Berlin, and Foster City, Calif. Aug. 1, 2007 – DirectSmile, a leading supplier of software for image personalization and variable data printing, and EFI, the world leader in color digital print servers, superwide format printers and inks and print management solutions, today announced advanced variable data printing technology to enable print service providers to readily deliver the value-added service of personalized marketing. The new DirectSmile version 3.2 allows print service providers to seamlessly use the fast output format PPML (Personalized Print Markup Language) on all EFI Fiery color digital print servers. The companies’ mutual customers benefit from a fully integrated workflow, improved flexibility and increased productivity.
"At atrikom, we are producing image personalized and variable data print pieces for direct mail using EFI´s Fiery color digital print servers and DirectSmile Software. This combination enables us not just to create outstanding personalized designs, but also to deliver fast and seamless output of high volumes of mailers. Working together, the two systems offer the performance and reliable workflows we need to realize the high quality our customers demand," said Ingo Schwarz, head of production, atrikom fulfilment.
Based near Frankfurt, Germany, atrikom fulfilment (www.atrikom.de, website in German) is taking advantage of the EFI and DirectSmile partnership as the company offers a complete range of marketing services for direct mail, trade marketing, event marketing, customer relationship communication and e-business.
Direct Smile Ready for PPML Output on Fiery Color Digital Print Servers
With more than 14 million users, the Fiery platform offers unparalleled color quality, open VDP workflow flexibility, and expert-level tools for graphic arts professionals. EFI collaborates with the leading personalization software vendors, such as DirectSmile, and supports such VDP languages as industry standard PPML, Fiery FreeForm, and a host of legacy proprietary languages, ensuring that the Fiery server readily integrates into existing workflows and delivers consistency regardless of whether the job is VDP or non-VDP.
Supporting the fast output format PPML on EFI Fiery, DirectSmile 3.2 features that ease handling and optimize performance include:
- Selection of Fiery color digital print servers via the DirectSmile print interface – providing a more integrated and intuitive workflow
- All queues of the Fiery are displayed and can be selected; all output options are available to the operator for output flexibility
- PPML can be transferred to the queue as ZIP file, a fast and easy, all-encompassing submission method
- The unique Fiery visual imposition workflow enables all DirectSmile jobs to be imposed seamlessly using a consistent methodology, simplifying an otherwise complex workflow
- Both Fiery and DirectSmile support PDF X-Objects ensuring high performance PDF in a personalized workflow
“EFI helps drive the industry with VDP innovation, and partnering with other leaders, like DirectSmile, is part of our strategy to help customers print to win,” said Kathy Wilson, director of product marketing and strategy, EFI. “Our VDP solution is open, specifically designed to work with whatever software solutions print service providers choose - to ensure the best-fit VDP tools for their needs. Our work with DirectSmile delivers a value-add for customers, including atrikom fulfilment, who find new revenue stream opportunities with variable data printing.”
“DirectSmile shares EFI’s customer-centric philosophy and strives to offer print service providers ideal possibilities to produce image-personalized printing jobs with ultimate speed, highest quality and seamless workflows,” said Christoph Schacht, president, DirectSmile. “Thanks to this new element in the EFI-DirectSmile collaboration, all of our customers using the EFI Fiery solutions enjoy efficiencies that directly impact their bottom line and enable them to grow their digital print business.”
Availability
DirectSmile 3.2. is available directly from DirectSmile and through its distributors. More information is available at +49 30 62 777 111 or via e-mail sent to [email protected]