If you’ve spent much time in prepress, you’re familiar with many of the popular software packages in use over the last 20 years. If not through personal use, at least through name recognition. Over the next few months, you’re going to be hearing more and more about a new one. More on that in a few sentences. First, it would be a good idea to refresh a few memories.
I touched on this topic back in 2018 with, “Rampage and the end of an Era.” Interestingly, the workflow landscape has not changed much since then, and that’s a problem. Offset lithography continues to impact the printing world, accounting for over 40% of output. For a market that large, you might expect some innovation, some advancement, some new features, some…something.
Unfortunately, that has not been the case. The names XMF, Prinergy, Prinect, and Apogee still dot the landscape, but if you view them in terms of innovation and improvement they’re beginning to fade with age. Don’t be surprised if one or two of these goes end of life (EOL) leaving you SOL. Some are already in custodial mode.
To be fair, you can talk about bolting on Store Fronts, or MIS integration as advancements in development, but for many mid-range shops, this is pie-in-the-sky, overly costly, and doesn’t address legacy deficiencies or shortcomings. You can talk about automation based on rules and repeats, but how does that help when you are a commercial shop taking in every kind of job under the sun, which makes rules an exception instead of the norm?
And finally, what do you do when your vendor insists you pay exorbitant prices to keep your software “current,” but current doesn’t offer any new advantages, functional improvements, or innovation? Or worse, when they tell you that you must move to a subscription model, so you’re essentially re-buying the same old software every couple of years?
I think it’s time for a fresh look at prepress workflow. I think it’s time for common sense pricing and support. I think it’s time to improve the fundamentals and make it easier for operators to efficiently move work from job submission to final plates. I think it’s time for something new, so Xitron is going to bring it to you.
Welcome, K2.
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