Digital Publishing Suite, Professional Edition / FAQ

Adobe Digital Publishing Suite is a complete solution that enables individual designers, traditional media publishers, large brand organizations, and ad agencies to transform their print publications into interactive digital reading experiences for tablet devices. Consisting of hosted services and viewer technology, Digital Publishing Suite tightly integrates with Adobe InDesign® CS5.5 and CS6 software for efficient design, distribution, and monetization of a new class of innovative magazines, newspapers, brand loyalty materials, merchandising content, marketing communications, and more.

A wide range of media publishers such as Condé Nast, Martha Stewart Living Omnicom, Bonnier, Reader's Digest, and others have used Digital Publishing Suite to produce iconic titles such as WIRED, The New Yorker, Vogue, Martha Stewart Living, DN+, Reader's Digest, and Clear Magazine. Businesses such as Sotheby's, RCI, Credit Suisse, and Deloitte are using Digital Publishing Suite to produce corporate publications such as exhibit catalogs, travel guides, and brand loyalty applications. Additionally, small organizations such as Alan Mascord Design Associates and the United States Hang Gliding & Paragliding Association are using Digital Publishing Suite to create design portfolios and safety guide applications. Visit the Showcase page for more stories about how customers have achieved success with Digital Publishing Suite.

Adobe's vision is to enable customers of all types and sizes to deliver magazines, brochures, newspapers, books, corporate collateral, sales enablement tools, training materials, and other publications in print, online, and on tablet devices.

Digital Publishing Suite enables small design firms to large publishing organizations to:

• Drive business value and meet customer acquisition, digital circulation, merchandising, and subscription and advertising revenue goals
• Gain a competitive advantage by creating digital content that provides a richly designed, visually immersive experience, accessible online and offline
• Cost-effectively produce content using existing staff and familiar Adobe Creative Suite® 6 publishing tools, and monetize it through mobile marketplaces or direct via a publisher’s website for delivery to the widest possible audience on leading tablet devices.
• Leverage analytics to optimize editorial decisions and drive increased monetization of advertising. Available with Professional and Enterprise Editions.

Digital Publishing Suite meets the needs of everyone from freelance designers to large organizations that want to create and deliver a branded reading experience using existing skills, build on their investment in Creative Suite, and take advantage of flexible pricing models.

Digital Publishing Suite includes the following components (features vary by edition — see the buying guide for a complete feature comparison):

• Folio Producer Service: Share, manage, and publish .folio files to tablet devices. Upload .folio files directly from InDesign CS5.5 and CS6 to an intuitive hosted service in which you can assemble and reorder content, add .folio and article metadata, and preview the complete .folio file as it will appear in published form on tablet devices. The Folio Producer Service supports a range of file formats including PDF, JPEG, and HTML5.
  
• Analytics Service*: Gain valuable customer insights to better optimize editorial content and drive higher advertising monetization using best-in-class online analytics from Adobe SiteCatalyst®. Access prebuilt dashboards directly from within the hosted publishing workflow to view key advertising and editorial data, including total ad views, application download and purchase metrics, and customer engagement with interactive content such as video. Valuable content analytics can supplement traditional offline point-of-sale data to build a more comprehensive understanding of individual subscribers. Additional drill-down reporting and publisher analytics are available through a separate SiteCatalyst subscription and can be custom tailored to meet your unique business goals. Analytics Service is available only with Professional Edition and Enterprise Edition.
• Distribution Service*: More securely store and host digital content and distribute it in the .folio file format across leading tablet devices for broad reach and audience access. Seamlessly notify readers when new content is available for purchase or download. Single Edition doesn't require use of the Distribution Service.
• Viewer Builder Service: Upload your icons and assets to build a branded application for distribution through leading app marketplaces. Create single-.folio or multi-.folio* applications that support purchase through application marketplaces or direct entitlement. Streamline management of your applications. Enterprise Edition customers can customize the toolbar in branded applications to include up to five unique icons and create applications for private distribution within an organization.
• Adobe Content Viewer: Leverage Content Viewer for iPad and Content Viewer for Android™ to enable immersive reading experiences on tablet devices (supported Android devices include Amazon Kindle Fire*, Samsung Galaxy Tab*, and Motorola Xoom*). Publishers can create a branded Content Viewer to immerse readers and customers in the look and feel of their publications. Minimal chrome, innovative navigation features such as the zoomed-out "browse mode," and dual-axis navigation allow readers to engage with content in new and exciting ways.
• Support for e-commerce: Take advantage of flexible payment and merchandising models with the ability to sell and distribute single-.folio or multi-.folio applications directly from a publisher's website or through leading mobile marketplaces such as the Apple App Store, Android Market*, and Amazon Kindle Fire Newsstand* with support for single-issue or subscription purchase using the marketplace payment system. Create high-value merchandising programs such as print and digital bundles*, and effectively cross-sell related content using custom HTML stores*. Note: Private publishing, print and digital bundles, and customization of the HTML store require Enterprise Edition.
  

