Issue link: https://nbm.uberflip.com/i/1362655
1 2 G R A P H I C S P R O S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 1 G R A P H I C S - P R O. C O M O nce upon a time, not that long ago, graphic profes- sionals made their art by hand and managed their bookkeeping on paper. What a time, right? However, if you're reading this and thinking, "What do you mean? I'm still doing that," it may be time to reevaluate your relationship with software and all the benefits you're missing out on. FINDING THE ONE Software is a broad term that en- compasses a wide range of topics and uses. Even in the graphics in- dustry, there are a lot of different ways businesses utilize it. "Shops use software in many different facets of their businesses, which directly relate to shop manage- ment, sales, design, production, scheduling, communication, and accounting, among others," says Lila Carsten, shopVOX. It also helps shops be more effi- cient and organized, adds Michelle Johnson, SAi. In short, software is a vital tool for any business. Finding the right software can be a challenging but important part of setting up, upgrading, or enhancing your business. Accord- ing to John Falsetto, CorelDRAW, when deciding on which graphics program is best for you, it's impor- tant to choose a professional, full- featured graphics software that supports a wide range of outputs and workflows and offers the flex- ibility to handle any project. And while this can be one program, it is important to assess your needs and consider multiple software platforms that can meet them. One of the biggest aspects of this is finding a software that is industry-specific. While generic business software can accommo- date many graphics businesses, one that can be configured to handle the different production types, say, what an apparel decora- Software for All Wares THE IMPORTANCE OF SOFTWARE FOR GRAPHICS PROFESSIONALS B Y C A R L Y H O L L M A N For people who need a more personalized training solution, there is Adendo.com. Combining crowd-sourcing with the lat- est video conferencing and eCommerce technologies, Adendo. com offers both one-on-one and small-group training classes for a fee. (Image courtesy SAi) THE IMPORTANCE OF SOFTWARE