The new app, whatever it will be called, will have high-end functionality like the two programs mentioned, but will be precisely the same on both platforms. Reason is, they are not entirely the same application on the PC (PackEdge) and Mac (ArtPro). Within the next couple of years, they expect a new replacement for them. Hope this long-winded diatribe makes sense.Įsko considers PackEdge, and now ArtPro too, to be their high-end editors. Most repro houses want it that way, but most design shops and converters often prefer to have files back that are accessible in standard applications. Obvious benefits to staying in Illustrator is that the file is still a Illustrator file, not some proprietary file you can't do much with unless you own ArtPro or PackEdge. By the time you are done buying all the CS plugins (there are PhotoShop plugins too), the cost of a ArtPro or DeskPack seat doesn't look so bad. It allows you to trap/re-trap specific elements without re-doing the entire file. Esko also sells an interactive trapper CS plug-in at a hefty add-on price. One is to try to alter the TrapX settings and re-trap again. The TrapX plugin will provide an overall trap to the file and the results are usually pretty good, but on some complex files they may not be entirely what you want. The people purchasing these apps are those that already own it and need more, or a new customer being driven by their customer by requiring ArtPro files back.ĭeskPack offers some decent add-on capabilities to Illustrator, though limited in some cases. DeskPack is fairly affordable compared to the $25k+ that a seat of ArtPro or PackEdge costs. The problem (one of many) Esko has is selling new 'seats' of ArtPro or PackEdge to new users. Illustrator (DeskPack) vs PackEdge/ArtPro

Esko studio & deskpack