30 Jul

We’re launching Priority Support Subscriptions!

All users get free support for Ghostotter products. However, we understand that our software is business-critical for some users and they need a faster support response than other users.

If that sounds like you then you might want to consider purchasing a priority support subscription (PSS). A PSS enhances the support options for your product with the following benefits:

A faster response
We always try to respond to support requests as quickly as possible. However, some users need a super-fast response. With a PSS, we will respond to your support request within 1 working day. (Normal response time is within 3 days).

A dedicated support contact
You will have a dedicated member of the Ghostotter development team who will be your first point of contact should you need help. NB. Contact will be via email and in English.

Priority support
Support requests from users with a PSS will be dealt with ahead of other support requests.

Priority development requests
Development requests (e.g. new feature requests) from users with a PSS will be prioritised ahead of other development requests. Be aware that not all development requests will be accepted.

More Info

09 Aug

Ain’t no party like a barcode party…

Barcode Party!

Our macOS barcode creation app “Barcode Basics” hit an important milestone today. Since it’s release in late 2013, it’s now sold over 2,500 copies.

Our vision was to make a barcode app that was affordable to the masses, yet still produced barcodes good enough for packaging, publishing etc.

Five years later and Barcode Basics has matured nicely and is being used on a daily basis by freelance graphic designers, publishers and printers around the world. It’s still the only barcode app we’re aware of that ships with Automator actions as standard.

We’d like to take this opportunity to say a big thank you to every last one of our users, to assure you that we will continue to develop and support the app. Now to figure out what exactly a barcode party entails…

29 Jul

Automate barcode production on macOS

We’re excited to announce the launch of a new version of Barcode Basics which includes support for Apple’s Automator app. This means that you can create barcodes in your own Automator workflows, services and even simple apps – without knowing anything about programming.

Imagine creating batches of barcodes from numbers supplied in a spread sheet. Or creating a barcode directly from text selected in an email. Anything you can do in Barcode Basics, you can now do in an Automator workflow.

Barcode Basics’ Automator workflow is included in every version of Barcode Basics, as standard. There are no hidden extra charges. And Barcode Basics is the cheapest way of automating barcode production by a long shot.

For more information about Barcode Basics, or to pick up your copy head over to the Mac App Store by clicking the link below.


Link to Mac App Store to purchase Barcode Basics - Mac barcode software

25 May

Illustrator Automator Actions: Demo Available

Illustrator Automator Actions

Good news! We’ve made a trial version of Ai Actions available for download so you can give it a test drive before buying. Ai Actions gives you a set of handy Illustrator Automator Actions which you can use to create your own workflows and even apps to automate your work. And the best thing is that you don’t need to write a line of code! If you can drag and drop, you can create a workflow.

NB. The demo version contains 4 sample actions. The full version contains 18 actions.

Click here to download demo

Less donkey work, more creativity!

Lets imagine you have a hundred Illustrator artworks and you need to open each, delete any empty text frames, convert all the text to outlines and save as a JPEG and a PDF. Normally you’d have to do that by hand. Using Ai Actions and Automator you can create a workflow to do this automatically saving you heaps of time. And more importantly, letting you concentrate on the creative stuff instead of the boring donkey-work.

A simple Automator workflow using Ai Actions to automate Adobe Illustrator

A simple Automator workflow using Ai Actions to automate Adobe Illustrator

Why use Automator?

The advantage of Automator is that you can use functionality from many other apps in your workflow. So, for example, if you wanted to email the PDFs created by your workflow then you can harness the power of Mail.app to do that for you.

The trial version has only four Automator actions whereas the full version contains 18. There are some tips for getting to grips with Automator here:

Getting to grips with Automator
Creating a simple workflow with Ai Actions

Where can I get the full version?

The full version of Ai Actions is available from the Mac App Store. Get automating today!

Illustrator Actions for Automator, Automator Actions, Automator Illustrator Actions

23 Jan

Barcode Basics v4.0 released for macOS

Its hard to believe that Barcode Basics is three years old this month – where did all that time go? The anniversary coincides nicely with the release of version 4.0 of our flagship macOS barcode generator.

The main thing you’ll notice is the addition of a barcode preview window. However, Barcode Basics version 4.0 is also a complete, ground up rewrite. If you don’t notice too much of a difference then that’s a good thing – it means we got it right!

So, why rewrite? Well, we wanted to restructure the app in a way that would make it easier to add some cool new functionality we have planned for coming releases. If you’re interested in producing batches of barcodes then we’ll have some pleasant surprises for you.

As always, this upgrade is free for existing users of Barcode Basics.

02 Aug

Volume purchasing of software

Apple Volume Purchasing Plan

If you want to purchase software from Ghostotter e.g. Barcode Basics, Ai Auto Save etc on behalf of a business or organisation then here’s a tip. We’re hooked up with Apple’s Mac App Store, so you can take advantage of Apple’s Volume Purchasing Plan. The Volume Purchasing Plan makes it easier to purchase and distribute software in bulk for your organisation.

At the time of writing, the Volume Purchasing Plan is available in the following countries: Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Spain, United Kingdom, United States.

Of course, you can still purchase individual copies of our software from the Mac App Store in the usual way if you prefer.

More info on Apple’s Volume Purchasing Plan

07 Jul

Let us make you more efficient!

cogs

If you don’t see the Ghostotter product you need, why not hire us to make it for you? We’re available for small to medium sized custom development on Mac OS X.

We specialise in building software to save time and simplify things in the graphic design and packaging industries. Whether it’s a Mac OS X application, custom AppleScript or shell script then we can help.

Past projects include:

  • Custom OS X apps and utilities
  • Custom Automator actions
  • Custom shell scripts for image processing
  • AppleScripts to gather linked images from Illustrator files
  • Merging XML files with Illustrator/InDesign templates to create artworks
  • AppleScripting the Adobe CS suite (Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop, Acrobat)

    If you could use our help, contact us via our support page: https://www.ghostotter.com/support/

  • 22 Mar

    Professional barcode app for $8.99

    Barcode Basics - Mac barcode software

    Barcode Basics, our barcode creator for Mac OS X, has been reduced to $8.99 USD / £6.99 GBP with immediate effect. Get it while it’s hot!

    Barcode Basics supports a wide range of barcode types along with features required by professional designers including BWR and vector output (eps).

    Click the app store logo below for more info.


    Link to Mac App Store to purchase Barcode Basics - Mac barcode software