ROCHESTER, N.Y. December 8 -- Morris Communications Company, LLC, has purchased a thermal CTP Newspaper Solution from Kodak for its flagship newspaper The Augusta Chronicle. The transaction marks the 500th KODAK TRENDSETTER NEWS thermal CTP platesetter device sold. The Kodak solution being installed at The Augusta Chronicle includes two KODAK Trendsetter NEWS devices, NewsManager workflow software, a Prinergy Evo PDF processor, and Staccato screening software. The Augusta Chronicle is the third Morris Communications site to purchase a KODAK TRENDSETTER NEWS, following installations at the Savannah Morning News and The Topeka Capital-Journal. Morris Communications plans to have the Kodak solution installed at six sites by December of 2006. "Kodak is a vital partner in our transition from traditional to digital printing," said Donald Bailey, president of The Augusta Chronicle. "The new equipment will allow us to serve our readers better, including improved print quality." The TRENDSETTER NEWS thermal CTP device is available in a choice of five speeds from 50 to more than 200 plates per hour to suit newspaper publishing facilities of all sizes. The TRENDSETTER NEWS platesetter delivers fast, reliable imaging with a standard file-format interface for newspaper production systems. It is available with semi-automatic or fully automated plate loading and unloading. The machine-to-machine accuracy of the SQUARESPOT thermal imaging heads, combined with the binary nature of thermal imaging, achieves consistent and repeatable halftone dot structures. KODAK NewsManager software is a powerful PDF workflow management tool for high-performance newspaper prepress that enables a flexible, automated workflow from edition plan to plate production. Based on open standards, it is easy to integrate into existing systems. NewsManager software is scaleable to meet all needs, from contract printers to metropolitan, national and international newspapers with multiple print sites. The PRINERGY Evo workflow system helps newspapers deal with last-minute changes easily, without causing delays. In conjunction with TRENDSETTER NEWS CTP devices, PRINERGY Evo system helps deliver end-to-end automation, speed, control and flexibility, so newspapers can extend editorial and ad deadlines and output large numbers of pages faster than ever before. Based on the latest standards, and proven PRINERGY refine technology, PRINERGY Evo software delivers exceptional PDF processing power. STACCATO screening produces high-fidelity, artifact-free images that exhibit fine detail without halftone rosettes, screening moire, gray-level limitations, or abrupt jumps in tone - with no impact on RIPing or rendering time. STACCATO screening improves color and halftone stability on press, making it a perfect complement to consistent "by-the-numbers" printing. "The KODAK TRENDSETTER NEWS thermal CTP device is successfully used by newspaper printers of all sizes around the world, and the 500th installation at The Augusta Chronicle is a significant milestone for Kodak," said Neil McLean, Worldwide Newspaper Director, Kodak's Graphic Communications Group. "Kodak is committed to the newspaper market. Through our continuous R&D and dedicated sales and support, we will continue to provide newspaper printers of all sizes with the technology and services they need to grow their businesses."