Low-cost step-and-repeat packaging and label imposition solution helps printers streamline their workflow Lynnwood, Washington, September 6, 2002 - ScenicSoft, Inc. (www.scenicsoft.com), software provider for the publishing, printing, and graphic arts industries, announced today that it will soon ship Pandora 2.0, the next major release of its PDF-based step-and-repeat packaging imposition solution. Prepress professionals in packaging and label printing segments will welcome the many new features that are introduced in this release, including: * Support for Job Definition Format (JDF) * Editable non-rectangular bleed paths automatically derived from CAD die line information * Bleed overlap detection with advanced, easy-to-use tools for automatic overlap correction * Die-station ordering with fully automated placement of die-station number marks * Diemirroring for the creation of double-sided layouts By supporting the Job Definition Format (JDF), an XML-based file format used to describe the entire print production cycle, Pandora follows in the footsteps of its popular ScenicSoft family members, Preps and UpFront, and continues the company's tradition of adopting and promoting industry standards. Pandora's JDF support, combined with support for PDF, PJTF, PCF, and CIP3, makes it even easier to integrate Pandora into existing workflows, including Creo Brisque Pack software, Creo Prinergy Powerpack software, and Agfa ApogeeX. A Pandora 2.0 MIME-packaged JDF file contains all the necessary data for further processing in the workflow, ensuring that opportunities to improve operating margins are easily detected and captured. In addition, Pandora JDF implements the CIP4 imposition and separation process. "Our customers require a full range of tools when they impose a job, from automated press sheet optimization to bleed overlap detection and resolution to diemirroring for double-sided layouts," says Esad Suskic, Pandora product marketing manager. "The new features in Pandora 2.0 provide productivity enhancements to our customers' current workflow at an affordable price." ScenicSoft will demonstrate the new features of Pandora 2.0 at Labelexpo Americas, September 10-12, 2002 (Booth #6117), and at Graph Expo, October 6-9, 2002 (Booth #4248) both in Chicago, IL. Pricing and Availability Pandora 2.0 is expected to ship September in English, French, German, and Spanish versions for Windows NT 4.0, Windows 2000, and Apple Mac OS 9 and later. The product will be available directly from ScenicSoft, and through the ScenicSoft dealer network and OEM partners. Pricing for Pandora Plus is US$5,000 with 90 days of free technical support. Pandora Pro is US$10,000, with 90 days of free technical support. For more information, customers can call 425-355-6655 or visit http://www.scenicsoft.com. About Pandora Pandora remains the first and only step-and-repeat packaging program to offer a native PDF-based solution. Pandora accepts PDF artwork and marks, as well as DDES2, CFF2, and DXF die files. Pandora's color setup allows re-mapping of spot and process colors and conversion of spot colors to process, and supports PostScript Level 2 and PostScript 3 in-RIP color separations. Pandora can produce PostScript, PDF, Adobe PJTF job tickets, JDF, and Creo PCF files. This flexibility makes it easy to integrate Pandora into new and existing workflows. About ScenicSoft Founded in 1985, ScenicSoft is a global market leader in providing print and prepress software for the publishing, printing, and graphic arts industries, with over 30,000 installations worldwide. The company enables its customers to boost productivity and improve profit margins by offering integrated software solutions that bridge the gaps from estimating through finishing. ScenicSoft's suite of products includes UpFront, TrapWise, Preps, Pandora, Color Central, and Print Central. ScenicSoft's customers include the largest names in printing: Agfa, Creo, Fuji Film, Kodak Polychrome, and Xerox, as well as the world's largest printers: Quebecor World, R. R. Donnelley & Sons Company, Quad/Graphics, and Banta. Headquartered in Lynnwood, Washington, ScenicSoft also has a European office in Turnhout, Belgium.