Kursiv GmbH in liquidation

Kursiv GmbH in liquidation

Business closure and realignment

6. December 2023In News, Publishing, WordPressBy Karsten Risseeuw1 Minute

In 2023, Kursiv GmbH was put into liquidation for reasons of age. The last projects will be completed these months. All active clients have been informed. Effective immediately, no more products will be sold via this website. Markzware products can be purchased directly from > Markzware or from other resellers. I would like to thank you for many years of cordial and professional cooperation.

Now we are moving on to new horizons and activities. Work is already underway to realign this website for 2024.

Karsten Risseeuw


FlightCheck 2024 supports CreativeCloud 2024

FlightCheck 2024 supports CreativeCloud 2024

New version of FlightCheck now also supports the latest version of Adobe CC


The best document check for prepress is called FlightCheck. The new version supports more formats than ever before.

Adobe CreativeCloud

If you work with Adobe CreativeCloud, you can always download the latest versions. It is therefore important that additional tools support these new versions. The latest version of FlightCheck 2024, which has just been launched, also supports the new document format from Adobe CreativeCloud 2024.

Document check via drag-and-drop

It couldn’t be simpler. Documents from InDesign, XPress, Publisher, PDF and many other formats are automatically recognized by FlightCheck. It is therefore sufficient to simply drag such a document onto the FlightCheck 2024 program to check the document immediately for possible errors. Drag-and-drop is all it takes.

If you want to parameterize the result even better, or, for example, map the requirements of the printing press in the test, then all elements can be easily adjusted.

Another advantage of Adobe products is the Markzware menu in InDesign, for example. FlightCheck 2024 preflighting can be called up directly from there.

Detection of image manipulation with artificial intelligence

If you check Photoshop files from Creative Cloud 2024, for example, image elements that were created using artificial intelligence (such as Adobe Firefly) are also marked.

Video

Ensure quality

Preflighting software can be used to ensure the output quality. But that’s not the only advantage. During work preparation, you can also check the incoming documents for possible sources of error, missing images, special colors and the like. This simplifies communication with the customer, shortens any queries and prevents undetected errors from being recognized during or after production. Preflighting prevents costly errors.


Preflighting or postflighting?

Preflighting or postflighting?

Which is better and what would be an alternative?


7. November 2023In PublishingBy Karsten Risseeuw5 Minutes

What is the difference between preflighting and postflighting? We will look at this in this article and we will also look at an alternative.

Preventing and correcting errors in the source document

Preflighting is the document check before output. Anyone who publishes documents or prepares them for print is well advised to check that they are free of errors before they are printed or distributed.

Preflighting aims to catch errors before printing or before PDF output takes place. The correction takes place before (“pre-“) this edition. The idea is twofold:

  1. Correct errors in the source document so that the cause of the problem is eliminated.
  2. Correct errors before printing or PDF output.

The error is corrected in the prepress stage in the original software, for example in Adobe InDesign, Affinity Publisher or QuarkXPress. Only then is the PDF output created or data collected for printing.

Correct errors in the output

With post-flighting, the correction takes place after the output (“post-“). This usually involves checking PDF documents, which are checked again before printing or distribution in networks, for example. For this purpose, software solutions are used that allow limited editing of PDF documents. However, bear in mind that a PDF document was never intended as a basis for editing and therefore only has limited possibilities.

Postflighting is used by many companies as a standard backup. However, the output format is corrected here and the original document remains unaffected. If you want to avoid this error in the future, you would have to make a correction in the original documents in parallel with the post-flighting. This is the only way to avoid having to make another correction in the next edition.

Not all preflighting is the same

Every publishing software today offers a kind of basic check before output. This is known as preflighting. However, Markzware offers other solutions that offer more possibilities. FlightCheck Pro also checks embedded objects such as EPS files, PDF files and the like. In addition, the audit and reporting can be set up according to your own specifications. This is both more flexible and safer.

Markzware FlightCheck Pro offers both preflighting and postflighting. Both the original publishing documents and the PDF files created from them can be checked. From work preparation (the customer sends data) to output (the finished publishing documents or PDF files), everything can be checked.

Production safety

The real issue is not preflighting or postflighting, but production safety. You don’t check documents because it’s entertaining, but because you want to prevent problems in production. Those who recognize errors early on have a better grip on their own production planning, can argue more easily with customers and build up a corresponding quality in their work.

