge. Aujourd’hui encore, la majorité de l’équipe R&D est basée dans cette région. Global Graphics Software est une filiale de Global Graphics PLC (Euronext: GLOG). Global Graphics, ScreenPro et Advanced Inkjet Screens sont des marques commerciales de Global Graphics Software Limited qui peuvent être déposées dans certaines juridictions. Global Graphics est une marque commerciale de Global Graphics, qui peut être déposée dans certaines juridictions. Les autres noms de marque et de produit sont les marques commerciales ou les marques déposées de leurs détenteurs respectifs.

Contact

Jill Taylor/Global Graphics

+44 1223 926489
Jill.Taylor@globalgraphics.com

Paula Halpin/Global Graphics Software

+44 1223 926017
paula.halpin@globalgraphics.com

Software breakthrough gives the final polish to inkjet prints

·        Advanced Inkjet Screens expand options available to achieve high-quality images and text on inkjet presses

·        Use with any Adobe® PDF RIP including Esko

 A set of new software screens that add the “final polish” to output produced on inkjet presses are available from today from Global Graphics Software. Advanced Inkjet Screens™ can be applied to any print industry workflow. Their flexibility means that they can be added to presses already on the market, or incorporated into an inkjet press that’s still on the drawing board.

Advanced Inkjet Screens™ smooth out imperfections caused by the physics of jetting ink onto substrate. There are two variants: the Pearl screen produces a very natural effect on more or less absorbent substrates, whereas the Mirror screen is ideal for non-absorbent and poorly-wetting surfaces such as tin cans and flexible packaging, and also areas of dense metallic ink.  

“Most printing software assumes that a press can print a perfect grid of dots,” observes product manager Tom Mooney. “In practice on an inkjet press there are often variables that lead to changes in the size, shape or position of each drop. Even though these individual drops are very small, the result is that they coalesce, creating artefacts and errors that are often visible at the intended viewing distance in the finished print.

“By measuring the characteristics of the drop generation and interaction with the substrate, it is possible to fine-tune the halftone dot shapes and placement within the screening definition to mitigate unwanted variables. The result is print that is visually largely error-free, because the optimized screen compensates for and masks the effect of errors in the print process.”

“They are particularly effective where inkjet output will be sold as part of a brand’s marketing, such as packaging, where our Advanced Inkjet Screens allow converters and label printers wanting to use cheaper stocks or the same stocks as for flexo, to produce sellable product.”

Advanced Inkjet Screens will improve print quality “out of the box” on many inkjet presses so they are quick to deploy. They can be applied on the back of any RIP that allows access to un-screened raster data such as Esko, using ScreenPro, Global Graphics’ ultra-high-speed screening engine for inkjet. Alternatively, they can be applied during rendering in the Harlequin Host Renderer RIP®

Absorbent substrates

On fairly absorbent and/or wettable substrates drops tend to coalesce along the substrate surface, causing visible streaking. This is especially the case in mid- and three-quarter tones. Pearl is an advanced dispersed (FM) screen, optimized for natural images on a more or less absorbent substrate. It is targeted especially at addressing chaining and streaking artifacts.

Non-absorbent, poorly wettable substrates

On non-absorbent, poorly wettable substrates prints are characterized by a mottle effect that looks like orange peel. The problem appears to be triggered by ink shrinkage during the cure and is especially noticeable in areas with reasonably high total area coverage.

The Mirror Advanced Inkjet Screen is designed with a microstructure targeted at countering the mottling or “orange peel” effect that can be seen when solid colors are used on non-absorbent or poorly-wetting substrates such as tin cans or some plastics, such as some flexible packaging. It’s also useful when dense inks such as metallics are used, or where the print should not interfere with the smoothness of the reflection from a shiny substrate.

Global Graphics has a long history in screening innovation dating back to its patented FM or stochastic screening technology of the 1990s. In the age of digital printing, and inkjet in particular, Global Graphics has developed new screening technologies from the ground up in response to press manufacturers’ concerns about image quality in single pass inkjet applications.

