BEIJING, CHINA, Aug. 12-Digital solutions from Kodak's Graphic Communications Group (GCG) are producing materials with image rich, variable data content and capture information for security badges at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. Kodak serves as the Official Imaging Sponsor of the Olympic Games, taking place Aug. 8-24.

Kodak is printing Opening Ceremony photos and other image related items and delivering imaging services throughout the games to various Olympic Committees and Games Sponsors. An on site production center features a KODAK NEXPRESS S2500 Digital Production Color Press with KODAK NEXPRESS Fifth Imaging Unit Solutions for on demand printing of items such as photobooks, postcards, newsletters and small poster sized photo prints of key images from the Games for display purposes. The NEXPRESS Press is also producing a Kodak Olympic Picture of the Day poster.

KODAK Unified Workflow Solutions enable variable data and static jobs to move seamlessly through the production center. Solutions include the KODAK PRINERGY Digital Workflow System, KODAK INSITE Prepress Portal System, KODAK INSITE Storefront System, KODAK INSITE Variable Data Print System, and KODAK DARWIN Software. A team of GCG personnel from Rochester, N.Y.; Collingwood, Australia; Kiel, Germany; and Vancouver, British Columbia, are working on the digital printing projects.

Digital technology from Kodak's Graphic Communications Group also is playing a part in the production of more than 1.2 million security badges and credentials required for Olympic athletes, officials, volunteers and sponsors. To obtain access to the Olympic venues, everyone must first submit an application, which is scanned into a database via a KODAK i620 Scanner with KODAK Capture Software. The software allows the scanned image to be cropped and data added for display on a computer screen. The scanners, which can read up to 80 forms per minute, distribute the data to workstations for processing. Badges are then printed using the KODAK PROFESSIONAL ML-500 or KODAK PROFESSIONAL 9810 Digital Photo Printers.

"The Olympics provide an opportunity to spotlight the breadth of applications made possible by our digital portfolio," said Kevin Joyce, Chief Marketing Office, Kodak's Graphic Communications Group, and Vice President, Eastman Kodak Company. "We appreciate the opportunity to provide digital printing and document imaging solutions that are contributing to the overall experience of the Games for all attendees."