Grafco AST
GrafcoAST is the software brand of Italian Grafco S.r.l., providing prepress RIP and color separation software for professional screen printers, T-shirt decorators, and flexo operations globally.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersPovegliano, Italy
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What Grafco AST does
GrafcoAST is a software brand of Italian private company Grafco S.r.l., headquartered in Camalò di Povegliano, Treviso. It develops prepress software and related consumables for the screen printing, textile printing, and flexography industries. The company targets print shops, T-shirt decorators, garment decorators, and industrial screen printers through direct website sales and an active trade show presence at FESPA, ITMA, DRUPA, INPRINT, and VISCOM.
The core technology is a proprietary Raster Image Processor (Xerio RIP V.4) that produces AM, FM stochastic, and hybrid AM-FM screening with more than 30 halftone types, plus a standalone color separation application (Xerio SEP) supporting up to 12-color separations, ICC profile import, and spectral color synthesis. These are complemented by Jet Black SD inkjet films with Dmax 4.5 density, the Grafco Color Reader Android application paired with a Data Color Reader PRO spectrophotometer, the RasterFaster vector rasterizer, and the Colortargets Adobe Illustrator plugin. The software is explicitly tuned to eliminate moiré effects and third-order interference unique to mesh-based screen printing, a problem generalist offset/flexo RIPs do not address. The company also sells screen printing and digital printing carousel machines with up to 12 colors.
Revenue is generated through one-time (perpetual) software licenses, hardware consumables (Jet Black SD films, color reader devices), and printing machine sales. Distribution is direct-to-end-user via the company website with online demo requests and brochure downloads, supplemented by trade show booth sales. The business is privately held with no external funding, no public listing, and no disclosed revenue. Operating geographies explicitly referenced include Italy, Germany, Mexico, and Finland, with the parent Grafco S.r.l. contributing 35 years of screen printing chemistry and consumables experience that underpins the software stack.
Grafco AST firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Grafco AST
- Legal name
- Grafco S.r.l.
- Website
- https://grafcoast.com
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- GrafcoAST is the software brand of Italian Grafco S.r.l., providing prepress RIP and color separation software for professional screen printers, T-shirt decorators, and flexo operations globally.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Grafco AST industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Prepress Software for Screen Printing
- NAICS
- Commercial Screen Printing (323113)
- SIC
- Printing Trades Machinery & Equipment (3555)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Prepress, Plate-Making & Artwork Services (IMALAKAM)
Keywords
Where Grafco AST is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Povegliano
- HQ country
- Italy
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Grafco AST business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- Software Licenses and Products: GrafcoAST generates revenue primarily through the sale of its proprietary software products including Xerio RIP, Xerio SEP, RasterFaster, and ColorTargets, as well as hardware consumables such as Jet Black SD film and the Grafco Color Reader system. Software appears to be sold as one-time licenses or perpetual licenses with optional modules.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels4 records
Grafco AST product offering
Product offeringCore offering
GrafcoAST develops and sells prepress software specialized for screen printing, flexography, and textile/T-shirt printing. Its core offerings include RIP (Raster Image Processor) software (Xerio RIP), standalone color separation software (Xerio SEP), high-density inkjet film (Jet Black SD), color measurement mobile applications, and Adobe Illustrator plugins. The company also sells screen printing and digital printing machines (carousel systems with 6-12 colors).
Product overview
GrafcoAST is a software company specializing in prepress solutions for screen printing and flexography. The product portfolio centers on Xerio RIP (a professional RIP/screening software for AM, FM stochastic, and hybrid screening) and Xerio SEP (a standalone color separation application for spot colors and CMYK). These core products are complemented by specialized tools: JET BLACK SD (high-density inkjet films), Grafco Color Reader (hardware-based color measurement), Colortargets (Adobe Illustrator plugin for color chart creation), and RasterFaster (vector-to-image rasterization). The company also sells screen printing and digital printing machines. All software products are designed specifically for screen printing, textile printing, and T-shirt production workflows.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Xerio RIP V.4 Raster Image Processor (RIP) software for screening in screen printing, flexo, and digital printing. Offers AM (traditional), FM stochastic, and hybrid screening technologies with over 30 halftone dot types, color management engine, dot gain compensation, and inkjet film output control for Epson printers. Targeted at professional screen printers, flexo printers, and print shops.
- Xerio SEP Standalone color separation software for spot colors and CMYK separation in screen printing. Runs on macOS, supports images up to large sizes with real-time editing. Features automatic and manual separation, multiscript separation, ICC profile import, extended gamut CMYK, dot gain compensation, and white backprint generation for dark materials. Targeted at screen printing prepress operators.
