Prepress
Variable Data Printing Made Even Easier With New Imposition Tool and Other New Features for DirectSmile VDP Studio Software
Thursday 21. January 2010 - - The latest version of DirectSmile´s award winning variable data printing (VDP) software, DirectSmile VDP Studio, comes with an all-new Imposition Tool, designed to make this process even faster, easier, and more efficient. In addition, upgradable modules, such as the Barcode Module, Set Scaler, VBScripting and the complete Output Driver Package are now part of the standard package with no additional cost, giving customers even more value for their money.
DirectSmile VDP Studio provides printers, marketing agencies and enterprises with the means to operate a seamlessly integrated workflow when creating and printing materials with variable content and personalised images. Documents with rule-driven variable content can be easily created based on Adobe InDesign layouts and the Design Editor capability of DirectSmile VDP Studio enables users to design and render their own personalised images. The solution also allows the output of print files in one data stream, making this process as simple and efficient as possible.
New Imposition Tool
Already a very popular module within DirectSmile VDP Studio, the new Imposition Tool includes numerous enhancements for higher productivity, the most obvious being the all-new user interface. The imposition can now be created directly in the print dialogue window of DirectSmile VDP Studio, eliminating the need to switch back to Adobe InDesign. Another new and innovative enhancement is the ability to preview all pages of the imposed print job with the actual layouts. Technical information such as document name or job number and barcodes for production and dispatch management can be easily placed anywhere on the spread. In addition, users can now choose between different measurements such as metric, imperial or pixels.
“The Imposition Tool is such a practical feature; our pre-press guys use it even when producing non-personalised print jobs. Originally, we chose DirectSmile VDP Studio software because of its image personalisation capabilities but the variable data printing functionalities have also become just as indispensable to our business,” says Thomas Mueller, managing director of Brandenburg-based printer, MKM.
Further additions to VDP Studio
The Barcode Module, now a standard feature to DirectSmile VDP Studio, enables users to easily and automatically generate all industry-standard barcodes from their database. This module provides those printing individual barcodes with a streamlined dispatch and production process. In addition, the Set Scaler module simplifies the conversion of personalised images from print size to smaller, online previews.
Axel Marciniak, Managing Director of DirectSmile says: “The latest version of DirectSmile VDP Studio has been developed with our customers in mind. Now that these new features and additional modules have been introduced to the standard DirectSmile VDP Studio package, we believe that this solution is even better value for money and our customers will be extremely satisfied with the increased efficiencies these enhancements will bring to their production processes.”
Other features now incorporated into DirectSmile VDP Studio include; VBScripting, enabling individual programming of complex business logic for sophisticated documents, such as calendars with individual dates, the Output Driver Package, which communicates output directly to any digital press and any controller in PDF, PPML and JLYT formats, and the Print-to-Database Driver which lets users easily export personalised images, complete with databases, to other personalisation systems. PDF Importer and Joblets also help users optimise their document workflows.
The new version of DirectSmile VDP Studio is now available through all DirectSmile sales offices, from 4,995 Euros. The new Imposition Tool is also available for existing users, free of charge, as part of their regular DirectSmile updates.