It has proven to be a good idea to view production security and document verification as a standardization of our own processes. Documents are not only created according to standard specifications, but also checked. The reason for this is simple: you don’t work the same way every day and unforeseen things can happen. Careful checking prevents errors from becoming very expensive.

Production reliability – and therefore preflighting and postflighting – is important

  • when exchanging documents
  • when issuing documents
  • when transferring documents from other projects.

The standardization of these tests increases the quality and reliability of your operating processes. It affects both your company and communication with the customer.

An alternative to postflighting

Those who prefer post-flighting, i.e. checking print-ready PDF files, also have an alternative. Instead of correcting the PDF file, a new original file can also be created. This is done using PDFMarkz, which analyzes a PDF file and creates an IDML file that can be opened in all major publishing solutions. This produces a new original file that can be corrected for errors. Once the document has been corrected, a new edition can be created.

However, if you have the original document, preflighting is the safest and simplest solution because it can be used to correct the original document.


Make PDF documents editable

Make PDF documents editable

PDFMarkz converts PDF documents to InDesign, XPress and Affinity Publisher.


15. September 2023In PublishingBy Karsten Risseeuw3 Minutes

Is the original document missing and is there only a PDF file? How can an original file be created from it again? This task is performed by PDFMarkz, a conversion tool from Markzware.

PDF files are editable only to a limited extent. This is logical, because PDF files were only meant for transport. It is an output format, not an editable format. If problems arise in PDF files, they can be rudimentarily edited with special tools, but they cannot be converted to editable formats.

However, PDFMarkz makes this possible. The software converts PDF files to IDML format. From there, the file can be opened as editable original files in known publishing solutions. These include XPress, InDesign, and Affinity Publisher.

Original files missing

Sometimes you only have a PDF file and no original file anymore. Rebuilding a design often takes a lot of time and is therefore expensive. However, it is quick and easy to convert the PDF file to one of the standard publishing solutions.

All texts, images, elements are usually adopted without any problems. Images of the PDF file are swapped out. All colors are listed. These and other conversions are done in minutes and significantly reduce the time and effort required to recreate them. It is the fastest way to a new and editable document.

When converting a document with PDFMarkz, the IDML format is just an intermediate stage. The IDML format can be opened in InDesign, XPress or Publisher and saved there. This way you get an editable file in a professional publishing environment again in no time.

Convert Word files

Many customers are not familiar with publishing solutions. Instead, you do everything with Word or other text programs. However, these are unsuitable for prepress. Now how to convert a Word file to InDesign? This is possible with PDFMarkz.

The process is simple and involves the following steps:

  1. First, open the document again in Word,
  2. exports it from Word as a PDF,
  3. opens it in PDFMarkz afterwards,
  4. where you specify the desired destination format.

In order to export an IDML to XPress, InDesign or Affinity Publisher, a license of this software must be installed. The conversion from the IDML format is done via the IDML import functions of these publishing software solutions.

That was all!


All Markzware conversion solutions are now available for Mac and Windows

All Markzware conversion solutions are now available for Mac and Windows

All products are based on the same new MarkzOne technology


9. March 2023In PublishingBy Karsten Risseeuw2 Minutes

This week Markzware has completed its line of conversion solutions. All data conversion software solutions are now available for Mac and Windows.

Conversion of publishing documents

Markzware conversion solutions shine in prepress. The major publishing platforms all come with dedicated document formats. Markzware products convert InDesign documents to Affinity Publisher, or QuarkXPress documents to InDesign, for example. PDF documents can also be converted and turned into editable documents.

  • IDMarkz: Converts INDD documents
  • QXPMarkz: Converts QXP documents
  • PDF Markz: Converts PDF documents
  • OmniMarkz: Converts INDD, QXP and PDF documents (the all-rounder)

For these conversions, Markzware has developed its own new technology, called the MarkzOne engine. All products work with this engine, which does not require any other publishing software installed to perform conversions. This makes you completely independent of other licenses. The conversion solutions can therefore also be used without any problems in work preparation.

For example, if you have an archive of older INDD documents from InDesign, but you don’t have an active subscription to Creative Cloud, you won’t be able to open the documents. However, IDMarkz or OmniMarkz can be used to quickly and reliably convert INDD documents to QuarkXPress or Affinity Publisher, output them as image files, or check them for various characteristics.

