SANTA CLARA, Calif. Citation Press, the Silicon Valley commercial printer known for its extremely fast turn around and high-quality full-color printing, is embracing the latest pre-press technology to create a cutting-edge, fully Heidelberg-equipped printing facility. Speed and flexibility are crucial in responding to market demand, especially in Silicon Valley; therefore it is vital to adopt the tools, which guarantee maximum execution agility. Citation Press has invested in a Heidelberg-Creo pre-press Computer to Plate (CTP) system, based on the Prinergy pre-press workflow management software. The adoption of Heidelberg's Prinergy brings priceless value to the pre-press equation in the management of a printing project. Prinergy(TM) is an integrated, state-of-the-art, workflow management solution that organizes and automates prepress operations, based on AdobeÆ Extreme(TM) and end-to-end PDF technology. AdobeÆ Extreme(TM) architecture permits to prepare a job in parallel on several renders, thus accelerating and automating the pre-press workflow steps involved with outputting pages. Prinergy also offers other key capabilities: color management, trapping functions, a ``Virtual Proof system'' and a database for managing job tickets. One of the major advantages of this workflow system is its flexibility: by functioning as a page-oriented workflow and by applying just-in-time impositioning, it allows to wait until output before committing to an imposition scheme on the job. Such feature enables to implement last-minute changes within schedule. Speed is achieved through automation of key pre-press processes: preflight, check, normalizing, color management, spot colors and proofing can all be compiled in a Prinergy Process Plan and executed in a single step. This new CTP system embraces all high-value components, each of one making a striking difference in the way the final print output is produced and especially in the velocity and precision with which it's delivered. As a platesetter, Citation Press chose the Heidelberg Trendsetter, a semi-automatic platesetting system for output in format class 70 x 100`` (Speedmaster 102, already in use at Citation Press, with the CD 102 series). Superior quality and process control are delivered with the Trendsetter via precise pin registration and laser-controlled plate-edge detection, along with patented SQUAREspot(TM) thermal imaging technology from Creo. SQUARESpot(TM) thermal imaging technology generates highly accurate and consistent plates, by exposing laser spots which have a square shape and sharp edges. The square shape means that, unlike spots generated by conventional and other thermal imaging systems, the Creo spots can be precisely knit together to form any shape of final halftone dot. The unprecedented sharpness of the square-spot edges ensures that the resulting dot will not change as imaging parameters, such as plate sensitivity or laser power, change. The key benefits of the Trendsetter include: * High quality multi-color printing with screen rulings up to 240 lpi at 2400 dpi (optional 300 lpi at 3200 dpi) and through Square Spot technology * High productivity due to multi-beam external drum imaging * Exceptional repeatability and fit on press for demanding color work due to automatic registration * Shorter production cycles * Reduced labor and material costs, thus creating cost savings for the printer and its customers * Excellent process control due to thermal technology. Citation Press new CTP system comprises the best of breed in imaging, platesetting and graphic software technology. For color management, it utilizes PrintOpen, state-of-the-art color management software for Power Macintosh, used for generating ICC output profiles for proof and print. An HP Plotter from the DesignJet family is utilized to produce high-quality proofs for photo quality, large format printing, with automatic color calibration and PANTONE certification, to produce brilliant colors and smooth skin tones. The whole system operates within a high-speed environment, relying on Fast Ethernet connections. Once again Citation Press has aggressively put its printing industry expertise to fruition by investing in state-of-the-art technology to offer dramatic improvements in terms of speed, quality and overall efficiency to its customers.