The right tool for the right job

What is the best tool for layout? - InDesign.
What is the best tool for photo manipulation? - Photoshop.
If you are a professional designer who needs to work with other companies and commercial printers the above answers are true.
Today there are many groups of people that need to do some basic design that is commercially printed.
The best tool, I would contend, is the tool that gets the job done!

Spending $1800+ on professional publishing tools is beyond the budget of most amateurs.
Without design or prepress training, you wont make the best of of the tools!

If you need to some basic layout, Pages will create acceptable results that CAN be commercially printed.
If you need some basic photo editing (above and beyond what iPhoto can do) Pixelmator is a very competent image editor.

As an added bonus, if you are running a business with a few workstations using OS X 10.6, you can purchase the software through the “Apple App Store” which allows for unlimited number of installations for computer you own!

Contrast 3 workstations with CS5 Design Standard for over $5400 or 3 workstations with Apple Apps Store purchased apps for $23.99 + $36.99 = 60.98!

With the above 2 tools, you can easily produce PFX/X3 compliant PDF’s (that is - PDF suitable for print that are RGB colour managed)
Since the PDF’s are RGB, it is essential you get a proof from the printer as the colours on the print WILL BE muted compared to your onscreen original file.

Next issue I will publish the steps required which include using “Preview”, “ColorSync Utility” and Automator - all included in Mac OS X 10.5 or later.

Welcome to the latest update of the D Revolution newsletter.

We have finally launched our new website - only took since August last year!!
The development is done in RapidWeaver with a few choice plugins and an iOS/HTML 5 friendly theme from NimbleHost.
Javascript is used to detect the browser and separate CSS is used to display versions of the website suitable for iPhone/iPad or a standard desktop browser on Mac or PC. This is becoming more important with the rise of browsing from phones and tablets.

The 2 plugins used on the site are;
Stacks and PlusKit which together make for a nice reusable template system which we can have multiple prebuilt content areas like footers, sidebars and import them to any page using a line of text.

All this means is we have a modular website that is easy to update with none of the security issues often seen in CMS systems like Mambo, Joomla or WordPress. - want to find more - contact us.

Reprint of sad news from a long time reseller and good friend - Ross Pappas of Proton Digital

I'm sad to inform you that after 10 years as an Apple Reseller, Apple have terminated my reseller status because my office is set up in a residential address.
Although the last 10 years was not an issue for Apple, Apple have now set new policies requiring resellers to operate from commercial premises.
Fortunately we saw this coming, so 2 years ago we set up iNeedstorage.com.au to compensate for what was coming.
Officially Apple have given Proton Digital until 21st May 2011, thereafter we will not be able to facilitate any orders for "Apple branded" products.

Where does that leave our customers?

1. You can either deal directly with another Apple reseller

2. Deal with any Apple Store

3. Deal directly with Apple Business Sales Division (for Commercial Customers only)

Should you decide to approach Apple Business Division directly, I recommend contacting David Stone from D Revolution who is an IT consultant in Sydney.
Since informing David of the above, David has contacted Apple Business to facilitate his customers directly with Apple. I'm certain David will be happy to furnish you with the contact details at Apple.
I have referred David to many customers in the last 10 years for onsite technical support & installation. David has been outstanding in his profession.

David's contact number is 0414 310 999 or email [email protected]
I highly recommend David if you require future onsite support & installation requirements.

However, don't forget - we have our new online store - www.iNeedstorage.com.au

Primarily iNeedstorage.com.au was set up to cater for data storage products such as internal drives, external drives, RAIDS and so on.
New categories have been added such as Networking, Monitors & Calibrators, Photographic printers, Software for Apple Computers, UPS Solutions, Audio, and so on.

So although we won't be selling "Apple branded" products - we will continue to supply a range of products compatible with Apple computers.

Let me conclude by thanking you for your support in supplying Apple computers in the past.

Your business was very much appreciated. We look back with pride in our achievement.

We hope that you will continue to support us through our new IT venture at iNeedStorage.com.au

Google Apps deadline - get an account before May 10.

Google have made changes to new Google Apps accounts.
Starting May 10, any new Google Apps free accounts can have up to 10 users (down from 50) before needing to upgrade to Google Apps for Business ($50 US per user, per year).

