Digital On Down The Line

The Baltimore-based in-plant houses three Xerox DocuTechs and a DocuColor 40, while the shop in Annapolis is home to another DocuTech. Three graphic artists are employed by the state; they receive files digitally, design them for printing, then electronically send them to the press area.

"Documents come into them via e-mail or through the net," Cook explains. Individual agencies have the ability to reach the in-plant through internal network systems, the Internet, and through PagePath's Launch remote file transfer software. Jobs go directly to the graphic arts unit, which uses Macs and Xerox DigiPath software to enhance them. Files are then electronically sent to be printed. The shop also utilizes an archival storage system through DigiPath, so customers like the Department of Education can store, retrieve, manipulate and print from existing files on-demand. The state currently has over 200 files stored this way.