NEW YORK, April 4, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- XMPie(r), the leading provider of software for dynamic publishing, announced that Clemson University in South Carolina and Parsons School of Design in New York are using uDirect(tm), the innovative entry-level desktop solution for variable data printing, in their classrooms. XMPie's contribution has accelerated the core courses at both schools, renowned for their progressive graphic communications programs.
uDirect provides professionals with a desktop solution for creating sophisticated VDP documents using Adobe(r) InDesign(r) CS. It is also compatible with XMPie PersonalEffect software, allowing easy migration from desktop-based print-only projects to the full scope of cross-media, custom-developed workflows (such as web-to-print) and other robust features.
According to Michael Josefowicz, Special Projects Manager of the Parsons CD Publishing Center at Parsons School of Design, "The students are using uDirect within InDesign, and they don't experience it as a separate program so it's very intuitive. uDirect is the perfect entryway into VDP."
As part of the progressive curricula at both institutions, XMPie software is incorporated into professional settings designed to prepare students for real-life work experience. Students at Clemson University have taken on projects for local businesses to pay for road trips to commercial printers, such as DME in Florida. There they can see first hand the execution of advanced variable data campaigns developed with XMPie PersonalEffect software. Parsons students developed a series of VDP programs for Astoria Graphics, a local industry partner of the communications design department. This gave college seniors the chance to use XMPie software on professional projects.
The indispensable function that XMPie software serves in these classrooms is a validation of the necessity and emerging ubiquity of variable data publishing. "uDirect and PersonalEffect put the power in the designers' and marketers' hands to be more creative with data than ever before," said John Leininger, Professor of Graphic Communications at Clemson University. "uDirect puts students on the path to working with sophisticated VDP solutions like PersonalEffect so that they have an advantage when they hit the job market."
In addition, XMPie uDirect is being used by California Polytechnic Institute in San Luis Obispo, CA and its system-based PersonalEffect by the Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, NY.
"We are extremely pleased to be able to offer these prestigious institutions the opportunity to experiment extensively with variable data," said Jacob Aizikowitz, president and CEO of XMPie. "These students are the VDP professionals of tomorrow. We hope that through their learning experiences with our software, they will understand that VDP is merely a logical extension of desktop publishing, and recognize that it is simpler and more effective than ever before."
Any college or university that would like to add XMPie software to their curricula can download the Windows and Macintosh trial versions of uDirect as well as the step-by-step tutorial for free from the XMPie website. uDirect can be used indefinitely with limited output capabilities after the 30-day trial period. For more information, go to www.xmpie.com.
About XMPie
XMPie Inc. is the leading provider of software for dynamic publishing. Its award-winning PersonalEffect software helps businesses get the increased responses of 1:1 marketing by making it efficient to design and produce highly personalized communications, in any media on demand. XMPie bridges design, data and printing functions to enable highly relevant marketing that increases responses while building stronger and more profitable customer relationships. XMPie is a privately held company headquartered in New York with operations in the U.S. and Israel. For more information on XMPie, visit www.xmpie.com.