Workflow/MIS/Web-to-Print

ROCHESTER, N.Y., MAY 2—More than 300 members of the Graphic Users Association (GUA) of Kodak Solutions gathered last week at the Wynn Las Vegas to learn about the latest techniques, products and best practices for advancing their graphic communications business. The GUA’s annual North American Conference, sponsored by Kodak’s Graphic Communications Group, included 50 presentations and roundtable discussions. Subject matter experts from Kodak and the GUA exchanged information with attendees on a wide range of topics, such as workflow, color relationship management, growing a digital print business, the impact of offset class inkjet, sustainability, transitioning from a printer to marketing services provider, trends in

VALHALLA, NY—April 28, 2008—Fujifilm Graphic Systems U.S.A., Inc. announced today that Masahiro Ota is the company’s new president and chief executive officer. Ota replaces Hiro Tada, who has taken a new position as president and chief executive officer with Fujifilm’s Medical Imaging Division. “Fujifilm is well-positioned to face this challenging market, thanks not only to our ability to produce quality, reliable plates and prepress equipment, but also our ability to integrate new technologies - such as digital printing and wide format imaging - into our customers’ operations,” said Ota. “I’m looking forward to the taking on the challenges of this new position and working

PITTSBURGH—April 3, 2008—The Printing Industries of America/Graphic Arts Technical Foundation (PIA/GATF) is pleased to announce the establishment of the Center for Color Management assisting members with the implementation of color management and production color controls. The Center provides consulting, training, publications, and case-study evaluations of international print standards and printing reference conditions. The association reports that printers recognizing the power of color science, advanced technologies, and integrated systems consistently increase color accuracy and repeatability among various digital and print media devices, while also reducing production waste. Ken Rizzo (PIA/GATF, Director of Consulting and Custom Training) along with Joe Suffoletto, MS, CDPS (PIA/GATF, Senior Technical

CAMBRIDGE, MA—March 2008—Pageflex, a division of Bitstream Inc. (NASDAQ: BITS, www.bitstream.com) and a leading developer of enterprise variable data publishing and web-to-print solutions, and Avanti Computer Systems (www.avantisystems.com), a leading provider of print MIS solutions for the graphic arts industry, announced today the integration of two award-winning technologies: Avanti’s Graphic Arts Management System and Pageflex Storefront™ web-to-print software. This comprehensive solution provides a complete, streamlined workflow from online document customization and ordering in Pageflex Storefront through the print production environment to for printing, finishing and shipment. The first Avanti customer to implement the integrated technology is Associates Graphic Services (www.agsprint.com), a world-class printing solutions

Barr Systems Barr Enterprise Print Server: input/output management solution. Receives data from multiple sources (hosts, servers, network apps) and outputs to multiple destinations (network and production printers, archive, e-mail, Web). StreamTracer: high-speed print data stream comparison application for AFP, Metacode, LCDS, PostScript, and PDF formats. It displays “before” and “after” document snapshots side by side and highlights all differences. EFI With the Fiery open platform and compliance with industry standards such JDF, PDF, and PPML the Fiery seamlessly integrates into customers’ overall print shop operations, including offset/digital hybrid environments and third-party graphic arts workflows, including CTP environments. The Fiery server is integral

Agfa ColorTune X color management software solutions work in combination with measuring devices to generate accurate, ICC-compatible color profiles. QMS X (Quality Management System) checks the calibration and engine performance of Sherpa proofers in contract proofing applications. Every proofer in the workflow can be calibrated to achieve the same tonal response within predefined tolerances. Alterno color conversion tool broadens the CMYK color spectrum. It enables printers to standardize their presses on a self-defined ink set that extends the color gamut. EFI ColorWise in-RIP color management system provides a range of simple and expert-level tools. A standard component of Fiery color print servers, it includes

ROCHESTER, NY—Mar. 4—Kodak announced its intent to acquire Design2Launch (D2L), developer of a collaborative end to end digital workflow solution for marketing and creative teams in the pharmaceutical, food and beverage, automotive, and consumer package marketplaces. D2L is a proven player in the rapidly expanding corporate solutions software market and is a pioneer of “Graphic Lifecycle Management.” The D2L System is a suite of integrated modules created to save time and money at every step of the graphics creation process, from project initiation, collaboration and revision to approval and production. D2L, a privately held company formed in 2000, is based in Stamford, Conn.

CHANGE MAY be good or it may be bad, but it is nearly always disruptive. In a production workflow, that generally means that when procedures change, mistakes increase, resulting in heightened inspection vigilance. Ultimately, though, the goal is to complete the process better, faster or cheaper. Such a change is about to occur in digital printing and prepress as the adoption rates of Windows Vista and Office Suite 2007 swell, because Vista and Office 2007 create and print files differently than other systems. Microsoft’s new document standard is the XML Paper Specification (XPS), which, like Adobe’s PDF format,

HUDSON, NH—February 28, 2008—Presstek, Inc., the leading manufacturer and marketer of digital offset printing business solutions, today announced an alliance with Press-sense, the world’s leading developer of Business Flow Automation for the Print Industry™. Under the agreement, Presstek will offer the Press-sense portfolio of Web-to-print and business management software as part of its on-going plan to surround its digital offset product portfolio with value-added business solutions. Presstek will offer both licensed software and hosted versions. Presstek will be demonstrating this workflow solution at The Graphics of the Americas trade show in Miami, FL from February 28 to March 1 (Booth #1090), and

SITUATED ALONG the San Joaquin Delta waterway, about 80 miles east of San Francisco, San Joaquin Delta College has a student body of about 20,000 educated by more than 400 teachers. To help ensure students’ academic success, instructors provide assessments of each student’s progress just before final grades are assigned. The teacher identifies particular areas that need focus so students can gear their efforts accordingly. To produce a variable data piece such as this Academic Progress Letter, the college turns to its 12-employee Publication Center. “With our number of students and faculty, we probably do a half a million sheets of VDP a