Hybrid makes software advances

Key developments shown at Labelexpo Europe 2017 include:

• Cloudflow Jobs module, a job management engine that tracks and presents information concerning all the parts of a job through a dashboard. Cloudflow Jobs is supplied pre-configured out of the box, ready to be used in production. It integrates well with MIS/ERP systems, online shops and databases.
• Cloudflow Share, a new enterprise file management module to improve the way data is shared between different production sites within a company. It works with all front end, back end and pre-press processes for load balancing and production efficiency.
• Cloudflow Proofscope preflight integration, which embeds the preflight report directly into Proofscope. Designers or print buyers who submit files for print production can review immediately any issues in their browser, thereby shortening the production cycle.
• Packz 4.1 Notes, allowing annotations within PDF files, including notes made in Acrobat and other Adobe applications, as well as more detailed annotations created in Cloudflow Proofscope. Annotations made during the soft proofing process can be visualized in Packz for more efficient file modifications and corrections.
• Packz 4.1 Extended Live Objects; which adds support for scripting (using the industry standard, JavaScript) to support complex Live Objects. This includes dynamic registration marks that automatically adjust for the size and color separations used in a job, automatic information panels which include job metadata and even job and customer information from linked MIS systems or other third-party data systems, as well as many other functions.
• Packz 4.1 Dynamic Artwork, which extends the functionality of Live Objects to include barcodes, images and even links to external databases, such as product ingredients or multiple language text repositories.
• Cerm and Label Traxx integration, with demonstrations of this integration to create a highly efficient end-to-end order approval system.
• GMG Open Color integration, a jointly developed and launched integration to automatically convert individual spot colors used in a package or label design into extended color gamut separations for flexo, offset and digital printing. This enables the production of printed packaging with a greatly extended color gamut, without the need for custom spot color inks and long make-ready cycles between print jobs.

Since launching its native PDF pre-press products in 2013 at Labelexpo Europe, Hybrid has sold more than 1,475 seats of the Packz PDF editing software for labels and packaging, and 330 Cloudflow workflows worldwide.

Guido Van der Schueren, chairman of the board of Hybrid Software, said: ‘We have reached a critical point, the sweet spot in the classic “hockey stick” growth curve, where the product functionality and number of installations both start growing exponentially. At that point, success builds on success and customer adoption grows rapidly.

‘Hybrid Software has always been willing to listen to our customers, and we have really acted upon their input by announcing these key new products at Labelexpo Europe 2017. Bringing Packz and Cloudflow back to Brussels for the third time with such momentum behind us is very satisfying to me personally and to the whole team at Hybrid.’

Read L&L's comprehensive preview of Labelexpo Europe 2017 in issue 4, and here