impo software choices...

[stargate]

I am still using Preps 5 and I have my users have 2 macs on their desks. Older for running Rampage 10 and preps 5 and newer running Mavericks and Mountain Lion running prepress apps. I am upgrading Rampage soon to ver 12 and I want to replace Preps 5 with something else.

Since Preps 6 has all new interface I can easily try to get something else. We need to lear all new interface anyway and I am not sure kodak will continue developing preps. Preps 6 was released long time ago. There is no standalone Preps 7 and I am not switching to Prinergy.

I can go with Preps 6, Metrics or Dynastrip. Is there anything else I should consider?

We are sheetfed offset so we need to manually tweak our impos most of the time.

Derek

 

[akalaray]

Signa Station from Heidelberg will interface to anything, We have two stations. first installed to interface to Compose then switched to Meta Dimension. It does it all.

 

[JulieWatson]

Hi Derek,

Actually, we developed a Preps template converter for printers that want to migrate towards a new Preps solution. This is a free apps and it is for a 64 bit computer. If you want a 32 bit, it will be available in a week or so. Have you checked out Impostrip? It is an imposition software solution which easily integrates into any workflow with either hotfolders or its easy XML Director. We actually just sold last week to two customers with exactly the same setup as yours. You might actually find a free demo of the solution and our new Preps template converter quite useful and this could probably solve your dilemma.

Cheers
Julie

 

[Tommyjt]

Take a look at inp02 from Dynagram. We used it for several years and it worked great. They also have a competitive upgrade from Preps.

 

[Monica]

Hi Derek,
There is no fear that Preps is going away anytime soon. Kodak still has a strong R&D team behind it! Preps 7 is a new version number, but the interface remains the same from Preps 6 with new features, and we will continue to have a standalone version available. (You would need Prinergy if you wanted to run Preps 7 with a floating license.)
You can still use all of your existing Preps 5 templates and jobs in Preps 6 & 7, and we continue to be supported on Mountain Lion and Mavericks and newer Mac and Window OS's.
There's an upcoming educational webinar on Preps 7 which is free to attend, please check it out here: Welcome to Kodak Worldwide

It's exciting time when you're at this crossroad looking to upgrade, let me know if you have any questions!

Thanks
Monica Chow
Preps Product Support Specialist

 

[stargate]

Monica,

Where can I find 30 day Preps 6 demo? I remember seeing few years ago but I cannot find it now.

Derek

Hi Derek,
There is no fear that Preps is going away anytime soon. Kodak still has a strong R&D team behind it! Preps 7 is a new version number, but the interface remains the same from Preps 6 with new features, and we will continue to have a standalone version available. (You would need Prinergy if you wanted to run Preps 7 with a floating license.)
You can still use all of your existing Preps 5 templates and jobs in Preps 6 & 7, and we continue to be supported on Mountain Lion and Mavericks and newer Mac and Window OS's.
There's an upcoming educational webinar on Preps 7 which is free to attend, please check it out here: Welcome to Kodak Worldwide

It's exciting time when you're at this crossroad looking to upgrade, let me know if you have any questions!

Thanks
Monica Chow
Preps Product Support Specialist

 

[stargate]

I think the promo is over in May. I will take a look anyway.

Take a look at inp02 from Dynagram. We used it for several years and it worked great. They also have a competitive upgrade from Preps.

 

[stargate]

Will ask for demo if they have it.

Signa Station from Heidelberg will interface to anything, We have two stations. first installed to interface to Compose then switched to Meta Dimension. It does it all.

 

[Monica]

Do you have an account on PartnerPlace.kodak.com? If not, you can create a free account. You can find all Preps downloads on there. Send me a message if you're having difficulties with it.
You can run Preps 6 in demo mode (with no license key) which only restricts you from saving the job and printing, but all other features and functionality are there.
There's also a bunch of introductory videos on KodakB2B's channel to help you get started: youtube.com KODAK PREPS Software 6 Job Creation Overview for Version 5 Users - YouTube

Monica

 

[rich apollo]

Metrix is impressive; it does a lot more than just imposing files.

I saw a very interesting webinar on using Impostrip OnDemand with Switch. I can't find a recording of the webinar, unfortunately.

 

[metamation]

Have a look at Metamation. It covers entire range of offset jobs - commercial, bookwork, diecut with powerful ganging engine.

 

[akalaray]

Have a look at Metamation. It covers entire range of offset jobs - commercial, bookwork, diecut with powerful ganging engine.

Which company sells Metamation?

 

[metamation]

Metamation is the company & their product is IMP. Write to [email protected]

 

[TJ-421]

My experience is limited to Preps, Metrix and SignaStation; of the three, I recommend Metrix. My Preps experience is at least a few versions old, but I don't remember having ever liked their interface; I've been working in SignaStation for the last two years, and I'd say it does 90% of what I need it to do without any hassles, but for maybe 5% of my jobs it suffers from the Microsoft Office problem of automatically plugging in solutions that don't fit my problem and then require a bunch of screwing around to correct, and the other 5% is gang runs of different-sized pieces that are more time-consuming to impose using Signa's Montage mode. What I remember of Metrix is being able to pre-define multiple piece sizes, and then drag-and-drop them into place on my press sheet and move them around the same way. That being said, if you don't deal with a huge variety of different impositions or mix-and-match gang runs, Signa should take decent care of you.

 

[metamation]

TJ-421's response is precise. It is accurate representation of different imposition solution and you will have to decide based on your needs. However I wish to emphasize here that Metamation's IMP is fully automated solution. User need not select paper size, or signature, press, gripper margins. With single click it generates print ready or rip ready layout which can be populated with PDF in prepress, eliminating the imposition task in prepress.

Same is the case with its packaging module for all kinds of die cut jobs with powerful ganging engine.

With IMP do the planning and eliminated imposition task.