Editors notes

Global Graphics Software http://www.globalgraphics.com is a leading developer of platforms for digital printing, including the Harlequin RIP®, ScreenPro, Fundamentals and Mako. Customers include HP, Canon, Durst, Roland, Kodak and Agfa. The roots of the company go back to 1986 and to the iconic university town of Cambridge, and, today the majority of the R&D team is still based near here. Global Graphics Software is a subsidiary of Global Graphics PLC (Euronext: GLOG). Global Graphics, ScreenPro, and Advanced Inkjet Screens are trademarks of Global Graphics Software Limited which may be registered in certain jurisdictions. Global Graphics is a trademark of Global Graphics PLC which may be registered in certain jurisdictions. All other brand and product names are the registered trademarks or trademarks of their respective owners.

Contact

Jill Taylor/Global Graphics

+44 1223 926489
Jill.Taylor@globalgraphics.com

Paula Halpin/Global Graphics Software

+44 1223 926017
paula.halpin@globalgraphics.com

Software-durchbruch verleiht Tintenstrahldruck den letzten Schliff

  • Advanced Inkjet Screens bieten mehr Optionen zum Drucken hochwertiger Bilder und Texte auf Inkjet-Druckmaschinen
  • Kompatibel mit allen Adobe® PDF RIP-Lösungen einschließlich Esko

Ab heute bietet Global Graphics Software eine Reihe neuer Software-Raster, die allen auf Inkjet-Druckmaschinen produzierten Tintenstrahldrucken den letzten Schliff verleihen. Advanced Inkjet Screens™ können in jedem Workflow der Druckbranche angewendet werden. Sie sind so flexibel, dass sie bereits auf dem Markt erhältlichen Drucksystemen hinzugefügt oder aber in Inkjet-Druckmaschinen integriert werden können, die sich noch in der Entwicklung befinden.

Advanced Inkjet Screens™ beheben Mängel, die beim Strahlen der Tinte auf das Substrat entstehen können. Es gibt zwei Varianten: Das Pearl-Raster erzeugt einen sehr natürlichen Effekt auf mehr oder weniger saugfähigen Substraten, während das Mirror-Raster ideal für nicht saugfähige und schlecht benetzbare Oberflächen wie Blechdosen und flexible Verpackungen oder für Bereiche mit einer hohen Dichte an Metallic-Tinte ist.

„Bei vielen Drucksoftware-Anwendungen wird davon ausgegangen, dass die Druckpresse ein perfektes Punkteraster drucken kann“, so Produktmanager Tom Mooney. „In der Praxis ist es jedoch so, dass bei einer Inkjet-Druckmaschine oft Variablen zum Tragen kommen, die Veränderungen der Größe, Form oder Position jedes Tropfens bewirken. Diese Einzeltropfen sind zwar sehr klein, können aber miteinander verschmelzen. Dies führt zu Bild- und anderen Fehlern, die im endgültigen Druck beim üblichen Betrachtungsabstand oft sichtbar sind.

„Durch Messen der Eigenschaften der Tropfenentstehung und ihrer Interaktion mit dem Substrat ist es möglich, die Halbton-Punktformen und ihre Platzierung innerhalb der Rasterdefinition anzupassen und unerwünschte Variablen entsprechend zu minimieren. So entsteht ein optisch weitgehend fehlerfreier Druck, denn das optimierte Raster kompensiert und kaschiert Fehlereffekte beim Druckprozess.“

„Die Advanced Inkjet Screens sind besonders wirksam bei Tintenstrahl-Druckausgaben wie Verpackungen, die im Rahmen des Brand-Marketing vertrieben werden sollen. Sie ermöglichen es Verpackungsherstellern und Etikettendruckern, günstigere Materialien oder dasselbe Material wie für Flexo zu verwenden, um ein marktfähiges Produkt herzustellen.“

Advanced Inkjet Screens können bei vielen Inkjet-Druckmaschinen die Druckqualität „von der Stange“ optimieren und lassen sich schnell implementieren. Sie können jedem RIP (Raster Image Processor) hinzugefügt werden, bei dem über ScreenPro, die ultraschnelle Global Graphics Screening-Engine für Tintenstrahldruck, der Zugriff auf ungerasterte Daten möglich ist, z. B. Esko. Alternativ können sie beim Rendern im Harlequin Host Renderer RIP® angewendet werden.

