CHICAGO--Oct. 10, 2004-- Creo Inc. is introducing powerful new versions of the printing industry's favorite workflow solutions at Graph Expo, underway in Chicago from October 10-13. Developments from the Creo workflow labs include major new versions of the Prinergy and Brisque prepress workflow systems, and the new Synapse Director software, which provides Brisque with powerful new automation and management features. These workflow solutions support Networked Graphic Production(TM), the industry-wide initiative that is focused on using open file standards like JDF to automate the entire print production process - from idea to delivery. These new solutions enable printers to boost revenue, reduce operating costs and streamline their production by integrating their prepress systems with other vendors' management information systems (MIS), production planning tools, press, and finishing tools. New! Prinergy 3.0 "This is the most significant upgrade ever for Prinergy," said Stan Coleman, corporate vice president, Printing Workflow Systems. "Version 3.0 features major improvements in automation and versioning that bring great value to our customers. We are introducing several brand new automation concepts to prepress: Rules-based Automation and Unified Versioning." Rules-based Automation: Customers can create sets of rules that Prinergy will automatically execute, such as: make a proof anytime a page is approved, or archive the job to tape after the last plate is made. Rules are created using a simple icon-based user Interface that is powerful and extremely easy to use. Automation saves customers cost, reduces errors and improves turnaround time. Unified Versioning easily handles one of printing's toughest tasks: producing multiple versions of a print job - a catalog with different languages and prices, for example. Unified Versioning eliminates errors and automates the entire versioning process, from input file processing to proofing, approval and platemaking. Prinergy 3.0 also features an enhanced user interface with optimized screen layouts, drag and drop, and contextual menus. Full integration with Preps imposition software allows the prepress operator to launch Preps version 5.1 from within the Prinergy workshop. After modifying, creating or selecting imposition plans in Preps, the operator can resume operations in Prinergy. This saves time and automates processes. Prinergy version 3.0 can be purchased at Graph Expo and is available free to existing Prinergy customers with full support contracts. New! Brisque 5.0 and Synapse Director Seen for the first time in North America is the powerful combination of Brisque 5.0 and the new Synapse Director prepress workflow manager. This newest member of the Synapse product family was developed to enhance the Brisque workflow environment by providing powerful production management capabilities and full connectivity between the Brisque and a variety of NGP(TM) systems. Synapse Director allows users to create, manage and automate their end-to-end print production workflow systems. It builds an efficient and collaborative working environment that manages and tracks the production processes across multiple Brisque servers. Real-time production information can now be accessed from the Brisque via Synapse Director. Synapse Link software can automatically exchange this information with MIS from NGP partners or can generate production reports directly. Synapse Director creates a managed workflow that features job context that also enhances Brisque integration with Synapse InSite. Automated processing and faster turnaround on jobs is enabled through access to the Auto Refine capability. Synapse Director enables printers to streamline their production processes and increase productivity. Users of new Brisque 5.0 and Synapse Director now have access to many of the production management features that were once specific to the Prinergy workflow, including the new rules-based automation. The new version of Brisque, the world's most widely used prepress system, transforms the user experience with a new client server interface. Version 5.0 features intelligent Job Ticket automation, a new intuitive GUI, and PDF preflight and trapping tools. Digital print integration options provide greater flexibility for printers integrating digital presses into their existing offset print environment. "With the combination of Brisque 5.0 and Synapse Director, all Creo customers can now get the benefits of full upstream integration through Networked Graphic Production," continued Mr. Coleman "And we have seen 15 to 40 percent productivity increases among early users of Brisque 5. Our customers are already the most productive prepress users in the industry. The software advances in these new versions will take them to the next level of automation and productivity." See these powerful new workflow solutions demonstrated by Creo at booth #4006 at Graph Expo 2004, North America's largest trade show for the printing and graphic arts industries in Chicago, IL, October 10-13, 2004.