This Service Pack has a new feature that allows you to preview the result of a transformation like rotation, skewing or scaling. In all previous versions, only the imaginary rectangular shape around the object was previewed while transforming.

With this simple preview, it could sometimes be difficult to rotate objects to the desired location. This is no longer the case with the new transformation preview feature.

 

This feature can be switched on or off in the "View, Settings…" dialog or in the "Selected object toolbar".

And best of all, this one is authentic, the shapes you see while transforming are the actual vector data, not some screen dump approximation or low res bitmap. This means that if you need to place an object accurately you can get the placement done in one go!

Actually it is more an improvement on an existing Outline type than completely new, but the possibilities are truly amazing. You can access this type the same way as other Outline types.

 

In the Outline dialog select the "Corner shape" as shown on the right.

 

After applying you would get an outline like the one below.

A perfectly correct Outline but a bit on the "spiky" side.

 

Now just by changing the value in the "Mitre limit" field you can get any result you desire.

It is now possible to combine any objects like effects or groups, with any other vector based object.

 

What does this mean for you?

 

Well, for example, you do not have to first convert an effect, object or group to curves, than in most cases ungroup the result and finally select another object and use "Combine".

The handling of extremely low ink limits has been improved significantly. The application of this improvement is for example in the field of sublimation printing, as well as printing on strongly absorbing materials, where control over ink limits is very important for a good result. With the EasySIGN Print Server you can now create calibrations with ink limits of 1% should you wish to do so.

 

Also, it is now possible to lower the ink limits after an entire profile has been created. In the past you needed to re-linearise and re-profile after changing ink limits, this is now no longer necessary. An added advantage for this function is that this makes it easier to use profiles that are almost right for a specific material but not perfect.

 

This improvement has been made possible by two different technologies. Firstly, EasySIGN Print Server is fully 16-bit per channel through the entire calibration workflow, where other RIPs use just 8 bits. This produces very smooth gradients, and the ability to print extremely light colors.
The second strong point is the improved dithering, which was introduced in the previous service pack as 'noise screen'. With the older stochastic screening, light inks could sometimes suffer from a phenomenon called 'late starting' where dots would creep together in bands. Noise screen is capable of dithering sub-1% ink levels without any visible artifacts.

 

These improvements from an earlier service pack, combined with the ink limiting improvements, enable us to expand EasySIGN into more areas of the exciting digital printing market, and therefore protect your investment in software, for many years to come.