Perspectives from the Corbus team on the latest innovations from Esko.

EskoWorld 2024, held in late June in Grapevine, Texas, proved to be a productive and informative experience for our team of prepress, IT and project management experts who were on-site. As a returning gold sponsor of the event, we valued the time we spent with other prepress professionals. We also appreciated having a front seat to see the significant advancements in software and hardware solutions that Esko is rolling out. Our team has compiled their perspectives on what these new offerings mean for Esko users and how they can be integrated into your prepress operations.

Esko’s Cloud-First Approach: S2 Takes Center Stage.

Our biggest takeaway from EskoWorld: Esko’s unwavering commitment to cloud-based services with S2 as the central focus.

S2, a cloud platform and storage solution formerly known as Esko Cloud, is poised to revolutionize how businesses manage their prepress and product development workflows.

As a comprehensive cloud-based solution, Esko’s S2 presents a multitude of advantages for streamlining and optimizing prepress workflows. One of its key strengths lies in its ability to distribute workloads strategically across multiple sites, allowing businesses to leverage cost-effective labor markets and specialized skills where needed. S2 empowers companies to offload tasks to locations with lower staff-costs or to sites with experts in specific areas, such as intricate trapping or color management. It also enables the execution of exceptional tasks requiring specialized software licenses at the appropriate location, eliminating the need for redundant investments. Finally, S2’s organization of information by customer ensures strict client separation, allowing you to safeguard confidentiality and data integrity.

WebCenter 24.07: New Features and Roadmap.

Esko’s roadmap for WebCenter reveals a continued focus on migrating from forms to dashboards, replacing the legacy form creation process. The introduction of Variable Data Printing (VDP) as a SaaS-only module, leveraging ArtPro+ engine in the cloud, is a noteworthy development. Other new tasks include task-based file conversions and a tighter integration for those that have an InDesign Server connected to WebCenter.

Automation Engine (AE): S2 Cloud Integration and New UI.

Esko is actively working on integrating Automation Engine with S2 and plans to release in November this year. We can see the start of this rebranding in the latest version of Automation Engine. This integration will enable seamless connectivity between local devices and S2, facilitating data exchange and workflow management in the cloud.

The new Automation Engine SaaS interface promises advanced file and version control, improved user access rights, and AI-driven search capabilities. The demo at EskoWorld showcased a modern Digital Asset Management (DAM) system-like UI, with versioning, version history, folder, file and workflow permission management, and enhanced status tracking.

Graphic Editors: ArtPro+ is the Way.

ArtPro+ has emerged as the driving force behind Esko’s graphic-editor innovation. This powerful engine, constantly refined and enhanced, serves as the bedrock for not only ArtPro+ itself but also DeskPack, Automation Engine, WebCenter and future microservices. This unified foundation ensures seamless integration and consistency across the suite of Esko products streamlining workflows and maximizing efficiency for prepress professionals.

The capabilities of the ArtPro+ engine extend far beyond basic editing tools. It enables advanced features like intelligent trapping, automated preflighting, and sophisticated color management. Moreover, its modular architecture allows for easy integration of new features and functionalities, which ensures Esko’s software solutions remain at the forefront of industry trends.

As Esko continues to invest in the ArtPro+ engine, it is gradually phasing out the older BRIXS technology in favor of the more modern, powerful and versatile NDL engine. This strategic shift not only enhances the performance and stability of Esko’s software but also paves the way for future innovations, such as cloud-based collaboration and AI-powered automation. With the ArtPro+ engine at its core, Esko is well-positioned to lead the prepress industry into a new era of efficiency, productivity, and creativity.

Some new features in ArtPro+ that our prepress experts found noteworthy include:

Esko is leading the charge to the cloud. Corbus is here to help you get the most from these advancements.

Attendees left EskoWorld 2024 with a resounding message: The future of prepress is in the cloud and Esko is leading the charge. We at Corbus are here to help you effectively integrate the latest Esko innovations and keep your prepress operations running at peak efficiency.

Esko’s commitment to providing cutting-edge solutions for the packaging industry are underscored by their strategic focus on S2, the robust updates of WebCenter and the enhanced power of the ArtPro+ engine.

For prepress professionals, this shift to the cloud presents both opportunities and challenges. Embracing these changes and adapting to cloud-based workflows will be crucial for staying competitive in the evolving landscape. Your transition may require investment in new skills and technologies, but the potential benefits of improved efficiency, collaboration and data management are undeniable. Migration to a fully native PDF+ environment is now possible, which may involve an overhaul of your current solution. We’re here to help.

As Esko continues to push the boundaries of innovation, the industry can expect to see further advancements in cloud-based prepress solutions. These advancements will likely lead to even greater efficiency, automation and collaboration, which will ultimately transform the way packaging is designed, produced and delivered.

EskoWorld 2024 offered a glimpse into the future of prepress where cloud-based solutions play a pivotal role. By staying abreast of these developments and embracing new technologies, prepress professionals can position themselves for success in this ever-changing landscape.

When partnered with Corbus, your prospects with Esko solutions are in the cloud — and it looks bright up here.

Learn more about our package and prepress expertise, or contact us at sales@corbus.com to discuss how we can make your move to the cloud smooth and easy. We’ll see you at EskoWorld 2025 in St. Louis!