* Requires Professional Edition or Enterprise Edition.

Digital Publishing Suite is available in three editions: Single Edition for small design studios and freelance designers, Professional Edition for midsize publishers and businesses, and Enterprise Edition for large, global organizations.

Single Edition enables freelance designers and small design firms to create and publish a single-.folio application to the iPad. With Single Edition, the content is included in the application as a single download from the Apple App Store. It is not necessary to purchase additional .folio file downloads, as the .folio file is included directly in the application. Single Edition is available for purchase on Adobe.com. Learn more about Single Edition.

Professional Edition is an off-the-shelf tablet publishing solution that allows you to create, publish, sell, and optimize your content for multiple tablet devices. Professional Edition is for organizations that publish content frequently and require the ability to sell single issues or content subscriptions (as supported through individual app stores). Professional Edition requires payment of both a platform fee for access to the Digital Publishing Suite platform and a .folio download bundle fee that is based on the number of .folio file downloads purchased. Professional Edition is available as a monthly subscription (Professional Edition Monthly) or an annual purchase (Professional Edition Annual).

• Professional Edition Monthly: Allows you to pay for access to the Digital Publishing Suite platform on a month-to-month basis and purchase smaller size .folio bundles. Can be purchased on Adobe.com via credit card.
• Professional Edition Annual: Allows you to pay for 12 months of access to the Digital Publishing Suite platform up front and purchase larger size .folio file download bundles, which are priced based on volume.

Learn more about Professional Edition.

Enterprise Edition is a custom publishing solution that includes access to APIs for integration with back-end publishing services such as subscription management, print fulfillment, and dynamic rich media ad platforms. Enterprise Edition offers many advantages, including the ability to create custom viewers, unique HTML5 stores for in-application merchandising of content and services, dynamic serving of targeted, rich media advertising, and access to more in-depth analytic reports through tight integration with SiteCatalyst (requires purchase of separate SiteCatalyst account). Enterprise Edition also includes both a platform fee and a .folio bundle download fee. In addition, Adobe offers professional services to support enterprise-level custom engagements. Learn more about Enterprise Edition.

The DPS Desktop Tools available in InDesign CS5.5 and CS6 include the Folio Overlays panel, Folio Builder panel, and Adobe Content Viewer for Desktop, which allow you to create and preview digital content, including brochures and annual reports with engaging elements such as 360-degree object rotation and image panoramas. InDesign CS6 integrates with Digital Publishing Suite, allowing you to upload your content directly to Digital Publishing Suite from InDesign for additional production and publication to the iPad.

Visit the Digital Publishing Gallery to view a gallery of apps created using Digital Publishing Suite, including content created with Single Edition, Professional Edition, and Enterprise Edition.

Yes, InDesign CS5, CS5.5, or CS6 is required to access Digital Publishing Suite services. InDesign integrates with Digital Publishing Suite to provide an end-to-end publishing workflow. InDesign is the authoring tool required to build the .folio; the .folio is then managed in Digital Publishing Suite, bundled as an app.

Yes. Digital Publishing Suite can be used to create tablet publications out of both K4 and WoodWing Enterprise editorial workflow solutions. Both MEI K4 and WoodWing Enterprise editorial solutions provide access to the Digital Publishing Suite platform from within each workflow platform. See the detailed FAQ on WoodWing's support for Digital Publishing Suite.

