Solimar Systems announces impressive reductions in PDF size processing times with ReadyPDF

Solimar Systems has  announced the impressive reductions in PDF size and processing times achieved by customers and in lab tests of ReadyPDF PrePress Server. ReadyPDF server is a PDF-centric production print solution that features a host of industrial file cleansing and optimisation capabilities as well as standard print management functionality.

Upon learning of this solution, Solimar Customer Advisory Council Member, Chris Beech, Manager, Composition Services at Gilmore Doculink, was an early tester and adopter. With ReadyPDF, Beech reported the reduction in the size of one application resulted in the processing time being cut by a staggering 23 hours.

“This particular job was e-delivery for internal and third-party distribution. We host and archive 100% of the output and print the content on a color roll press. Pre-ReadyPDF, this application would have a 24-hour turnaround. Using ReadyPDF it takes just 1 hour – the savings are quite incredible!” said Chris. “Typically, we saw a 660MB file reduced to just 50MB. Although the ReadyPDF files were smaller, they also contained more content, ensuring there was zero impact on the downstream systems. ReadyPDF also enabled a more streamlined approach, eliminating the need for multiple resources as all files, whether archived or printed, are optimised for print production.”

Industry research and analyst consultancy, Keypoint Intelligence, also agreed to put ReadyPDF to the test in its UK lab, equipped with a Konica Minolta press, as part of its speed and RIP testing experiments. McGrewGroup, experts in business and industry best practice, supplied both technical and real-world test files to the lab, all of which were selected for their complexity and processing challenges, with high-resolution data, graphics, BITMAPS, images of forms and Adobe InDesign PDFs. All the technical files – a Direct Mail flyer, commercial, full-color invoice and notebook with a Shutterstock image on every page – were processed with ReadyPDF and were reduced in size (up to 7 x smaller), while the real-world test file – an office supplies catalog – was 14 x smaller.

“With the incredibly complicated catalog file, we expected to see some performance enhancements using ReadyPDF, but we did not expect the file to reduce in size,” explained Pat McGrew, Managing Director, McGrewGroup. “The overall reduction in file size we saw was, therefore, very significant and, in particular, the decreased document overhead, which affects how the RIP is processing, was truly remarkable. For production managers, the size of the document overhead has a huge impact on production time, which affects contractual delivery agreements and service level agreements (SLAs). Reducing the document overhead and taking even seconds out of this process makes a massive difference as you have to multiply those seconds by the number of copies being printed.

“Add the benefit of a smaller file, resulting in less storage space needed, all companies that have to print and store – which is almost all print businesses due to more comprehensive audits – now have a solution that can significantly improve their bottom line.”

Of the 12GB removed from the original 13GB catalog file, more than 5GB were optimised images. ReadyPDF also caches resources and removes references to optimise the file and increase processing efficiencies, and this is clearly demonstrated by the catalog file test.

“The size of the file always matters, and efficiency always matters. For digital, transactional and direct mail, light production or heavy-duty office printing to CTP newspaper printing or e-delivery – every file takes up space and costs money. The more efficient the files are, the better it is for the entire communications chain, and this is why ReadyPDF presents such a massive opportunity for the entire industry,” said Pat.

ReadyPDF also features a new obfuscation capability that allows users to jumble text content in the PDF. This capability allows businesses to conceal confidential data and support adherence to GDPR, the California Data Protection Act and other data protection guidelines when sending files to third parties for review or testing. Other highlights include font embedding, consolidation, and replacement (including subsets).

“At Solimar, we know that printing presses are getting faster, but file inefficiencies are slowing them down. This is why we have our eye firmly on the RIP,” said Mary Ann Rowan, Chief Experience Officer, Solimar Systems. “ReadyPDF has been designed to help overcome the challenges customers encounter with many RIP systems and fully optimise PDFs so that, once they configure ReadyPDF, users can simply integrate it into their workflow, automate it and then stand back and reap the rewards.”