CHILI publish has updated its CHILI publisher software, with v6 designed to simplify and automate graphics.

The latest release includes brand-new features that facilitate the online editing user experience and speed up production of on-brand visuals. 

A key development is the addition of Dynamic Layouts. This technique enables users to adjust elements on the canvas by relative – not absolute – values. This technique enables users to adjust elements on the canvas by relative – not absolute – values. Any original design within a Smart Template can now be turned into any custom-size visual by any user. 

On a practical level, this means instead of starting from an origin point and using a transformation matrix (X and Y coordinates, scale, and rotation) with absolute values in in, mm, px, or degrees of rotation, Dynamic Layouts use relative values. These can be relative to canvas size, another element’s position/size/rotation, variables, or any data source.

This means customers can now create a single template that can accommodate output of literally any size while the content can reflow in a pre-planned, intelligent way. Practically, this means any design can be turned into one Smart Template in CHILI publisher. With Dynamic Layouts, that unique design can be used to create outdoor signage, a beach flag, floor sticker, an email header, a web page header, a LinkedIn graphic, an Instagram post, a Facebook ad, etc. Smart Templates will make sure that the brand guidelines are protected at all times. 

The company’s SaaS option, CHILI publisher Online, also features the Dynamic Layouts concept.

Dynamic Layouts is identified by CHILI publish as a new methodology for ‘building the most flexible Smart Templates’, utilising a combination of alternate layouts, object anchoring, and a new property formulas option.

John Arnsdorf, who joined CHILI publish as product marketing manager earlier this year, commented, ‘Customers like the American Cancer Society, Airbus, but also one-man MyCreativeShop, need to create engaging, on-brand content quickly, efficiently and flawlessly. That is what Smart Templates must do. Version 6 does it better.’ 

He continued, ‘This breakthrough is a real technological masterpiece that makes it possible to create insanely intelligent templates with minimal effort. Just plug in the pixel dimension and out pops a perfectly sized graphic that’s ready to go. Any marketer, brand owner, printer, or user can scale visuals, leverage content creation everywhere and scale the content distribution worldwide.’

Further improvements in CHILI publisher v6 include:

  • Property formulas;
  • Selectable reference points for transformations;
  • Leading and tracking controls for copy fitting;
  • New cropping mode;
  • Custom path editor; and
  • Font subsets for PDF output.

CHILI publish will roll out CHILI publisher v6 to all customers and the Dynamic Layouts feature within CHILI publisher Online for subscription customers as of 15 June, 2020.

Read more about cutting-edge technologies to facilitate the next phase of digital label and packaging production in the May/June issue of Digital Labels & Packaging; register here to receive the magazine for free