Prepress

EskoArtwork introduces Dynamic Content, a new and unique plug-in for Adobe(r) Illustrator(r) to dynamically link text files with package designs

Friday 28. March 2008 - EskoArtwork, the global market leader in innovative design, pre-production, collaboration and finishing solutions for the packaging, commercial printing and sign and display industry, announces the introduction of Dynamic Content, a next step in its successful series of design application plug-ins. The new software dynamically links text content with any Adobe(r) Illustrator(r) artwork file.

Managing the textual content of package artwork during the design and production process is error-prone and very time consuming. Each change to the text copy has to be entered to the text file, applied to the package design file and needs to be verified through an approval cycle. Last minute changes to the text by the designer don’t always make it back into the content management system, effectively losing track of the modification for future reruns or versions. Such errors in artwork are wasteful, generate rework and cause delays in product launches. Sometimes even a product recall is traced back to a text error. Dynamic Content effectively separates the package’s textual content from its layout. Text editing and approving can now be handled separately with all references and changes maintained outside of Adobe(r) Illustrator(r). Dynamic Content significantly reduces product-to-market time and costs and boosts the value and efficiency of content management.

“It is quite commonplace that text on packaging is changed many times, right until the very last moment before it goes on press. In addition, a lot of text copy needs to comply with regulations such as those from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Secure and efficient management of text is one of the most sensitive pain points that brand owners and their supply community experience”, explains Frank Woltering, Product Manager Design and Pre-press Applications at EskoArtwork. “By receiving data directly from the brand owner, the Dynamic Content plug-in substantially reduces the amount of operator touches to a package design file and diminishes the necessity for additional content review cycles. The exceptional feedback we have received from early adopters of this technology has confirmed that Dynamic Content is addressing this nuisance in the most efficient and user-friendly way.”

Customer feedback
Itarus Limited, based in Northampton with additional sites in Bedford, Cheltenham, Dartford and Enschede (Netherlands), is one of the largest independent prepress companies in the UK and has over 18 years of experience in packaging. They have a proven track record working with global brands for dynamic artwork creation. “Itarus have been working with structured XML for the past 10 years. Our Textures application manages the storage, collaborative approval and translation of packaging content, fitting structured XML output into templates using our own developed plug-in. Dynamic Content is the first commercially available tool that has embraced the use of structured XML packaging content to this extent,” explains Tim May, Itarus Limited Customer Service Executive. “We envision migrating to Dynamic Content to broaden the use of XML content across our business. Its versatility will ideally complement our Textures application, and eliminates the need for us to develop our own plug-in further. We anticipate increased speed and subsequent reduction in the number of potential ‘artwork touches’. Once text has been linked to the artwork, it cannot be unintentionally edited anymore, which assures our clients of a secure reproduction of their packaging content. The copy changes highlighted in the Dynamic Content window provides focus for our artwork team. Coupled with the comparison features of EskoArtwork’s WebCenter on-line collaboration software, our QC process is further streamlined and more efficient.”

Linking with Adobe(r) Illustrator(r)
The power of Dynamic Content lies in its ability to create a text link in an Adobe(r) Illustrator(r) file directly to an XML file created by the brand owner. A single, XML-based text can be shared across a range of designs, or alternatively multiple text sources (e.g. for different language versions) can be linked to a single design. Designers can collect static text from legacy designs and bring them into a dynamically managed content workflow, and can build dynamic templates for products within the same brand umbrella.

Dynamic Content, helps designers to expand their businesses by delivering on the promise of efficient reproduction of their clients’ content. By delegating the responsibility of content back to the brand owner, the designer experiences less liability risks. As the copy is dynamically linked to the brand owner’s XML-based content file, there is a significant cost reduction due to a reduced number of review cycles and less need for hardcopy proofs. By eliminating the process of cutting and pasting ‘revised text’, there is a significant reduction of errors, cost and lead times.

“As we stay in close collaboration with Adobe(r) and key brand owners such as Proctor & Gamble, we continue to learn how to best support the production process and develop best practices that benefit the packaging supply chain. Integration between the different supply chain players, error and lead-time reduction, and taking cost out of the entire process are our key focus areas. Dynamic Content is a good example of how we continue to ‘perfect’ tools for the supply chain,” remarks Frank Adegeest, EskoArtwork Director Packaging Design Software Product Group.

After an initial successful test phase, Dynamic Content is now available for volume shipment to customers.