Hi,
We are also a Commercial Esko workflow user. I have been told by Software Marketing and Software Engineers that Esko will not be discontinuing their support and improvements to the commercial product. Yes they are focused in on packaging however, this is not a negative in my mind. Having worked in a commercial shop for many years, no files I have seen in my 30 years in the commercial compare in complexity to some of the files we were handed in the packaging business. These files were for large folding cartons, 50"x50", full of vector and bitmap elements with sometimes up to 4/c plus 4 pms's. The rip and trapper handled these files flawlessly. I believe having to deal with files like this along with all the filters being applied to Illustrator files that this will drive more powerful and sophisticated rip and trapping.
BTW, I was told, and it should be made public soon, that ESKO has just signed a major contract with one of the largest commercial and publication printers in Europe and US to switch to the Esko workflow. I believe they are or will be switching from Prynergy.
Also, check out this forum..
jobs , no it is not his forum, notice that the ne you are on is prepressforum(s). The user you want to talk to is joepostscript. They have just installed the Scope workflow after doing an exhaustive comparison against the leading names. Esko won hands down, and this user is a very sophiticated individual. I am sure he will let you know how quickly Apogee fell out of the running.
Don't jump out and into anything else before you do your research.
