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Help – Read me first

Welcome!
This page contains important information about the installation of the program and provides help on where to get further information. Click on the link to display or download the desired information:

General help

    1. Ticket System – Send a message to VIVA (English)
    2. VIVA Software License Agreement (English)
    3. VIVA AI License Agreement (English)

VivaDesigner 11 (Desktop)

    1. User manual with installation instructions (English)
    2. Quick start: Open InDesign files offline and online in VivaDesigner    (English)
    3. FAQ – Frequently asked questions (English)
    4. System requirements (English)
    5. Program editions (English)
    6. Current downloads – Free, demo and full version (English)
    7. Current features (English)
    8. Version history (English)

VivaDesigner 11 (Web)

    1. Try VivaDesigner Web-Edition with predefined sample documents from the VivaCloud (English)
    2. Try VivaDesigner Web-Edition with your InDesign or VivaDesigner documents (English)
    3. Quick start: Open InDesign files offline and online in VivaDesigner    (English)

VivaDesigner 11 (Server)

    1. System requirements (English)
    2. Server-API (English)

VivaDesigner 10 (Desktop)

    1. User manual with installation instructions (English)
    2. System requirements (English)
    3. Current downloads – Free, demo and full version (English)
    4. Version history (English)
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VIVA AI License Agreement

General terms

You may access and use our AI Services provided that you comply with these Terms. When using our Services, you must comply with all applicable laws and the Service-specific terms and policies listed above.

What you must not do. You may not use our AI Services for illegal, harmful or abusive activities. For example, you must not:

    • Use our AI Services in a way that infringes, misuses or violates the rights of others.
    • Modify, copy, rent, sell or distribute our services.
    • Attempt to reverse engineer, decompile or discover the source code or underlying components of our AI Services, including our models, algorithms or systems, or assist anyone to do so (unless this restriction is prohibited by applicable law).
    • Automatically or programmatically extract data or Output (as defined below).
    • Claiming that the Output was created by humans when it was not.
    • Interfere with or disrupt our AI Services, including by circumventing any limits or restrictions or by circumventing any protections or safeguards we have put in place for our Services.

The following applies to users within the European Union:

Confirmation of “AI Literacy”
I hereby confirm that I possess the necessary AI Literacy in accordance with the applicable legal requirements (in particular the “EU AI Act”). This specifically includes:

    • a fundamental understanding of the concepts and mechanisms of Artificial Intelligence (AI),
    • the ability to critically evaluate AI applications and assess the ethical and societal impact of my actions,
    • awareness of potential risks, misjudgments, or biases in the use of AI systems,
    • knowledge of how to ensure responsible AI usage, particularly regarding data protection, copyright, and societal implications.

Use of the AI Feature at One’s Own Responsibility
I undertake to use the AI feature only when it is ensured that my usage complies with all applicable legal regulations, internal company policies, and ethical principles. I will take all necessary precautions to prevent misuse, false or misleading results, and violations of third-party rights.

Indemnification from Claims
I hereby indemnify and hold VIVA (hereinafter referred to as “Provider”) harmless from any claims, damages, liabilities, or costs that arise for me or any third party as a result of my use of the AI feature provided. This specifically, but not exclusively, includes claims related to:

    • copyright-protected content,
    • data protection and privacy violations,
    • false or defamatory statements,
    • other legal infringements.

I undertake to immediately inform the Provider of any such third-party claims and to support the Provider in defending such claims.

Provider’s Liability Disclaimer

    • The Provider makes the AI feature available “as is” (without any warranty) and assumes no guarantee for the factual accuracy, completeness, or legality of generated text.
    • The Provider is liable only for damages that result from the Provider’s intentional or grossly negligent behavior. Any further liability of the Provider is excluded to the extent permitted by law.

Final Provisions

    • Should individual provisions of this statement be or become invalid, the validity of the remaining provisions shall remain unaffected. In place of the invalid provision, a provision that comes as close as possible to the sense and purpose of the invalid provision and is legally valid shall apply.
    • The laws of the Federal Republic of Germany shall apply. The exclusive place of jurisdiction for all disputes arising from or in connection with this statement is Germany.

Status:  February 5, 2025

 

 

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VIVA presents VivaDesigner 11.1: The world’s first layout program with integrated AI

 

VivaDesigner 11.1 is the world’s first AI-based layout program that opens up groundbreaking possibilities for creatives and companies. The newly integrated VIVA AI offers a variety of intelligent features that revolutionize the entire content creation process.

One of the key aspects of VIVA AI is its ability to edit and even completely regenerate images and text. Advanced AI technologies allow users to optimize images in unique ways – from removing the background to creating completely new visual elements. The possibilities for text editing and creation are particularly impressive. Functions such as text rephrasing, summarization, problem analysis, automatic questions and answers and fully automatic translation make it possible to create and edit content with unprecedented speed, quality and efficiency.

In contrast to conventional AI systems such as ChatGPT or Claude, VivaDesigner 11.1 relies primarily on predefined tasks and prompts. Experience in formulating these prompts plays a decisive role in the quality of the results. In recent years, an entire profession has developed that specializes in creating optimal prompts. With these sophisticated and proven actions and prompts, even non-experts can easily achieve excellent results.

This is a decisive advantage of VivaDesigner 11.1: users benefit from the many years of experience and optimization of prompts by experts. Instead of having to laboriously familiarize themselves with the creation of perfect prompts, they can draw directly on this expertise. This not only leads to significant time savings, but also to results of exceptional quality.