This means if you are considering Google Apps and might at some point need more than 10 email addresses, sign up NOW!
Even if you don’t want to use GMail yet, with Google Apps, you can start exploring Google SItes, Google Docs or Google Calendar. Contact us for more information.

Industry News

Adobe have announce a new Creative Suite - version 5.5
Also announced was a revision to the release schedule with major releases happening roughly every 2 years (an increase from usual 18 month cycle) whilst minor releases every intervening year.
Whilst on the face of it, adding new features every year sounds great - both minor and major releases will be paid upgrades.
Add to that Creative Suite on average becomes a stable platform 6 to 9 months after release of a raft of free updates coupled with the policy of only allowing the products to only save back one version, this new policy will cost the creative industry a great deal.

Filed under “barn door closes after horse has bolted” Quark has released QuarkXpress 9.
Whilst it does look like a solid upgrade for current QuarkXpress users, unfortunately, there aren’t too many in Australia any more!
For some background, I was lead tech support for QuarkXpress at Mitsui Computer when version 4 was released.
I provided support designers, printers and PrePress across Australasia.
When D Revolution started in 1998, I had 2 companies that used InDesign with everyone else using QuarkXpress.
These days, I have 2 companies left that work mainly in QuarkXpress!

It should be noted, for regimented workflows like magazine and newspaper, study after study show QuarkXpress to be the most efficient tool for the job of layout.

Welcome to the latest update of the D Revolution newsletter.

Holiday notice.

D Revolution is taking a short holiday from Monday 14th September and returning on Wednesday 22 September.
I have a wedding to attend in Queensland, but will be available for phone support or after hours remote support.
If you need onsite help, I can arrange help via my contractor network - just ask...

Fastest Support Option.

D Revolution maintains an excellent online helpdesk.
For the fastest service, as well as the ability to track all services provided by D Revolution, use our helpdesk.
The helpdesk requires a provided username/password. If you don’t have yours yet, or (shame) have forgotten it, simply lodge a ticket using the anonymous form. Provide your email address and you will emailed your username/password for future reference.

Account Executive Wanted.

Do you know someone looking to break into the advertising industry?
If so check out this link to one of my clients, it would be a really good entry role
NOTE: Link is to a PDF hosted on the D Revolution server.

If you want to get in touch with over 400+ (and growing) like minded industry professionals, contact us.

Positive experience with D Revolution? - let the world know!

If you like to spread the love, log into the Google Apps Marketplace and post a review.
You will need either a Google Apps or Gmail account.

SAAS (Software as a Service) Rumours.

D Revolution has embraced the cloud - an easy and cheap way for smaller companies to acquire technology and platforms they would find hard to justify if they had to deploy/maintain themselves.

Xero.com is an excellent Online SAAS Accounting package with one major drawback - no integrated payroll.
Rumour is, they will be adding payroll directly into xero.com in the coming months...

To see the advantages of cloud based computing, simply take a look at the speed at which they add features/updates to services like Xero.com or Google Apps - normal purchased applications have no hope of keeping up with this level continued progress.

Welcome to the latest update of the D Revolution newsletter.

Site update coming soon…

D Revolution will soon be deploying a new website with iPhone/iPad support.
This entails custom CSS as well as Javascript detection for iOS device (iPhone/iPad)
If you are interested in adding support for mobile devices to your website, please contact us!

Official Google Apps Reseller.

We are now a proud Google Apps reseller. After trialling Google apps for D Revolution, then deploying for alot of our clients, we have now taken the next step in reselling Google Apps.
This allows us better support people on Google Apps with direct phone and email support via the Google Enterprise Portal.
If you are thinking of moving your emails to “the cloud”, or wanting to move up from the free unsupported version of Google Apps to the full featured Premier version, contact us!

With the Google Apps Marketplace, you can extend Google Apps, from CRM, helpdesk, bookings website, workflow automation - take a look.

New company depreciation rules bulk billing option.

The end of financial year has past once again and the question always is should we purchase new equipment now, or wait.
Starting July 1, small businesses (less than 2M turnover) can depreciate 100% of the cost of new equipment worth less than $10000 in the year it was purchased - instead of the previous 3 year schedule. Please - ask your accountant for advise!!

If you have a large project looming and need help, take advantage of our bulk billing to get discounted support credits to use when you need them. If you would like to take up our bulk billing offer - please contact us!

Adobe CS5 issues.

