NEW YORK--April 7, 2003-- Creo Inc. and Xerox Corporation today announced that Xerox has become a partner in Networked Graphic Production(TM), a Creo strategic initiative that provides a roadmap to a completely integrated production workflow process for printing and related services. The initiative will provide a smooth flow of data and information, a digital collaboration path for printers' customers, enhanced job control, and visibility into the entire print production process-from idea to delivery -to improve productivity and provide more opportunities for profit and growth. Demonstrating Integration at On Demand Xerox will focus on working with Creo to integrate workflow processes for offset and digital printing. As evidence of the partnership's direction, Creo is demonstrating a prototype integration of the Creo Spire(TM) color server which drives several Xerox DocuColor printers and presses, with Xerox DigiPath Production Software, which provides scanning and make-ready, archiving and Web-based communications services. "Xerox and Creo share a vision for fully integrated digital workflow solutions that bridge the offset and digital worlds to bolster the competitiveness of commercial printers as the industry transforms into a whole 'New Business of Printing'," says Gil Hatch, president, Production Systems Group, Xerox. "We will develop joint solutions to our customers' workflow challenges that integrate into their existing systems to provide more efficient, flexible and agile processes; deliver greater productivity and enable profitable new applications." "As traditional offset printers begin to invest in digital printing systems to expand their business, it is essential that the solution they select integrates into their existing commercial print environment," says Ronen Cohen, Creo corporate vice president, digital printing. "Networked Graphic Production assures commercial offset printers of success in adding digital printing to their business. Integrating existing print workflows also ensures a profitable business volume for their digital press." The Creo-Xerox Partnership For more than seven years, Xerox and Creo have worked together to deliver optimized digital workflow capabilities. As a Xerox strategic vendor, Creo supplies Spire color servers to drive the Xerox DocuColor 2000 Series of Digital Color Presses, the DocuColor 6060 Digital Color Press and DocuColor iGen3(TM) Digital Production Press. This strong relationship is based on a common goal of offering a complete solution to customers and on an understanding that Xerox and Creo will serve a growing number of joint customers as the offset printing and digital printing worlds unite. Traditional commercial offset printers are adopting digital print technologies to expand their services by providing a 'one-stop shop' for all printing needs. This gives their customers the option of short-run, quick-turnaround, color digital printing - with the added value of options such as variable information (VI) printing - or longer-run offset print jobs. With Xerox now joining the Networked Graphic Production initiative, the previously separate print management and workflows of digital and offset printing will be integrated into a single end-to-end, collaborative workflow process that efficiently connects the printer and the customer. Adding Value with Networked Graphic Production Creo launched Networked Graphic Production with a vision of promoting an integrated production process with a number of vendor solutions. With an open infrastructure, Networked Graphic Production provides the next generation of automation: intelligent integration through open standards. By leveraging industry standards such as JDF (Job Definition Format) and PDF (Portable Document Format), information flows seamlessly and transfers intelligently across various systems, from the creative desktop to the floor of the print shop. These are the key technologies that enable Creo and Xerox to deliver seamless integration across a mixed printing environment. Using open standards leads to greater benefits for both the print buyer and the printer through enhanced job control, automation and visibility. Integrated systems allow free data flow so users can access, analyze, and retain real time job and business data at any stage in the process and use it to make informed, intelligent decisions. How Spire Servers Implement Networked Graphic Production Spire servers integrate with Networked Graphic Production components such as Synapse InSite and Synapse Prepare software. Synapse InSite software creates a powerful Internet portal that provides print-on-demand print buyers the ability to submit jobs over the Internet, and proof and approve jobs remotely. Synapse InSite also provides a collaborative workflow solution that is shortening job cycles, reducing proofing and courier costs, and increasing the control and involvement in the print process. Synapse Prepare software now works with Spire to allow the one-click creation of PDF files that precisely match the technical specifications of a particular print environment. Printers who purchase solutions from Networked Graphic Production partners such as Xerox are assured that their technology investment has been pre-qualified as a key building block to a completely integrated production process. It also signifies that the printer is investing in a solution that is part of a complete roadmap to bring further cost-savings and efficiencies to their business through seamless integration and end-to-end automation. Xerox joins other leading vendors, including Adobe Systems Incorporated, Komori America Corporation, and Printcafe Software, Inc., as members of the Networked Graphic Production Partner Program.