A traditional comparison of VDP software would detail the differences between Brand “A” VDP software, Brand “B” VDP software and so forth. This type of VDP software comparison, however, presumes that you want to buy VDP software. Maybe you’re not a super-experienced VDP software user, but you see the advantages of variable data printing for your business. If that’s the case, maybe you don’t really need to be hurting your head with VDP software comparisons.
The purpose of VDP software is to create hundreds or thousands print files. Printers don’t truly want to buy VDP software, but they do want VDP print files to print. In this case, the right place to start might be considering the various ways to get VDP print files rather than jumping straight into a VDP software comparison. The following example will make this clearer.
Printers commonly outsource UV coating and die cutting. Printers print materials, send those materials out to be coated and/or die cut, get the coated and/or cut materials back and finish the job. Obviously, the outsourcing printers have already made a comparison between purchasing UV coating and die cutting equipment and outsourcing this work. For a variety of practical and financial reasons, many printers choose to outsource UV coating and die cutting work. The printers aren’t comparing different brands of UV coaters but are comparing the benefits of in-house versus outsourced work.
For the same reasons you may not own a UV coater or die cutter, you might not want to purchase VDP software...if you can outsource the creation of VDP print files. You could look at comparisons of VDP software for cost, ease of use, support capability, etc. and to determine whether or not the best business decision is to outsource.
The point is that you do not have to buy VDP software to be in the VDP business. You can outsource the VDP print file creation just as you might outsource other pieces of a job. If VDP software comparisons leave you confused, then you should seriously consider outsourcing.
It’s called EZ-VDP(SM)!