VivaDesigner 11.1 also offers an attractive pricing model. The update to version 11.1 is free of charge for all users of version 11. Each program version also has a free monthly quota of AI usage. Any additional services are billed via the virtual currency “VIVA® points” – a cashless solution that enables flexible scaling of AI usage.

In summary, VivaDesigner 11.1 with integrated VIVA AI offers a unique tool for creative professionals and companies. The revolutionary AI functions for image and text editing, paired with the expertise in prompt creation, set new standards in terms of efficiency, quality and speed in content creation. The attractive pricing model also makes the program an extremely attractive investment. Interested users can already test the AI functions in the free VivaDesigner Free-Edition and see the possibilities for themselves.

About VIVA:
Based in Koblenz, Germany, VIVA is a pioneer in the design software industry and stands for groundbreaking innovations and the highest quality standards.

Keywords:
– VivaDesigner 11.1
– VIVA AI
– First AI-based layout program
– AI-based image editing
– AI-based text editing and creation
– Automatic translation
– Predefined prompts
– VIVA Credits
– Online design tool
– Free design software
– VIVA Germany

Bonus:
You need a longer or shorter version of this artice? Please contact us.

Links:
Download VivaDesigner Program
Download Press Media Package (Images, screenshots and icon sets)

Press contact:
VIVA, Andreas Krings
E-mail: press@viva.systems

Meta data:
Released on June 6, 2024
374 Words

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History Version 11

This page contains all new features, changes and bug fixes since the first official release of the program version.

11.3, Build 9187 – 2025-03-27

IMPORTANT NOTE:  THE FILE FORMAT HAS CHANGED. DOCUMENTS SAVED IN THIS VERSION CANNOT BE OPENED IN OLDER VERSIONS.

New features

    • New option “Default tool” (Preferences).
    • New option “Toolbar Icon Size” (Preferences).
    • New option “Delete all unused Alias Pages” (Pages palette).
    • New option “Category” (Library palette).
    • New option to sort elements in the library by name or category
    • New option “Large” for the view of elements (Library palette).
    • New option “Resolution”,  “Save” and “Embedd”  when upscaling images with the VIVA AI (Picture > Image Editing).
    • New option “Colorize Bitmaps” (Object > Special).
    • New option “Document Statistic” (File > Document Setup)
    • New option “Main Language” to prepare for PDF/UA. (File > Document Setup).
    • New Option “Document Title”, “Description” and “Keywords” which will be displayed in PDF Reader and are necessary to prepare a PDF/UA  (File > Document Setup).
    • New option “Default View” allows the division to be reset to the default setting (Style Sheet Palette).
    • New options for table attributes for headers and footers, which can now also be defined via the palette and the dialog (previously only via the style sheets).
    • New option “Tag” in style sheets and paragraphs to prepare for PDF/UA.
    • Change in the VIVA-KI AddIn: The module must be activated in the specifications in order to comply with the “EU AI Act”.
    • The “Protocol” option has been removed from the “Document” menu. This information is now available in the “File > Document Setup” option.

Improvements

    • Improvement of the InDesign import (“Colorize Bitmaps” etc.).
    • The option for native conversion and editing of PDFs (PDF to Layout) has been significantly improved, but remains experimental.
    • The advertising notice for the Free Edition in the footer when printing has been removed. The note now only appears when exporting to PDF.
    • Performance optimizations for spelling correction.
    • Missing update when solving text chains.
    • Improvements to the icons in the individual function bars.
    • Consideration of empty text objects when displaying used fonts.
    • Suppression of default fonts of text objects (embedding of fonts) if they have not been used.
    • Improvements to the display and output of error messages that can occur during printing/exporting. Error messages during export and printing can now be saved as a text file.
    • Improved selection of objects that lie above a selected object.
    • Display of the color profile used for images in PDF/X format.
    • Search and replace attributes even in empty text objects.
    • Improvements to the display when adding documents to a collection.

Bug fixes

    • Incorrect display of text overflow when writing from right to left (Arabic, Hebrew).
    • Opening documents via the operating system dialog (macOS only).
    • The separator line within the page palette was not always visible in double-page mode.
    • Crash in connection with spelling correction.
    • Crash when exporting a collection as PDF/X-4.
    • PDF/X-4 export was not possible if PDFs were placed on the pages that use the same color profile as the “Output Intent”.
    • The option “Overprint black” in connection with PDFX/3 was faulty.
    • When exporting PDFs with the “Crop images” option, rotated JPG images were sometimes displayed with a black background.
    • Crash when inserting objects with applied effects into a library.
    • Dialogs were sometimes closed in the Web Edition when a space was entered.
    • The search was activated in some browsers when a slash (/) was entered in the web edition.

VivaDesigner Server/Database Publishing Server

    • New options for splitting exported pages into multiple files during PDF export.
    • New support for ZIP archives during export
    • New options for exporting fonts and images
    • Improvements to the VDS interface (possibility to specify several export formats simultaneously).
    • Support of the KSA (Keep Session Alive) parameter for VivaDesigner clients.
    • New batch mode for VIVA AI actions
    • Support of VIVA AI assistants.

Manual

    • Updated manual (Default Tool, etc.)

11.2, Build 9156 – 2024-09-25

IMPORTANT NOTE:  THE FILE FORMAT HAS CHANGED. DOCUMENTS SAVED IN THIS VERSION CANNOT BE OPENED IN OLDER VERSIONS.

