Global Graphics office in Pune

Global Graphics Software, a software solutions provider for printing, publishing and electronic documents, has set up its R&D and development centre here in Pune.

The centre will develop its present and next generation solutions leveraging upon Microsoft's new print and document format, the XML Paper Specification (XPS) which is part of the Windows Vista.

Global Graphics has provided consultation for Microsoft XPS which like Adobe's Portable Document Format (PDF) provides a portable fixed layout format with high fidelity.

It has developed the XPS Raster Image Processor (RIP) software that converts text, images and graphics into printable form which printer manufacturers will require to interpret and print XMS documents.

Optimistic of leveraging the disruptive effect of XPS, Jim Freidah, chief operating officer, Global Graphics claimed, "For the last 15 years Graphical Device Interface (GDI) technology was used at the low-end devices for consumer and desk top printing, however by 2010 all machines would have converted to XPS."

His optimism for the XPS technology is based on the fact that XPS is already available for free downloading online for MS Office users and also comes packaged with Microsoft Windows 2003 and Windows XP platforms.

Further, "XPS will be packaged with the next version of Microsoft Office and beside original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) like HP are already adopting the technology which will lead to the widespread adoption of XPS in the coming years," said Freidah.

Microsoft plans to introduce XPS as an open standard for which it has set up a body of industry members.

"We have been asked to chair this committee by Microsoft," said Freidah. Even Adobe had previously announced its intentions to introduce PDF as an open standard.

Global Graphics also provides eDocument technology which allows for document creation, conversion from one format to another and merging. In Pune it would work on its new eDocument Technology which would work with XPS, PDF and customised files allowing customers the power to manipulate and convert at a single source.

Presently the company has 125 people spread globally in the US, UK, Japan and in Pune.

"Our centre in Pune can accommodate 70-80 people," said Arun Bhardwaj, director, Global Graphics Pune development centre while sharing that it would double its headcount from 20 to 40 over the year.