ROCHESTER, N.Y., February 7—KODAK UPFRONT 4.0 production planning software improves productivity by replacing the old method of manually folding paper and drawing layouts. First shown at PRINT 05, UPFRONT 4.0 production planning software is now available to customers worldwide. UPFRONT production planning software serves commercial sheetfed printers that produce point of sale items, booklets, flyers and stationery; web printers that print glossy weekly magazines and giveaway catalogs; and book printers. The software also increases efficiency and decreases costly planning errors by automatically producing accurate job layouts, creating imposition-ready digital templates for prepress, and sending JDF/CIP3 information to bindery equipment. “We use UPFRONT 4.0 software for accurately planning our jobs. It gives us the ability to export detailed layouts to prepress and to send cutting, folding and stitching information to the finishing department,” said David Loeffelmacher, Production Planner at Japs-Olson Company, a $133 million direct mail and commercial printing company near Minneapolis. “UPFRONT 4.0 software lets us create layouts really fast for multiple processes, and our operators have no problem picking up the software. It’s very easy to learn.” KODAK UPFRONT 4.0 production planning software adds significant enhancements, such as the ability to place a mark relative to pages or gutters, and to access marks from a new marks palette with a single click. Other new developments include the ability to zoom in/zoom out in the Press Layout and Layout Plan views, and an improved user interface. In addition, the software now features common settings for the Job Builder client and the Planner application, the ability to export diagrams to PDF files at a predefined location, and to attach an existing PREPS imposition software signature to a press layout. “KODAK UPFRONT 4.0 production planning software helps users save time and reduce waste by digitizing the process of manually folding paper and drawing layouts to create a job plan,” said Eliza Leung, Product Manager, Kodak’s Graphic Communications Group. “Users can now predefine marks and mark groups relative to press sheets, pages and gutters, alleviating the need for complicated, manual calculations.” To improve ease of use, KODAK UPFRONT 4.0 production planning software offers a new WINDOWS OS-style workspace that includes a toolbar, floating palettes, zoom in/zoom out, scrolling and more. All work is now performed using a single layout mode with one-click access to libraries for printers’ marks, preferences and more. “KODAK UPFRONT 4.0 software let us unify and standardize our company’s production planning. Working from a central database, instead of everyone planning independently, made us much more efficient,” said Dave Williams, Prepress and CSR Director at Progress Printing, a $50 million commercial printer in Owensboro, Ky. “UPFRONT 4.0 software also lets us export KODAK PREPS software templates directly into KODAK PRINERGY imposition software, which is a big boost for productivity.” Integration of UPFRONT 4.0 production planning software with KODAK PRINERGY 3 workflow software has been further enhanced to speed turnaround time using the Auto Imposition option together with smart hot folders. UPFRONT 4.0 production planning software also boasts tighter integration with KODAK PREPS software, enabling users to attach PREPS software signatures to UPFRONT press layouts. This is in addition to automatically exporting fully detailed, editable PREPS software jobs and templates to prepress. Additional JDF enhancements improve automation with MIS and folders.