Accordingly, the current products provide Mac and Windows users with good solutions for everyday digital life, allowing digital documents to be saved in other formats. This is comparable to the transfer of old typesetting to a new structure.

All products

Open InDesign documents without InDesign

Open InDesign documents without InDesign

What to do if there is no license from Adobe?


3. January 2023In PublishingBy Karsten Risseeuw7 Minutes

Publishing software usually works with its own file formats. For InDesign, for example, there is the INDD format. This format can be opened only with InDesign. Or is there another way?

The dilemma of licensing

File formats are tricky. Dedicated file formats exist for almost every software. This often allows peculiarities of the software to be better taken into account. At the same time, the format also offers an advantage for software producers. The special format binds the customer to the software.

This bond is not always voluntary. Adobe, for example, launched a subscription system with the introduction of Creative Cloud. As long as you pay, you can download and use software solutions. For example, if you cancel the subscription, you can no longer use the software. This makes it impossible to open existing documents. This is a real problem if you use the software too infrequently to justify a subscription, or if you move to another publishing platform. I know from many users that they often do not want this form of licensing.

Particularly when new software solutions become available, or you change the direction of your work, the need for the old publishing software can become vanishingly small. But what to do if you need a document again? This creates a predicament that almost forces the user to go back to the subscription system.

Is there another way?

Access to archive files

Imagine having worked with InDesign for more than 10 years. During this time hundreds, if not thousands of files were created in INDD format. If you cancel your Creative Cloud subscription, you no longer have access to these files. This is the predicament that was just written about before. The chance that you will need these files again is small.

If you still have InDesign, you can open the file and save it as IDML. The IDML format can also be reopened in various other solutions. Perfect, you might think. However, you are then forced to keep a license of InDesign active. If you want to avoid this, you can of course open all archive files in tedious work and save them again as IDML files. So you get a second archive, with nothing but IDML files.

If this is not desired, and a file still needs to be opened, you can always go to a colleague who works with InDesign and have the file converted there. However, it can also be done more elegantly.

An elegant solution

The two products “IDMarkz” and “OmniMarkz” convert native INDD files directly to IDML. This is the elegant solution. It is no longer necessary to have an InDesign license installed to use IDMarkz and OmniMarkz.

The difference between IDMarkz and OmniMarkz is the number of formats that can be read. IDMarkz reads only INDD files, while OmniMarkz can also convert files from QuarkXPress or PDF files.

Both products convert documents in seconds, depending on the file size. The conversion creates an IDML document that can be opened directly in older versions of InDesign, in XPress or in Affinity Publisher, for example.

If one has one of the two conversion solutions from Markzware, one has direct access to archive files, or can easily open files from customers. The IDML file can be edited in other applications and then saved again as a native document for the new platform. All elements are editable.

As with any conversion, keep in mind that the publishing platform has been changed. Thus, the process is suitable for a takeover of standing record, not as a bridge for continuous exchange. Each document is displayed slightly differently on its own platform. For example, the font width can be calculated with other algorithms on the layout. So it can happen that a word just does not fit into a text column anymore and there is a new text flow. Therefore, each converted document should be carefully checked, as you should do with each document transfer.

With or without updates?

IDMarkz can be licensed for Mac or Windows and as an annual subscription or a perpetual version. What are the differences between the two types of licenses?

If you purchase the software as an annual subscription, you will receive all updates and upgrades automatically for the licensed period. This is useful if you constantly receive new InDesign documents. You are then always up to date. It is the right choice if you want maximum flexibility and timeliness.

If you only process your own archive data and no longer use a newer version of InDesign, you can also purchase a perpetual license. This eliminates the annual costs and all your own archive files can still be opened. However, this version cannot be updated to a newer version.

OmniMarkz is versatile. It is the perfect tool for regular processing of a wide variety of documents from which you want to create editable originals again. You don’t need InDesign license, XPress license or PDF editor to convert these document formats to a new original. OmniMarkz is the tool of choice in a prepress environment with constantly changing document formats. In my opinion, an annual license including all updates and upgrades is recommended.


Retro dashboard of a car

What is FlightCheck?

What is FlightCheck?

Why use preflighting software?


24. October 2022In PublishingBy Karsten Risseeuw4 Minutes

Summer 2022 Markzware has launched a new product called “FlightCheck 2022”. What does it do? Some may remember an older product “FlightCheck Pro”. Once, it was the most renowned product of Markzware. For several years now, it has not been further developed. It was time for a new edition. Today FlightCheck 2022 is available for Mac.

