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The NSW Division of the Lithographic Institute of Australia (LIA), came together with the Graphic arts Services Association of Australia (GASAA), to hold the first of two review nights at the Five Dock RSL and Community Club in Sydney. Apart from the Graduate of the Year nights and biannual conference, the evening was one of the most successful LIA NSW gatherings in recent memory with an even split of suppliers and printers, 160 in all, gathering to hear the combined wisdom of some of the top minds in prepress.

The second night, which will be held on June 16, is set to be even bigger, with extra tables opening up to cope with the demand.

The night focussed upon drupa prepress – MIS/JDF workflows, the future direction and development of CTP and the outlook for colour proofing and colour management.

Headlining the night was Garry Muratore, Agfa Graphic Systems marketing manager, and Gary Hardman, Creo regional sales manager, who both proposed benefits of their company’s respective workflow solutions and the future challenges faced by those who decide to press on without CTP.

Muratore’s message was underscored with a very direct theme – JDF is the future of printing. He advised all gathered to ensure any future capital equipment acquisitions are JDF-compliant to ensure they don’t fall behind. Additionally, he reiterated industry calls to stop viewing printing as an artisan industry, but as an increasing automated manufacturing process.

Hardman’s message emphasised Creo’s ‘Business Acceleration’ mindset coming out of drupa, giving a brief overview of each of the new offerings in workflow (Brisque, Prinergy, Synapse), CTP, gravure, flexo, scanners, plates and photography.

Additionally, Hardman introduced Creo’s Spotless Printing technology, which allows printers to dramatically reduce the use of special inks in their pressroom, as well as its Traceless Technology, which consists of a odourless, colourless powder taggant which, when added to a manufacturing process, provides security authentication that can only be read by a special Creo reader.

Michael Laird, Cyrachrome managing director, and Ross Gilberthorpe, KPG digital products manager, both discussed colour management and proofing. Remote proofing was high on the agenda for both presenters and the message was clear – while it suffers from calibration issues, the technology is available and can be done in today’s modern printing processes. Such technology offers a lot to the industry and those willing to put the hard yards in to implement it, both said.

Industry guru Andy McCourt wrapped up proceedings with an ‘outside the square’ perspective of the challenges to the industry emerging from drupa 04. McCourt says that drupa 2004 was the least revolutionary drupa ever, being more evolutionary and consolidatory. He agreed with Muratore’s summation that JDF was here to stay and that interestingly, the finishing area of print was embracing JDF at a much faster rate than all other sectors.

The second night will focus on drupa press, including MIS and workflows, and the developments in offset stemming from drupa 04.

Scott Telfer of Penfold Buscombe will provide insight into the upgrades coming from the sheetfed and web-fed suppliers, while Bob Mercier and Carlos Schwindt of ANZPAC will reveal why their company did not wait until drupa to purchase the world’s longest press, a 40 metre long, 13 unit KBA Rapida 162.

Brett Maishman, Fuji Xerox graphic arts industry marketing manager, and Phillip Rennell, Currie and Company HP Indigo business manager will present on their respective digital printing technologies and how the iGen3 and HP Indigo will be going head to head in the printing arena.

Andy McCourt will once again wrap up proceedings, with a crystal ball view of ‘Life in the print shop of 2010.

For further information, contact the LIA on or GASAA on . Costs are $40 for members of either of the associations, or $49 for visitors.