Kodak Polychrome Graphics is demonstrating exciting and innovative materials and software for the Kodak Approval XP/XP4 Digital Color Proofing Systems at the Emballage 2000 World Packaging Exhibition in Paris, November 20 -24. These enhancements will bring major benefits to a wider range of digital proofing applications and users, and will be of particular interest to packaging and metal decorating printers. Visitors will be able to see Kodak Approval digital contract proofs produced from Harlequin, Barco and Artwork Systems workflows, and output on to a variety of substrates. Kodak Polychrome Graphics is the exclusive worldwide distributor for the Kodak Approval range of digital proofing products. The Kodak Approval XP system has long been recognized as the pinnacle of digital proofing quality, producing proofs with real half tones from the same RIP that will output the final films or plates. These proofs can also be prepared on most actual printing stocks to be used and thus provide contract quality which press minders can follow accurately. The newest improvement to the Approval XP system is Kodak Approval Recipe Color software. This revolutionary software, when combined with new metallic, green and orange donors, allows the Approval XP system to accurately reproduce millions of spot colours. Emballage 2000 marks the first European showing of Recipe Color software since it captured a 2000 Graphic Arts Technical Foundation InterTech Award in late July. In addition, Kodak Polychrome Graphics is announcing at Emballage 2000 that the Approval XP/XP4 system with Recipe Color software achieved Pantone CalibratedÅ certification from Pantone Incorporated. Recipe Color virtually eliminates the need to purchase and maintain large stocks of specialty donors. It drastically reduces media costs for spot colours. In addition, when using the metallic donor with Recipe Color, the system can reproduce gold, silver, chrome, bronze and virtually any other metallic colour with the luster of metallic inks on the final printed job. Approval XP and Recipe Color software also allow printers to proof spot colours on almost any job-specific substrate. These new and exciting features enable digital proofing to move to a higher level. Kodak Polychrome Graphics new product solves a difficult problem for customers ranging from commercial applications to packaging and metal decorating printers. Carton and plastic substrate printers will also appreciate a technology demonstration of a white donor and a clear receiver material designed to meet the demands of their particular business. The white donor will allow those areas to be printed with an opaque white to be accurately proofed -- even in the case where a four-colour image must be printed on the white background. Again this new Kodak Polychrome Graphics offering provides a superior digital proofing system which meets the needs of this important sector in the printing industry. Kodak Polychrome Graphics recognizes that there are many digital workflows in place whose users want the same RIP that drives the platesetter to also drive the proofing system. The Kodak Approval XP System is a truly open system that allows existing standard RIPs and front-end systems to interface efficiently and produce high quality contract digital proofs. The current list of approved digital workflow systems includes Barco FastRIP, Heidelberg Prepress Delta, CreoScitex Brisque, Rampage, Prinergy and Artwork Systems Nexus RIP and it is expanding rapidly. Soon to follow will be Screen TaigaSPACE/Renatus. Kodak Approval XP4 The Kodak Approval XP4 Digital Color Proofing System offers an extensive array of exclusive features making it a valuable addition to any repro and printing environment and that integrates easily into existing workflows. With an output of over 16 A4 pages an hour the Kodak Approval XP4 system is the fastest proofing system in its class. The Kodak Approval XP4 system has a unique fully automated roll-fed system, which enables it to run for long periods unattended. The colorants used in the system closely match the colour gamut of standard four-colour process inks and meet the needs of spot or special colours. Using a software-based PostScript RIP, the Kodak Approval XP4 system sits on the network and is easily addressed by all users.