VANCOUVER, British Columbia---Feb. 18, 2002--Creo Products is pleased to announce the 600th installation of the renowned Trendsetter VLF Quantum platesetter, the most widely used very large format imaging device in the world. Introduced just six years ago, this thermal computer-to-plate (CTP) solution alone has captured more than 75% of the world's market. The Trendsetter VLF Quantum platesetter images plates for magazine, book, catalog and directory printers and trade shops, as well as converters and packaging trade shops with very large format web and sheetfed presses. Digital Data/Reproscan SRL, one of the largest trade shops in Italy, is located in Orio al Serio, near Bergamo. Reproscan installed two Creo Trendsetter VLF Quantum platesetters to enhance plate imaging for the production of many high quality magazines. "We were impressed by the professionalism and quickness of Creo,'' says Ezio Naldi, general manager of Reproscan. "The engineers of Creo Italy installed the Trendsetter on Saturday and on Monday we were already in full production.'' Reproscan provides complete prepress services including an image bank to publishers of magazines and mail order catalogues. "We gained many advantages by installing the Trendsetter VLF Quantum - reliability, quality, production speed and ease of use and maintenance,'' says Mr. Naldi. The Trendsetter VLF Quantum devices image at high-speed to enable high throughput and reduced remake time. "We currently produce 4500 plates per month and our new system enables us to manage in the best way, even in emergency situations. Most of the 17 magazines we produce have the same production schedule and that causes a high peak of work,'' explains Mr. Naldi. "We are successful handling this peak now with our two new CTP systems.'' The Trendsetter VLF Quantum features the patented SQUAREspot(TM) thermal imaging head, which helps maintain data integrity from the original file through to the press. After upgrading its prepress workflow to Brisque4(TM) from Creo, Reproscan will image plates with Creo's Staccato stochastic (FM) screening software, which is included with the Trendsetter VLF Quantum platesetter. Reproscan's high quality work is the reason the trade shop wants to use stochastic screening. Stochastic screening eliminates traditional AM halftone problems, such as screening moires, rosette patterns and subject moire patterns. Tone and color stability on the press is also increased, and print quality improves even on a lesser grade paper stock. Stochastic screening also uses fewer spot colors to produce a greater color gamut. "The quality of output is outstanding,'' says Mr. Naldi. "Five years ago we evaluated stochastic screening but the solution on the market at that time did not achieve the performance that Staccato from Creo does today.'' Trendsetter VLF Quantum is the only very large format platesetter that enables consistent and reliable stochastic screening. In addition to the pair of new Trendsetter VLF Quantum platesetters, Reproscan uses several other Creo systems including a Renaissance copydot scanning system; four Iris2PRINT(TM) proofers; Dolev 800 and Dolev 4 PRESS V imagesetters; and five Brisque workflow stations. Creo will demonstrate the Trendsetter VLF Quantum CTP system at IPEX 2002 (Hall 4, Booth 650) in Birmingham, UK from April 9-17.