Fusion Pro advantage over...

[kdw75]

We currently do lots of VD work with quantities of 5,000 or less. Mostly postcards with VD on both sides. We have a couple of regular projects that will be coming to us that are in the 25K to 50K quantities that will require VD and I am wondering what advantage I would get using Fusion Pro over our current process of making a PDF of the master and a PDF of the VD info and then using our Fiery to combine the two when printing.

 

[prepressdork]

Being a FusionPro user, I can tell you that the first advantage is you get a "fused" PDF that unites the static and variable data into one file. FusionPro also offers barcode support (including QR codes), variable graphics/images, variable charts (pie, line, etc.), imposition, scripting support, and more. FusionPro can also export different file formats such as PPML, PDF, etc. The price isn't too bad either (about $800 for a license).

If you buy FP, I would urge you to install it on a Mac. In my experience, composing a job processes much faster on a Mac versus a Windows PC!!!

Does this help?

 

[LoneGoose]

If you're just doing names, addresses or numbers, I'd think Fusion Pro is probably overkill; unless your quantities are huge - then you'd benefit from the specialised VDP software.

At 50K I'm sure Fusion Pro would save you a few minutes (but is that worth $800?).

 

[acepm]

It's going to take awhile....

It's going to take awhile....

We currently do lots of VD work with quantities of 5,000 or less. Mostly postcards with VD on both sides. We have a couple of regular projects that will be coming to us that are in the 25K to 50K quantities that will require VD and I am wondering what advantage I would get using Fusion Pro over our current process of making a PDF of the master and a PDF of the VD info and then using our Fiery to combine the two when printing.

Having been a FP user in past years I can guarantee you that this is going to take some long days trying to put this campaign together. I used that product for a VDP campaign and it was only 8,500 units and took well over 3 hours to RIP and process. Yes, I was watching the grass grow!!

I dumped that program and went with PSL's JetLetter and have not looked back since. That same project I'm speaking about above took less than 27 seconds to impose. I do a fair amount of VDP and transactional printing here and love the more difficult jobs every day.

We're currently running a Xerox 700 (just came off lease but am keeping it) tied to a CREO. I just installed a Xerox J75 with a FreeFlow RIP on the front of it.

Very capable machines both of them are.

Thom Gulyas
ACE Printing & Mailing

 

[kdw75]

I think I am going to get the demo of Fusion Pro. I can't believe how slow Indesign is at exporting your merged document to a PDF for printing. Takes hours for just a few thousand.

 

[acepm]

I think I am going to get the demo of Fusion Pro. I can't believe how slow Indesign is at exporting your merged document to a PDF for printing. Takes hours for just a few thousand.

I would also check out JetLetter's PSL if I were you. I did and trust me when I tell you, it runs CIRCLES around all the other programs out there. I went "full in" and bought the whole program...but you may not necessairly need all of that. Contact Tom Crooks at PSL - Jet Letter- Variable Data Printing Software and tell him I sent you. No, I do not receive anything for the referral, but this program ROCKS!

I use it everyday without fail.

Thom Gulyas
ACE Printing & Mailing

 

[kdw75]

I would also check out JetLetter's PSL if I were you. I did and trust me when I tell you, it runs CIRCLES around all the other programs out there. I went "full in" and bought the whole program...but you may not necessairly need all of that. Contact Tom Crooks at PSL - Jet Letter- Variable Data Printing Software and tell him I sent you. No, I do not receive anything for the referral, but this program ROCKS!

I use it everyday without fail.

Thom Gulyas
ACE Printing & Mailing

Jetsetter looks great, but it is a little out of our price range.

 

[acepm]

Jetsetter looks great, but it is a little out of our price range.

Call him and talk to him. There are tiered versions now, leasing deals, etc. the only thing it cost you is a phone call.

Good luck!

Thom