New features

    • Selective synchronization of attributes in collections.
    • Deletion of entire document spreads (“Pages” palette and “Access rights” dialog).
    • Extension of the editing option for Alias pages and the deletion of print spreads.
    • Setting for the font size in the “Notes” palette.
    • New options for automatic scaling of texts when generating database publishing forms from VivaDesigner and InDesign.
    • New option “Same Style Paragraph Spacing”. This option allows you to change the “Space to next paragraph” if the following paragraph has the same style sheet.

Bug fixes

    • Crash in connection with stretching objects.
    • Crash in connection with the deletion of layers and help lines contained therein.
    • Crash when copying texts with the character outline attribute set.
    • Error when displaying registration buttons within the registration dialog (macOS).
    • Error when calculating the format when printing (Web Edition only) (Ticket VHD-10848).
    • Incorrect query for updates in the Web Edition (Ticket VHD-10750).
    • Error when resetting preferences via the preferences dialog (macOS).

Manual

    • Updated manual (Installation & Program Startup, Working with Collections, Database Publishing, Working in a Team, etc.).

Improvements

    • Improved information for manual overwriting of style sheets
    • Improved insertion of objects and texts
    • Improvements in the selection of voices when exporting to mp3
    • Improvements in the transfer of style information when importing RTF files.
    • Improved display of the area for flowing around objects (hatching)
    • Logging of whether a document was edited with the desktop or web edition.
    • Automatic removal of empty lines from data sources
    • Performance optimization when using effects of large objects.
    • Changes to the tab order of the input fields in the login dialog for WebDrives (VivaCloud, etc.).
    • Improvements to the interaction with the input fields for floating point numbers.
    • Improved InDesign import (i.e. “Same Style Paragraph Spacing”, etc.).
    • Improvements to the “Cut/Copy/Paste” behavior for HTML text for e.g. from “Google Docs” (Ticket VHD-10728).
    • Improvements in the synchronization of Alias pages using the collections.
    • Remove the button for closing documents in the tab if the corresponding right is deactivated in the menu.

11.1, Build 9143 – 2024-06-06

IMPORTANT NOTE:  THE FILE FORMAT HAS CHANGED. DOCUMENTS SAVED IN THIS VERSION CANNOT BE OPENED IN OLDER VERSIONS.

New features

    • New AI options and palette for text (manual chapter “Working with AI”)
    • New options for AI-based image editing (manual chapter “Working with AI”)
    • New menu in the “Layers” palette.
    • New option “Show all Layers”, “Hide all Layers” in the menu of the “Layers” palette.
    • New option “Lock all Layers”, “Unlock all Layers” in the menu of the “Layers” palette.
    • Translations to and from “Arabic”.
    • Support of XLSX files as data source. (Database Publishing)
    • Opened documents can also be saved locally in the VivaCloud edition if necessary.
    • New keyboard shortcut for the option “Margin & Columns”.  [#2326]
    • Fully automatic background installation (Windows only)
    • Support of the latest Duden (version Duden v3.8).
    • Open sample documents in read-only mode.
    • New icons for the user-defined toolbars.

Bug fixes

    • Error in the display of separators for merged/connected table rows.

Manual

    • Updated manual (Installation etc.).
    • New chapter “Working with AI”.

Improvements

    • Improvements to the “Cut/Copy/Paste” behavior in the WebEdition version.
    • Improvements to the interaction with the input fields for floating point numbers.
    • Improvements to the positioning of anchored objects .  [VHD-9779]
    • Improvements to the visualization of drag & drop within lists (e.g. layer palette).
    • Improvements to the display of missing objects in the library. [VHD-10133]
    • Improvements to the output of error messages that occur during the activation of upgrade codes.
    • Improvements to the display of text paths in the “Layers” palette.

InDesign Import Improvements

    • Improvements when importing documents with alternative page formats.

11.0, Build 9119 – 2024-02-22

IMPORTANT NOTE:  THE FILE FORMAT HAS CHANGED. DOCUMENTS SAVED IN THIS VERSION CANNOT BE OPENED IN OLDER VERSIONS.

New features

    • New option “Separable tables” (within text chains).
    • New option “Purchases” in the Help menu shows the account balance and the consumption of “VIVA Points”.

Improvements

    • Improved preview for faulty SVG images (e.g. from Adobe Illustrator) that have no height and width.
    • Acceleration when working with the VivaCloud
    • Improved import of InDesign documents with anchored objects.
    • Improved import of InDesign documents (larger than 1 GB) with an extremely large number of images.

Bug fixes

    • [VHD-9414] Error when creating cross-document directories.
    • [VHD-9476] Error when importing/uploading PDF in the server environment.

Build 9111 – 2024-01-22

IMPORTANT NOTE:  THE FILE FORMAT HAS CHANGED. DOCUMENTS SAVED IN THIS VERSION CANNOT BE OPENED IN OLDER VERSIONS.

New features

    • New access rights for importing images, texts and objects.
    • New access rights for managing document pages and Alias pages.
    • New option for mapping alias pages to document pages with the option of overwriting the content of document pages with the content of alias pages.

Manual

    • Updated manual (Working in a Team > Access Rights, etc.).
    • New chapter “Workflow”.
    • New chapter “Keyboard and mouse commands”.

