CMM INTERNATIONAL, CHICAGO -- April 14, 2003 -- Creo Inc. is showing, for the first time, the next generation ThermoFlex imaginng device with sleeve imaging. This technology debuts at CMM International along with demonstrations of Creo's other new prepress solutions for packaging printers, converters and trade shops at booth #2748 at McCormick Place in Chicago, IL, April 14-17. Versatile and Flexible... The first of the new ThermoFlex devices is being installed this month. It images variable repeat sleeves, yet retains the ability to image digital flexographic and rotary letterpress plates, and film with formats up to 52 x 80 in. (1321 x 2032 mm). This design provides flexibility for trade shops and converters that run digital plates, digital plates-on-sleeves and continuous sleeves, depending on the requirements of a specific customer or job. The new ThermoFlex includes semi-automatic changeover from plate imaging to sleeve imaging and accommodates sleeves with repeats up to 42 in. (1050 mm) and lengths up to 72 in. (1829 mm) in both continuous digital photopolymer sleeve and digital plate-on-sleeve formats. Sleeve-imaging productivity-regardless of repeat size-matches or exceeds current plate-imaging specifications, providing the fastest sleeve-imaging capability available. Sheet-to-sleeve-mode turnaround is greatly aided by storing the sheet-imaging drum on the ThermoFlex. In less than three minutes, the drum can be decoupled and safely stored without using heavy lifting equipment. This minimizes capital expenditures and space requirements, allowing even small trade shops and converters to benefit from this new technology. Enhanced Productivity... The ThermoFlex device significantly improves the productivity of today's plate-on-sleeve workflows. It also produces sleeves with staggered seams or lanes to a level not previously seen. A built-in sleeve load/unload system minimizes sleeve handling and potential damage to the sleeve's digital mask and substantially reduces the time required and difficulty associated with changing from one sleeve to the next. The complete sleeve system from Creo also includes a production hub that facilitates sleeve handling between the ThermoFlex and auxiliary equipment, including the plate-mounting and UV-exposure steps required in a sleeve workflow. New Flexo Screening Technologies... For high-quality flexographic printing, Creo offers MaxTone(tm) screening, a hybrid AM screening solution that overcomes highlight and shadow reproduction limitations. MaxTone uses high-quality Prinergy AM screening through the main part of the tone scale. Highlight and shadow tonality is managed with larger dots that are more printable, and tonality is controlled by varying the number of dots using sophisticated FM screening techniques. MaxTone allows users to specify different dot sizes in highlights and shadows, independent of screen ruling, angle and dot shape. MaxTone is available in version 2.1 of the Prinergy Powerpack(tm) workflow. A brand-new technology from Creo, called 'scaffolding', complements MaxTone. It aids in the exposure of small dots or graphic elements on a photopolymer plate. Scaffolding helps to reduce the relief depth in between dots and expands the base of the shoulder so the dots are better formed and ready to stand up to the wear and tear of normal use. Scaffolding preserves the size of the dot and the intended tonality, but makes it possible for printers to work with smaller highlight dots. Users configure MaxTone and scaffolding to suit the behavior and leverage the capabilities of their manufacturing operation. End-to-end Packaging Solutions... Prinergy Powerpack is a PDF-based integrated and automated workflow management system designed for packaging converters and trade shops. Based on the Prinergy workflow and using industry standards such as Adobe Extreme, PDF, PJTF, JDF and Oracle, Prinergy Powerpack creates a predictable and reliable manufacturing environment that automates steps, reduces errors and streamlines operations. Specific features for flexography include a unique layout-scaling feature (raster scaling), which maintains the dot structure on the substrate, as specified in the workflow. New Trapper Available... The Creo PDF Trapper features enhanced functionality and user-friendliness in addition to the existing automated and manual, press-ready PDF-to-PDF vector trapping and interactive editing. The new technology replaces the existing trapping of the Prinergy and Prinergy Powerpack workflows. Enhancements include: -- Better usability through an improved user interface in the Trap Editor plug-in; -- Incorporated separation viewer functionality; -- The ability to automatically set black bitmaps to overprint; -- The ability to automatically trap all colorized bitmaps correctly; -- Easier trapping of double hits of spot color (no more playing with neutral density values); -- The ability to automatically overprint black strokes less than a specific width; -- The ability to set keepaway traps. Packaging Workflow for Brisque Users The Brisque Pack workflow, ideal for operators already familiar with the Brisque workflow, is a CT/LW packaging solution that offers step-and-repeat options, drives proofing and plate-imaging devices, and includes specialized flexo screening and distortion capabilities. Creo is showing Brisque Pack with the ThermoFlex Narrow CTP device, which was developed and priced to meet the needs of the tag-and-label and narrow-web market. New Features in Pandora 2.0... The latest version of the Pandora step-and-repeat application includes many new features for flexographic converters and trade shops. Pandora 2.0 now supports JDF, the industry-standard for exchanging data and processing instructions within a workflow process. This makes integrating Pandora into existing workflows, even easier than before. Other new features include: -- 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; -- Die mirroring for the creation of double-sided layouts. See Spotless and the Staccato Showcase... Creo is displaying print samples produced using the new Spotless(tm) color tools. These Spotless printing samples accurately reproduce a 12-color job (CMYKOG plus six spots) using only six colors. The Spotless solution simulates spot-color inks with Staccato-screened, process-color builds, giving spot-color performance on a process-color budget. In addition to Staccato screening for fidelity and continuous tone performance, Spotless uses SQUAREspot thermal imaging heads and the Spotless N Color workflow of the Prinergy workflow management system. Implementation service is provided by the Creo Consulting Services Group. The Spotless technology demonstration shows automatic six-color separation and proofing, bringing six-color workflow into the mainstream. The Staccato showcase features print samples created by Creo customers using Staccato screening. This screening technology delivers high-fidelity, artifact-free images that exhibit fine detail, without halftone rosettes, screening moirÈ, gray-level limitations or abrupt jumps in tone with no impact on RIPing or rendering time. Staccato screening also improves color and halftone stability on press.