Saugfähige Substrate

Auf vergleichsweise saugfähigen und/oder benetzbaren Substraten verschmelzen Tropfen auf der Substratoberfläche, wodurch sichtbare Streifen verursacht werden.  Dies ist insbesondere bei Mitteltönen und Dreivierteltönen der Fall. Pearl ist ein modernes dispergiertes FM-Raster, das für natürliche Bilder auf einem mehr oder weniger saugfähigen Substrat optimiert wurde. Es ist speziell auf die Behebung von Verkettungs- und Streifeneffekten ausgerichtet.

Nicht saugfähige, schlecht benetzbare Substrate

Auf nicht saugfähigen, schlecht benetzbaren Substraten weisen Drucke häufig einen Sprenkeleffekt auf, der an Orangenhaut erinnert.  Das Problem wird wohl durch den Tintenschwund während der Aushärtung ausgelöst und fällt vor allem in Bereichen mit einer vergleichsweise hohen Gesamtflächenabdeckung auf.

Der Advanced Inkjet Screen Mirror zeichnet sich durch eine Mikrostruktur aus, die speziell darauf abzielt, den Sprenkel- bzw. Orangenhaut-Effekt zu reduzieren, wenn Volltonfarben auf nicht saugfähigen oder schlecht benetzbaren Substraten wie Dosen oder einigen Kunststoffen, darunter flexible Verpackungen, verwendet werden. Er ist außerdem nützlich, wenn Tinten mit einer hohen Dichte, beispielsweise Metallic-Farben, zum Einsatz kommen oder wenn die Reflexionsfähigkeit einer glänzenden Substratoberfläche nicht beeinträchtigt werden soll.

Global Graphics blickt auf eine lange Geschichte von Screening-Innovationen zurück, die in den 1990er Jahren mit der patentierten FM- bzw. stochastischen Rasterungstechnologie begann. Im Zeitalter von Digital- und Tintenstrahldruck hat Global Graphics von Grund auf neue Screening-Technologien entwickelt, mit denen Druckmaschinenhersteller die Bildqualität bei Anwendungen mit Single-Pass-Inkjet-Druckmaschinen verbessern können.

Editors notes

Über Global Graphics
Global Graphics Software http://www.globalgraphics.com ist ein führender Entwickler von Softwareplattformen für digitalen Druck, darunter Harlequin RIP®, ScreenPro, Fundamentals und Mako. Zu unseren Kunden zählen HP, Canon, Durst, Roland, Kodak und Agfa. Die Ursprünge des Unternehmens reichen bis ins Jahr 1986 in der berühmten englischen Universitätsstadt Cambridge zurück, und auch heute noch hat der Großteil des F&E-Teams seinen Sitz in dieser Gegend. Global Graphics Software ist eine Tochter von Global Graphics PLC (Euronext: GLOG). Global Graphics, ScreenPro und Advanced Inkjet Screens sind Marken von Global Graphics Software Limited, die unter Umständen in einigen Ländern eingetragen sind. Global Graphics ist ein Marke von Global Graphics Software Limited, die unter Umständen in einigen Ländern eingetragen ist. Alle anderen Marken und Produktbezeichnungen sind eingetragene Marken oder Marken ihrer jeweiligen Inhaber.

Contact

Jill Taylor/Global Graphics

+44 1223 926489
Jill.Taylor@globalgraphics.com

Paula Halpin/Global Graphics Software

+44 1223 926017
paula.halpin@globalgraphics.com

Innovación en software da el toque final a las impresiones de inyección de tinta

  • Las pantallas Advanced Inkjet Screens amplían las opciones disponibles para obtener texto e imágenes de gran calidad en prensas de inyección de tinta
  • Pueden utilizarse con cualquier RIP de PDF de Adobe®, incluido Esko

Global Graphics Software ofrece desde hoy una nueva serie de pantallas de software que da el “toque final” al material obtenido en las prensas de inyección de tinta. Las pantallas Advanced Inkjet Screens™ puede implantarse en cualquier flujo de trabajo del sector de la impresión. Su flexibilidad permite que puedan añadirse a prensas ya disponibles en el mercado o incorporarse a una prensa de inyección de tinta que aún sea solo un proyecto.