Preflighting and postflighting

FlightCheck checks documents from the prepress stage. This is called preflighting. The idea is to check documents that arrive at a printing house (such as documents from graphic designers, customers, etc.) or that are approved for printing (or PDF). The task of the software is early detection of faulty documents, so that errors do not lead to subsequent costs in production.

The process of checking native publishing documents (before output and before printing) is called preflighting. The checking of output documents (PDF) is called postflighting.

The task of the software is early detection of faulty documents, so that errors do not lead to subsequent costs in production.

Preflighting is done to detect errors at an early stage. These include hairlines so that they do not “break out” in print, or text overflow in the text frame, incorrect color formats for images, missing fonts in included EPS files and such things more.

Quality assurance

Preflighting and postflighting are about quality assurance. One ensures that the documents are error-free. Which criteria are used for this can be conveniently set in FlightCheck 2022. This allows each user to use their own settings.

Consistent quality assurance with FlightCheck 2022 prevents expensive errors. Because preflighting takes place with the original files (InDesign, QuarkXPress), detected errors can be corrected directly in the original document. Logical, but not self-evident. Those who can correct detected errors directly at the source also have the better cards for later applications and outputs (e.g., print + PDF or different PDF variants).

Quality assurance ensures quality, and thus also costs.

Embedding in the workflow

FlightCheck 2022 is a tool that can be integrated at neuralgic points in production:

  1. While preparing incoming jobs
    Incoming documents are first checked before being passed on to the publishing department. FlightCheck 2022 checks documents independently and does not depend on whether XPress, InDesign or Adobe Acrobat is installed. If there are errors, missing fonts or other problems, these can be detected instantly and be reported back to the customer.
  2. For document output
    Once a document is processed and approved for printing, a final check should be made by FlightCheck 2022. The software checks more than the preflighting tools of the publishing programs themselves.

Standardization

Last, FlightCheck 2022 is also a tool for standardizing output. Data checking, collection, and delivery, as well as rapport functions, support a smooth publishing document output process. By implementing standard procedures, many errors can be detected and eliminated at an early stage. It can also be used to document correct output, which can be seen as a sign of quality for graphic designers and printers.

Not only the output for print is important, but also for digital output as PDF files is not easy. Here you can check the output before the documents are distributed. PDF files from other sources can also be included, such as from databases, word processors and the like.

Standardization and quality assurance is not free, but saves many costs. Not only that: preflighting can also save weekends, reduce unexpected expenses and time spent, and thus make a significant contribution to the success of your work.


Introducing OmniMarkz

Introducing OmniMarkz

How the Markzware conversion solutions work


23. February 2022In News, PublishingBy Karsten Risseeuw1 Minute

Markzware conversion solutions have been proven for many years. There are good conversions for documents from Adobe InDesign (INDD), QuarkXPress (QXP) and PDF documents (PDF). Recently there is OmniMarkz, which combines all three individual products and can therefore convert all of the file formats mentioned here. OmniMarkz is something like the Swiss army knife for publishing documents.

The following video is an introduction to OmniMarkz. However, because the products all work in the same way, the video can also be viewed as an introduction to IDMarkz, QXPMarkz and PDFMarkz.

How OmniMarkz works

More information about OmniMarkz can be found here:


Timothy Muza: Female finger touching screen

OmniMarkz combines all previous conversion solutions from Markzware

OmniMarkz combines all previous conversion solutions from Markzware

Quick conversion of PDF, INDD and QXP


7. January 2022In News, PublishingBy Karsten Risseeuw7 Minutes

The preparation of digital documents is often demanding. This not only applies to the output, but also applies to the data that you receive from customers or suppliers. How do you open different document formats? One method is to insist on “standards”. However, the fact is that there are several established data formats. As a professional contractor, you should be able to handle all formats. There is now OmniMarkz, an all-round tool from Markzware for converting important prepress document formats.

Data conversion

Almost every software has its own document format. This is often very useful when working with a particular program. But if you want to exchange documents, each party must be able to read these documents. That is not always cleared up straight away. It annoys me if you tacitly assume that everyone works with Microsoft products and everyone does their graphic work with Adobe products. This has not been the case for a long time.

The trend is towards diversification. There are more programs available, and each of these programs often has its own format. Exchange formats are also becoming increasingly common. For example, InDesign can generate so-called IDML files. They can now also be opened in other programs, whereby the IDML file is then automatically converted into the internal format.

