Vistaprint 2007 Annual Report Download - page 14

Our Technology
We have standardized, automated and integrated the graphic design and print process, from
design conceptualization to product shipment, through a number of proprietary technologies, including:
Design and Document Creation Technologies
IntelliContent Document Platform is our document model architecture and technology that
employs Internet-compatible data structures to define, process and store product designs as a set of
separately searchable, combinable and modifiable component elements. In comparison to traditional
document storage and presentation technologies, such as bitmap or PDFs, this architecture provides
significant advantages in storing, manipulating and modifying design elements, allowing us to generate
customized product design options automatically in real time.
AutoDesign is our software that automatically generates customized product designs in real-time
based on key-word searches, enabling professional-looking graphic layouts to be easily and quickly
created by customers without graphic arts training.
VistaStudio is our product design and editing software suite that is downloaded to our customer’s
computer from our server and runs in the customer’s browser. This browser-based software provides
real-time client-side editing capabilities plus extensive system scalability. A wide variety of layouts,
color schemes and fonts are provided and over 70,000 high-quality photographs and illustrations are
currently available for use by customers in product design. Customers can also upload their own
images and logos for incorporation into their product designs.
VistaDesigner is our Internet-based, remote, real-time, co-creativity and project management
application and database that enables customers and VistaPrint design agents to cooperatively design
a product across the Internet in real-time, while simultaneously engaging in voice communication.
Pre-Press and Print Production Technologies
DrawDocs is our automated pre-printing press technology that prepares customer documents
received over the Internet for high-resolution printing. DrawDocs ensures that the high-resolution
press-ready version of the customer’s design will produce a printed product that is exactly like the
graphic design that was displayed in the customer’s Internet browser.
VistaBridge is our technology that allows us to efficiently store, process and aggregate thousands
of Internet print orders every day. The VistaBridge system automates the workflow into our high-
volume offset or digital presses by using complex algorithms to aggregate pending individual print jobs
having similar printing parameters and combine the compatible orders into a single print job. The
VistaBridge technology calculates the optimal allocation of print orders that will result in the lowest
production cost but still ensure on-time delivery. In FY 2007 we averaged in excess of 19,000 orders
per day and orders often contain multiple print jobs, which can result in more than 100,000 individual
stored jobs awaiting printing. Our aggregation software regularly scans these pending jobs and
analyzes a variety of production characteristics, including quantity, type of paper, size of paper, color
versus black and white, single or double-sided print, delivery date, shipping location, type of printing
system being used and type of product. The VistaBridge software then automatically aggregates
orders with similar production characteristics from multiple customers into a single document image
that is transferred to either a digital press or to an automated plating system that produces offset
printing plates. For example, in the case of business cards being printed on large offset presses, up to
143 separate customer orders can be simultaneously printed as a single aggregated print file.
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