Las pantallas Advanced Inkjet Screens™ suavizan las imperfecciones causadas por la tinta expulsada sobre el sustrato. Existen dos versiones: la pantalla Pearl produce un efecto muy natural en los sustratos más o menos absorbentes, mientras que la pantalla Mirror es perfecta para sustratos no absorbentes y con un nivel de humectación deficiente, como latas y embalajes flexibles, además de para áreas con tinta metálica densa.

“La mayoría de los software de impresión asumen que una prensa puede imprimir una cuadrícula perfecta de puntos”, afirma el director de productos Tom Mooney. “En la práctica, en una prensa de inyección de tinta existen a menudo variables que provocan cambios en el tamaño, la forma o la posición de cada gota. Aunque estas gotas individuales son muy pequeñas acaban fusionándose, lo que crea irregularidades y errores que a menudo son visibles en la impresión final a la distancia de visualización prevista.

“La medición de las características de la generación de gotas y la interacción con el sustrato permite ajustar la forma de los puntos de semitono y la colocación en la definición del tramado para mitigar la aparición de variables no deseadas. El resultado es una impresión que, visualmente, está en gran medida libre de errores debido a que pantalla optimizada compensa y enmascara el efecto de los errores del proceso de impresión”.

“Son particularmente eficaces en aquellos casos en los que los resultados de la inyección de tinta se venderán como parte del marketing de una marca, como los embalajes, donde nuestras pantallas Advanced Inkjet Screens permiten a los convertidores e impresores de etiquetas que deseen utilizar inventario más barato, o el mismo inventario que para la impresión flexográfica, crear productos vendibles”.

Las pantallas Advanced Inkjet Screens mejorarán la calidad de la impresión desde el primer momento en numerosas prensas de inyección de tinta, ya que son fáciles de implementar. Pueden aplicarse a la parte posterior de cualquier RIP que permita acceder a datos de trama sin tramado, como Esko, gracias al motor de tramado de ultra alta velocidad para inyección de tinta de Global Graphics: ScreenPro. De forma alternativa, se pueden aplicar durante el procesamiento en el Harlequin Host Renderer RIP®

Sustratos absorbentes

En los sustratos bastante absorbentes o humectables las gotas tienden a fusionarse a lo largo de la superficie del sustrato, lo que hace visible la presencia de rayas. Este es sobre todo el caso en los medios tonos y los tres cuartos de tono. Pearl es una avanzada pantalla (frecuencia modulada) dispersa que está optimizada para ofrecer imágenes naturales sobre un sustrato más o menos absorbente. Está especialmente orientada a abordar las irregularidades relacionadas con rayas y concatenación.

Sustratos no absorbentes y con nivel de humectación deficiente

En los sustratos no absorbentes y con un nivel de humectación deficiente las impresiones se caracterizan por un efecto moteado que tiene el aspecto de una cáscara de naranja. El desencadenante del problema parece ser la contracción de la tinta durante el secado y es especialmente notable en las zonas con una cobertura del área total razonablemente alta.

La pantalla Advanced Inkjet Screen Mirror está diseñada con una microestructura cuya finalidad es contrarrestar el efecto moteado o de “cáscara de naranja” que puede observarse cuando se usan colores sólidos en sustratos no absorbentes o con un nivel de humectación deficiente, como latas o algunos plásticos como ciertos embalajes flexibles. También es útil cuando se usan tintas densas, como las metálicas, o cuando la impresión no debe interferir con la suavidad del reflejo de un substrato brillante.

Global Graphics cuenta con un largo historial en innovación del tramado que se remonta a su patentada tecnología de tramado estocástico o FM de la década de los noventa. En la era de la impresión digital, y de la inyección de tinta en particular, Global Graphics ha desarrollado nuevas tecnologías de tramado desde cero en respuesta a las preocupaciones de los fabricantes de prensas con respecto a la calidad de la imagen en aplicaciones de inyección de tinta de una sola pasada.

