PARAMUS, N.J., FEBRUARY 12, 2007 – Printing and graphic communication companies now have access to the latest costing information for their digital prepress operations with the release by NAPL (www.napl.org), the trade association for excellence in graphic communications management, of its 2007 Budgeted Hourly Cost Studies for Digital Prepress Operations. The Cost Studies are available as a perfect-bound “Blue Book,” in PDF format, or as interactive software in Version 4.0 of CS InterACT-PR. The new edition of the Digital Prepress Operations cost studies provide hourly cost rates, specifications, and prices from 35 manufacturers for 136 new prepress devices in 13 equipment categories, as well as descriptions of more than 50 software titles used in prepress departments. The 192-page printed “Blue Book” version shows how hourly cost rates are constructed and how they differ for various equipment configurations, one-to-three shift operations, and different productivity levels. Easy-to-follow instructions explain how to adjust the rates for actual investment costs and employees wages. The interactive software version, CS InterACT-PR, contains all the information in the latest book version and allows users to plug-in their own cost factors to generate customized hourly rates in just minutes. Users can change more than 50 data fields, with rates updated automatically. The CD contains both Windows and MAC OSX versions. NAPL corporate members receive a copy of the cost study free in the version of their choice as a benefit of membership. Non-members may purchase the book version (Product Code NB-111) for $199.95 and the CS InterACT version (ND-111) for $249. To order, call NAPL at (800) 642-6275, Option 4; email [email protected]; or visit NAPL’s online bookstore at www.napl.org/store. In addition to its Digital Prepress Operations edition, NAPL publishes Budgeted Hourly Cost Studies for Sheetfed Press Operations; Web Press Operations; Bindery, Finishing & Mailing Operations; and Print Operations Up to 20 Employees.