Professional Edition (Monthly or Annual) and Enterprise Edition have a similar pricing structure. The platform fee provides access to Digital Publishing Suite and all its hosted services. The .folio download fee covers the fulfillment of content to apps installed on your customer's tablet device. The first year of the Professional Edition Annual and Enterprise Edition platform fee includes 5,000 .folio file downloads. Additional download bundles can be purchased at high-volume discounts in .folio bundle packages to be used with either Professional Edition or Enterprise Edition. The platform fee for Professional Edition costs US$495 per month or US$5,940 annually. Enterprise Edition pricing is available through a custom quote. Request a consultation for more information about Enterprise Edition.

For specific details on pricing, see the Digital Publishing Suite buying guide. Note: The pricing indicated is Adobe's direct pricing. Reseller pricing may vary.

Professional Edition is an off-the-shelf solution designed for customers who publish frequently updated content multiple times a year and require the ability to sell single issues or content subscriptions (as supported by individual marketplaces) through app stores including the Apple App store, Amazon Kindle Fire Newsstand, and Android Marketplace.

Enterprise Edition is a custom tailored solution that meets the individual needs of professional magazine and newspaper publishers, large corporations, membership organizations and advertising holding companies. Enterprise Edition is fully extensible and can be integrated with back-end editorial workflow solutions such as K4 and WoodWing, print fulfillment services, and dynamic rich media ad platforms.

Unlike Enterprise and Professional Edition customers, Single Edition customers do NOT have access or the ability to:

• Create multi-.folio applications
• Update content embedded in an application once it is published
• Sell through multiple market places (Apple App store is only supported at this time)
• Access foundational analytics powered by SiteCatalyst
• Extend and integrate with other back end services/platforms

You should base your decision on which option to purchase on which one best fits your business needs. Both options provide most of the same features, services, and support. Professional Edition Monthly provides the flexibility to buy via credit card on Adobe.com and pay monthly. Professional Edition Monthly customers receive 250 complimentary .folio downloads included in the first year of service. Professional Edition Annual requires up-front payment of the annual platform fee, but includes 5,000 complimentary .folio downloads with the first year of service and provides access to larger .folio bundles that are discounted based on volume.

Yes. If you are a freelance designer and want to publish on behalf of a client, you can do that. Simply make sure you have the appropriate Apple Developer credentials (you do not need to be a developer to get these but may be subject to Apple's terms and conditions) and a Single Edition serial number.

While you can use a Mac or a PC to create a .folio in InDesign and access the Folio Producer Service, a Mac is required to access the Viewer Builder Service, as currently this is a Mac-only application.

Creative agencies, design agencies, and print service providers are able to purchase Digital Publishing Suite to use it for publishing clients' content to tablet devices. Agencies can use .folio download bundles across multiple customers. The agency has the option to purchase additional .folio bundles as needed during the term of the agreement. Please note, however, that this agency model limits access to production tools, dashboards, and analytics to only the agency that purchased Digital Publishing Suite. Clients cannot be given access to the agency's Digital Publishing Suite account.

The agency model allows agencies to better serve their clients and expand their portfolio to include creation, distribution, and optimization of tablet content. Additional restrictions may apply. Contact Adobe or an Adobe authorized reseller for more information.

Yes. The Enterprise Edition of Digital Publishing Suite includes a full set of APIs to allow media and business publishers to extend and integrate Digital Publishing Suite into their existing print fulfillment, subscription management, and workflow systems. Additional APIs allow publishers to create unique branded merchandising experiences and implement custom analytics tracking within their applications. Furthermore, Digital Publishing Suite allows you to embed custom HTML code and content to enhance .folios with animation and other HTML capabilities. Visit the Adobe Digital Publishing Suite Developer Center for an up-to-date list of APIs.

For Single Edition, content can be viewed on the iPad 1, the iPad 2, or the new iPad. For Professional Edition and Enterprise Edition, Digital Publishing Suite includes Content Viewer for iPad, Content Viewer for Android, and Content Viewer for Desktop. This allows readers to consume content on iPad and iPad 2, and all Android based tablet devices.

