Eastman Kodak Co.

In-plants have a lot to say—and some vendors are very interested in listening. Like Kodak, for example. I recently learned that the company's Graphic Communications Group assembled an in-plant advisory panel last month and brought eight managers to Rochester to listen to its strategy and offer feedback. When a major graphic arts company like Kodak takes an interest in the opinions of in-plants, it's certainly good news for the rest of us. It shows how important in-plants have become in the decisions of these firms. The managers on Kodak's advisory panel—both Kodak users and nonusers—were shown demonstrations of products and heard

The need for digital proofing is growing, as in-plants move to CTP. Does monitor-based proofing have a place in your shop? By Mark Smith and Bob Neubauer ith film disappearing from many in-plants' workflows due to the rise of computer-to-plate technology, the need for digital proofing has never been greater. Many new CTP users, like Ball State University Printing Services, are sticking with hard copy proofs. Now that it has a new Screen (U.S.A.) PlateRite 4100 platesetter, the Muncie, Ind., in-plant is using ink-jet proofs from Kodak Polychrome Graphics' Matchprint ProofPro 2610 driven by a ProofPro RIP to proof jobs. "The color

Not everyone has gone soft. At the recent IPG Conference, a panel of vendors and users discussed digital hard-copy proofing and how users can choose the right proofing technology for their requirements. Nick Patrissi, Creo's director of market relations and print media, advised attendees to consider the seven basic factors of color proofing and prioritize them before making a decision: • Consistency (repeatability of the device) • Resolution (how high do you need it?) • Color fidelity (can the proofer match the press's color space?) • Tonal fidelity (can it simulate the press's tonal characteristics?) • Halftone fidelity (do you need proofs to

In recent months Kodak has announced acquisitions and restructured in a bid to grab a bigger chunk of the graphic arts business. But how will this benefit in-plants? By Bob Neubauer Eastman Kodak is optimistic. The 124-year-old company is betting that in-plants and printing companies are looking for a single vendor to satisfy all of their graphic arts needs—and it has been investing rather heavily lately to make sure it becomes this vendor. Since 2002, the Rochester, N.Y.-based firm has been acquiring companies and buying out joint venture partners as part of a strategy to dominate the graphic arts business. But is this strategy

Not everyone uses proofs. According to some, the best way to print a job is by removing proofs from the pressroom and being objective. By Rich Bruce "Add snap" "I want the reds to jump off the page" "Give it more shape" These are proofing buzz words from a list provided by the Research and Engineering Council Roundtable. One word missing from the list is "objectivity." By this I mean looking at the press sheet for what it is by using numbers and not by comparing it to a color proof. Many printers and customers will use proofs as a crutch. Both use

Digital color printing is on the rise at in-plants. To help, equipment vendors are making their devices more user-friendly than ever. By Vince De Franco When it comes to digital color printing, in-plants are among the leaders. Some 30 percent of color devices in the 24- to 59-ppm category reside at in-plants, according to an InfoTrends/CAP Ventures research study. Not only that, 20 percent of all production color devices in excess of 60 ppm are at in-plants. This has made suppliers of digital color printing equipment take note. They have responded by making this equipment more user-friendly than ever. Vendors have broadened the choice

If you run a lot of 500- to 10,000-page four-color jobs with tight turnaround times and have the right computer skills, digital offset printing may be just what you need. By Bob Atkinson In-plants face increasing demands for short-run, fast-turnaround jobs, including full-color work. The problem? The traditional film/plate/ press route is poorly suited for these types of jobs. New technology has offered some help with this problem, first in the form of computer-to-plate (CTP) systems that eliminate the time and costs associated with film. Then, starting about a decade ago, an even more powerful technology arrived: digital printing, where a RIP

A look at some of the latest workflow solutions. By Mark Smith The digital revolution was already on its way to making "workflow" a catch-all term in prepress, when the rise of computer-integrated manufacturing (CIM) extended its use to the entire print production process. As a result, an ever-wider array of products can now be called "digital workflow solutions." For our purposes, the definition is being limited to the evolution of what used to be called prepress systems. Vendors have responded to this trend with a shift toward marketing workflow solution brands as much as specific products. Modularity and flexibility are at

In-plant managers got a chance to see the technologies they've been reading about at the recent Graph Expo show. For the many in-plant managers in attendance, the recent Graph Expo and Converting Expo 2004 show in Chicago was a graphic arts fantasy land. "I felt like a kid in a candy store," observes Mike Renn, of Mellon Corporate Publishing, in Philadelphia. "I went to take a look at the latest direct-to-plate systems and software management packages and came away with numerous options." Attendance this year was pretty healthy, he adds: "I had to wedge myself between bodies to check out the latest gear." Other managers agreed. "I

Whenever a company starts a new in-plant from scratch, it's great news for the rest of our industry. It shows the world that outsourcing is not the trend that defines the in-plant industry—that companies and organizations see lots of value in starting up new in-plants. Hobby Lobby brought its in-plant to life just five years ago, and it hasn't stopped growing since. Now up to 14 employees, it has added lots of new equipment, including a five-color offset press and an HP Indigo digital color press (see story in this issue). It's not