PrintFactory Topology

Due to the modular nature of PrintFactory we are able to accommodate many different infrastructure topologies, from simple ‘1 box’ installs to complex distributed multisite solutions.  This document aims to explain the concepts and and powerful scaling functions within PrintFactory.

Firstly, to understand how the PrintFactory solution can be scaled you need to understand how all the modules fit together:

The modules explained:

PrintFactory Editor:
PrintFactory Editor is the application’s central processing unit. Users have access at all times to precision visuals that profile output quality. This way, a user can monitor every single detail of the end result prior to actual printing and, if necessary, edit work right in the application.

PrintFactory Layout:
PrintFactory Layout is a comprehensive and simple to use application that can be run by multiple operators on their own workstation to prepare jobs and send them to the central RIPs.

PrintFactory Calibrator:
With PrintFactory Calibrator, consistent, reliable, color management technology is now also available in wide format. Based on definitive color profiles and printer calibrations, the integrated profiling wizard can identically align several printers of the same type or a similar type. The EcoSave ink saving module, can reduce ink consumption with a consistent output quality by around 20%.

PrintFactory RIP:
PrintFactory RIP works in the background, separately from other work processes. PrintFactory RIP differentiates between three different formats depending on the systems connected: small format, large format and wide format. Every RIP can be used to control multiple printers or cutters. An overview of all relevant processing steps on the system is clearly displayed in a single window.

PrintFactory PrintStation:
PrintFactory PrintStation offers a user interface that permits device- and media-dependent imposition to be mapped visually.

PrintFactory License Server:
This module manages the licensing of PrintFactory in your environment and also the communication with the cloud.  This module can be installed on an existing RIP or standalone.

PrintFactory Software Manager:
Software Manager is installed as part of the License Server and is responsible for managing driver swaps, resources like profiles and software updates.  It is effectively the front end interface to the License Server.

 

Scenario 1 – Small Printshop with 2 to 3 Printers.

So in a typical ‘1 box’ solution the server components would be hosted on a single server instance and Editor and Layout (and optionally Calibrator) would be installed on client machines.  So Editor and Layout would submit jobs to the RIP.  In the example below all resources are hosted on one server, including the RIP and LicenseServer.  This is ideal for a small installation with no more than 2 or 3 printers depending on the hardware specification.

 

Scenario 2 – Large Printshop with Multiple Printers

In this scenario you would need to distribute the printers across multiple RIP’s, see Infrastructure Considerations for more information on general RIP requirements/specification.   Here there are two choices, depending how strict the IT policies are within the organisation (usually relating to accessibility of servers through the internet) it is good practise to separate out the License Server from the RIP.  This give the benefit of being able to put the License Server in a server room on a VM instance or small server and enable this device to talk to app.printfactory.cloud on port 80 and 8080, outbound.  However all other services can be shielded from the internet and only accessible locally.  Please see our Firewall and AntiVirus help doc for more information about local/internet port requirements.  Importantly the RIP/Editor/Layout/Calibrator must be able to communicate internally with the LicenseServer.

 

This scenario then allows multiple RIP’s to be configured under a single license:

Each RIP runs independently but is part of the same license number, so multiple devices under one central license can easily be distributed across multiple RIPs.  All Profiles and other resources are automatically shared between RIPs and all RIPs are available in Editor and Layout, meaning you can print from anywhere to anywhere within the same local area network.

 

Scenario 3 – Large Print Shop with Multiple Locations.

the most complex scenario we provide is to have one organisation with multiple sites.  This allows multiple License Servers to be installed but still sharing the same license.  Each site has a separate serial number.  For example:

1 license server with 3 x HP Latex 560, 2 x Vutek 5r, 2 x Durst Rho 512.

This configuration would require 4 RIPs all under the same license number.  However if these devices are across multiple locations you can still have everything within the same virtual license by using our Sites function.

So in this example where we have 3 locations the setup would be:

By creating 2 more sites the printer instances can be shared between the sites and RIPs.  This enables one PrintFactory license to be shared between multiple locations.  Each location is self contained but also has a connection to the cloud for resource sharing.