 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
P1 Conversion
Preparing for an upgrade
In order to upgrade you will need to purchase StudioPlus's Annual Maintenance Program (AMP). The price of the AMP is based on the number of user licences required and length of time from the last upgrade or install. You can find when your previous AMP expired from the Help Menu of Portrait One Manager and going to 'About'. You will also see on the same window the number of user licences for your product.
The AMP allows you to download updates (which are far more regular than before) and receive StudioPlus's direct technical support (based on Central USA time zone).
Can I upgrade myself?
Yes, you can. However, without knowledge of the changes that need to take place to move to the new workflow of StudioPlus, it will be complicated. Dragonfly Workflow Ltd can do the upgrade as a service and provide training to ensure you are up and running in the shortest possible time.
The Upgrade Process
The Studio will purchase the AMP and Dragonfly Workflow Ltd will be given the code. We will discuss the studio's workflow and requirements for templates. The database ideally should be uploaded to Dragonfly Workflow's FTP site in advance of the upgrade in order to undertake some necessary maintenance.
The workflow allows the users to create very quickly composite images for the sales presentation without the need to open Photoshop. The templates will be inserted and it’s a case of dragging and dropping in the preview images. These stay with the session indefinitely and can be printed out on invoices. The invoices therefore have the thumbnails of the images sold including the crops. This is a fully integrated system without the need of third party software.
An example upgrade
If the upgrade is scheduled for a Monday and training on the Tuesday, Dragonfly Workflow Ltd would need to get a copy of the database on the previous Thursday around mid day. If there is an issue with the upgrade on the Thursday, there is an opportunity to contact Studiplus Software in Minnesota and resolve the problem. This is a rare event, and by allowing the extra time will prevent the potential postponing of the next week's upgrade. The Studio can carry on referencing the old database until the upgrade is complete. However, any changes will need to be noted down on paper and then transferred to the upgraded database.
On the Friday, the changes necessary to make the new system work are performed. On the Monday morning the upgrade takes place at the client's studio. It will be to the advantage of the studio to have someone available in the afternoon from the digital side to work with Dragonfly Workflow Ltd to move some of our old work into the new environment. This had proved to be the most successful way of getting the digital team ready for using StudioPlus.
Training will commence on the Tuesday. Key members of staff should be available from first thing to cover the changes in calendar, the introduction of the Home Page, digital workflow, sales presentation and production changes. Further days of training are available.
Overview of StudioPlus for Portrait One existing users available here as a PDF.