THE ABCs OF DAM

Canto Cumulus, released nine years ago, is gaining a more broad-based user profile as a result of its reputation as "an inexpensive, robust DAM system that can track workflow and publish assets quickly to the Web," says Product Manager Uli Knocke. The workgroup version, he says, suits printers and trade shops best. Users can catalog an almost unlimited number of images for around $3,500 with the program, which is said to offer complete scriptability and customization. The $35,000 enterprise edition offers a more complex system that controls access to viewing and altering images. Both editions can run on a Cumulus proprietary database, but the enterprise edition can also be integrated with an Oracle database. New Cumulus 5.5 features the ability to write back copyright and usage information into the original image.