May 20, 2008 -- Mobile, AL, USA & Duiven, The Netherlands -- Xanté, a leader in automated prepress solutions designed for flexo and label printers, raises the bar for affordable flexography workflow software with the debut of OpenRIP Flexo 7.0 Professional. OpenRIP Flexo 7.0 incorporates the latest version of the Adobe PDF Print Engine (APPE), which RIPs PDF files in their native format; thereby ensuring file integrity throughout the workflow. Xanté designers have advanced OpenRIP technology in several key areas, delivering substantial screening, color, linearization, and dot gain developments. OpenRIP Flexo 7.0 also fully integrates the PANTONE MATCHING SYSTEM and PANTONE Goe System Color Libraries.

"More sophisticated imaging requirements are forcing flexographers to look for state-of-the-art workflow systems. Xanté is ready to accommodate this need with leading edge workflow software that fulfills our criteria for power, ease of use and economy," says CEO Robert Ross. "We're well known for delivering advanced solutions that are cost-effective but do not compromise quality. We're especially proud that we can offer such a powerful application with this major release of OpenRIP Flexo 7."

Says Raman Nagpal, director of product marketing and engineering, Printing Systems Group of Adobe, "The success of our 15 year relationship with Xanté makes the company a perfect partner for our venture into flexography, a market Xanté knows well. It's important for Adobe to continuously reach further to fulfill the complex needs of segments like package and label printing, and we can deliver to these audiences faster with proven partner solutions such as Xanté OpenRIP Flexo 7.0 software. The combination of Xanté and Adobe here is a powerful one."

New Frontiers in Flexo Color
With OpenRIP Flexo 7.0, flexographers can now enjoy a full range of color management options including color-accurate viewing and proofing, on monitor or hardcopy, and support for RGB, Lab, and CMYK color spaces as well as improved spot, process, and RGB color representation and output. The increased precision of color representation on-screen and on hardcopy proofs speeds trapping assessments and color modifications, which are priorities for flexographers.

"PANTONE Colors are universally recognized as the color standard for the packaging segment. The addition of the PANTONE MATCHING SYSTEM and PANTONE Goe Color Libraries to the OpenRIP Flexo 7.0 workflow gives flexographers an easy-to-use and effective way to accurately proof and reproduce spot colors," says Andrew Hatkoff, vice president, Advanced Color Technologies at Pantone, Inc.

Unique Halftone Post-Processing Development Eliminates "Dirty Dots"
Xanté VP of Software Development, Tom Eager, says, "The flexo customers who have previewed OpenRIP Flexo 7.0 are, quite frankly, blown away by several developments we've made." Eager says customers are especially impressed with the new halftone post-processing feature that removes dots too small to reproduce on press. "Our R&D team has also made significant enhancements to color, dot gain, marks and bearer bars in this version."

"OpenRIP Flexo 7.0 is proof, once again, that Xanté genuinely listens to customers, and then turns wish lists and suggestions into real solutions. The halftone post-processing feature resulted from a customer request at Labelexpo Brussels, just a few months ago," says Stefano d'Andrea, product manager for distributor TECNOGRAPHICA, and vice-president of ATIF, the Italian Flexographic Technical Association.

FTA Education Director, Joe Tuccitto, says, "Xanté is known for excellent reliability and customer service. The company's focus on adding functionality that truly matters - like standardized color management and cleaner screening, is what makes loyal customers."

About New OpenRIP Flexo 7.0 Professional
OpenRIP Flexo 7.0 Professional is a comprehensive, turnkey PDF workflow featuring support for both the Adobe PDF Print Engine (APPE) and Adobe PostScript 3. OpenRIP Flexo drives a wide variety of output devices including platesetters, imagesetters, laser printers, digital color presses, copiers, inkjet printers and plotters, all from a single, state-of-the-art RIP. This centralized control maintains file consistency from preview, to proof, to plate.

OpenRIP Flexo improves productivity and reduces human error by automating tedious and error-prone prepress tasks. It offers advanced color management and automates complex prepress tasks such as file setup, trapping, screening, imposition and application of linearization and dot gain compensation; giving a print shop everything required for prepress operation in one, complete, software package.

The modular design of OpenRIP Flexo allows users to easily add options to meet growing production needs (see footnote). 

Availability
OpenRIP Flexo version 7.0 Professional will be available to customers worldwide in May 2008. An OpenRIP Flexo 7.0 upgrade will be made available to current customers.