For the upcoming 4.0 release of the DMP FLO Suite, we had to replace the eRez functionalities with Elpical Claro Single, and the FSI viewer with our own technology. Rewriting the flash viewer gave us the opportunity to add a feature that a lot of customers have been asking for: the possibility to distribute the viewer, without needing to link it to their own server.
The viewing and streaming technology
Of course we started out in the same way as the old technology: a streaming image server, which sends the appropriate parts of the image to the flash viewer when it is needed. This way, large files or images can be viewed almost immediately, but the user can still choose to zoom in to certain levels of the image without having to wait a long time. And because of the underlying capabilities of the DMP FLO Suite (which we use to create previews in our digital asset management system), the images can come from a wide range of file formats (PDF, InDesign, Illustrator, PSD, JPG, TIF, ...).
Once we had the streaming technology, we also almost instantly made a version which caches all streamed areas to disk. The resulting file structure is of course larger than the original, but it won't require any processing time (or server) to render it to the client. It can be embedded in a normal html website, or used for viewing on a distributed CD or DVD.
Online Proofing
One way we have used the existing technology in the past, is for online proofing of ripped file or content. PDF files generated by the web2print tools (or by InDesign Server in corection and prepress workflows) are visualized to the end user in the flash viewer. This functionality will now also be available in Enfocus Switch flows. A PDF comes in, and a flash viewer goes out. Without needing any online server tools, this flash viewer can be placed on a website and used for online proofing (maybe linked to an email checkpoint).
Marketing Tool
Many of our customers have already been using the existing flash viewer as a service to their own customers. Creating booklets of PDF files, and sending a link to the customer to embed in the website.
Now these FLO Suite users have a choice: send a link to the original file in the digital asset management system, or send over a file with all of the viewer included. It will become a commercial decision based most likely on a choice between sales or service.