Rochester, NY -- Lee Enterprises' efforts to increase efficiency and reduce costs received a big boost with the installation of Kodak's Ink Optimizing Service at 12 of its daily newspapers. Since adding the capability over the last several months, the newspapers report reductions in ink expenses between 20 percent and 25 percent.

Newspapers owned by Lee Enterprises in Rapid City, S.D.; Casper, Wyo.; Sioux City, Iowa; Munster, Ind.; Twin Falls, Idaho; Bismarck, N.D. St. Louis, Mo.; Missoula, Mont; Billings, Mont.; Davenport, Iowa; Bloomington, Ill.; and Escondido, Calif., utilize Kodak's Ink Optimizing Service.

With the KODAK Ink Optimizing Service, Kodak provides customers with an ICC DeviceLink profile that gets plugged into the KODAK PRINERGY Workflow. Based on the ICC DeviceLink profile, separated image files go through a gray component removal (GCR) process that reduces ink usage by replacing CMY inks with less expensive black ink, while limiting the Total Area Coverage to a predefined level.

GCR lowers ink consumption by up to 25 percent, depending on image content. Using KODAK STACCATO Screening makes additional ink savings possible. In addition to lowering ink consumption, Kodak's Ink Optimizing Service reduces waste and makeready time, enhances reproduction fidelity, and improves stability on press.

"We evaluated a number of competitive solutions at our newspaper in Billings, Montana, to determine which one would provide the greatest cost benefits," said Brian Kardell, Vice President of Production and Chief Information Officer, Lee Enterprises Inc. "Kodak's Ink Optimizing Service, because of its integration with our existing KODAK PRINERGY EVO Workflow, was the clear choice. Ink savings have met our expectations and we also see enhancements to the quality of photos."

Kodak's Ink Optimizing Service represents the latest in a series of solutions from Kodak that Lee Enterprises has installed at newspapers around the country. Last year, Lee Enterprises added KODAK TRENDSETTER NEWS 50 Thermal Platesetters, along with KODAK PF-N Non Process Plates, the PRINERGY EVO Workflow System, KODAK PREPS Imposition Software and KODAK STACCATO Screening.

Lee Enterprises is a premier provider of local news, information and advertising in primarily midsize markets, with 49 daily newspapers and a joint interest in four others, online sites, and more than 300 weekly newspapers and specialty publications in 23 states. Lee's markets include St. Louis, Mo.; Lincoln, Neb.; Madison, Wis.; Davenport, Iowa; Billings, Mont.; Bloomington, Ill.; and Tucson, Ariz. Lee stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol LEE. For more information about Lee, please visit www.lee.net.

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.