We have needed to implement an imposition solution for our walk-in traffic orders (print brokers and customers not on web2print), but our time to evaluate new products is very constricted these days. For myself, I’m selling print; marketing our services; shooting video and editing episodes, so the thought of having to evaluate a fleet of programs was not looking to be too much fun. Plus, this was just for walk-in traffic since our web2print software from PageDNA already has imposition built in, where it will “poll” our various sites and add ready to print files to an imposition sheet.
A quick search of Google brought up several programs, and I put together a short list of possible solutions. I’ve used some of the programs that were on the list in a previous lifetime, and I’m sure I’ll catch grief from one or two of the companies because I know the principles of the companies. But I really wanted to make this about the features and price of the software instead of the personalities of the company.
The list whittled down pretty fast, and we ended up with two contenders. I ran the demo programs over a weekend to see how they stacked up, and then presented my findings to our board (Bob and Ken). The software we selected is called Inp02 from Dynagram.
We chose it based upon three things we really liked about it.
First, it supports Perfect Bound, Saddle-Stitch, Step & Repeat and N-Up bindings. Not that we are doing a whole lot of finishing projects yet, but as we pick up more photo lab type work, doing perfect bound photo books will be a lot easier than they are to do today;
Second, we can create templates from layouts, thereby reducing the amount of time spent building our ready-to-print files;
Third, DynaGram has on-going training for their software. This has been so important for us because Ken, Bob and myself all have different levels of digital printing knowledge and reinventing the wheel (i.e. learning) sucks when you have to do it through trial and error. PageDNA incidentally has great webinar training for their web2print software; it’s what has made it very easy for me to grasp and to implement.
On a last note, the support from Dynagram has been exceptional and the sales team has been quick to respond to questions. This new acquisition has been well worth the time and effort put into it, and so far, no regrets on getting this software.
Toolbox
Dynagram Inp02 software – http://www.dynagram.com
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