DÜSSELDORF, GERMANY, May 29-Digital print workflow tools, a device based color management platform, next generation screening technologies, a PDF editing solution for Adobe Illustrator CS3, enhanced automation and job planning capabilities for packaging workflows, and extended support for JDF lead a series of new features in KODAK PRINERGY Workflow System, Version 5.0.

Marking a substantial expansion of the industry leading workflow and connectivity solution, PRINERGY Workflow System, Version 5.0 delivers optimal integration, productivity and automation for blended conventional and digital production environments. The release of PRINERGY Workflow System, Version 5.0 provides new versions of the entire line, including KODAK PRINERGY EVO, PRINERGY CONNECT and PRINERGY POWERPACK Workflow Systems. In addition, Kodak announces a new product, KODAK PRINERGY Digital Workflow System, a workflow solution built specifically for the needs and requirements of digital printing.

"By seamlessly integrating conventional and digital workflows, providing integrated color control, delivering more powerful JDF driven Rules Based Automation, and otherwise enabling the removal of manual steps from the print production process, PRINERGY System 5.0 delivers unprecedented levels of super efficiency," said Judi Hess, General Manager, Enterprise Solutions, Kodak's Graphic Communications Group, and Vice President, Eastman Kodak Company.

Comprehensive New Digital Workflow Tools

Designed for the unique requirements of digital print workflows, such as higher job volumes and shorter runs than conventional environments, PRINERGY Digital Workflow System helps customers increase their profit potential with digital print. A simple, powerful interface allows users to batch process and filter, sort and print digital jobs quickly and easily

PRINERGY Digital Workflow System includes a set of digital production tools that provide the extended automation, intelligent job handling, and flexibility required to drive productivity and efficiency for digital jobs. Smart Lists, for example, serves as an intuitive job scheduling tool that maximizes control and visibility over the production schedule. The Smart Lists function enables digital printers to easily and quickly queue jobs according to production critical criteria such as stock type, due date, estimated time to print and customer information. Via integrated JDF/JMF bidirectional connectivity options for digital presses, PRINERGY Digital Workflow System can provide instant live device status feedback, report on job status, and log and track all production history.

With extended support for industry standard VDP file formats such as PPML/VDX and VPS, PRINERGY Digital Workflow System delivers rich personalized variable data applications to a wide array of digital presses complete with all job specifications through integrated support for JDF. Together with JDF driven Rules Based Automation that uses conditions and logic to automatically process jobs, PRINERGY Digital Workflow System provides outstanding productivity and performance.

KODAK Web to Print Solutions and KODAK PRINERGY Digital Workflow System

As a component of KODAK Web to Print Solutions, PRINERGY Digital System enables zero touch automation, or the elimination of virtually all manual processes from customer orders through to completed jobs, using Rules Based Automation technology. Full integration and connectivity between KODAK INSITE Storefront System, KODAK INSITE Variable Data Print System and KODAK PRINERGY Digital Print System mean that jobs pass seamlessly through production and arrive at the digital press complete with their specifications.

Integrated Color Control

PRINERGY System 5.0 integrates tightly with KODAK COLORFLOW Software, enabling color control within a blended production environment such as offset and digital environments. COLORFLOW Software delivers Color Relationship Management that unifies all the color elements, such as ICC profiles, curves and spot color recipes, managing the relationship between the color elements and the device print conditions. Tight integration with the workflow and between devices enables efficient setup of complex color workflows and automatic updates when production variables occur or a print condition is redefined.

KODAK COLORFLOW Software with Ink Optimizing Solution reduces ink consumption and ink costs for web and sheetfed printers while improving print quality through greater press stability. The Ink Optimizing Solution produces ICC device link profiles that can be used to reseparate images automatically through GCR separation within the PRINERGY Workflow.

Intelligent Auto Ganging

Prinergy Workflow System 5.0 features all new intelligent auto ganging imposition. Based on the award winning KODAK PREPS Imposition Software version 5.3.2, PRINERGY Workflow Solution now has the ability to create ganged layouts from a jobs file list. Users can specify criteria used to make decisions about which jobs are imposed and when. Using watched folders and intelligent automated ganging, PRINERGY Workflow Solution can save printers hundreds of hours in productivity.

Next Generation Screening Technologies

To further enhance print quality and expand the levels of screen ranges available to users, PRINERGY System 5.0 integrates new KODAK STACCATO CX Screening Technology and KODAK MAXTONE CX Screening Technology. STACCATO CX and MAXTONE CX Technologies enable users to configure the highlight, midtone, and shadow dots of both AM and FM screens to maximize the capabilities of prepress equipment, the pressroom, paper, ink and other consumables.

"Our hybrid screening solutions are being used with great success in commercial, publication, packaging and newspaper environments," said Dan Blondal, Technology Manager, Print Quality, Enterprise Solutions, Kodak. "CX technology enables users to fine tune their screens to suit their print production environment and address their competitive needs."

Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) Convert – a PDF file Editing Solution for Adobe Illustrator CS3

For many years, prepress professionals have longed to use the robust graphic editing capabilities of Adobe Illustrator CS3 and Adobe Photoshop CS3 on their Adobe PDF files. At drupa, Kodak will demonstrate a unique and innovative feature in PRINERGY Version 5.0 that allows individual graphic elements within an Adobe PDF file to be edited using the standard tools available in Adobe Illustrator CS3 and Adobe Photoshop CS3.

Layout Automation for Packaging

With the ever increasing focus on shortening "time to market" for packaged goods, Kodak is demonstrating at drupa a new automation feature within PRINERGY Version 5.0 that allows for packaging production layouts to be dynamically created using the proven Rules Based Automation feature and KODAK PANDORA Step-and-Repeat software.

The TIFF Assembler Plus – Job Planning Module

At drupa, Kodak will be demonstrating a ground breaking approach to planning jobs for corrugated printers. Embedded within the KODAK TIFF Assembler Plus Software, Version 2.6 is a dynamic cost analysis tool that allows production planners to see the impacts of their decisions before they are made. This new approach to job planning provides for scenario modeling and real time input on the actual production cost, providing for increased productivity and cost savings.

Industry Leading JDF Support

PRINERGY System 5.0 continues to deliver industry leading connectivity and integration through the implementation of JDF standards. Interfacing production workflow environments with MIS systems and press side solutions helps to improve manufacturing efficiency and optimize business productivity.

Kodak will demonstrate PRINERGY Workflow System 5.0 at drupa for the first time and it will be available in the last quarter of 2008.

KODAK Products are backed by KODAK Service and Support. KODAK Service and Support is made up of more than 3,000 professionals reaching more than 120 countries. It is a leading multi-vendor integrated services provider, delivering consulting, installation, maintenance and support services for the commercial printing, graphic communications, document imaging and data storage industries. KODAK Service and Support professionals are uniquely qualified to provide services that control costs, maximize productivity, and minimize business risk.