The release of version 2.0 is getting closer every day !   One of the newest features available (and it is a free update) is adding a background to images.   Backgrounds can be any color and any size and will automatically be added to any image in the layout.

Easily do a simple half inch background around any image in the layout

Adjust borders to any size you wish !   They can be the same size or as in the example differen sizes for length and width.   Use any color you wish or use a color that is in one of your images by using the color picker (the magnifying glass) feature.

Automatically add a border to all images in the layout !   Everything is batched processed so making a change to all images take less than 5 seconds !

One of the features that has been most requested is the ability to place image meta data around each image automatically.   We where listening and have included annotation in our next FREE update coming sometime in September.   ImageNest’s annotation feature is unique in the fact that it can place annotation data  Above, below, or to either  side of an Image.   The data can be left justified, centered, or right justified and then placed either inside cut marks or outside a set of cutmarks.

In addition to all these options users can also format the date and time to their preference and choose any installed system font, color, or size.

Our new Annotation feature includes options for:

Image Filename

Image Creation Date and Time

Image Modification Date and Time

Image Format

Image Resolution

Image Dimensions

Embed ICC Profile Name

Print Date and Time

Printer Used

and the ability to add a custom comment

In our next free update (scheduled in September) ImageNest graduates to becoming a fully integrated hotfolder workflow for PDF files.   ImageNest’s new PDF creation feature really packs a workflow punch with the ability to:

1.  Create single or multipage PDF files from a nested layout:   This means you can use all of ImageNest’s nesting power to create a file.   That file can then be sent to your printer or dropped to a proofing system.  This has been a major request from our proofing customers who use a SWOP or Gracol certified solution to run their printer.   ImageNest can create an imposed PDF faster and better than any of the competition and can automatically drop to a hotfolder.

2:  Auto length Sizing:   When creating a layout of several images no one ever knows exactly how long a page needs to be.   No one that is, except for ImageNest !.   ImageNest will automatically size your page length so that you need not figure out how many inches of page you need.

3:  Extra Margin Option:  Automatically add extra white space at the bottom if you need.

ImageNest RIP and Epson Advanced Black and White Mode:  Epson€™s advanced black and white mode functions without any ICC color management so any output (printer class) profile should not be applied.   Clicking on the €œEpson Color Controls€ will allow the Advanced Black and White to work properly.   Epson€™s Advanced black and white mode will not work if €œColorSync is selected as the ColorSync controls will try to apply an ICC profile which interferes with Epson€™s Advanced Black and White mode which is a non-ICC process.

Last week BlueCubit sent two representatives to Apples WWDC and we are vey happy to report that we will be ready to ship a OSX 10.6 (Snow Leopard) compatible version the same day as OS 10.6 ships.   Currently,  Apple has estimated that 10.6 will be available sometime in September and will only be a $29 upgrade free from 10.5.

Some major new highlights to Snow Leopard are:

Full 64 Bit:   Currently only 4 GB of RAM can be accessed by an application running on Mac OSX 10.5.   This can cause some pretty big limitation to print drivers, graphics programs, and especialy picture and Image Layout programs like ImageNest.   OSX 10.6 opens a whole new world for ImageNest and we have been programming towards this goal for the past two years.  On OSX 10.6 ImageNest will be able to access up to 16 billion gigabytes or memory,   yes,  16 billion gigabytes !   Going from 4 gigabytes to 16 billion will make ImageNest easily capable of processing layouts that are hundreds of gigatyes in size.   64 bit effectively removes any limits to graphics processing.

Automatic updates for printer drivers:  Snow leopard has printer driver update support built in.  Printers are automatically detected when they are plugged in and the latest driver is automatically downloaded.  The update system will continually check for any updates and always keep your print driver up to date.

With its newest driver epson has added a great feature that is extremely usefull to all ImageNest users.   The new feature will automatically remove any extra “White Space” from a page.  This will allow customers to use one page size for almost all thier work.  So no more switching page sizes or making extra custom page sizes for different Job.  For example.  If you have a 24 inch by 50 inch layout and only 14 inches worth of images to print,  the Epson Paper saving mode will stop printing and automatically cut after the 14 inches even though the page size was 50 inches long    Here is how it works:

1:   Select a canned page size that is specified as “banner.   If you are making a custom page size you can choose “Banner” in step 2.  A new dialog will be available in this situation.

Step 2:  When printer with ImageNest double check the print dialog to make sure all the settings are correct.  If you created a custom page size you will have an additional dialog next to the phrase “Page Setup”  In this dialog make sure that you choose “Roll Paper – Banner”.  Only this setting will allow you to automatically remove any white area.

Step 3:  Roll Paper Settings:   The “Print Settings” tab can be pulled down to revel the “Roll paper settings”  Make sure the box labled “Save Roll Paper” is checked.  You also have options for cutting but “normal is recomended.

Once all the settings have been made they can easily be saved as a pre-set and used again.   This method of printing greatly enhances the funtionality of the ImageNest Software RIP