System and method for communication over a TCP/IP network with an appletalk network for publishing and printing services

A printing and publishing system providing prepress, content management, infrastructure, and workflow services to system subscribers using computers equipped with the AppleTalk communication protocol in real time using a communication network, the printing and publishing system comprising:

• an end user facility coupled to a communication network, the end user facility providing page building operations using computers equipped with the AppleTalk communication protocol, the page building operations including the design and construction of pages from images, text, and data available via said communication network;
• a central service facility coupled to said communication network, the central service facility providing storage, file processing, remote access, and content management operations;
• the file processing operations including generating a plate-ready file from pages designed at said end user facility, said plate-ready file having a file format capable of high resolution and ready for creation of a printing plate;
• and
• a printing company facility coupled to said communication network, the printing company facility providing printing operations, the printing operations including producing a printing plate from said plate-ready file.