Ghent, Belgium – March 30, 2006 – Artwork Systems Group N.V., a world leader in professional pre-press software, announces a partnership agreement with Stork Prints with the aim of enhancing the workflow in the pre-production stages of Stork's direct laser engraving process. Stork Prints develops and produces (as the only company in the world to do so) rotary screen-printing systems and digital systems for all process steps in the printing process, both for the textile and graphic printing market. Under the agreement, Stork Prints will enable all engraving systems to be fully compatible with Artwork Systems' Nexus comprehensive RIP (raster image processing) workflow solution for label and packaging environments. At the same time, both Artwork Systems and Stork Prints will establish a working group dedicated to further development of the software and workflow for laser engraving technology. Wilfried Koopman, Director, Graphics at Stork Prints, comments, "With this partnership, we are well placed to further strengthen the laser engraving process as the most competitive option in printing form production. The process is already proven as a means of delivering unparalleled levels of quality. Pooling our technical resources and expertise with one of the global leaders in RIP software means we can develop a fast, totally seamless workflow, configured to our customers' needs for functionality and security." Artwork Systems' suite of modular, professional prepress software has a global installed base of close to 10,000 ArtPro licenses and over 2,500 Nexus licenses. The latest edition of the Nexus software offers total compatibility with PDF versions 1.3, 1.4 and 1.5. This eliminates the need for image flattening. Thus, designs – including trapping – do not lose their settings, and can be edited at all stages of development. JDF job ticket readability is also included. Guido van der Schueren, Chairman of the Board, Artwork Systems, comments, "Direct laser engraving clearly represents the future of printing form production. We are very pleased to be working together with Stork Prints, who shares our commitment to the development of pre-production solutions that offer the highest level of quality and simplicity."