Editors notes

Acerca de Global Graphics
Global Graphics Software http://www.globalgraphics.com es un desarrollador líder de plataformas de impresión digital, incluidas Harlequin RIP®, ScreenPro, Fundamentals y Mako. Entre sus clientes se incluyen HP, Canon, Durst, Roland, Kodak y Agfa. La compañía data del año 1986 y sus orígenes remiten a la icónica ciudad universitaria de Cambridge. En la actualidad, la mayoría de los equipos de I+D tienen aún su sede en los alrededores de esa ciudad. Global Graphics Software es una filial de Global Graphics PLC (Euronext: GLOG). Global Graphics, ScreenPro y Advanced Inkjet Screens son marcas comerciales de Global Graphics Software Limited que pueden estar registradas en ciertas jurisdicciones. Global Graphics es una marca comercial de Global Graphics PLC y puede estar registrada en ciertas jurisdicciones. Las demás marcas o nombres de productos son marcas registradas o marcas comerciales de sus respectivos titulares.

Contact

Jill Taylor/Global Graphics

+44 1223 926489
Jill.Taylor@globalgraphics.com

Paula Halpin/Global Graphics Software

+44 1223 926017
paula.halpin@globalgraphics.com

Global Graphics publishes 2017 annual report and financial statements

Cambridge (UK), 28 February 2018 (18.00 CET): Global Graphics PLC (Euronext: GLOG) announces that it has published its annual report and financial statements for the financial year ended 31 December 2017.

The full document is available for download from the investors section of the Company’s web site at:  http://www.globalgraphics.com/investors/financial-reports

Should you wish to receive printed copies please send an e-mail to investor-relations@globalgraphics.com or make your request in writing, for the attention of the Company’s Chief Financial Officer, to 2030 Cambourne Business Park, Cambourne, Cambridge, CB23 6DW, UK.

Gary Fry, Global Graphics CEO comments, “I am very pleased with our top line growth and especially that we have attained another milestone in 2017, that of exceeding revenue of €20 million.  Our acquisitions strategy and our focus on new product development have strengthened our position in the fast-growing high-speed digital inkjet market. We expect continued growth in 2018 with even stronger synergies between the operating companies.”

Financial highlights

In thousands of euros

2017

2016

Change

Revenue

20,536

16,033

4,503

Operating loss

(288)

(674)

386

(Loss)/profit before tax

(163)

130

(293)

Tax (expense)/benefit

(103)

466

(569)

(Loss)/profit for the year attributable to equity holders

(266)

596

(862)

EBITDA

3,095

4,289

(1,194)

Adjusted operating profit

2,140

3,013

(873)

Adjusted net profit

1,773

3,670

(1,897)

Basic (loss)/earnings per share

(0.02)

0.05

(0.07)

Adjusted earnings per share

0.15

0.33

(0.18)

Net cash

5,076

4,639

437



The consolidated pre-tax result was a loss of €0.16 million in 2017 compared with a pre-tax profit of €0.13 million in 2016.  The reduction in profitability of €0.29 million is due to:

  • an increase in revenue of €4.51 million;
  • an increase in cost of sales of €3.51 million
  • an increase in selling, general and administrative expenses of €1.02 million;
  • a decrease in research and development expenses of €0.95 million;
  • an increase in other operating expenses of €0.54 million; and
  • a decrease in foreign exchange gains of €0.67 million.


Included in selling, general and administrative expenses is amortisation of €1.52 million (2016: €1.07 million) related to intangible assets recognised as a result of acquisitions and €0.06 million (2016: €0.95 million) related to share-based payment expenses.

Included in research and development expenses is the capitalisation and amortisation of internally generated intangible assets.  During the period there was a net expense of €0.18 million (2016: €1.52 million) related to these assets.

Redundancy costs of €0.28 million are included in other operating expenses.  This expense relates to a minor reorganisation in Global Graphics Software, which is expected to result in annualised cost savings of approximately €0.90 million, taking effect from 1 January 2018.

Also included in other operating expenses is a charge of €0.23 million for a fair value adjustment to contingent consideration payable for the acquisition of Meteor Inkjet Limited (“Meteor”).  The growth in revenue seen during 2017 in Meteor surpassed expectations used when modelling the acquisition date fair value of contingent consideration.  The model was subsequently revised for current forecasts and expectations, which concluded that it is expected that the contingent consideration payments will be made earlier, thereby increasing the present value of those payments.

The exchange rate gains are primarily due to the revaluation of currency balances held at the balance sheet date and the change in exchange rates during the year.

