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Citation Software News
August 13, 2008
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Welcome to the August 13, 2008 issue
of Citation Software News!
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We're focusing on these topics in this issue of our newsletter:
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Buy PrintShop Mail software or DirectSmile software on or before August 15, 2008 and save $700 or more!
Between now and THIS FRIDAY, August 15, 2008, we're offering special
pricing on variable-data-printing software and image-personalization
software. You'll save about $700 if you buy any of the following
products on or before August 15, 2008:
- PrintShop Mail Production (Unlimited) Package
- DirectSmile Creator Pro
- DirectSmile Unlimited Plug-In for PrintShop Mail
PrintShop Mail is an easy-to-use variable-data-printing solution.
Start with a PDF file; then use PrintShop Mail's drag-and-drop
interface to add variable text and variable graphics.
DirectSmile is image-personalization software — use it
to generate
images of a person's name written in the sand or spelled out
with berries or embossed on poker chips — the possibilities
are endless. DirectSmile Creator Pro is a stand-alone product
that you can use in conjunction with virtually any variable-
data-printing software. The DirectSmile PrintShop Mail Plug-in
allows you to utilize DirectSmile's features from within the
PrintShop Mail software.
You can download free trial versions of these products from
our Web site, www.CitationSoftware.com —
just click the
"Downloads" link at the left side of the window.
REMEMBER: You must purchase no later than August 15, 2008 to get
this special pricing.
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Leopard-compatible version of PrintShop Mail has been released
A Leopard-compatible version of the
PrintShop Mail
variable-data-printing software has been released.
This new version, Version 5.4, runs on Macintosh
OS/X 10.4 (Tiger) or OS/X 10.5 (Leopard) and gives
the user Native Intel Support.
Here's a partial list of the enhancements in this
new version:
- The Print dialog has been simplified — the
PrintShop Mail controls have been added to the
first page. It's no longer necessary to change
the dropdown menu to look for the
PrintShop Mail controls. The advanced settings are
still available.
- The text box in PrintShop Mail has some additional
features such as subscript and superscript support.
Also, variables are displayed with a gray background
for easy recognition.
- PDF files can be used as variable objects.
- Print performance has been improved.
- Print Preview does not charge credits against your
hardware key/dongle. (This applies only to limited
versions of PrintShop Mail.)
- The VPS print technology conforms to the
VPS 1.5 specification.
If your PrintShop Mail maintenance & support fees are
up to date, you're entitled to upgrade to this new version
for free. You can just download it from our Web site,
www.CitationSoftware.com —
click the "Downloads" link at the left side of
the window and download PrintShop Mail for Macintosh.
If you're not sure whether your PrintShop Mail maintenance &
support fees are up to date, give us a call at 888-260-7316.
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Acrobat 9-compatible beta versions of Quite Imposing & Quite Imposing Plus are available
Adobe Systems has released Version 9 of Adobe Acrobat. If you're
using Adobe Acrobat 9, and if you have the Quite Imposing or
Quite Imposing Plus software installed on the same computer
that's running Adobe Acrobat 9, you might be experiencing some
problems when using Quite Imposing or Quite Imposing Plus.
The good news is that Acrobat 9-compatible versions of
Quite Imposing and Quite Imposing are available in the form
of beta software. To get your Acrobat 9-compatible beta version
of Quite Imposing or Quite Imposing Plus, send e-mail to
info@CitationSoftware.com,
or call us at 888-260-7316.
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PDF format is now an ISO standard
The Portable Document Format (PDF), undeniably one of the most
commonly used formats for electronic documents, is now accessible
as an ISO International Standard - ISO 32000-1. This move follows
a decision by Adobe Systems, original developer and copyright owner
of the PDF format, to relinquish control to ISO, who is now in
charge of publishing the specifications for the current version (1.7)
and for updating and developing future versions.
"By releasing the full PDF specification for ISO standardization,
we are reinforcing our commitment to openness," said Kevin Lynch,
Chief Technology Officer at Adobe. "As governments and organizations
increasingly request open formats, maintenance of the PDF specification
by an external and participatory organization will help continue to
drive innovation and expand the rich PDF ecosystem that has evolved
over the past 15 years."
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PDF/VT format (an ISO standard that's in development) is expected to improve predictability of variable-data output
PDF/VT is a new, PDF-based
document-description format that is optimized for production of
variable-data documents, including transactional documents.
