The unchanging nature of the files is a crucial factor for the word puzzle and fine arts printing specialist.

Kehl (Germany) and Naintré (France) – Megastar, the second largest publisher of word puzzle magazines in France has just switched to FolioSWiNG 5 for a simple, efficient solution for automated, secure file production. Its reseller, Archipel, a member of the Folio Groupe and partner of Dalim Software, ensured its smooth integration.

Megastar publishes 70 magazines and is represented in 26 French-speaking countries. Its publications include arrows crosswords, wordsearches, word-fits, codewords and, of course, crosswords, and it also has a foothold in the Sudoku segment. Megastar also publishes two fine arts magazines, Pratique des Arts and Plaisirs de Peindre.

Dominique Logez, technical manager at Megastar, explains the important role played by FolioSWiNG in the specialist publisher’s work. “It’s a secure file transfer server that converts the pages into secure rasterised image files so that they can be imposed in our imposition software. This locks down the files and eliminates errors. Rasterisation produces reliable documents that won’t change, and that can be analysed by any RIP, but without reinterpretation” emphasises Dominique Logez.
 
FolioSWiNG’s ability to produce a fixed image is very important for Megastar as the file goes through several production stages and is moved from one workstation to another. “Previously, a row of text or a figure might be missing despite the correction process upstream.  In our business, one row too many (in terms of the character width spacing) or too few (in solutions or puzzles) has an impact on whether the puzzle can be completed,” says Logez. “Now, once the corrector has approved the document, it is imaged and printed identically on any output device, thanks to FolioSWiNG.”

The company needs the guarantee that there is no possibility that the files will be reinterpreted in order to ensure the quality of its products. “We saw an immediate increase in productivity with FolioSWiNG, but it’s mainly the guaranteed reliability and improved quality of our products that make the solution indispensable in our publishing environment,” concludes Dominique Logez.