Monthly Archives: October 2012
Extensis Products and Windows 8 Compatibility
October 31st, 2012 by Jim Kidwell
With Windows 8 recently released, many of you are probably itching to test out the new operating system from the fine folks in Redmond, Washington.
Font Management compatibility
For our font management applications, the single-user and client applications do not have any known issues and are compatible. Universal Type Server was designed to run using server hardware and software, so should not be run on Windows 8.
- Suitcase Fusion is compatible
- Universal Type Client is compatible
- Universal Type Server is not compatible
Digital Asset Management compatibility
Our digital asset management applications are not currently compatible with with Windows 8, though accessing assets using the Portfolio Server 10 Web Client using IE10 is supported.
WebINK compatibility
WebINK web fonts are supported across all major browser manufacturers, and there are no known issues with browsers running on Windows 8, including the newest browser Internet Explorer 10. We continually test with pre-release versions of all browsers to ensure maximum compatibility with each update.
Extensis exhibits at World Publishing Expo 2012 (IFRA Expo & Conference)
October 22nd, 2012 by Alexandra Barltrop
Come and see us this week at IFRA Expo 2012, the leading exhibition for technology to publish news on tablets, mobile, in print and online.
Visit Richard Bamford & Torsten Köbel on stand 480-3 in the Open Lounge Area, and see Portfolio Server 10, Universal Type Server 3 and WebINK in action.
Stop by to learn how to:
- Manage fonts across multiple workgroups with ease and efficiency
- Keep your organisation compliant with non-invasive, font license reporting
- Centralise and archive images, audio, video and document files
- Automate asset delivery and benefit from NetMediaMax
- Use WebINK to improve your readers’ online experience as news and content coverage continues to ‘converge’ at speed.
Event Details:
- 29th-31st October 2011 9.30 – 18.00
- Messe Frankfurt, Hall 8, Ludwig-Erhard-Anlage 1, 60327 Frankfurt/Main (Germany)
We hope that you will join us.
Legally Forcing Apple to use Arial in an Apology
October 19th, 2012 by Jim Kidwell
News broke recently that Apple lost it’s appeal in the the intellectual property infringement case with Samsung in the UK.
While Apple was awarded $1.05 Billion in damages in the US, the case was decidedly different in the UK.
What’s most interesting in the case for me was the fact that the Apple is being forced by the High Court of Justice to apologize in newspapers and on the web using the Arial typeface in at least 14 points.
Heck, if I were the judge, I would have had the sensitivity to Apple’s branding to require them to use Myriad. (Tongue planted firmly in cheek.)
A wee D(r)AM…
October 19th, 2012 by Alexandra Barltrop
Extensis held its bi-annual Distributor Conference this week on 15-16th October. It was my first one since being with the company and prior locations include England, France, Portugal, Italy and Dublin. This year, we held the event in Edinburgh, in the sumptuous location of Norton House Hotel, where our conference room looked out over a stunning Zen garden. The bright sunshine (unusual for Scotland!) put everyone in great spirits!
We were joined by several of our distributors from all over Europe – from Spain to Sweden, France to Finland, Poland to Portugal – all of whom were keen to learn about the latest products and news from Extensis. As well as the partners who have been selling our products for decades, there were a few new faces as well, all of whom we were happy to see. They represent Extensis in their respective countries and, whilst we are supposed to be educating them, it always turns into an exciting exchange of ideas, in which we all learn from each other. The enables us to improve our products and services in pursuit of ‘Perfect Partners’.
We put together an action packed agenda with presentations on a wide range of topics from the importance of font compliance to the thought process behind Extensis’ new branding. We also welcomed a guest speaker, John from the National Trust for Scotland, who is a Portfolio user and evangelist. He showed us how the Trust was using Portfolio to store its vast collection of assets, which was truly fascinating. We really appreciate him taking the time to join us.
