PrintSmith Vision Reviews

PrintSmith Vision is so complete and robust. It handles all of the tasks we need from estimating/quoting client projects, order entry, tracking, invoicing, account history, etc. From our CSR, to pre-press and production teams, to accounting, this software keeps us on track, consistent and timely.

Since it's so complete and robust it can be a bit intimidating at first. However, once a user is accostomed to using the software and it's numerous features, it becomes apparent that EFI has done a good job of thoughtful development.

It is improving as it goes along. It is getting to be very USER FRIENDLY . The legacy was not much user friendly. Getting around is pleasant and quick. Cutting down on wasted time.

Other than Mousing around, I'd rather have a little more Keyboard use. Nothing to complain about EFI is improving PrintSMITH VISION fast Track. Taking time, but it's improving.

It does what a small printshop needs to do - tracks information way better than doing so manually. Set up is fairly simple but takes some time to understand and become familiar with. In my years of working with many different EFI products (Hagen, Monarch, Epace, Printsmith) it's difficult to get someone on the phone who really understands printing and what is being asked. As an example - a field...

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Many of the features don't work as they are supposed to (inventory is one) - there is not an easy way to interface with EFI regarding the status of the software or bugs - one can log into a list serve and see the issues but who knows when something might work right. Before working at Ferris another company where I managed used PrintSmith as well. Similar issues. It does some things well, other things...

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Stability is good, as is the overall functionality.

Updates should be automatic, or at least more intuitive to implement. We've found some glitches in the algorithms that price out wide format products, but that may have been fixed in a newer update.

I find the software pretty easy to use and learn. It requires the same information to be input as our previous system, but it takes out a lot of the manual calculations and streamlines the estimating/order writing process.

There are minor things that I've run across, such as not being able to easily switch an invoice to an estimate (and vice versa) if you've accidentally pressed the wrong option. It's pretty technical, in that writing definitions is a chore.

Good estimating support. Reliable. Decent reporting.

Communication around the migration away from flash was weak. Really had to guess and hunt and peck my way through it.

The html5 update was long needed and helped put PrintSmith ahead of the competition when it comes to user interface. We use the EFI-hosted option which makes it a breeze to access from not only anywhere in the shop, but also makes it so much easier to access remotely. There are also integration options for Fiery RIP's if you take the time to set it up.

PrintSmith does a terrible job with handling production processes other than digital and offset printing. The way it processes wide format and merchandise production is clunky at best and leaves you wondering if the engineers ever even bothered to take into consideration the way that shops actually handle pricing and production. There are many strange (and often very cumbersome) quirks throughout the platform that make it seem like EFI doesn't care too much about refining PrintSmith to operate intuitively or smoothly and that they're more focused on making the platform simply appear versatile and easy.

I went with Vision because I had to upgrade our computers and that was the only Option. PrintSmith Classic fit my company like a glove, ease of use, it was a downloaded stand alone product not tied to the internet. I switched to PrintSmith Vision because I had no choice.

The sluggish running PrintSmith Vision is, although slower, still very close to the PrintSmith Classic I have run for 22 years. Now they tell me it may not work after only 2 years of use and I will have to switch to Fast Track because Flash is going away. Fast Track is NOTHING like Classic OR Vision, and I am very upset they did not tell me this in advance, as I would have certainly shopped for another vendor with a product closer to what I am used to running.

It's nice that we can price complex jobs fairly quickly once the system was set up.

The conversion to HTML (instead of Flash) has been very long, and we are still concerned about missing functions on the HTML side. It also takes a bit of time to go in and update pricing - could be much more user friendly especially for basic functions. Wish there were more standard reports available. We also purchased Digital StoreFront under the impression that the two systems would sync seamlessly, and this hasn't been the case. We have to manage complex pricing in both systems, which is a nightmare since the two use completely different pricing methodologies. One would assume that if you update a paper price in one system that you sync it with the other system automatically.

Coming from PrintSmith classic, Vision has made a big difference. It runs fast and is smoother. The Pending Documents menu is such an upgrade with the flexibility to filter out data and find things fast. The quick access menu gives you a great snapshot of everything going on in the company. love it.

Connecting it to online ordering is not great. Does not give you a lot of customization.

We didn't lose our history, we are still supported by EFI, it still has the same functions just located somewhere else. I really Like that EFI for the first time in 20 years put a space between Fast and Track. And spelled both words correctly. It's about time. And easier to find when doing an internet search.

I don't mind the buttons, but definitely don't like: Looking all over God's country to find what had been easier to locate with drop down windows. DISLIKE the confirm my change to bindery addition (everyone of them, every time), then confirm it again on returning to job window on the second tab, confirm the change or no change to account information on the first tab, then going to third tab to save...

