MIS SUPPLIER THARSTERN HAS TEAM UP WITH Chili Publish to take web to print into web to design and online document editing. The latest version of Tharstern’s e4print application was launched last week and it includes the Belgian browser based page creation software.
Tharstern managing director Keith McMutrie opened a session at Manchester United’s Old Trafford ground saying “A lot of web to print is really web to PDF with no materials allocation, no reporting and no integration. E4Print Pro by contrast is a part of an integrated workflow solution.”
THE NEW VERSION OF THE APPLICATION CONTINUES a line of development since Tharstern’s first online variable data capability ten years ago. It brings a customisable intuitive interface, allowing a customer to select from a catalogue of products, call them to screen, price, order and approve the jobs online.
The integration with Chili involves launching the design application to allow users to edit and modify page templates with control over images and fine typographical control. It has based on the tools of an InDesign application, but without the cost. “We have been trying to find the ideal partner to deliver variable print,” McMutrie explained. “We looked at InDesign server, but that was too expensive, Quark was out there, but we could never find the tight solution with a partner to interface to the MIS.”
WITH MOST PARTNERING TO CREATE A JOINT PRODUCT there are issues over user rights and privileges to consider let alone the tightness of the integration. This does not exist with Chili Publisher, with Tharstern able to use Chili’s API to deliver a seamless integration where actions within the design tool are passed through to the production system and to invoicing. “It is difficult to see where Tharstern ends and where Chili begins,” he added.
Chili is a cloud based application but works through a browser to give real time feedback on any actions taken just like working in a desktop design program. There is no click rate, just a single subscription regardless of usage. It is also used for the online approval element of E4print Pro with simple annotation and sign off sequences. Once in the production system, Tharstern’s normal range of tools is available including its link to Metrix for creating and controlling ganged up jobs.
THE WEB BASED JOB MANAGEMENT TOOL covers non print as well as print items, ordering from stock and Paypal payment. Order tracking and drill down reports are also features. The system, including Chili Publisher, has been trialled at Hunts the Print People, where managing director Timon Colegrove commented that the design tool took him back to the days of Pagemaker when page make up was simple enough for him to manage. “It’s a prime example of a solution that we can take to one of our clients to make their experience of us much slicker.”
E4Print Pro is available now, but will require V5.1 of the Tharstern Primo MIS which is shipped at the end of this month.