It was a difficult task to top the whiskey tasting and Irish dancing which was the highlight of the previous conference in Dublin, but I think we managed to achieve it… Guests were treated to a truly unique and memorable experience – an evening aboard the Royal Yacht Britannia. For over 44 years she served the Royal Family, travelling over one million miles to become the most famous ship in the world. Decomissioned in 1997, the Royal Yacht is now berthed in Edinburgh. Not only is it a very popular tourist attraction, but also a unique and beautiful event venue. After a champagne reception, guests were given a tour of the ship, followed by a fabulous five course banquet – including, naturally, a haggis, that was piped in by the Britannia’s resident ‘Pipe Major’ in traditional dress, who then recited “Address to a Haggis” by Robert Burns – Scotland’s answer to Shakespeare.
Everyone agreed that it was a night to remember, and after a few whiskys, we all headed back to the hotel.
Just want to say a big thank you to everyone who attended, and here’s to the next one – although it may be hard to top the Britannia experience!
Less legible fonts and typography NOT necessarily better for learning
October 17th, 2012 by Thomas Phinney
Dr Myra Thiessen from the University of South Australia (Adelaide) presented some interesting new research at the annual ATypI international typography conference in Hong Kong last week. It was supportive of the results from the previous “ugly fonts” study, but she pointed out that does not mean she agrees with the conclusions generally being drawn from those results. She had some pretty convincing arguments as to why making stuff harder to read in general might not, in fact, enhance learning. Don’t go and immediately make all your presentations, essays and marketing materials harder to read!
Luckily, I got a quick photo of the slide where she summarized the arguments against. Here is the text:
However, if more cognitive capacity is needed in identification that means that less is available for higher-order functions related to comprehension and assimilation.
- long-term cognitive capacity may be negatively affected
- no cognitive capacity to engage with other stimular (i.e. less likely to notice the gorilla in the room)
Reading is as much about preference as it is about legibility
- if a text is difficult to be read it is less likely to be read
- reader fatigue is more likely
Mediocre photo from my smartphone below. 
(I note that her comments about “preference” are basically why people will tend to prefer and read more legible documents.)
illegiible fonts debunked
Suitcase Fusion 4 (v 15.0.4) Update Now Available
October 16th, 2012 by Jim Kidwell
A free update to the best selling font manager, Suitcase Fusion 4 is now available. This update addresses a number of reported issues with the font auto-activation plug-in for Photoshop CS6, as well as additional fixes. Updating is recommended.
Download the latest Suitcase Fusion 4 installer.
NOTE: If you have Suitcase Fusion 4 installed, you may have already been notified of this update via the auto-update feature.
To download via the “Check for Updates” feature:
- Launch Suitcase Fusion 4
- Choose Suitcase Fusion 4 > Check for Updates (Mac) or Tools > Check for Updates (Windows)
- Download and install the update.
Install the new plug-ins using the Plug-in manager:
- Choose Suitcase Fusion 4 > Manage-Plug-ins (Mac) or Tools > Manage Plug-ins (Windows)
- Enable plug-ins for supported applications.
See this list for full product compatibility information.
Learn about server-based font management with AIGA Chicago and Extensis
October 16th, 2012 by Edward Smith
Managing all of the potential pitfalls with fonts in the creative process can be a mind-boggling process, and dealing with all those typographic issues sure can work up an appetite.
So why not join the font management experts from Extensis for a Lunch & Learn session in Chicago? You’ll learn font management tips and best practices to improve efficiency while ensuring that the proper fonts are available to those who need them. The presentation will be followed by a lively discussion period where you can get answers to your most vexing font problems.
AIGA Chicago & Extensis Host Font Management Lunch & Learn
Design Studio + Art Gallery
Chicago, IL
Tuesday, October 23
Register Online & Receive Discount:
1. Visit http://chicago.aiga.org/event/extensis-lunch-learn/ and click REGISTER NOW
2. Select the Extensis category
3. Enter “ExtensisLunch” (case sensitive)
I hope to see you there!
How do Design + Social Good + Business Intersect? AIGA GAIN Event Insights
October 12th, 2012 by Jim Kidwell
After a harrowing day of travel due to the Alaska Airlines cable cut debacle, this week I finally made it to the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco for two days of inspiring conference material at AIGA GAIN: Design for Social Value Conference.
Talks were presented from a variety of different design perspectives – from product designers and architects, to more traditional print and web design fields. What was most interesting to me wasn’t the type of work that people were doing (which was inherently interesting) but more so was how they were financially and socially accomplishing their tasks.
