I'm looking for a new VDP Program.

[Digital Prepress Girl]

Hi All,

I'm a Digital Prepress Artists for a small Print/Marketing Company, and I am looking for a new VDP program to use. I am currently using Creo Darwin. It's an ok program. It has taken me over a year to master. On small VDP jobs I just use Data Merge in InDesign. It's much simpler than Darwin. But since the new Darwin upgrade is $2Grand plus, I'm looking for something else. I have InDesign CS4 on mac. I don't know if Design Merge would be better than Darwin? If anyone has used these programs please help. I send the Darwin files to the printer VPS. That way the images are at the printer and it doesn't take long to rip. Do other programs offer this too? Plus I am sending it to a Creo Front end of a Xerox 7000.

Thanks for you help.

[bprint_tampabay]

Try Fusion Pro

At around $750 USD it does the trick for me. Feature rich and affordable. I also looked at Darwin, and for the price Fusion Pro was the choice.

link:
Printable | FusionPro Desktop

Larry

[david.young]

I second the endorsement of Fusion Pro. Word of warning if you are going to be doing alot of non standard custom vdp you will need to learn some Javascript.

[Digital Prepress Girl]

I wonder what non standard custom vdp would be? I'll mainly be using it for the address blocks on postcards.

[pmhapp]

I wonder what non standard custom vdp would be? I'll mainly be using it for the address blocks on postcards.

Then FusionPro should fit the bill nicely. About a $600 investment.

[Digital Prepress Girl]

Has anyone used Design Merge? I will be checking into FusionPro.
Thanks for your help.

[Keith]

It's been a long time since I used data merge with InDesign now that I use FusionPro Desktop. I'd have to say data merge works fine but is a little cumbersome to use.

[Beaker]

I use Printshop mail, simply add your data over the top of an existing PDF and print, it has Creo VPS output so will RIP in no time on your setup.

[FastColorInColumbia]

Have you looked into XMPie?

[Craig]

Fusion Pro will fit the bill just fine, works like a charm... support is great as well.