Gridiron Flow Mac beta

Gridiron software has released the public Mac beta of Flow, a workflow tool that helps creative professionals manage projects. The software creates a "big picture" look for each item in a project, as it moves through various applications used in the creative process. Gridiron says it has worked with Adobe, Apple and other vendors to provide integration with applications such as Photoshop, Final Cut Pro, Office and others.

The software relies on Workflow Maps, which show where each element of a particular document came from and how it is connected to an overall project. Flow can for example identify each graphic in a PowerPoint file, so the user can quickly locate source material if changes need to be made. Alternately a stray file on a user's desktop can be identified, and associated with the proper project.

Another feature called Real-Time Asset Tracking works in the background, recording changes made to every element of a project. Visual Versioning, meanwhile, operates similarly to Time Machine, saving each version of an item for later reversion when necessary.

Flow tracks the amount of time spent on each element of a project automatically, enabling office managers to more accurately estimate costs and control workers. Another tool -- Foolproof Packaging -- -- gathers all the files related to a project before it changes hands from one designer to another. Tags, tabs and bookmarks can be used to further organize a project.

The Flow beta requires an Intel Mac running Mac OS X 10.5 or higher. Gridiron is taking pre-orders for the final version of Flow for $250, a $50 discount on the retail price. The company says a public beta of the Windows version will be "coming shortly."

by MacNN Staff