Eastman Kodak, Graphic Communications Group

Extended color printing could be the next best thing to the eye of the beholder in the package-printing industry. PHILOSOPHICALLY SPEAKING, THE exact nature of color may be in dispute forever. As far as brand owners and the package and label printers who work with them are concerned, however, color is a concrete, measurable reality and the most critical component of print quality. If the job of the packaging or label designers is to create shelf appeal and ensure brand recognition, the job of packaging and label printers is to lock in those attributes by reproducing those designs as faithfully, efficiently, and affordably as

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.

ROCHESTER, N.Y.—August 9, 2005 - Kodak's Graphic Communications Group (GCG) is pleased to announce the sale of its 200th THERMOFLEX computer-to-plate (CTP) device. The product line has expanded over the years to include several size formats and speeds to allow printers and converters to scale a flexographic CTP system to match their specific requirements. Today, there are THERMOFLEX devices installed and operating on every continent (except Antarctica), and the product family combined with Kodak's PRINERGY POWERPACK workflow has established its reputation as the digital flexographic solution of choice for flexographic professionals worldwide. The shipment of the THERMOFLEX Wide device to The Robinette Company of

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

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

Presentation is everything—up to a point and down to a dot. WITH RESPECT TO proofing, package printers must be prepared to be all things to all customers, or nearly so, and still be able to assure their customers that the proof they receive will reproduce accurately and consistently on both plates and press. To accomplish this, the printer will choose the technology or technologies that will provide him the tools to keep that promise. Few would argue that packagers have special proofing needs. These include: • Ability to proof on a wide range of packaging substrates, whether coated or uncoated, glossy or flat,

NEW YORK—Antonio M. Perez, who assumes the post of President and Chief Executive Officer of Eastman Kodak Company on June 1st, has been named the recipient of the 2005 Prism Award presented annually by New York University in recognition of distinguished leadership in the graphic arts and communications industry. Mr. Perez has been President and Chief Operating Officer of Kodak since April 2003. Sponsored by NYU's Center for Graphic Communications Management and Technology, the 2005 Prism Award will be presented to Mr. Perez during the 20th  Annual Prism Award Luncheon on Monday, June 20th in the Grand Ballroom of the Waldorf Astoria in New

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

Just when it seems like inkjet has reached its pinnacle of capabilities, innovations in the printing technology open new markets. INKJET PRINTING IS not the first thing most printers think of when they wake up in the morning. Inkjet's most common use in packaging is coding and marking—the least of printers' worries. But times are changing and so is inkjet technology, which may one day soon, play a much larger part in the printing of packaging materials. Currently, inkjet printing has many benefits to boot. It prints very high resolution, up to 4,800 dpi, said Mark Strobel, vice president, sales and marketing, Primera Technology,

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