Herzlia, Israel (March 30, 2006) - Creo Print On-Demand Solutions (PODS) Group, an independent unit of Kodak's Graphic Communications Group, announces the ability to create personalized images with variable data printing production. The DARWIN VI authoring tool can now be used with DIRECTYPE software to create individually designed image fonts for highly personalized communications and direct marketing materials. Increased Response Rates with Advanced VDP Capabilities DIRECTYPE software has unique variable data printing (VDP) design options that work with the document customization capabilities of the DARWIN VI authoring tool to create high impact advertising media. The surprise and emotional impact of a 1:1 marketing brochure that shows the recipient's name and personalized text in a realistic image generates higher responses than direct marketing without personalized images. DIRECTYPE software automates what used to be complex and expensive individual works of art in electronic image processing. The applications for image personalization are versatile. Using DIRECTYPE software, advertising agencies, direct marketers and print shops can design postcards, mailings or calendars with individualized targeted motifs. Creating Personalized Images for VDP The DARWIN VI authoring tool imports a DIRECTYPE template and embeds it into the VDP job. The template is then submitted back with the job data and processing instructions to the DIRECTYPE software. After the personalized images are created by DIRECTYPE software, the DARWIN VI authoring tool automatically integrates them into the VDP job. "Users of the DARWIN VI authoring tool will benefit from this integration with DIRECTYPE software. It has excellent image personalization capabilities and automatic image processing, which is the heart of the integration," said Gershon Alon, Director, Creo Print On-Demand Solutions Group. "Automatic processing means less manual work and fewer errors, which contributes to efficient VDP creation and processing. DIRECTYPE software users will find the DARWIN VI authoring tool the perfect complementary tool to streamline their VDP job creation." "The outstanding reputation of Creo PODS in the professional high-end digital printing market makes them an ideal partner for us," said Joern-Philipp Hilscher, DIRECTYPE Product Manager. "With the successful integration of the DIRECTYPE technology into the DARWIN VI authoring tool, we are glad to offer their international customer base additional capabilities to create direct marketing applications with personalized images." DIRECTYPE Software DIRECTYPE software combines background and foreground pictures with font elements to create three-dimensional-appearing personalized images. Four different methods are used to create the image font elements. First, POSTSCRIPT or TrueType fonts can be filled automatically with small image elements, such as coffee beans, blossoms or confetti. Using the node point method, manually drawn points can be specified for each letter. The image elements can then be positioned along the resulting contours. The third process, the punch form program function, cuts the letters of each freely selectable font out of the foreground. In the fourth method, image fonts, a separate image is assigned to every letter, e.g. in the image of a group of cheerleaders, every cheerleader holds a different letter to spell out a name. Additional DIRECTYPE software functions ensure the very high quality of personalized images. The software compensates for varying text lengths with automatic word wrapping and scaling. The user can also rotate and distort the letters without losing the realistic effect. DARWIN VI Authoring Tool The DARWIN VI authoring tool enables the creation of full-color personalized postcards, coupons, newsletters, and proposals that are completely customized for each recipient. The application's easy-to-use workflow and automated features enable users to produce complex 1:1 marketing campaigns quickly, efficiently and economically. With DARWIN software, full-color complex VDP documents can be produced in which every element can be dynamic for QUARKXPRESS or ADOBE INDESIGN software users on both the MACINTOSH and WINDOWS platforms. DIRECTYPE software is being integrated initially with the DARWIN VI authoring tool for INDESIGN software using WINDOWS operating system version 1.5. See this powerful integration at Creo PODS partners' booths at IPEX: Adobe Systems, Stand #20-E60; HP, Stand #04-A01; Konica Minolta, Stand #04-B41; Xerox Corporation, Stand #03A-C70.