The Group presents EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation) and adjusted profit when reporting its financial results to provide investors with an additional tool to evaluate the Group’s results in a manner that focuses on what the Group believes to be its underlying business operations.  The Group’s management believes that the inclusion of adjusted financial results provides consistency and comparability with past reports.

Additional commentary and analysis of the Group’s consolidated results for the year ending 31 December 2017 can be found in the aforementioned annual report and financial statements.

Annual General Meeting
The Company expects to hold its annual general meeting on Tuesday 24 April 2018 in Brussels.  The official notice of the meeting will be issued in accordance with applicable legal and regulatory requirements closer to the time.

Editors notes

About Global Graphics

Global Graphics PLC (Euronext: GLOG) http://www.globalgraphics.com is a leading developer of platforms for digital printing, including the Harlequin RIP®. Customers include HP, Canon, Delphax, Roland,  Kodak and Agfa. The roots of the company go back to 1986 and to the iconic university town of Cambridge, and, today the majority of the R&D team is still based near here. The font foundry, URW++ Design and Development GmbH, and the industrial printhead driver solutions specialists, Meteor Inkjet, are subsidiary companies of Global Graphics PLC.  Global Graphics has offices in: Boston, US; Tokyo, Japan; and Hamburg, Germany.

Contact

Jill Taylor
Corporate Communications Director
Tel: +44 (0)1223 926489
Email: jill.taylor@globalgraphics.com

Graeme Huttley
Chief Financial Officer
Tel: +44 (0)1223 926472
Email: graeme.huttley@globalgraphics.com

Global Graphics broadens product line up for Japan

Global Graphics KK is getting the year off to a flying start by exhibiting an expanded range of digital printing solutions at Page 2018 in Tokyo, which starts today and runs until 9th  February.  Page is Japan’s largest printing and media exhibition and is now in its 31st year.  

Global Graphics’ Tokyo team (booth D-37) will use the event to introduce new technology innovations for the Japanese market and to stage technical demonstrations.   The full range of solutions available from Global Graphics companies will be on display for the first time. Highlights include:

  • Global Graphics Software: Mako™, a new technology for combining and converting files for prepress applications and increasingly used at the front end of Harlequin® workflows; ScreenPro™, a screening engine that vastly improves inkjet output quality; and, the Harlequin RIP®for high-speed inkjet processing,
  • URW++ type foundry: with its range of Japanese and global fonts,
  • Meteor Inkjet: printhead driver systems for all the major printheads used for industrial inkjet printing such as ceramics, textiles and packaging,
  • Technology partner HYBRID Software:  PACKZ, a complete set of prepress, editing and quality assurance-functions.

“The Page exhibition is our most important commercial event of the year”, says Yoshiyuki Hagiwara, director at Global Graphics KK. “We enjoy amazing support from our customers who attend our product update sessions. It’s also a great venue at which to forge new customer relationships.”

Global Graphics opened an office in Tokyo in 2003 since when it has gone from strength to strength.  Customers include Roland DG Corporate, Casio, Fuji Xerox and Think Laboratories.   For the financial year ended 31 December 2016, sales from Asia amounted to Euros 5.8 million.

Editors notes

About Global Graphics PLC
Through its operating subsidiaries, Global Graphics PLC Euronext:GLOG)  http://www.globalgraphics.com is a leading developer of platforms for digital inkjet printing and type design and development. Customers for digital inkjet technology include press manufacturers such as HP, Canon, Durst and Roland.  Those for font design include numerous international brands, from manufacturers such as Mercedes Benz and Siemens, to digital media and epublishing companies.

Global Graphics PLC is headquartered in Cambridge UK.  Its subsidiary companies are printing software developers Global Graphics Software; the type foundry, URW++ Design and Development GmbH, and the industrial printhead driver solutions specialists, Meteor Inkjet.     Global Graphics has offices in: Florida, US; Tokyo, Japan; and Hamburg, Germany.


Global Graphics is a trademark of Global Graphics PLC which may be registered in certain jurisdictions. All other brand and product names are the registered trademarks or trademarks of their respective owners.

Contact

Jill Taylor/Global Graphics

+44 1223 926489
Jill.Taylor@globalgraphics.com