Now offers additional recording options, more

Layer Comps 2.0, an updated plug-in for Adobe InDesign (versions CS3 and higher for both Mac and Windows) enables users to record different layout variations of documents, enabling the same content to be re-arranged for many different formats or platforms within a single document. The new version adds further recording abilities, as well as features specifically geared for iPad and tablet publishing.

Also included in v2 is new recording options, such as objects' size and position, page size and orientation and the states of layers in Photoshop and Illustrator linked graphics, noting any changes in appearance or effects applied between versions.

By keeping multiple layouts of the same document within the document, Layer Comps allows graphic artists and designers to dramatically cut down on duplicated effort or the potential for "wrong version" errors at the printing stage. The software also records layer visibility, layer order and allows exporting user-selected comps to various output formats. The program is widely used in catalog, advertising and now tablet-oriented publishing, as traditional print production increasingly needs to also be repurposed for digital use.

DTP Tools' Layer Comps v2 costs $40 per license, and can be purchased as part of the Layer Tools bundle, which also includes the Layer Groups plug-in. The upgrade is free for existing users, and a 14-day trial version is available.

by MacNN Staff