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I appreciate that this product while it can stand alone and support a print shop. The most important thing about this software is that it integrates with MDSF which is our virtual print shop "front door".

My teams least favorite thing about the software is the limitations we have as it relates to making modifications for ease of use for an in Plant Operation.

The ability to write up estimates for many various printing and bindery functions. Then able to convert them to Job Tickets and then invoices. After that able to track payments and receivables and merge that info with accounting programs. History of Customer orders along with contact info. Able to handle pricing from the smallest to very large complex printing jobs.

PrintSmith Vision is currently being rewritten in html, so there are functions that I'm used to that need to be incorporated in this newest version. But I already like many of the new features that are available.

PrintSmith Legacy used to be the king of Graphic art software. I used it all day since 2007 we bought it, and I connected all our work with it. With no support at all in Greece, it was so easy to learn that I learned it by my shelf and teached my employees on it.

Turning from Legacy to Vision, everything changed. It's not only the interface that changed totally. It is that things you did before easily, now you do it (and not all of them) with a lot of steps, spending much time. Not to mention that does not understand any more foreign languages (special characters). And you have to answer all the time silly questions (Yes - No etc.) Generally, this cloud thing is now suitable for PrintSmith

Easy log-in, creating a new estimate and converting is great.

Sessions expire in a short period of time. Common Adjustment seems to show up now and can't get rid of it (no one ever uses this feature). Can't open 2 different jobs at the same time and copy charges from one job charge onto the other job ticket. Won't let me into Estimate History. Opening last invoice after closing, does not exist anymore. Printing a job invoice, should look more like a printer symbol (it's deceiving). Time Stamp in notes, should be at beginning of all notes (not at end only). In LOCATION section, should have Deliver, Outside Services & Hold.

I feel PrintSmith Vision is probably one of the best estimating software for the printing industry. The real beauty of it is that you can truly break down your costs and see if you are making money on any job. It breaks it down to a monthly summary in all departments so that you can see how much each department made that month. Helps you identify your weaknesses and strengths.

PrintSmith Vision does have a few things I would love to change to make it better for the users. For most of the stuff I would like to see fixed I can contact the support and request changes.

My company has been an EFI Printsmith customer for many years. I find Printsmith Vision to be set up perfectly for my commercial printing operations.

Due to my location in the US territories, we have extremely unreliable internet. Because of this, I've never liked the web based nature of the program. However, if I were anywhere but here with reliable internet, I wouldn't care about this.

This is not easy to use it now takes one more keystroke for almost everything you do compared to original PrintSmith. Trying to find help in the user guide is ??? I do not like the new version. But did not want to lose the account history.

Having to click confirm then go into invoice summary and click save. Waste of time. Also If you put the dollar amount in at the beginning and change it at invoicing time, it creates and "adjustment" that changes the amount going into your sales column. What is the purpose of that. The price changed for some reason it is not an adjustment with a separate line item.

It is extremely useful and proficient and covers all aspects of printing (estimating, invoicing, production)

The learning curve involved to become proficient in using it. The amount of time it takes to get support when you are not on a paid plan. The initial training took 4 full days. We were shown all the knobs and buttons but never allowed nor taught how to fly the plane.

Low cost and Sir Speedy (former franchise) compliance.

Wide Format pricing, the need to straddle both the flash and the HTML versions, length of time for support, lack of additional features and functions. Evey update for the last few years has been fixes for the HTML version only.

It's gotten easier to use over the years, I like the browser based functionality and that we can access it from outside the office.

Don't like the reporting features or the secondary software needed to write reports. I think it should have better integration with other web products that is not expensive to implement. I don't like how much time there is between updates or the back up procedure.

I mainly look to make sure customer service has gotten the right price in there before I order something or to make sure art charges are correct. I do a little pricing and so far it has been fairly easy to use since we transitioned to the newest Printsmith.

So far it feels like everything I need is there but I don't use it as often as customer service done. I have been able to find everything I needed.

The UI is vastly more modern on the Fast Track version.

Some key features are either missing or difficult to find on Fast Track. For instance, there is no delivery menu. This is critical, because the legacy version is Flash based, which is due to be discontinued at the end of the year.

It is powerful and works well for print, dealing with all technical issues well. It is robust and provides lots of information.

It is weak in supporting marketing. Focuses on operational aspects of the business but would really help if it supported simple marketing, well. It does attempt some marketing but it is an add on and not central. In today's climate marketing and sales need to be at the forefront of the business.

similar and an easy upgrade from my previous PrintSmith software

I do not use the accounting side, yet I constantly get pop ups to close out the AR. Also not having the ability to create an account at the time of an estimate. When estimating I do not have all of the information for new companies and would be nice to just create an estimate without having to first stop and create a new account first and then an estimate. As if we don't win the bid, then we have a partial account set up for no reason.