DUSSELDORF, Germany--May 8, 2004-- Creo Inc. is featuring new prepress solutions for the packaging market at drupa 2004, the largest international trade show for print media production. These technologies help packaging trade shops, printers and converters of all sizes increase speed, quality and consistency while reducing costs. Creo is the first prepress company to offer technologies for all three dominant printing processes - offset, flexographic and gravure printing. New Plate-On-Sleeve Imaging for Efficiency The ThermoFlex Wide computer-to-plate (CTP) device with its new sleeve imaging option addresses many of the challenges of irregular seam printing forms by enabling flexographic printers to image seamless photopolymer sleeves as well as digital plate-on-sleeve applications. This solution minimizes sleeve manufacturing costs and cycle times, while increasing flexibility to address the needs of different substrates of any size or thickness. "Savings in prepress costs are an important part of the return on investment," explained Rick Parker, director of operations and technology, Cyber Graphics, Memphis, Tennessee, USA. "With the ThermoFlex and plate-on-sleeve imaging, one person is responsible for everything." The plate-on-sleeve system is designed to enable one operator to manufacture two to four sleeves per hour and the process is ergonomic and efficient. Media Options Provide Flexibility The ThermoFlex Narrow and Mid devices are now available with a magnetic drum option to image steel-backed plates for dry-offset printing applications, for use on cans, cups and plastic containers. Award-winning HyperFlex Enhances Quality Awarded the 2004 Flexographic Technical Association/Flexo Market News Technical Innovation Award just last month and the GATF InterTech Award in 2003, HyperFlex(TM) resolution enhancement software from Creo enhances printing resolution by improving the ability of flexographic plates to hold smaller dots and graphic elements. The ability to produce a smaller minimum dot size increases the effective resolution of the flexo plate, and allows highlights to be reproduced more faithfully, with less discernible transition in vignettes. The Creo ThermoFlex imaging device is the only flexographic CTP system capable of taking full advantage of HyperFlex resolution enhancement software. "Our Creo ThermoFlex flexographic platesetter puts us leaps and bounds ahead of our competitors; it's a massive improvement," said Anthony Masotti, prepress manager, New York Label, the leading supplier of tags and labels in the northeast U.S. "We used Maxtone(TM) and HyperFlex for one of our most discerning customers, and she was absolutely amazed. Technology-wise, we like being one step ahead-with Creo, we feel like we're five steps ahead." New Developments for Offset Printers The Magnus(TM) very large format (VLF) computer-to-plate (CTP) imaging device produces quality imaging with repeatability, reliability and improved functionality for packaging printers. Intended for the large-format packaging converter, the Magnus VLF is built to accommodate large sheet-fed presses with format sizes up to 1,600 x 2,108 mm (63 x 83 in). The increased size delivers enhanced plate-loading flexibility and higher productivity for smaller plates when loaded two at a time. Spotless(TM) printing uses the process control of SQUAREspot imaging along with Staccato screening to enable printers to reproduce virtually any spot color with process color builds. This dramatically reduces the need for special inks. Spotless solutions can also be used to produce brighter expanded-gamut images than ever before. Mirus(TM) PN is a negative-working thermal plate ideal for packaging printers with both web and sheet-fed presses. This high-resolution plate is robust on press and off. This robustness means that it can be used with UV inks and washes for short runs without post-baking, or longer runs with post-baking. Staccato 10 qualified, it is ideal for high-quality, high-volume, and long-run applications. Exactus Offers Quality and Control for Gravure Creo has adapted its core imaging technology to improve the speed, quality and cost-effectiveness of the gravure prepress process with the new Exactus(TM) thermal gravure cylinder preparation system. The Exactus system combines two proven technologies: Creo SQUAREspot thermal laser imaging heads and the electrolytic copper removal process developed by Milan, Italy-based Acigraf Graphic Equipment S.r.l.. This unique gravure prepress system provides superior imaging quality, unparalleled process control, and enhanced throughput for gravure packaging printers. Workflow Solutions for Quality and Automation Creo is demonstrating complete workflow solutions that enhance productivity and automation for packaging trade shops, printers and converters. New Prinergy Evo, the latest member of the Prinergy workflow family, provides a more affordable PDF workflow solution for a smaller packaging business such as a tag and label printer. This PDF processor is highly automated, easy to use and maintain. Options available with Prinergy Evo include Creo advanced flexographic screening technologies, Advanced Trapping options, DotShop(TM), and Pandora step-and-repeat software. Prinergy Powerpack is the integrated workflow management system that combines built-in color management, integrated Pandora step-and-repeat, advanced flexographic screening solutions, and robust packaging trapping with an open architecture, sophisticated database and Internet connectivity. Brisque Pack is a proven, reliable workflow that delivers fast and effective step-and-repeat functionality, plus comprehensive color handling and trapping for the packaging industry. Pandora 2.6, the new version of the popular step-and-repeat tool for folding carton and label manufacturers, dramatically reduces the time it takes to create layouts. This prepress production tool integrates with Creo packaging workflows to form an end-to-end, cost-saving prepress environment.