- Jet Black SD High-density inkjet transparent positive films for screen printing photoengraving. Achieves Dmax 4.5 black density with dimensional stability. Compatible with XerioRIP for high-quality film output at up to 2880x2880 dpi on Epson inkjet printers. Targeted at screen printers producing photoengraving films.
- Screen Printing and Digital Printing Machines Screen printing and digital printing machines, including carousel systems with 6-8 up to 12 colors for textile and T-shirt printing. Targeted at garment decorators and textile printing operations.
- RasterFaster Vector image rasterization software for sublimation printing. Converts EPS, PDF, and AI files to TIFF while preserving shades, overprints, and chromatic characteristics. Available for OSX. Targeted at sublimation print workflows with Pantone shades, special colors, and gradients.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 30 types of halftone screening options available in Xerio RIP
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Grafco AST
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Grafco AST technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration5 records
AI capability1 record
Feature6 records
Grafco AST partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Grafco S.r.l.coreGrafcoAST is a brand of Grafco S.r.l., a company with 35 years of experience in screen printing and T-shirt printing. Grafco provides high-performance inks and photoemulsions. The two entities operate in close collaboration, with Grafco providing the chemical/hardware ecosystem (inks, emulsions, screens, laboratory facilities, training rooms) and GrafcoAST providing the software layer. Grafco's experience combined with GrafcoAST's software team has created a comprehensive package for high-definition screen printing.
Scale indicators1 record
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Grafco AST competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Electronics For Imaging (EFI): Major print workflow and Fiery RIP provider serving commercial print and packaging converters. Provides workflow alternatives to Xerio RIP in the broader prepress ecosystem.
- Mimaki Engineering: Industrial printing equipment manufacturer (inkjet, textile, and screen-print hardware plus RIP software). Comparable to GrafcoAST's combination of Xerio RIP software and screen-print/digital carousel machines sold through the same brand.
- AGFA-Gevaert (Graphics): Established graphics and prepress division offering plates, workflows, and RIP-like solutions across commercial printing. Larger incumbent whose prepress stack overlaps with Xerio RIP's flexo capabilities.
Direct peers
- SA International (SAi): Provider of Flexi and EnRoute sign-making and print workflow software serving sign shops and screen printers. Overlaps with GrafcoAST's screening and separation functionality for similar customer profiles.
- Esko: Danaher-owned prepress software platform offering screening, color management, and flexo workflow tools. Competes with Xerio RIP/SEP in the flexo and packaging prepress segments that GrafcoAST also targets.
- ONYX Graphics: RIP and print workflow software for wide-format and specialty printing. Comparable RIP-first product targeting commercial printers in adjacent segments to screen printing.
- Wasatch Computer Systems: Provides RIP and color management software for wide-format, DTG, and screen-print workflows. Competes with Xerio RIP for screen-print prepress with comparable halftone screening features.
- Ergosoft: Swiss RIP software vendor whose Ergosoft RIP is purpose-built for textile and screen-printing workflows, including color separation and screening. Directly comparable to Xerio RIP's screen-printing specialization.
- ColorGATE: German RIP and color management software vendor for industrial and textile printing. Overlaps with GrafcoAST's color separation and inkjet film output capabilities.
- Caldera (Drupa): RIP and print workflow software (now part of Ricoh) for digital textile and large-format printing. Comparable RIP-driven workflow targeting print shops similar to GrafcoAST's screen-print customers.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Grafco AST social profiles
Digital presenceGrafco AST financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Grafco AST leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Grafco AST funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Grafco AST M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Grafco AST
What does Grafco AST do?
GrafcoAST develops and sells prepress software specialized for screen printing, flexography, and textile/T-shirt printing. Its core offerings include RIP (Raster Image Processor) software (Xerio RIP), standalone color separation software (Xerio SEP), high-density inkjet film (Jet Black SD), color measurement mobile applications, and Adobe Illustrator plugins. The company also sells screen printing and digital printing machines (carousel systems with 6-12 colors).
Is Grafco AST a public or private company?
Grafco AST is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Grafco AST founded?
Grafco AST was founded in -1. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Grafco AST based?
Grafco AST is headquartered in Povegliano, Italy, in the Europe region.
How does Grafco AST make money?
One revenue line is on record: software Licenses and Products.
Who are Grafco AST's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Electronics For Imaging (EFI), Mimaki Engineering and AGFA-Gevaert (Graphics). Direct peers are SA International (SAi), Esko, ONYX Graphics, Wasatch Computer Systems, Ergosoft, ColorGATE and Caldera (Drupa).
Does Grafco AST have an API?
No public API is recorded for Grafco AST.
What industry is Grafco AST in?
Grafco AST's product category is Prepress Software for Screen Printing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMALAKAM, Prepress, Plate-Making & Artwork Services. Its NAICS code is 323113 and its SIC code is 3555.