Exchange formats are therefore important for collaboration. They make it possible to create a work here and process it there. It should be noted, however, that all software “interprets” a document. So there may be minor differences between the display on two different platforms. Rounding differences in the spacing of a font can, for example, lead to the very last word in a line of text sliding to the next page, even though this is not wanted at all. Control is therefore mandatory after every conversion.

The best way to compare data conversion is to adopt a standing sentence. For example, the customer only has a PDF file of an old travel brochure and no longer has original files. With a suitable conversion solution, you can now convert the PDF file to an original file in XPress, InDesign or Affinity Publisher. This would allow the old document structure to be rebuilt much faster than preparation for the new prospectus.

OmniMarkz is the Swiss Army Knife for file conversions

Document conversions are demanding. Markzware already offers 3 proven software solutions:

  1. IDMarkz converts INDD files from InDesign.
  2. QXPMarkz converts QXP files from QuarkXPress
  3. PDFMarkz converts PDF files from almost any source.

All three products are now summarized in OmniMarkz. So you are armed for almost any eventuality.

OmniMarkz imports INDD files as well as QXP and PDF files. Original software does not even have to be available for this. OmniMarkz also works if it is the only program on the computer where incoming jobs are checked and prepared. This need not be a fully equipped publishing workstation.

Thats how it works

Conversion solutions from Markzware convert internally to IDML and from there to the big wide world. IDML is a format that is already read by many programs today because it is a well-structured and open description of a file. OmniMarkz can already show an approximate preview of the file and also allows you to scroll through the file. If everything fits, you can start a conversion. There are various options to choose from:

  • Conversion to various image formats and PDF
  • Direct opening in XPress, InDesign or, for example, Affinity Publisher.

Conversion Limits

Data conversion is perfect for converting existing documents into another format once. However, these solutions are not suitable for constantly moving documents back and forth between several layout programs. A file conversion should be viewed as a one-time takeover of standing sentence. A control is always required after the conversion.

The fact that a file conversion is now often extremely successful should not hide the complexity of the challenge. There are big differences between different layout programs, even if they solve similar things. The conversion looks for the best match for the other program – provided that it is there.

Evaluation of a solution

The best question when evaluating a software solution like OmniMarkz is always this: How much time can I save? For example, if it takes 8 hours of work to rebuild the document identically without conversion, how expensive would that be? The more time has to be invested, the cheaper the conversion solution appears. It should be noted, however, that the conversion must always be checked. It would be better if you clarify for yourself how much time (and thus money) you want to save and where.

Depending on the situation, it can also be stated that some things cannot be solved at all if no conversion software is available.

  • How do you convert a Word document to InDesign?
    (by creating a PDF file and then converting it to InDesign in no time with OmniMarkz)
  • How can the elements of a website be used for a new XPress document?
    (by converting the website to PDF and from there using OmniMarkz to XPress)
  • How can I open InDesign documents if I don’t have InDesign (any more)?
    (by converting the INDD file to another format via OmniMarkz)


Markzware products adapted to Big Sur and Apple Silicon

In MacOS Big Sur Apple has included some landscapes as illustrations for the desktop.

Markzware products adapted to Big Sur and Apple Silicon


20. November 2020In PublishingBy Karsten Risseeuw1 Minutes

Markzware adapts the latest products. IDMarkz and QXPMarkz now run on both Big Sur and Apple Silicon Macs.

Apple has announced some groundbreaking new technologies. The MacOS 11 Big Sur operating system is now supported by QXPMarkz and IDMarkz. Also supported are the new Apple Silicon machines, which are being shipped these days for the first time.

Both products are now Universal Binary, which means that they are compatible with both older systems and the new hardware line.

Other Markzware products are PDF2DTP and FlightCheck Pro. Here, it can be assumed that the adjustments will be made as soon as new versions are released. For PDF2DTP it is obvious that there will be a similar standalone product like QXPMarkz or IDMarkz. FlightCheck Pro is no longer under development and hopefully a new version will be released.

Markzware has been continuously developing products for well over 20 years now. Occasionally old products were discontinued to make room for new products. Reliable product development looks like this. You can be curious about the things that are in preparation.

IDMarkz and QXPMarkz run on MacOS 11 Big Sur.

If you have a current license for QXPMarkz or IDMarkz, you can download the latest version via your personal license URL