Bug fixes

    • Error when opening VIVA sample documents.
    • Error when opening template documents.
    • Crash when closing the color dialog.
    • Error when creating shapes.
    • Error when searching & replacing.
    • Incorrect size during SVG export.
    • Crash during PDF export of collections with the option “Print individual pages”. The option only has an effect when exporting individual documents. This should remain so, so only the crash has been fixed.
    • Crash when mapping Alias pages with headers and footers on document pages.
    • [VHD-9296] Program crash when changing page preview settings.
    • [VHD-8850] Error when deleting Alias pages with “Del” or “Backspace”.
    • [VHD-8709] Incorrect PDF-Export with line ends “Round Caps”.
    • [VHD-9107] Incorrect assignment of imported PDF documents when updating images.
    • [VHD-9346] Incorrect trim box and bleed box during PDF export of collections.
    • [VHD-8477] Some variable fonts could not be used under Windows.

Improvements

    • Improvement when loading files from WebDrives.
    • Faster opening and saving of documents.
    • Automatic recognition of email addresses and URLs during export improved.
    • Accelerated PDF export of collections (spelling correction is ignored).
    • Changes to the behavior of WebEdition with regard to access rights when creating and opening libraries.
    • Improvement of RGB color display for PNG, JPG and SVG export.
    • Improvement of the EPUB format.
    • Optimization in the area of image management (avoidance of multiple copies of an image within the document).
    • Support of the latest Duden (version Duden v3.7.4).

InDesign Import Improvements

    • InDesign documents are opened with the “Fit Spread in Window” view.
    • Support of the InDesign attribute for paragraph background for texts.
    • Support of the InDesign attribute for paragraph borders for texts.

11.0, Build 9094 – 2023-10-04

Bug fixes

    • [VHD-8477] Some variable fonts could not be used under Windows.
      Crash when mapping Alias pages to document pages with variable text objects including headers and footers.
    • Optimization in the area of image management.

Improvements

    • Optimization in the area of image management.

New features

    • The program now distinguishes between the “Assign Alias Pages (Keep Content)” option and the “Assign Alias Pages (Overwrite Content)” option when assigning Alias pages via the context menu in the Pages palette. Please refer to the explanations in the manual, which has been updated accordingly.

11.0 Build 9094 – 2023-09-26

IMPORTANT NOTE:  THE FILE FORMAT HAS CHANGED. DOCUMENTS SAVED IN THIS VERSION CANNOT BE OPENED IN OLDER VERSIONS.

InDesign Import Improvements

    • New option “Quality control”.
    • New option “Split tables”.

Bug fixes

    • Incorrect size when importing/exporting SVG images (Ticket: VHD-8162).
    • Crash when deleting an image from an image frame with white space optimization turned on (Ticket: VHD-8493).
    • Infinite loop when automatically loading Google Fonts from the Internet (Ticket: VHD-8557).

11.0, Build 9090 – 2023-08-25

First official program version

11.0, Build 9081 (Beta) – 2023-06-09

General

    • Incorrect application of nested styles corrected.
    • Changing the order of layers on the Alias pages did not work.
    • Support for Duden v3.7.3.

InDesign Import Improvements

    • Support for importing text hyperlinks.
    • Enhanced Line Styles (Objects & Paragraph Rules). [#2319]
    • Enhanced Line Styles for “Underline” and “Strikethrough”. [#2320]
    • Create QR-Codes from Comments.
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Best layout program 2024

VIVA Comparison 2024 Picture

We have been setting standards in layout and design with VivaDesigner for over 30 years. But how does VivaDesigner compare to other layout programs? How should you compare these programs with each other? For generations, journalists and comparison portals have been comparing VivaDesigner with other programs. But how objective are these comparisons?

We asked the AI software from OpenAI to compare VivaDesigner with other programs and to name the evaluation criteria.

Our question was:

If you were to give the programs “VivaDesigner”, “InDesign”, “Quark XPress”, “Scribus”, “Affinity Publisher”, Xara Page & Layout” and “Microsoft Publisher” a maximum of 100 points, how many points would you give each of these programs. Also state the data on which your rating is based.

The AI answered as follows:

To create a fair and up-to-date rating for VivaDesigner, “InDesign”, “Quark XPress”, “Scribus”, “Affinity Publisher”, Xara Page & Layout Designer” and “Microsoft Publisher”, I look at various criteria such as ease of use, feature set, value for money, platform availability and collaboration options. Here are the scores and the underlying data:

Evaluation criteria and point distribution:

    1. Ease of use (max. 20 points)
    2. Range of functions (max. 20 points)
    3. Price-performance ratio (max. 20 points)
    4. Platform availability (max. 20 points)
    5. Collaboration options (max. 20 points)

Sources:

    1. Official websites and documentation
      User reviews and testimonials:
    2. Forums and platforms such as G2, Capterra, Trustpilot
      User reviews and testimonials on specialized design and software websites.
    3. Technical reviews and comparisons
      Technical articles and comparisons of DTP software on websites such as Creative Bloq, TechRadar, and other specialized IT and design magazines.
    4. Personal experience and expert opinions
      Assessments from designers and experts who have used both programs in practice.

*These evaluations are as of May 2024 and are based on the sources and criteria mentioned. Changes in future versions of the software could influence the ratings.

VivaDesigner

Ease of use: 19/20
Very user-friendly and easy to learn, especially for beginners.
Range of functions: 17/20
Professional tools available, but not as extensive as some specialized programs.
Price-performance ratio: 20/20
More flexible licensing options, including a free version and a one-time license.
Platform availability: 20/20
Available for Windows, macOS, Linux and Web.
Collaboration capabilities: 17/20
Good real-time collaboration features, ideal for team projects.

Overall score: 93/100

VivaDesigner impresses with its cross-platform availability, flexiblelicensing options and user-friendly interface. It offers solid collaborative features and is particularly attractive for users looking for a cost-effective and flexible solution.