Financially the projects and perspectives presented ranged the full gambit from directly selling items to consumers, to projects that were primarily funded through grants and government programs. The most interesting end of the spectrum was the business end, which is more of an up-and-coming end to the ways that people accomplish social good.
One of the shining examples that isbased primarily on business and economic needs was Debbie Aung Din and Jim Taylor of Proximity Designs‘ discussion of their work in Myanmar. This non-traditional design duo comes from an economics background with no traditional design education. They work with in-country suppliers, labor, and Stanford Design School participants to design and manufacture water pumps and other tools designed to make life better for people in this primarily agrarian society. Their foot-powered water pump has become a widespread success that has increased the output and effectiveness of the typical Myanmar farmer. Changing lives as the pump’s sales spread across the country. It all wouldn’t have happened without the acceptance of the consumer of a product well-designed to meet their needs.
The social aspect was also critical to most projects. The widespread involvement of diverse participants was germane to each project. What all successful projects had in common was an intense focus on the integration of beneficiaries throughout the entire process. This ensured that the projects were on target to succeed, and in most cases became self-perpetuating after the initial organizers were no longer involved.
From side projects to full-time commitments, I came away with the distinct impression that participating in design projects of this type were as rewarding for the individuals on the receiving end, as they were to those who were giving.
One final thought. I’d like to further extend the Your Street challenge that Ravi Naidoo extended to all of the designers at the conference. The challenge funds small projects designed to extend a sense of delight and wonder to the street where you live. This is something that we all can do, whether you submit a proposal to the challenge, or you decide to fund the work yourself. Extend the beauty you envision to the immediate world around you. To reiterate a quote from Ghandi often heard at the conference, “Be the change you want to see in the world.”
Want even more info? See the #gainconference hashtag on Twitter.
How do you hoard digital assets?
October 11th, 2012 by Edward Smith
Portfolio Server is a lifesaver for anyone who manages a large “hoard” of rich media files like photos, videos, and documents because it allows people to quickly find, organize and convert the files in their collection. The “find” part is especially important because, hey, they’re only assets if you can find them!
So, I’d like to know what type of information is important to you when finding and using files. Please take 45 seconds (seriously) and step over to the DAM Learning Center and answer a quick two question survey on what information you track (or want to track) for finding and using files.
My experience at the Createasphere digital asset management conference
October 8th, 2012 by Edward Smith
I recently attended the Createasphere digital asset management conference in New York City and really enjoyed it.
Createasphere is one of a few major conferences focused solely on digital asset management and, according to their site, a place where you can “explore where the content creation industry is headed, learn from world class professionals, connect with your peers and quickly access the best resources and expertise available.” As the Product Marketing Manager for DAM Solutions at Extensis and an admitted DAM Geek, it’s no wonder that I was excited to attend the conference for the first time.
I found the session content and presentations to be very informative and entertaining. I’ve seen DAM related talks in the past that were too academic, too theoretical, and just plain boring. However, the presentations at Createasphere provided practical advice and included just the right amount of “DAM” puns and jokes (trust me, it’s easy to over do it with the DAM jokes). One of those presentations was from a user of Portfolio Server, Bob Hendriks, who talked about how In Transit Images uses the Portfolio API to sell photographs online (you can watch a similar version of his presentation in this webcast recording).
Another favorite session was a presentation from Christy King, Director of New Media & Tech at UFC titled “The DAM Truth: You are Introducing a Work Culture Revolution When You Advocate for an Asset Management System”. One of the many interesting points she made was “Do you really need to keep everything?” where she questioned keeping different formats of a file in addition to the original high-res file. This reminded me of how NetMediaMAX eliminates the need to create and store duplicate files by providing on-demand format conversion.
I also did a bit of networking meeting with existing Portfolio Server users, prospective customers, and even had a nice dinner with the conference organizers.
I really enjoyed the conference and hope to attend again in the future since I got a lot out of it. Have you ever attended a DAM related conference? What would you hope to learn or experience at a conference like Createasphere? Let me know by leaving a comment.
