The firm's first move was to acquire Danish software developer CaslonSoft and to launch a new version of its desktop application automation tool CaslonFlow.

"The acquisition of CaslonSoft was key to our plans for the future," said Gradual chief executive Camps. "Our business objective is to provide full automation across the numerous stages of professional publishing, from document creation to delivery."

CaslonFlow is a hotfolder-based tool for automating production based on user-defined rules. It works using Javascript and can configure standard applications. Supported applications include the latest versions of Adobe Creative Suite: InDesign, Illustrator Photoshop and Acrobat; and Enfocus PitStop Server.

The firm took its name from its goal of carrying out automation projects in gradual step-by-step increments.

Story by Barney Cox