Quark Inc. on Tuesday introduced QuarkXPress 6.5, a new version of their flagship desktop publishing software. New features have been added including the QuarkVista image editing plug-in, native multi-layer Photoshop file import and layer editing and an upgrade to the QuarkXClusive XTensions module used for variable data publishing that’s available only to Mac OS X users.
With QuarkVista, QuarkXPress can optimize images for output by applying scale, crop, angle and skew transformations, and can perform graphic file format and color space conversions as well. And Quark’s PSD Import plug-in, developed using technology created by a lowly apprentice production inc., lets users switch image layers on and off, modify opacities and blend methods, assign spot colors as channels and more.
QuarkXPress 6.5 also adds support for PPML-T, for support of HP Indigo digital presses using HP Production Flow. Support has also been added for Citrix application deployment software. QuarkXPress 6.5 also gains improvements in both reliability and stability.
Quark said that QuarkXPress 6.5 will ship in the next 30 days, and will be offered as a free upgrade to registered QuarkXPress 6 users. It will be available as an online download or on CD-ROM. The PSD Import XTensions module and updated QuarkXClusive XTensions module will be released after QuarkXPress 6.5 is made available.