The Print Shop 2.0 ships

Software MacKiev on Monday announced that it is shipping The Print Shop 2.0, a new version of its desktop publishing software for consumers.

The Print Shop provides ways for consumers to create everything from CD labels to personalized greeting cards, poster-sized calendars to pamphlets, and everything in between.

The Print Shop 2.0 was originally shown off at Macworld Conference & Expo in Boston, Mass. this past July, where it received Macworld’s “Best of Show” award. At the time, Software MacKiev suggested the software would ship in September. Software MacKiev missed that date, but took the extra time to prepare The Print Shop 2.0 for Apple’s forthcoming Intel-based Macs — this version ships as a “universal binary,” capable of running natively on PowerPC or Intel-based Mac hardware, once it’s finally available.

The new 2.0 version features much more advanced layout tools than its predecessor, including rulers, guidelines, grids and “snap to” functionality and a full set of alignment tools. Duplex (two-sided) printing is now supported, for printers capable of using that feature.

Also new to this release are more than twice as many photos and graphics as were included in the previous release, “Drag and Drop” support for iPhoto, live transparency and tint settings, new project types like DVD cases and multipage booklets, matching support for iDVD 3, 4 and 5 themes, support for more CD label brands, “nudge” precision alignment and more.

Enhancements for Mac OS X v10.4 “Tiger” users include photo effects, new special edges and transparency effects, and a Spotlight importer for Print Shop files.

The Print Shop 2.0 carries a suggested retail price of $59.95. Software MacKiev will offer users of the Print Shop for Mac OS X an upgrade path, to be announced before Macworld Expo in San Francisco in January.

System requirements call for Mac OS X v10.2 or later (some features require Mac OS X v10.4 or later), G3/350MHz or faster, 192MB RAM, 490 MB hard disk space.