August 9, 2001 - Lynnwood, Washington - ScenicSoft announces that they will show Preps 4.1, the latest version of their imposition tool, at Print 01. Preps 4.1 is a prepress solution that offers powerful digital layout and print management features, eliminating the need for manual stripping. Considered the best in the industry, ScenicSoft’s Preps is the market leader in digital imposition. New features in Preps 4.1 include web growth compensation, a new AppleScript dictionary (Macintosh only), export of CIP3 cutting data for POLAR cutters, JDF (Job Definition Format) output, completely redesigned Print and Preferences dialog boxes, PDF native capacity and performance improvements, and Acrobat 5.0 compatibility. The new web growth compensation feature is a thoroughly analyzed and well-designed solution that allows scaling of individual press sheets per ink unit. "We worked closely with a large number of printers that were looking for a solution to this problem," said Chris Ries, Preps product marketing manager. "Printers such as R.R. Donnelley and Quebecor World participated in numerous cycles of analysis, documentation, prototyping, and review. The result, on display at Print 01, is a comprehensive, real-world solution that showcases what printers and software developers can achieve when they work toward a common goal." While Preps Pro already offered a substantial process-level automation front end that allowed OEMs and large printers to fully integrate Preps within their systems, the powerful new AppleScript dictionary in Preps 4.1 provides task-level automation capabilities, accessible to every Preps user on the Macintosh. The new CIP3 export option has been tested specifically with POLAR-MOHR’s Compucut system, which can be installed on existing POLAR cutters and allows automatic configuration of a new cutting program while the previous one is being executed. Just like the web growth feature, the Print and Preferences dialog box redesigns were fully guided by Preps users. Both new dialog boxes introduce some major usability enhancements. Preps 4.1 not only offers the most comprehensive support for the industry’s traditional workflows but is at the forefront of integrating emerging standards for process automation, such as the Job Definition Format (JDF). Announcing Preps 4.1, ScenicSoft President Erik Smith commented, "Our end-users consistently tell us that they don’t care about the hype, they are looking for real solutions that solve real-world problems. In 1998, ScenicSoft was the first imposition vendor to add support for Adobe PJTF files, thereby leading the way for innovative PDF-based workflow solutions to emerge. As a member of the CIP4 consortium, we fully support open solutions and decided to take the leading role in establishing JDF-based imposition. This first pass will allow our business partners to integrate JDF into their solutions and move their efforts from the drawing board into the hands of real users." ScenicSoft sees substantial further potential for JDF to increase connectivity among its own suite of applications, as well as integration with third-party workflows. "With the announced support for JDF in both UpFront 1.5 and Preps 4.1, we fill some of the missing functionality gaps that will finally allow print management systems to cover the wide range of activities in the print manufacturing chain. This ranges from customer service all the way to the finishing and shipping departments. Our successful record in building bridges and working with third-party vendors should increase people's confidence that this is more than a bullet on the marketing sheet. Cooperative efforts with the most relevant industry players have been initiated and we are confident that mature JDF-based solutions will materialize over time," Smith added. Preps 4.1 supports DIG, PJTF, ICF, and JDF formats to describe imposition geometry, or can generate fully resolved flats described in PostScript, PDF, or Delta List format. Preps’ unmatched flexibility protects current and future equipment and workflow investments in both on-demand and commercial printing environments. With Preps 4.1, ScenicSoft sticks with its healthy tradition of consistently raising the bar for imposition standards with every new release. In the complex world of digital prepress workflows, Preps is the all-in-one imposition solution that interfaces seamlessly with the printer’s on-demand and commercial printing needs. Preps 4.1 builds on many noteworthy new features that were introduced in Preps 4.0: a true PDF-native workflow option, significant user interface enhancements, efficient drag-and-drop capabilities, time-saving new file placeholders, auto-centering and scaling of run list pages, a significantly faster previewer, support for Heidelberg Delta List files, and improved template organization. The Preps 4.1 series: Preps XL for on-demand printing, Preps Plus for commercial printing, and Preps Pro for both commercial and on-demand printing, will be demonstrated at Print 01 and will start shipping soon after the show. Preps Pro, Plus, and XL are available for Macintosh, Windows NT, and Windows 2000 in English, French, German, and Spanish. Customers who purchased Preps 4.0 from ScenicSoft or one of its dealers are entitled to the free update.