X-Rite Inc.

X-Rite, a provider of color solutions for measuring, formulating, matching, and simulating color, has entered into a definitive agreement to purchase Pantone for $180 million. The deal is expected to close in the fall of 2007. Pantone, headquartered in Carlstadt, N.J., is an authority on color inspiration for the design world with the PANTONE MATCHING SYSTEM, an innovative system for identifying, matching and communicating colors to solve color reproduction problems in the graphic arts market. Pantone generated revenue of approximately $42 million in 2006 with adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization of approximately 27 percent of revenue. Pantone sells its products, services

GRAND RAPIDS, MI—08/23/07—X-Rite, Incorporated (Nasdaq:XRIT) a leading provider of color solutions for measuring, formulating, matching, and simulating color, announced today it has entered into a definitive agreement to purchase Pantone, Inc. for $180 million. The deal is expected to close in the fall of 2007. Pantone, Inc., headquartered in Carlstadt, New Jersey, is an authority on color inspiration for the design world with the PANTONE MATCHING SYSTEM, an innovative system for identifying, matching and communicating colors to solve color reproduction problems in the graphic arts market. Pantone has expanded its color matching system to other industries where accurate color reproductions are critical, including

SOFTWARE E-ticketing with Hardcopy Jobs Rochester Software Associates has introduced QDirect.SCAN Connector for eCopy Share­Scan OP. QDirect.SCAN enables electronic job ticketing with hardcopy submission directly from multi-function printers (MFPs). Users log in for accounting purposes and specify options such as duplex, stapling and paper stock. Those choices, along with the scanned documents, are transmitted to QDirect, which generates a confirmation receipt that is printed at the requestor’s MFP. An electronic job ticket is automatically created from the user entry. The resulting print-ready file can be sent to any printer in the in-plant. Software Delivers Jobs ‘To Spec’ Quickcut has introduced QuickPrint 5, the

Eichhof Holding AG has thrown its hat in the ring to acquire Amazys Holding, parent company of GretagMacbeth, via a competing tender offer. In late January, X-Rite announced it would pay $280 million for the outstanding registered shares of Amazys Holding, plus 2.11 shares of X-Rite Inc. stock per share. Amazys develops, markets and supports hardware, software and services to measure and communicate color under the GretagMacbeth brand.

Whether they're on-screen or in your hand, today's proofs are more accurate than ever. By Mike Llewellyn FEW AREAS of imaging technology have seen the advances and diversification that have accompanied proofing. Hard-copy proofs have given way, at least partially, to "soft" proofs available for viewing in real time, over the Internet, on your customers' computer screens. On-screen densitometers can check the color accuracy of your computer screen. Those hard-copy proofs that remain are being produced with advanced ink-jet technology, mimicking an offset press to create a proof that's accurate down to a halftone dot. Patrick Floody, marketing manager for Creo, explains that while

Implementing a color management system will require you to work with more than one vendor, but the payoffs include material cost savings, color-consistent products and improved customer satisfaction. by Caroline Miller THE DECISION to implement a color management system was a no-brainer for Multi-Visual Products' owner Craig Graves. The Murrieta, Calif.-based company—which prints trading cards for youth sports leagues, magazine covers, calendars, magnets, stickers and mouse pads—had a color problem. When MVP began eight years ago, it had a code blue calibration process, including a scanner and an output device. The company had to tweak the output devices as best it could, but there

Parent company mergers, diverse products and a focus on color printing for the public eye seem to typify in-plants in the wholesale and retail trades. Dean Sutera hits the nail right on the head when he comments on the importance of in-plants in the wholesale and retail markets. "Because of the wide variety of printing that is needed by the retail environment," says Sutera, manager of the corporate print shop of Fred Meyer Inc., in Portland, Ore., "in-plants for retail operations are a lot more justifiable." Retail companies like Fred Meyer need everything from large, four-color signs to small flexo labels. And