Adobe steps into personalized print production

Built on the same code base as Adobe's popular design and layout program InDesign, the new version adapts the software's composition and graphics capabilities to a server platform. It allows for the creation of automated editorial workflows, collateral creation, data-driven publishing and template-based Web publishing.

Mark Hilton, senior director of creative professional products at Adobe, says publishers are under pressure to produce personalized content more often, with fewer resources at their disposal, and argues this can often come at the expense of design quality.

“Now, with Adobe InDesign Server CS2, system integrators and developers can build automated publishing solutions that help customers save time, money, and resources without sacrificing visual quality,” says Hilton.

InDesign Server CS2 allows users to integrate their own personalized solutions through its extensive programming capabilities, and supports a broad base of usage across newspapers, magazines, catalog and book publishing. Adobe reports that more than 120 partners are evaluating InDesign Server CS2 for potential use.

Adobe InDesign Server CS2 will be available to qualified developer partners by the end of the year. More information can be obtained by visiting www.adobe.com/products/indesign/indservermain.html .

In other Adobe news, the company's purchase of Macromedia has been cleared by the US Department of Justice, with the acquisition expected to be completed within the next few weeks.