Adobe InDesign

Ease of use: 18/20
Intuitive user interface, but complex features may require a steeper learning curve.
Range of functions: 20/20
Extensive professional tools and integrations, ideal for high-end publishing.
Price-performance ratio: 15/20
High price due to subscription model, but extensive features and regular updates.
Platform availability: 15/20
Available for Windows and macOS, but not for Linux.
Collaboration options: 18/20
Good real-time collaboration features via Adobe Creative Cloud.

Overall score: 86/100

Adobe InDesign scores highly for its comprehensive feature set and tight integration with other Adobe tools, making it the first choice for high-end publishing projects. However, the high cost and exclusive availability in the subscription model as well as limited platform availability can be disadvantages.

Affinity Publisher

Ease of use: 18/20
Intuitive user interface, but some advanced features require a learning curve.
Range of functions: 19/20
Extensive professional tools that cover almost all desktop publishing requirements.
Price-performance ratio: 19/20
One-time license fee, no subscriptions, which makes it cost-effective in the long term.
Platform availability: 18/20
Available for Windows and macOS, but not Linux.
Collaboration capabilities: 15/20
Collaborative features are less pronounced compared to some other programs.

Overall score: 89/100

Affinity Publisher stands out for its comprehensive feature set and excellent value for money due to the one-time license fee. However, it is not available for Linux and the collaborative features are less pronounced.

QuarkXPress

Ease of use: 18/20
Intuitive user interface, but some complex features may require a learning curve.
Range of functions: 19/20
Very comprehensive professional tools that cover almost all desktop publishing requirements.
Price-performance ratio: 16/20
Higher cost compared to other programs, but without subscription.
Platform availability: 18/20
Available for Windows and macOS, but not for Linux.
Collaboration options: 16/20
Good collaboration features, but not as advanced as some competitors.

Overall score: 87/100

QuarkXPress impresses with its extensive feature set and powerful professional tools. Ease of use and platform availability are good, but the cost is higher compared to some other programs.

Scribus

Ease of use: 16/20
Slightly higher learning curve as the user interface is less intuitive than some other programs.
Functionality: 15/20
Solid feature set, but lacks some advanced features compared to commercial programs.
Price-performance ratio: 20/20
Free and open source, making it an excellent choice for cost-conscious users.
Platform availability: 20/20
Available for Windows, macOS and Linux.
Collaboration capabilities: 15/20
Limited real-time collaboration features compared to some commercial alternatives.

Overall score: 86/100

Scribus offers unbeatable value for money as free open source software. It has a slightly higher learning curve and offers fewer advanced features and collaboration options compared to commercial programs.

Microsoft Publisher

Ease of use: 17/20
Easy and intuitive to use, especially for beginners.
Range of functions: 15/20
Solid basic features for desktop publishing, but not as comprehensive as specialized DTP programs.
Price-performance ratio: 17/20
Inexpensive as part of Microsoft 365, but no free version available.
Platform availability: 15/20
Only available for Windows, no macOS or Linux version.
Collaboration options: 15/20
Basic collaboration features through integration with Microsoft 365, but not as sophisticated as some competitors.

Overall score: 79/100

Microsoft Publisher is particularly attractive for beginners and occasional users who are integrated into the Microsoft ecosystem. It offers a simple and intuitive user interface, but the feature set is limited compared to specialized DTP programs, and it’s only available for Windows.

Canva

Ease of use: 20/20
Extremely user-friendly and intuitive, ideal for beginners and non-designers.
Range of functions: 15/20
Good basic functions for graphic design, but not as extensive for professional desktop publishing as specialized DTP programs.
Price-performance ratio: 18/20
Free version available, Pro version offers additional functions at a moderate price.
Platform availability: 20/20
Available as a web-based application and as an app for various operating systems (Windows, macOS, iOS, Android)
Collaboration capabilities: 19/20
Excellent collaboration features, including real-time editing and easy design sharing.

Overall score: 92/100

Canva impresses with its extremely user-friendly interface and excellent collaboration features. It’s ideal for simple to intermediate design projects, but doesn’t offer the same range of features as specialized DTP programs.

Xara Page & Layout Designer

Ease of use: 18/20
Easy and intuitive to use, especially for beginners and non-designers.
Range of functions: 16/20
Good basic functions for layout and design work, but not as extensive as specialized DTP programs.
Price-performance ratio: 18/20
One-time license fee, no subscriptions, which makes it cost effective.
Platform availability: 15/20
Only available for Windows, no macOS or Linux version.
Collaboration options: 15/20
Basic collaboration features, but not as advanced as some competitors.

Overall score: 82/100

Xara Page & Layout Designer is particularly attractive for beginners and occasional users looking for an intuitive and cost-effective solution. It offers a simple and intuitive user interface, but the feature set is limited compared to more specialized DTP programs, and it’s only available for Windows.

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Comparison of VivaDesigner versus Canva

The following 28 most important points compare Canva and VivaDesigner:

In order to create a comprehensive comparison between “Canva” and “VivaDesigner”, we consider the aspects of features, ease of use, platforms, support, use cases, teamwork and compatibility. These aspects are based on the information obtained from the sources listed at the end of the article.

Platform Support

    • VivaDesigner offers broad platform support, including Windows, Mac and Linux, as well as a web-based version[1][3].
    • Canva is primarily a web-based application, with limited support for desktop platforms via third-party tools[1].

User friendliness

    • VivaDesigner is recommended for both professionals and beginners, thanks to its intuitive user interface and AI-based features[3].
    • Canva is known for its simple and intuitive user interface, which is particularly suitable for beginners and non-professional designers[2].