Known as ISO 16612-2, the PDF/VT standard is under development by
a committee of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
The goal is to define a PDF-based format for describing
variable-data documents in a way that will allow fast and efficient
production of
predictable output for variable-document content.
The "VT" in PDF/VT stands for "Variable Transactional."
(Transactional documents are invoices, statements, etc.)
Builds on existing standards
The PDF/VT format builds on two other ISO standards:
- PDF/X-4 (ISO 15930-7)
- PDF/X-5 (ISO 15930-8)
Conversion to PostScript not required
In a PDF/VT workflow, variable-data-printing software will generate
output in PDF/VT format, and a Raster Image Processor (RIP)
or Digital Front End (DFE) that is capable of interpreting
the PDF/VT format will be used for print production.
Variable-data-printing workflows based on PDF/VT are expected to
be able to produce output that is more predictable than output
generated by variable-data-printing workflows that are in use
currently. The main reason for this is that a RIP that's used
in a pure PDF/VT workflow is able to interpret the PDF/VT code
directly; in contrast, current workflows require that PDF files
be converted to PostScript format before being processed by the
RIP, because most RIPs in use today are not capable of interpreting
the code in PDF files. Converting to PostScript compromises the predictability
of the output, mainly because the PDF imaging model is richer
than the PostScript imaging model — so, when converting from
PDF to PostSctipt, transparency must be flattened,
fonts might be converted to outlines, device-independent colors
are converted to device-dependent colors, spot colors are
converted to process colors, and so on. Often, a file's contents
are converted multiple times to prepare it for output to
a specific device, and every conversion compromises the
integrity of the original design. For example, the RGB
color gamut is larger than that of CMYK; therefore,
converting an RGB digital photograph to CMYK constrains
the color for output to a particular device.
PDF/VT will support the full graphics model of PDF 1.6,
which includes transparency, ICC-based color management,
and layers.
Caching of static elements
Of course, like other print technologies that are optimized for
variable-data printing
(VPS,
FreeForm,
VIPP, etc.), PDF/VT
will provide for one-time rendering and caching of the
static text & graphics in a variable-data print run.
This allows documents to be produced faster than would be possible
if the code for the static text & graphics were sent to the RIP/DFE
over and over, once for each document in the print run.
Industry stakeholders involved
Committee members involved in development of the PDF/VT standard
include hardware and software vendors, commercial printers,
and other industry stakeholders. A number of leading solution
providers have committed to supporting the PDF/VT standard; the
list includes DirectSmile, GMC, Bitstream/Pageflex, and XMPie.
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"Lowest-Price Promise" (we sell for less!)
Citation Software is committed to offering the best prices on software. If you get
a price quote from us, and you get a lower quote from another company for the same
product, let us know: we will beat the other quote!
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We offer financing on software!
Tight budget? Call us at 888-260-7316 and ask about our financing program. Applying for financing is quick and easy,
and the approval process takes only a day or two.
If you'd like to read some information about the financing program
before you call us, click here.
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Fun stuff!
'TIS THE SEASON FOR GARDENING! ENJOY THESE QUOTES AND RIDDLES...
"A weed is a plant that has mastered every survival
skill except for learning how to grow in rows."
— Doug Larson
"I have no plants in my house. They won't live for
me. Some of them don't even wait to die; they commit suicide."
— Jerry Seinfeld
"A bulb is a potential flower buried in Autumn,
never to be seen again."
— Henry Beard
"I bought an ant farm. I don't know where I am
going to get a tractor that small!"
— Steven Wright
"Gardening requires lots of water — most of it
in the form of perspiration."
— Lou Erickson
"A man should never plant a garden larger
than his wife can take care of."
— T.H. Everett
QUESTION: What does the letter "A" have in common with a flower?
ANSWER: They both have bees coming after them.
— Kim Roblin
QUESTION: What do you get if you divide the circumference of
a pumpkin by its diameter?
ANSWER: Pumpkin pi
(source unknown)
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About Citation Software
This newsletter has been brought to you by Citation Software Inc., value-added
reseller of software for people involved with printing, publishing, and
direct marketing (including cross-media marketing).
You can reach us by phone at 888-260-7316, you can e-mail us at
info@CitationSoftware.com, and
you can find us on the Web at www.CitationSoftware.com.
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