No software comes out without bugs these days - especially something with a huge code base like Adobe CS5.
Updates have now been released fro Bridge, InDesign, Illustrator, Dreamwaver and Photoshop.
To get the updates, in any CS5 application, go to > Utilities > Check for updates…

Font Management.

FontExplorer Pro X and Suitcase have now released updated plugins for CS5 to allow for correct activation of fonts.
If you are running FontExplorer (free version), you will need to buy the Pro version. People already on FontExplorer X Pro get a free update.
If you are running Suitcase, you will need to buy the latest version - Suitcase Fusion 3. Call us or Proton Digital for a quote.

Asset Management.

Finding the correct image, layout, illustration is critical today and is a major problem for most small designers and advertising agencies.
The usual method revolves around everybody in the company naming files in a consistent manner and storing them with the job or a linked “master folder”.
Retrieval is usually by searching through where the file is “supposed to be”. When the file is not there or a previous version - you get chaos!
We can setup and deploy ResourceSpace to help catalogue and present your assets in a meaningful way.
The latest update has also included hooks for a shopping cart - so you can charge clients to download assets - a key for image warehousing for photographers.
Contact us if you you would like to see a demo.

Welcome to the April update of the D Revolution newsletter.

D Revolution Joins Google Apps Authorized Reseller Program

We are pleased to announce that we have become an authorised reseller of the Google Apps™ suite of communication and collaboration tools.

Since moving our mail system to Google Apps in July 08 for client testing, we have yet to have a single minute of downtime.
Over the past 18 months we have moved many clients to Google Apps. The addition of becoming a reseller allows us to easier manage Google Apps on behalf of our customers.
Getting support has now become a whole lot easier.
If you are interested in testing add-on tools to Google Apps via the Google Apps Marketplace, we can help.
As an example, we are currently testing SherpaTools to allow for easy shared address book creation and will soon be testing Tactile CRM and Zoho CRM.

If you need help migrating to Google Apps or want to see a demonstration of the functionality, please contact us.

Adobe CS5 was launched on 12 April.

As advertised, Adobe CS5 was launched earlier this week with a glitzy website and increased price.
The new version has some very useful production features for both photographers and magazine publishers.
Like previous launches, CS5 is not actually available yet, it should ship in 30 days. This means if you buy it immediately, you actually get CS4 and a free upgrade to CS5 when it ships.
There a few hoops to jump through first - you have to buy and register the version then apply for the free upgrade.
See here for the confusing details.
If you are on CS2 or CS3 and still have a few non-Intel machines like the G5, purchasing now allows you to move to CS4 (the last version compatible with non-Intel machines) and gives you a migration path when you are ready to move to an Intel Imac or MacPro using CS5.

If you need help streamlining your workflow using CS4 or CS5 from design to print - including moving to the new AS/ISO print standard, please contact us.

Client Poll results.

The results are in from our last poll.
Since the sample pool was a total of 5 respondents, we have decided against become a market research global powerhouse!
In short, as expected, the last 6 months was very tough on the printing industry with companies looking at downsizing premises and staff to cut costs.
Debtors has expanded, but there is optimism that conditions are improving.

Quark corp have launched QuarkXpress 7 around the world.
The previous beta was a universal binary - capable of running on Intel and PPC Macs.
The released version is PPC with a free update to be released at a future date Read More...

This week I attended the CeBIT consumer electronics show at Darling Harbour.
Whilst there was the usual array of bizarre stuff ranging from bad breath detectors to cable TV systems for companies like Foxtel, there were a few gems to be found. Read More...

There has been a fairly constant stream of bad press stating how un-secure the Macintosh platform has become and how the move to Intel processors will increase the risk. It is refreshing to read an article not regurgitated from a security software vendor trying to sell their wares. Please read the following article "McAfee Stabs At Mac Security"

Despite optimistic expectations, the inherent contradiction of rising investment during a time of falling orders and profits continues to dominate the industry.

The most worrying aspect would have to be the skills shortage, capacity utilisation and also increased number of outstanding debtors

See print21online for a full report.

The multi million dollar annual report printing sector is under threat from a new Government rule to remove the requirement for companies to produce a printed copy of their annual reports.

This will effect a lot of my clients who rely on annual reports for a continuing income stream.
ASX listed companies will still be required to produce an annual report but they will only have to post it on their website.

See print21online for a full report.