FlightCheck Online

Markzware today launched its on-demand Web-based pre-flighting solution based on QuarkXPress Server 7. FlightCheck Online is a cost-effective, file-delivery solution that offers a convenient workflow for customers to ensure digital files conform to print-ready specifications. QuarkXPress Server 7 combines the design and collaboration functionality of QuarkXPress with server-based performance. Integrated with FlightCheck Online, the company is offering a online preflighting solution that allows customers to "pre-qualify" QuarkXPress files before delivering them for printing. FlightCheck Online checks the files against customized preflight rule sets defined by the output provider. It works with Mac OS 9/X browsers: Netscape 4.7, Safari (Tiger-only), IE 5.x (Mac OS 9), but not Mozilla Firefox. The server runs on Mac OS X 10.4 (running Apache, PostgresSQL, Developer tools, PHP, Sendmail, and ftp services). Pricing starts at $400/month.

The service offers pre-built, customizable Web templates, automated customer ID/Password login with database, complete administration services, Preflight Rule Set management, customer transaction logs with error report and file retrieval, and cross-platform Mac/Windows functionality.

Markzware said that FlightCheck Online is designed to deliver a "complete" QuarkXPress project with all the correct fonts and images in place and provides immediate feedback on any errors. FlightCheck Online uploads the approved/compliant files to the server, decompresses them, automatically loads the specific required fonts, and outputs the job through QuarkXPress Server.

"Users are able to publish their documents in an error free, print ready PDF format because the QuarkXPress project has been fully preflighted and all elements needed for successful output have been incorporated into the job," said Markzware's David Dilling. "Users can create PDFs in low- or high-resolution versions for proofing and production."

by MacNN Staff