Proofing of images and documents for content and color is an ongoing process, from initial draft through final approval and production. Clients, designers, and print and web production teams must collaborate, often at a distance, to produce the desired product. Germanybased HELIOS Software, a leading developer of cross-platform networking, PDF, and image server solutions for Mac, Windows and web clients, assist its customers in making proofing easy. The company has over 25 years’ standing in prepress software. In their early years, they supplied modules to other prepress players like Agfa. Today, they have three prepress products that work beautifully together.
HELIOS ImageServer UB64
HELIOS ImageServer UB64 is a server-based image conversion, ICC color transformation and OPI image replacement solution, with integrated process and workflow automation. It includes Script Server UB64 that provides Hot folder automation to integrate and automate server applications. Tool Server UB64, another module, allows applications running on network clients to be automated and remotely used by the HELIOS server.
HELIOS PrintPreview UB64
HELIOS PrintPreview UB64 is a versatile content and color proofing solution offering FograCert certified soft-proof, hard-proof and annotation workflow for documents and images within a web browser, throughout the design, review and production process.
HELIOS PDF HandShake UB64
The HELIOS PDF HandShake UB64 automates server-based PDF generation, PDF printing, PDF OPI, PDF preflight and batch tools to boost productivity, and overcome today’s PDF problems. “In India, most big printers have proofing and PDF production software from different vendors and have put in the effort to make them work together. OPI is hardly used in India. With all three products from one vendor, prepress houses in Western Europe and USA have throughput and productivity that has helped them survive and grow without outsourcing. HELIOS is the gold standard in that part of the world for prepress software,” said Jatin P Vasandani of Zeta Marketing, which is the Indian distributor of HELIOS Software GMBH.
Universal File Server UB64 (UFS UB64)
To make all the three products work efficiently, HELIOS came up with their own base, a reliable, crossplatform server with all the features that the prepress world demands. And in response to demands and feedback from their premium customer base, they developed a module called WebShare that gives portal access to the server.
In October 2014, HELIOS launched Universal File Server UB64, a standalone product that combines WebShare with their Server Base, with features and capabilities from many different domains—storage, collaboration and team work, file transfers, workflow, easy file sharing, email notifications; and is also a print server. This product can be used by anyone who handles large files and many files. UFS UB64 is the product Zeta Marketing is now focusing on, as HELIOS’ India distributor. “Universal File Server UB64 is a true cross-platform file and print server with ‘native’ access from Linux, Unix, Windows, Macs, iPhones, iPads, Android mobiles and tabs. It is also Virtual Machine tested and ready,” said Vasandani.