Yes. Digital Publishing Suite Professional and Enterprise editions support in-app purchase of subscriptions through the Apple App Store. In addition, Digital Publishing Suite supports a wide variety of other payment methods through the Apple App Store, including free content and single-issue purchase of single-.folio and multi-.folio applications. Customers who purchase Enterprise Edition also have the ability to tie into their print fulfillment platforms to offer print and digital bundling to print customers using direct entitlement. Learn more.

Yes. Digital Publishing Suite Professional and Enterprise Editions support in-app, single issue purchases of multi-.folio applications through Android Market. Customers that purchase Enterprise Edition receive the additional benefit of the ability to enable their print subscribers or members to download digital issues to their Android devices through direct entitlement. Learn more.

Yes. Digital Publishing Suite Professional and Enterprise Editions support in-app purchase of single issues or subscriptions through the Amazon app payment system. Customers that purchase Enterprise Edition receive the additional benefit of the ability to enable their print subscribers or members to download digital issues to Amazon Kindle Fire through direct entitlement. Learn more.

Yes. Digital Publishing Suite will leverage the best tools and technologies to deliver engaging publishing experiences. Adobe currently supports development for HTML5 and will continue to do so as it matures. Digital Publishing Suite allows you the freedom to choose the technologies and workflows best suited to creating innovative interactive content for your organization or enterprise. Designers will be able to take advantage of the following to create high-performance interactive reader experiences:

• Prebuilt interactive overlays (audio, video, 360-degree rotation, slide shows, pan and zoom, panorama, and hyperlink)
• lnDesign CS5, CS5.5, and CS6 to create rich interactivity that can be added to a digital magazine layout
• HTML5 (across all mobile device browsers)
• Adobe Flash® Professional software

There is no new version of Professional Edition. Instead, Adobe is allowing customers to purchase the Professional Edition platform fee on a month-to-month basis. Professional Edition Monthly supports a monthly subscription payment process and includes most of the same features, functions, and workflows as Professional Edition Annual. Professional Edition Monthly customers get access to Adobe Gold support and 250 complimentary .folio files with the first year of service. The Professional Edition Monthly platform fee is available for purchase on Adobe.com via a credit card. See the buying guide for more information.

Customers who purchase Professional Edition Annual pay both the platform and folio bundle download fees through purchase order, which may be preferable for larger organizations. They also receive 5,000 complimentary .folio downloads for the first year of service. Professional Edition Monthly customers can pay their platform fee as a monthly subscription but only receive 250 complimentary .folio downloads. In addition, customers who purchase Professional Edition Annual have access to larger .folio download bundles that have a volume discount and provide a lower cost per download. Professional Edition Annual customers are able to purchase 250,000 or 500,000 .folio download bundles through their reseller or Adobe sales representative. Customers who purchase Professional Edition Monthly on Adobe.com are limited to purchasing either a 10,000- or 25,000-.folio bundle. See the buying guide for more information.

Professional Edition Monthly and Single Edition launched in North America on November 10, 2011. Adobe plans to launch in additional markets beginning in 2012.

Yes. Customers who purchase Professional Edition Monthly will receive 250 complimentary .folio downloads with the first year of service. Additional .folio downloads can be purchased in bundles of 10,000 or 25,000 from the Digital Publishing Suite dashboard. Once purchased, the .folio download bundles must be used within one year. Download fees are nonrefundable. Download bundles cannot be purchased without purchase of the platform fee.

If there are no remaining .folio download fees associated with your provisioned Digital Publishing Suite account, Adobe will restrict your ability to publish new .folios or updates until additional .folios download bundles are purchased. If additional .folios downloads are not purchased, Adobe may suspend or discontinue fulfillment of existing content. As a final step, Adobe may then also choose to remove .folios from distribution.

Single Edition and Professional Edition Monthly launched in North America on November 10, 2011. Adobe plans to roll out both editions to other markets beginning in the first quarter of 2012.

See the comparison chart showing the features available in the three editions.