r6
Improved job chaining.
Enhancements to improve overall flexibility of what jobs can chain. Particular attention is being paid to small-page-count jobs as this is where the problems are.
Implement TOF and spit bar controls into DFE.
Adjustments to the TOF offset and spit bar offset are being added to the DuraFlex job properties screen.
Distribution of odds and evens to two different printers
To facilitate a limited duplex for R&D, beta installations, and trade shows
New job attributes for column sorting.
Additional fields are now being added to allow for easier sorting of the jobs list to allow end users to customize the view and sort order of their queues based on their workflow needs. This will allow easier grouping of jobs for chaining or for running on the same paper stock, regardless of what order the jobs were submitted.
Navigator Configuration Editor (NCE) facelift and tone curve creation
The NCE is getting an aesthetic update to conform to the overall design of the DFE. A Tone Curve management tab is being added to give greater access to the tone curve capabilities of the Harlequin RIP. You can use Tone Curves either for calibration or to adjust color.
Online Help
Links to help articles are being added to the upper right of the NCE tabs for easy access to knowledgebase articles for the associated tab.
TIFF input
TIFF input support to allow outside ripped files to print through the Navigator DFE print controller.
Paper path start/stop
Paper path start/stop via a USB relay card.
Paper path start/stop via Modbus.
Scalable RIP
support for plastic "bring-up printheads"
Target release date: Q1 2022.
Released in Q1 2022.
r6.1 Now r7.0
Stitched wide DuraFlex
2 - wide
support for plastic "bring-up printheads"
new, comparatively inexpensive printhead replacements to help with the initial installation of a printer. This support was backfilled into the r6 line at 6.0.2.
New printhead hydration controls
July 2022
Released July 20, 2022.
r8
Read & Print
Q4 2022 (released, December, 2022.)
r9
Duplex for 1 wide and 2 wide printers. This release can spread a RIP farm across multiple computers.
DuraFlex DFE R9 has added support for duplex printing as well as expanded spectrophotometer support that now includes the i1Pro 2 and i1Pro3. Several enhancements have been made to the DFE as well, which includes the selection of even or odd pages for output and more control over how Mid-Job service is utilized. There are also some updated settings that will be included in the base installation package that will help make setup easier as well as automatic cleanup of files no longer needed when the Navigator Server is launched which will improve overall performance. This release is for the following DuraFlex installation types: DuraFlex, DuraFlex POD, 2-Wide DuraFlex, and duplex.
projected for Q2, 2023.
RELEASED -May 8, 2023. r9 will be the main version starting now. Starting in Q4, 2023 it will be the only supported version.