Rochester Institute of Technology is using its new Kodak NexPress S3000 Digital Production Color Press to offer students, faculty and customers the latest in digital print innovation. Housed in RIT's Printing Applications Laboratory, the Kodak NexPress directly supports RIT's programs in graphic communications, fine and applied arts and packaging science in which students gain valuable hands-on experience with today's latest digital printing technologies.

"With the addition of the Kodak NexPress S3000 Press, we are among the top digital printing laboratories in a university setting in North America," says Bill Garno, director of RIT's Printing Applications Laboratory. "The press augments our digital printing platform and will be a tremendous resource to our students, faculty and customers from industry."

Kodak is a longtime supporter of RIT's Printing Industry Center, which includes RIT's School of Print Media and the Printing Applications Laboratory. In addition, RIT is a global resource for customers on NexPress substrate qualification and approval. Kodak NexPress systems print on more than 700 substrates.

"Kodak and RIT have a longstanding relationship and a common commitment to innovation and education in the graphic arts," says Kevin Joyce, worldwide vice president, sales and marketing, Digital Printing Solutions, Kodak. "We are pleased to offer students a creative hands-on experience in digital printing, not only to further their education, but ultimately pursue a career in this exciting industry."

Adds Pat Sorce, chair of RIT's School of Print Media: "We would like to thank Kodak for its ongoing support of our academic programs as RIT moves toward becoming a national leader in innovation. This new press allows our students from various majors including graphic design, print media, photography and packaging science to collaborate on projects using cutting-edge digital printing technology."

The Kodak NexPress S3000 Press delivers high quality, productivity and reliability. It uses press profiling and standard inks to match up to 82 percent of the PANTONE spot color gamut with no custom mixing required, which adds application flexibility.

A modular option for the Kodak NexPress digital color platform, Kodak NexPress Fifth Imaging Unit Solutions offer clear coating, watermarking, glossing, protection coating, color gamut expansion and MICR to add further value to print materials.

Also available through the Fifth Imaging Unit Solutions, the Kodak Dimensional Printing System gives specified text and images a raised or 3D effect to differentiate creative pieces. Kodak NexPress Intelligent Dimensional Coating Solution and Kodak NexPress Dimensional Clear Dry Ink combine to create the dimensional printing effects. The system is the only cut sheet inline digital, tactile printing system on the market. Kodak Dimensional Printing System was awarded a 2009 InterTech Technology Award, the highest honor for innovation in the graphic communications industry.

"The S3000 Digital Production Color Press offers a wide-range of new printing opportunities to both our students and clients," says Jeremy Vanslette, manager of digital printing at RIT's Printing Applications Laboratory. "With the capability of Kodak's Dimensional Printing solution, the S3000 can create pieces with a raised print, offering a tactile quality to the end product. This opens up the creative and technical opportunities available and is already creating excitement."