Creo

Soft proofing technology can do the job, but its success depends largely on good discipline and the printer-client relationship. "SOFT" PROOFING GOES by several names—monitor, virtual, online—and comes in an array of "flavors." No matter what you call it, however, the ultimate goal is as straightforward as it is universal: shrink production cycles, eliminate rework, reduce costs, and move everything faster. Unlike traditional hardcopy proofing, in which handling and transmission of the physical proof increases both cycle time and the potential for error, soft proofing depends on workflows in which color-accurate proofs can be viewed on calibrated computer monitors under controlled lighting conditions.

With package printers on the hot seat for nimble customer responsiveness at the lowest possible cost, accurate real-time information is a must. WHEN IT COMES to cutting costs and investing in the future, package printers have always had plenty of options on how to spend their money. The list just keeps getting longer, and the opportunities more tantalizing. In recent years, business and production software has been climbing to the top of the list and increasingly winning the fight for the limited capital resources. The reasons for this vary, but ultimately, it boils down to the growing need to run highly efficient and

WELLESLEY, Mass.—Larry Letteney, past President of Creo Americas, Inc. and Ken Hanulec, former Vice-President of Marketing, have founded BlueOcean Advisory Group, Inc.. Letteney and Hanulec, two graphics industry professionals, launched BlueOcean to help companies discover and develop new markets and untapped customer potential. The pair leverages broad corporate operating experience, innovative project design and systematic execution to help clients increase profits and enterprise value. The first BlueOcean practice group, Graphic Practice™, capitalizes on the depth of Letteney's and Hanulec's category experience to promote profitable growth in the printing and graphic communications sector. Letteney states, "We are excited to invest in our industry at this

Automation in prepress can significantly improve time to market through workflow process integration. THE AIM OF workflow automation is to be able to respond to customer requirements quickly. This is accomplished by minimizing or eliminating, as completely as possible, the manual steps that can lead to the costly waste of time, materials, and labor. While developments in workflow automation for packaging tend to mimic those in the commercial printing world, software and equipment vendors continue to develop and refine a variety of integrated tools designed to accommodate the special needs of packaging operations. According to Jan De Roeck, marketing director for packaging

As always, companies exhibiting at CMM International 2005 put on a display of impressive new products and technologies for converters and package printers. A SUCCESSFUL TRADE show is always measured on an individual basis—foot traffic, promising leads, or signed contracts. While attendees weren't exactly carried down the aisles in a swell of people, CMM International 2005 still offered a wide array of new products and technologies from the exhibiting companies. The following is a small sampling of what CMM International had to offer. Company news Enercon and Ciba Specialty Chemicals announced a joint development agreement which will combine Enercon's surface modification Plasma3™ technology

AGFA Offers the Thermostar P970-ideal for VLF applications-and the Thermostar P971 thermal imaging plate. Write 207, Visit www.agfa.com, ANDERSON & VREELAND Offers digital prepress systems and conventional photopolymer processors and plate mounters. Platemaking materials include a range of solvent and water-wash sheet photopolymer, liquid photopolymer, rubber compounds, matrix and accessories. Write 208, Visit www. andersonvreeland.com BETA INDUSTRIES The Betaflex 334 Flexo Plate Analyzer eliminates bad plates early in production cycle. Measures flexo plates, negatives, proofs, prints for true dot area, ruling, dot quality. Write 209, Visit www.betascreen.com BPS Printing Systems Offers state-of-the-art nyloflex® and nyloprint® brand photopolymer printing plates for printing

ROCHESTER, N.Y.—Eastman Kodak Company (NYSE:EK) today announced that it has completed its acquisition of Kodak Polychrome Graphics (KPG) through redemption of Sun Chemical Corporation's 50 percent interest in the joint venture. KPG is now part of Kodak's Graphic Communications Group (GCG). The acquisition further establishes Kodak as a leading company in the graphic communications industry and complements Kodak's existing businesses in this market. "The addition of the people, products and distribution capabilities of KPG makes Kodak the company to turn to for the broadest solutions portfolio in the industry," said James Langley, President, Graphic Communications Group, and Senior Vice President, Eastman Kodak Company. "We

VANCOUVER, British Columbia—James Langley, President of the Eastman Kodak Graphic Communications Group, will be the keynote speaker at the Creo Users Association (CUA) Conference, to be held May 18, 21, 2005 in Hollywood, Florida, USA. The Creo Users Association is an independent worldwide network of users of Creo systems. "We're very excited to present Jim Langley as our keynote speaker. In general, the CUA promotes effective communication between users, Creo developers and the company leadership. We hope this keynote speech will provide Creo customers with an overview of what they may expect from a future with Kodak," said Rich Dunklee, president, CUA. On January

VANCOUVER, BC—Creo Inc. announces new strategy to expand distribution of Creo solutions to the flexographic market in the United States. Creo is pleased to announce partnerships with All Printing Resources of Glendale Heights, IL, Anderson &Vreeland, Inc. of Bryan, OH, and JV Imaging Systems Inc. of Northborough, MA. These certified flexo dealers will represent Creo prepress systems including the Prinergy Powerpack® prepress workflow, the ThermoFlex® family of flexographic computer-to-plate imaging systems, and Integris" proofing systems, to meet the needs of flexographic printers, converters and trade shops. Creo packaging sales managers Tom Roddy and Bob Sutton have been appointed flexo channel managers. Bringing a combined

ROCHESTER, N.Y.—Eastman Kodak Company (NYSE: EK) today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Creo Inc. (NASDAQ: CREO, TSX: CRE), a premier supplier of prepress systems used by commercial printers worldwide. Based in Vancouver, Canada, Creo is the world's No. 1 provider of workflow software used by printers to manage efficiently the movement of text, graphics and images from the computer screen to the printing press. By adding Creo to its already impressive line-up of digital and traditional printing products and solutions, Kodak's Graphic Communications Group (GCG) reinforces its status as a leading industry participant able to provide customers with