Features

    • VivaDesigner offers a high-end publishing and layout program suitable for professional design and publishing tasks[3].
    • Canva focuses more on creating graphics and less on publishing, which makes it less suitable for complex layout tasks[2].

Teamwork

    • VivaDesigner supports team collaboration through its desktop and web versions, which makes it attractive for companies and workgroups[3].
    • Canva for Teams also offers team features, but with a focus on simple graphics creation rather than large-scale publishing projects[4].

Use cases

    • VivaDesigner is particularly suitable for professional publishing tasks such as product labels, posters, signs, banners, flyers and brochures[3].
    • Canva is ideal for creating blog graphics, presentations, Facebook cover photos, flyers, posters and invitations[2].

Support and customer service

    • VivaDesigner offers direct mail or phone contact with the developers, which enables a quick implementation of suggestions for improvement[3].
    • Canva provides support mainly through online resources and community forums[2].

Compatibility and integration

    • VivaDesigner supports a variety of languages and can be integrated with other applications such as Nextcloud[3].
    • Canva offers a wide range of templates and design elements, but these are mainly used within the Canva platform[2].

    Pricing models

    • VivaDesigner offers both free and paid versions, with one-time payments for the desktop version and flexible options for commercial licenses[3].
    • Canva uses a freemium model, with a free basic version and a Pro version for advanced features[2].

Design and layout options

    • VivaDesigner offers extensive design and layout options suitable for professional publishing projects[3].
    • Canva offers a variety of design templates and elements, but may be limited for complex layouts and professional print projects[6].

Accessibility and mobility

    • VivaDesigner offers a desktop and a web version, which provides flexibility in terms of working environments[3].
    • Canva is mainly web-based, which allows access from anywhere, but requires an internet connection[2].

Customization

    • VivaDesigner allows for extensive customization and is open to suggestions for improvement from users, which are often quickly implemented[3].
    • Canva offers customization options through templates and design elements, but less flexibility in adapting to specific user needs[2].

Professional use

    • VivaDesigner is particularly suitable for professional users who plan to use the program intensively[2].
    • Canva, while suitable for a broad user base, may not offer the depth of features required for professional design projects[6].

License costs

    • VivaDesigner offers a cost-effective solution with no monthly fees, which is particularly attractive for small businesses and freelancers[3].
    • Canva offers a free version, but access to all features requires a Pro version, which incurs monthly costs[2].

Document Management

    • VivaDesigner offers innovative concepts for document management and work processes, which can improve efficiency[1].
    • Canva focuses more on the creation of individual designs and offers fewer features for comprehensive document management[2].

Offline support

    • VivaDesigner offers offline support through the desktop version, which allows you to work without a constant internet connection[1].
    • Canva is mainly an online platform, which limits its use without an internet connection[2].

Extensibility and customization

    • VivaDesigner offers a high level of extensibility and customization, which makes it suitable for specific requirements and workflows[3].
    • Canva offers a wide range of templates and design elements, but fewer options for customization for complex requirements[2].

Collaboration and sharing

    • VivaDesigner supports effective teamwork through features such as perfect InDesign import and the ability to edit documents on the desktop or on the web[3].
    • Canva for Teams also offers team features, but focuses more on design sharing than large-scale publishing projects[4].

Language support

    • VivaDesigner supports a variety of languages, making it accessible for international teams and projects[3].
    • Canva also offers support for multiple languages, but the information about the exact number of supported languages is less transparent[2].

Customer support

    • VivaDesigner offers direct contact with the developers for support requests, which enables quick and effective problem solving[3].
    • Canva provides support mainly through online resources, which means less direct interaction with the support team[2].

Price-performance ratio

    • VivaDesigner offers good value for money, especially with the one-time payment option for the desktop version[3].
    • Canva offers a freemium model, but access to all features requires a Pro version, which incurs additional costs[2].

Design flexibility

    • VivaDesigner offers extensive design and layout options that make it suitable for a variety of publishing projects[3].
    • Canva offers a wide range of templates and design elements, but less flexibility for complex layouts and professional print projects[6].

Professional publishing options

    • VivaDesigner is particularly suitable for professional publishing tasks, thanks to its extensive features and layout options[3].
    • Canva focuses more on the creation of graphics and less on extensive publishing projects[2].

Integration with other applications

    • VivaDesigner can be integrated with other applications such as Nextcloud, which improves collaboration and document management[3].
    • Canva offers integrations with different platforms, but the possibilities may be more limited compared to VivaDesigner[2].

Access control and brand control

    • VivaDesigner offers extensive options for access control and brand control, making it suitable for organizations with strict branding guidelines[3].
    • Canva for Teams also offers branding options, but VivaDesigner may offer deeper control over brand elements[4].

Customization for specific workflows

    • VivaDesigner offers a high level of customization to specific workflows and requirements, making it attractive to professional users[3].
    • Canva offers flexibility through its templates and design elements, but less customization for complex workflows[2].

License options

    • VivaDesigner offers flexible licensing options, including free, purchased or rented commercial licenses[3].
    • Canva offers a freemium model, with a free basic version and a Pro version for advanced features[2].

Document import and export

    • VivaDesigner allows you to import and export documents, including perfect InDesign import, without having to own InDesign[3].
    • Canva offers import and export functions, but possibly less extensive options for the exchange of professional design projects[2].

