IPEX Hall 6 Stand B56, & CIP4 JDF-Pavilion

DALIM SOFTWARE FOCUSES ON "KEEPING IT SIMPLE" AT IPEX 06

Production automation solutions aimed at making it easy for print buyers to work with print providers

While at IPEX 06, Dalim Software presents the industry with probably the most advanced, open, scalable and flexible suite of graphic arts production workflow tools for print providers, it prefers to focus on "keeping it simple".  At its stand at IPEX, Dalim Software shows print providers that in front of its advanced engines for production automation is an easy-to-use interface for print buyers the tools required to both grow and maintain customer loyalty.

Technology with Simplicity
"We have always strived to make the user experience as uncomplicated and straightforward as possible. And, as the print buyer becomes more involved in the process - and collaborative technologies become enablers - we are learning from our customers that this is becoming a necessary deliverable in order to conduct business. These features help sell new prospects, while user experience can make or break client relationships," remarks Carol Werle Dalim Software CEO. "Although many print buyers are experts in their fields, we cannot assume all of them to be exceptionally computer literate or print savvy. Print buyers need an easy way to deliver print-ready files to their providers, and easy, real-time access to job status. Dalim Software's unrivalled high-performance technologies are now partnered with a rich end-user experience that further differentiates our award-winning solutions from the competition."

To that end, Dalim Software is demonstrating how they are "keeping it simple" within all of their software solutions. For example, a simple "Print" command within any desktop page make-up solution can deliver - and process - files through the DALiM TWiST or DALiM MiSTRAL production automation solutions, from anywhere in the world - without any client software whatsoever. For files that are not ready for print, these solutions deliver a PDF file, easily opened within (for example) Adobe Reader, with pointers in the file's bookmark to graphically show where preflight errors exist. The DALiM DiALOGUE monitor-based proofing solution is so intuitive, many end-users have commented that they do not know where the Mac OS X interface ends and the DALiM DiALOGUE experience begins. Using nothing more that a standard web browser, changing pages within imposition signatures are as simple as "drag and drop" in DALiM PRiNTEMPO. Viewing job status - and thumbnails and full resolution files of completed pages'is effortless and intuitive in DALiM MiSTRAL.

Driving all of these solutions are advanced technologies such as XML and XMP-driven production workflows, JDF-enabled solutions, web-based collaborative tools, Ghent Workgroup certified PDF file generation using Dalim Software's unique P2 file optimisation technology, and all of the print tools required to automatically process clean, efficient print-ready files. During IPEX, Dalim Software is outlining its newest features to these solutions. Highlights at IPEX include:

• The latest version of the award-winning DALiM TWiST intelligent automated workflow software - the fastest, most flexible automated workflow system available today. At IPEX, Dalim Software will demonstrate a number of new features and enhancements, such as XML and XMP-driven production workflows and updates to the World's First JDF-Driven File Preflighting engine. DALiM TWiST is also now available for the Mac OS X operating system.
• The latest version of the SWOP certified DALiM DiALOGUE softproofing system for Mac OS X, which enables remote and collaborative viewing and soft proofing of high-resolution files (such as PDF, PDF/X, PostScript, CT/LW, TIFF, etc.) in real time via a standard internet connection. DALiM DiALOGUE is the industry's first JDF-enabled softproofing application, seamlessly integrating with a number of 3rd party systems. New features within DALiM DiALOGUE focus on further development of what is acknowledged as the most easy-to-use softproofing system in the graphic arts industry.
• Advanced new features in DALiM MiSTRAL, the unique web-based production management system that is both the common electronic submission interface for production assembly and the interface for subsequent production tracking, administration, correction, approval and printing. Enhanced features include greater integration with 3rd party publication systems, advanced versioning and advertising management capabilities and sophisticated workflow enhancements.  DALiM MiSTRAL Pack, a dedicated version designed for the packaging industry, adds new job tracking features and a revolutionary online placement interface using JDF cutting form data.
• The innovative DALiM PRiNTEMPO print production system that, using any common browser, can allow a printer provider or print buyer to monitor the status of the production of pages and trigger actions such as the generation of plates or proofs.  IPEX06 sees enhanced print deadline management tools, greater interconnectivity with 3rd party Digital Asset Management (DAM) and MIS systems and advanced flatplan management features.

At IPEX, Dalim Software also demonstrates seamless integration and real-world systems interoperability with several third-party vendor systems, including MIS and order entry systems, and announces several important new developments and partnerships.

"Beyond providing simple, intuitive user interfaces for system operators, production automation systems need to be able to "deliver the goods". There has to be an effective, and open, technology backbone to support the customer experience," notes Gee Ranasinha, Dalim Software director of marketing. "We also consider it important to allow third party vendor solutions - that bring their own specific areas of expertise - to easily plug-and-play with our solutions. It is why we take the JDF initiative seriously, and have worked hard to demonstrate how deeply - yet how simply - our solutions integrate with others."