Global Graphics launches Makro Core 8.0 print SDK

Global Graphics Software, the OEM business unit of Hybrid Software, has launched Mako Core 8.0, the latest version of the popular Software Development Kit (SDK) for Independent Software Vendors (ISVs) creating editing or workflows for the print industry.

This release introduces Apex, a new rendering technology designed to boost performance and reduce costs. Built for high-performance, cross-platform applications, Apex runs entirely on the Graphics Processing Unit (GPU), delivering high-speed rendering with high-quality results on screen or in a web browser.

‘We’re excited to unveil Mako Core 8.0 with an option for Apex, which we see as a real game-changer for high-speed printing. Print software vendors are constantly seeking to improve performance. Users expect fast rendering, even for large or complex documents,’ said David Stevenson, product manager for Mako Core. ‘High-resolution images, embedded fonts, vector graphics, and transparency effects can all make PDFs slower to render, but this is no challenge to Apex, which is particularly effective in rendering large and complex PDFs. It leverages the GPU to handle this task so users can quickly inspect layout, colors, fonts, layers and other elements before printing.’

Many modern PDF workflows are browser-based (e.g. online PDF editors or cloud printing technologies) and the fast rendering offered by Apex ensures seamless interaction without long loading times or excessive server requests. Apex uses Hybrid Software’s ColorLogic Color Management Module for high-quality color accuracy and supports an extended gamut, ensuring vibrant and true-to-life results.

Apex is a fully GPU-native Page Description Language (PDL) renderer that handles the entire rendering workload on the GPU, maximizing speed and freeing the central processing unit (CPU) for other tasks, such as imposition.

The freed-up CPU can also be combined with the GPU renderer to create a hybrid renderer. To do this, Global Graphics Software leverages its patented, AI-powered Autotune technology to intelligently analyze each job and direct the hybrid renderer to the optimal processor, ensuring maximum performance and efficiency.

‘Making use of the GPU offers the possibility to scale rendering capability in a new dimension,’ added Stevenson. ‘Up until now, we have just had the CPU-based renderers. With Apex, we can render on a GPU as an alternative, but the real benefit comes from a hybrid approach, whereby we make use of both CPU and GPU simultaneously to improve throughput.’