An Interview with David Graves, CEO of Aleyant

When Aleyant, a global leader in commercial printing software, launched PDF2Press, the market response was swift and overwhelmingly positive. Designed to ensure orders are perfect at the time of checkout, PDF2Press is redefining the preflight editing space with an emphasis on automation and user experience (UX). To understand why this innovation is causing such a stir, we sat down with David Graves, CEO of Aleyant, to discuss the early market reaction and why PDF2Press is a game-changer for commercial printers worldwide.

Q: David, what has been the initial response to PDF2Press since launch?

David Graves: The reaction has been fantastic. Commercial printers have been quick to adopt PDF2Press because it removes the bottlenecks that have traditionally plagued prepress operations. In just the first month, we’ve seen printers praising the software for its ease of use, automation capabilities, and cost-effectiveness. We knew we were addressing a real need, but the speed of adoption and enthusiasm from customers has been beyond our expectations.

Q: You’ve mentioned before that 55% of a print job is spent on it before it even reaches the press. How does PDF2Press change that?

DG: That’s exactly right. Pre-press processes—file checks, adjustments, and corrections—consume a huge portion of time and labor before printing even begins. PDF2Press significantly reduces that burden by automating preflight editing at the time of checkout. Instead of print shops manually reviewing and fixing files, our software ensures they are press-ready instantly. The result? Jobs move faster, with fewer errors, and print shops save on labor costs and rework.

Q: How does PDF2Press impact the workforce in the print industry?

DG: The printing industry, like many others, faces a labor challenge—attracting young talent while also upskilling existing employees. Traditional preflight editing requires technical skills, training, and in some cases, even programming knowledge. That’s a major barrier to hiring and retention. PDF2Press changes the game. Its intuitive UX means that employees, even those new to the industry, can quickly get up to speed. During our beta testing, we had commercial printers setting up workflows without any formal training. That’s unheard of in this space. For shop owners, this means less time training new hires and more time focusing on production and growth.

Q: You emphasize UX as a key differentiator. What makes PDF2Press stand out from competitors?

DG: User experience is everything. Many of our competitors require print shops to do things manually—whether it’s setting up servers, programming, or extensive configuration. That’s a major hurdle for businesses looking to streamline their operations. PDF2Press eliminates that friction with a cloud-based, plug-and-play solution that integrates directly with Aleyant’s Pressero storefronts. Customers tell us that, compared to alternatives, PDF2Press is significantly easier to use and implement. No special training, no IT headaches—just immediate efficiency gains. That’s why we’re seeing such strong early adoption.

Q: Beyond the UX, what else is driving the strong market reaction?

DG: Cost. The reality is that many prepress solutions come with steep upfront costs, expensive maintenance, and ongoing training expenses. PDF2Press flips that model by offering an affordable, cloud-based solution that doesn’t require costly IT infrastructure. When you combine its competitive pricing with an intuitive UX, automation, and seamless Pressero integration, it’s a no-brainer for print businesses. The ability to do more with less is something every shop owner values, and PDF2Press delivers that from day one.

Q: Looking ahead, how do you see PDF2Press shaping the future of prepress efficiency?

DG: We’re only at the beginning. The response we’ve seen in just the first month tells us that there’s a huge demand for smarter, automated preflight solutions. PDF2Press is already proving that automation can begin at checkout, not just on the shop floor. And because it’s cloud-based, we’re able to continue refining and enhancing the software without requiring complicated updates or server setups for customers.

Long term, I see PDF2Press setting a new standard for what print automation should look like. By eliminating inefficiencies, making hiring and training easier, and driving down costs, we’re empowering print businesses to be more competitive and more profitable. The future looks bright, and we’re excited to keep pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in the print industry. With PDF2Press, Aleyant is proving that automation doesn’t have to be complex or costly—it just has to work.

And judging by the early success, it’s clear that the industry agrees.

Want to see how PDF2Press can transform your print business? Schedule a demo today and experience the future of prepress efficiency. PDF2Press: Redefining Where Automation Begins.