Hybrid Software has released version 11.5 of its Packz PDF editor aimed at the label and packaging markets.
This latest version gains a new Halftone Detection Tool, which borrows technology from the Harlequin RIP to give users more control over screening parameters directly within the Packz editor. It can be used to evaluate screen frequency and screen angles directly from the Packz Max RIP output preview, as well as any 1-bit TIFF file opened in Packz. It can also provide in-depth analysis of dot gain compensation, minimum and maximum dot sizes, and plate linearisation, to deliver more consistent results across production environments.
This new version also introduces 3D variants, which are an extension to the CF2 common file format developed by Hybrid Software with Arden Software, Engview and TreeDiM. The idea behind CF2 was to make it easier to share CAD solutions with prepress software. The new 3D variants feature allows multiple fold angle configurations—such as fully closed, lid open, or folded flat—to be embedded within a single CF2 file. The 3D variants can be instantly rendered in Hybrid Software’s iC3D ray-tracing software and are fully compatible with structural design systems from other vendors that also support the Extended CF2 format and 3D variants. This should help improve 3D packaging workflows, enabling faster design iteration and improved communication across the production chain.
Also new in v11.5 is the ability to render spot colors accurately on screen using their spectral or colorimetric data, using technology from Hybrid Software’s subsidiary ColorLogic. This means that spot color tints and blends of spot and process colors should be shown with a consistent hue. Spot color specifications are retrieved from CxF/X-4 spectral data in a PDF file or from selected colour books. Packz can also support substrate simulation by selecting absolute colorimetric in the display preferences.
In addition, there are new features in the Packzimizer Laneplanner tool for roll-fed digital printed labels, which now support maximum roll length specifications so that optimized layouts stay within physical press or finishing equipment limits. Laneplanner can now also follow the exact label roll quantities required by customers to reduce overproduction and waste.
Pascal Wybo, product manager at Hybrid Software, commented, “Our DNA is to listen to customers and act on their input. For the 11.5 release, we have actively engaged with Packz users to gather suggestions, feature requests, and usability insights. This collaborative effort has shaped the development of Packz 11.5, making it a reflection of the needs of our industry.”
Packz 11.5 is available now. You can find further details at hybridsoftware.com.