Customer-specific requirements

    • VivaDesigner allows you to import and export documents, including perfect InDesign import, without having to own InDesign[3].
    • Canva offers import and export functions, but possibly less extensive options for the exchange of professional design projects[2].
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Comparison of VivaDesigner versus Affinity Publisher

The following 30 most important points compare Affinity Publisher and VivaDesigner:

In order to create a comprehensive comparison between “Affinity Publisher” and “VivaDesigner”, we consider the aspects of features, ease of use, platforms, support, use cases, teamwork and compatibility. These aspects are based on the information obtained from the sources listed at the end of the article.

Platform Support

      • VivaDesigner offers broad platform support, including Windows, Mac, Linux and a web-based version[1][2].
      • Affinity Publisher is mainly optimized for Windows, Mac and iPad, with limited web support[3].

User friendliness

    • VivaDesigner is recommended for both professionals and beginners, thanks to its intuitive user interface and AI-based features[2].
    • Affinity Publisher is aimed more at professional users and may have a learning curve for beginners[3].

Features

    • VivaDesigner offers comprehensive layout, typesetting and illustration functions for professional publishing projects[2].
    • Affinity Publisher focuses mainly on DTP functions and offers fewer illustration tools[3].

Teamwork

    • VivaDesigner supports team collaboration through desktop and web versions, which is attractive for companies[2].
    • Affinity Publisher offers limited team features and focuses more on individual users[3].

Use cases

    • VivaDesigner is suitable for a variety of publishing projects such as books, magazines, marketing materials and more[2].
    • Affinity Publisher is ideal for print projects such as books, brochures and layouts, but less optimized for digital publishing[3].

Support and customer service

    • VivaDesigner offers direct mail or phone contact with the developers for quick problem solving[2].
    • Affinity Publisher provides support mainly through online resources and community forums[3].

Compatibility and integration

    • VivaDesigner can edit InDesign documents directly in the web browser and can be integrated into other applications[2].
    • Affinity Publisher integrates seamlessly with other Affinity products, but offers less compatibility with non-Affinity software[3].

    Pricing models

    • VivaDesigner offers both free and paid versions with one-time payments[2].
    • Affinity Publisher requires a one-time payment with no subscription option[3].

Design and layout options

    • VivaDesigner offers extensive design and layout options for professional publishing projects[2].
    • Affinity Publisher offers powerful layout features but fewer illustration tools than VivaDesigner[3].

Accessibility and mobility

    • VivaDesigner offers desktop and web versions for maximum flexibility[2].
    • Affinity Publisher is optimized for desktop and iPad, but does not offer full web support[3].

Customization

    • VivaDesigner is open to suggestions for improvement from users, which are often implemented quickly[2].
    • Affinity Publisher offers customization options, but less direct interaction with developers[3].

Professional use

    • VivaDesigner is particularly suitable for professional users who plan intensive use[2].
    • Affinity Publisher is aimed at professional users, but may offer less depth of functionality[3].

License costs

    • VivaDesigner offers a cost-effective solution with no monthly fees[2].
    • Affinity Publisher requires a one-time payment, which can be cheap or expensive depending on your needs[3].

Document Management

    • VivaDesigner offers innovative concepts for document management and work processes[2].
    • Affinity Publisher focuses more on the creation of individual designs than on document management[3].

Offline support

    • VivaDesigner offers offline support through the desktop version[2].
    • Affinity Publisher is mainly optimized for offline use on desktop and iPad[3].

Extensibility and customization

    • VivaDesigner offers high extensibility and customization for specific requirements[2].
    • Affinity Publisher offers customization options, but possibly less flexibility than VivaDesigner[3].

Language support

    • VivaDesigner supports a variety of languages in a single application[2].
    • Affinity Publisher offers multilingual support, but details are unclear[3].

Customer support

    • VivaDesigner offers direct contact with developers for quick problem resolution[2].
    • Affinity Publisher offers mainly online support and community forums[3].

Price-performance ratio

    • VivaDesigner offers good value for money with unique payment options[2].
    • Affinity Publisher requires a one-time payment, which can be cheap or expensive depending on your needs[3].

Design flexibility

    • VivaDesigner offers comprehensive design and layout options for a wide range of projects[2].
    • Affinity Publisher focuses more on print projects than digital publishing[3].

Professional publishing options

    • VivaDesigner is particularly suitable for professional publishing tasks[2].
    • Affinity Publisher is powerful but possibly less focused on publishing than VivaDesigner[3].

Integration with other applications

    • VivaDesigner can be integrated with other applications such as Nextcloud[2].
    • Affinity Publisher integrates seamlessly with other Affinity products[3].

Access control and brand control

    • VivaDesigner offers comprehensive options for access control and brand control[2].
    • Affinity Publisher offers branding options, but possibly less extensive than VivaDesigner[3].

Customization for specific workflows

    • VivaDesigner offers high customizability to specific workflows[2].
    • Affinity Publisher offers customization options, but details are unclear[3].

License options

    • VivaDesigner offers flexible license options such as free, purchased or rented[2].
    • Affinity Publisher requires a one-time payment with no subscription option[3].

Document import and export

    • VivaDesigner can edit and export InDesign documents directly in the web browser[2].
    • Affinity Publisher offers import and export functions, but less compatibility with InDesign[3].

Collaboration and sharing

    • VivaDesigner supports teamwork through InDesign import and desktop/web editing[2].
    • Affinity Publisher offers limited team features[3].

Customer-specific requirements

    • VivaDesigner is open to customer-specific requirements and suggestions for improvement[2].
    • Affinity Publisher offers customization options but less direct interaction with developers[3].

