Boston, MA, Seybold Conference (April 11, 2001) -- printCafe, the operating system for print, is pleased to announce that on January 9, 2001 Bill Guttman, Co-CEO of printCafe, and Frank Stock, VP of Engineering, received U.S. Patent number 6,173,286 for a component of the Proteus technology that they developed for computer implemented optimization of publication layout software. Proteus is a software tool that helps publishers accurately determine publication makeup and layout. It allows editors, art directors, sales managers, production managers, printers, and other publishing professionals to collaborate on the assembly and production of a publication. Proteus serves as the hub of a multi-department publishing operation, giving each department the ability to perform, independently, its role in producing an issue while working within a common software environment on a centralized file. “Proteus provides limited access to all parties involved in the production of our publication, easing the approval process and ensuring that all requirements -- both advertising and editorial -- are met,” said Jan Witt of Putman Media. “What used to be scribbled notes posted on white boards, can all be viewed from our desks and easily rearranged with a few mouse clicks.” Specifically, the patent pertains to the Proteus“ CostOdometer“. The CostOdometer functionality enabled by the technologies in this patent sets Proteus above its competitors with the ability to estimate paper, form, and ink costs for a given publication. The CostOdometer can also calculate the total paper usage for a publication’s print run. Another factor differentiating Proteus from comparable solutions is the ability to link the publisher directly to their printer via a printCafe Web site, allowing publishers and printers to communicate directly. “We are glad to have been granted this patent and to be recognized as the only e-print procurement provider to receive a patent for one of our technologies,” said Bill Guttman Co-CEO printCafe. Current Proteus users include Intertec, PennWell, and Putman Publishing.