Learning curve

    • VivaDesigner is described as user-friendly and suitable for beginners[2].
    • Affinity Publisher is aimed more at experienced users and may have a learning curve[3].

Innovative concept

    • VivaDesigner is described as an innovative concept for layout and typesetting[2].
    • Affinity Publisher offers powerful DTP features but possibly less innovative concepts[3].

Sources/Citations:

[1] https://www.capterra.com.de/compare/110533/1056296/webplus-x4/vs/vivadesigner
[2] https://www.getapp.co.uk/compare/2035531/2069864/webplus-x4/vs/vivadesigner
[3] https://affinity.serif.com/de/publisher/
[4] https://www.resourcespace.com/blog/best-adobe-indesign-alternatives
[5] https://www.getapp.de/compare/2035531/2069864/webplus-x4/vs/vivadesigner

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Modern Slavery Statement

Introduction

At VIVA, we are committed to improving our practices to combat slavery and human trafficking. This Modern Slavery Statement reflects our promise to act ethically and with integrity in all our business relationships and to implement and enforce effective systems and controls to ensure slavery and human trafficking is not taking place anywhere in our own business or in any of our supply chains.

Organizational Structure

VIVA is a developer of software for graphic design as well as for optimizing and automating marketing and layout processes for corporations in all branches as well as the graphics industry, based in Koblenz, Germany, and we operate worldwide, with manufacturing facilities in several European countries. We are a leader in our industry and recognize our responsibility to take a robust approach to slavery and human trafficking.

Our Supply Chains

Our supply chain includes the procurement of software modules and services, manufacturing of sofwtare products, and distribution networks covering various sectors. We are committed to continually reviewing and updating our procurement processes, and engaging only with suppliers who uphold the same ethical principles we do.

Policies on Slavery and Human Trafficking

Our commitment to combating modern slavery in our business and supply chains is upheld through our policies, including:

Human Rights Policy: Ensures all rights are respected and protected.

Supplier Code of Conduct: Mandates that our suppliers commit to ensuring that their operations are free from forced or compulsory labor.

Employee Code of Conduct: Stresses the importance of ethical conduct and compliance with all applicable laws, including those pertaining to human trafficking and slavery.

Training

To ensure a high level of understanding of the risks of modern slavery and human trafficking in our supply chains and our business, we provide training to our staff, particularly those in Supply Chain Management and Human Resources.

This statement is made pursuant to section 54(1) of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and constitutes our slavery and human trafficking statement for the financial year ending [Date].

Approved by: Peter Hannon, 1.1.2023

 

 

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Anti-corruption policy

Introduction

VIVA is committed to conducting all business in accordance with the highest ethical standards and to strictly rejecting all forms of corruption and bribery. This Anti-Corruption Policy serves to reaffirm our company’s commitment to avoiding corrupt practices and to provide guidelines and procedures to ensure compliance with all applicable anti-corruption laws.

Scope

This policy applies to all employees, directors, officers, contractors and consultants of [Company Name] worldwide. It covers all business activities and operations involving our employees and related parties.

Definitions

Corruption: The misuse of entrusted power for private gain.

Bribery: Offering, promising, giving, accepting, or soliciting of an advantage as an inducement for an action which is illegal, unethical, or a breach of trust.

Policy Guidelines

Prohibition of Bribery and Corruption: VIVA strictly prohibits any form of bribery and corruption. Employees and associated third parties are not permitted to, directly or indirectly, offer, promise, give, or accept bribes to or from any person or organization. This includes government officials, clients, contractors, and individuals in the private sector.

Gifts and Hospitality: Gifts and hospitality may be offered or accepted only when they are reasonable, appropriate, and justifiable under the circumstances. They must not be intended to influence an individual’s impartiality or decision-making process. All gifts and hospitality must be transparently recorded in the company’s gift registry.

Due Diligence: VIVA will conduct due diligence on third parties before entering into any agreements to ensure alignment with this Anti-Corruption Policy. Ongoing monitoring will be conducted to ensure compliance.

Training and Communication: Regular training on this policy and related legal requirements will be provided to all employees. This policy will be communicated to all third parties engaged with VIVA to ensure awareness and compliance.

Reporting Violations

Employees and external parties are encouraged to report any suspicious activities or breaches of this policy confidentially. VIVA ensures that all reports will be investigated thoroughly and promptly, with respect for the confidentiality and protection of those reporting.

Enforcement

Violations of this Anti-Corruption Policy will result in disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment. Legal proceedings may also be initiated where applicable. Managers and supervisors are responsible for enforcing this policy and ensuring that employees under their supervision are aware of and comply with it.

Review and Modification

This policy will be reviewed annually and modified as necessary to ensure it meets legal requirements and aligns with best practices in corporate governance.

Conclusion

VIVA is dedicated to upholding the highest standards of honesty and integrity. We are committed to fighting corruption in all forms and maintaining a clean and ethical business environment.

Approval

This policy has been approved by Peter Hannon and is effective as of January 1, 2023.

 

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Gender Pay Gap

Last change: January 1, 2024

Declaration on the gender pay gap

VIVA supports the principle of gender neutrality with regard to pay, which is laid down in Article 157 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU). Several countries now legislate to require companies to analyze and report on the gender pay gap, for example:

In Germany, the Pay Transparency Act, which came into force in January 2018, entitles employees to request certain aggregated information on the pay of colleagues of the opposite gender in comparable positions.

In the UK, legislation has required all companies with 250 or more employees to report their gender pay gap annually since April 2017.

We are a small company with less than 200 employees, so we are not required to report on the gender pay gap.

 

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