Presstek Inc. and Kodak Polychrome Graphics have entered into a relationship for KPG to market, sell and service a direct digital imaging press and related consumables in the United States and Canada.

The new KPG DI solution is a two-page, four-color Ryobi platform DI press which is enabled by Presstek’s ProFire imaging and thermal plate technology. This new highly automated DI solution will be manufactured to KPG specifications and is designed to provide high-quality offset printing.

www.presstek.com

www.kpgraphics.com

Three newspapers added a news retrieval system developed by IBM and Convera. The Hindu in Madras, India, San Antonio (Texas) Express-News and South Florida Sun-Sentinel in Palm Beach are using Convera’s RetrievalWare search, retrieval and categorization program to streamline production operations. RetrievalWare is part of IBM’s Network Interactive Content Access publishing system.

NICA is a digital asset management prepress application designed to manage, archive, retrieve and reuse publishing data such as text, images, graphics and PDFs for newspapers.

NICA also provides the workflow management that allows repurposing of publishing content either from its own repository or from an external enterprise content management repository.

www.ibm.com

www.convera.com

 Electronics For Imaging Inc. and Printcafe Software Inc. signed a merger agreement providing for EFI’s acquisition of Printcafe for $2.60 per share for each share outstanding.

The acquisition of Printcafe will result in a one-time charge to EFI in the quarter the transaction closes for certain acquisition-related expenses. EFI will provide further information during its earnings conference call in April.

The merger agreement provides each Printcafe stockholder with the right to elect whether to receive the merger consideration in cash or shares of EFI’s common stock. The transaction must be approved by Printcafe’s stockholders and is expected to close in the second quarter.

www.printcafe.com

www.efi.com

alfaQuest Technologies Inc. and Krause-Biagosch GmbH reached an agreement whereby alfaquest will market Krause’ LS Jet 200 and LS Jet 300 computer-to-plate systems in the U.S. and Canada under the name alfaJet 200 and alfaJet 300.

The alfaJet may be equipped with either the FD-NdYAG laser or violet laser diode to image plates. It has a resolution range from 1 to 2,540 dots per inch. The alfaJet is able to load up to 600 single or 300 panorama plates with a maximum exposure size up to 25.2-by-37 inches.

www.alfaquest.com

www.krause.de

Brehm Communications Inc. of San Diego, has licensed Publishing Business Systems’ MediaPlus financial management and human resources applications for its daily and weekly publications. Brehm Communications has over 50 daily, weekly, semi-weekly and tri-weekly newspapers and shoppers. Its publications are located in Arizona, California, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Nevada and Utah. Brehm Communications licensed General Ledger, Bank Book, Accounts Payable, Payroll, Benefits, and Personnel modules.

www.pbs.com

Esko-Graphics opened the doors to its new North American headquarters ‘across town’ in Kennesaw, Ga. Office phone numbers and email addresses will remain unchanged. Contact information for the new office is:

Esko-Graphics
1955 Vaughan Road
Suite 101
Kennesaw, GA 30144
Tel.: 770.427.5700
770.427.7844
info.usa@esko-graphics.com

United Kingdom-based PA News has expanded its relationship with MediaSpan Group Inc.. The European news distribution agency is implementing Content Syndicator, a proprietary publishing tool developed by MediaSpan’s publishing division.

PA News will also be using Webjaz, a Web content management system, and Jazstor, an archive database that can store all types of digital files. More than 300 reporters and editors are using Newsjaz at PA News’ sites in Howden and London, England. Reporters and editors in bureaus in Scotland and Northern Ireland are also live with the suite of Jazbox products.

www.mediaspangroup.com

Markzware also released of InDesign-to-QuarkXPress Xtension, which will convert Adobe InDesign files into QuarkXPress documents. The conversion includes all elements of the document such as object positions, colors, fonts, text attributes, images, etc. ID2Q supports text runaround on all sides of an object, and Pantone Hexachrome colors.

Enfocus Software and StaffingTools created a new online training course for Enfocus Instant PDF users. The Enfocus Instant PDF training session is available on staffingtools.com. The online training course consists of short, segmented modules designed to guide users of various experiences on how to use all of the features available in Enfocus Instant PDF. In addition to this new course, Staffing Tools recently created an online training course for Enfocus PitStop Professional.

www.staffingtools.com

www.enfocus.com

GMG chose ppi Media as a new original equipment manufacturer partner for GMG‚s ColorProof and DotProof technology. ppi Media was selected as an OEM because GMG felt that it can offer workflow incorporating GMG’s color and screening and management systems. GMG also stated that this will allow proofing to be automatic, providing a basis for meeting the continuous increase in demand for contract proofs in newspaper production.

www.gmg.de

Agfa released the Apogee Raster Blaster, a data conversion system that allows Apogee prepress automation software to output to over 100 non-Agfa devices. The system includes Apogee Raster Blaster processing software pre-installed on a PC platform.

Apogee Raster Blaster lets users preview, monitor and control each job. It takes 1-bit color-separated raster data from ApogeeX, the Apogee PDF RIP or Apogee PrintDrive and sends it to any non-Agfa imagesetter or platesetter.

Apogee Raster Blaster configures easily into any computer-to-plate or computer to film workflow. Apogee’s TIFF-OUT option makes data conversion possible with a direct interface to the Apogee Raster Blaster, or through an interface with the Apogee PDF RIP or the Apogee PrintDrive output manager.

www.agfa.com

Lucid Dream introduced a remote conferencing service for its new I-Trap trapping solution. The new service provides live product support and software training for I-Trap users.

The new conferencing service allows Lucid Dream and a user to share desktops using a standard Web browser. The conferencing service, which requires approval from users, is compatible with both Windows and Macintosh operating systems, and employs 128 bit encryption for secure transmissions. The conferencing service also provides live demonstrations of the I-Trap solution.

www.luciddream.com

The International Typeface Corp. released 26 new fonts. The new typefaces include ITC Cali, ITC Greengate, ITC Arecibo, ITC Arecibo Too, ITC Bette, six new italic complements to the ITC Johnston family and the 15-font ITC Tactile family.

www.itcfonts.com

Kodak Polychrome Graphics released Matchprint Color RIP version 2.6. The new software includes DCS2 and PDF/X3 file capability, remote proofing features and extended printer support for the Epson Stylus Pro 7600, 9600, 10600 and Hewlett Packard DesignJet 5500. Matchprint Color also includes Pantone Color Library for the Matchprint inkjet proofer models 5542 and 5560, switchabble hot folders and horizontal and vertical job scaling.

www.kpgraphics.com

Corel Corp. released Corel XMetaL 4, which is a new platform that extends XML content editing to most Windows applications, including e-mail and Web browsers.

Corel XMetaL 4 provides XML editing solutions that support validation for both DTDs and W3C Schemas. It is composed of four separate applications designed for information technology managers, developers, and end users.

Binuscan Inc. introduced its updated version of IPM Workflow news software system. IPM Workflow news automates image production in newspapers. The package includes two IPM Workflow Servers, the IPM Administrator, PhotoRetouch Pro, binuscan JobManager, binuscan ColorCorrect and three days on-site installation and operator training. IPM Workflow Server uses hot folders and specification files similar to job tickets to process image batches. It can process images from in-house photographers, press agencies or any other source.

www.binuscan.com

Fusion Systems International released DigiPage, its ROOM (rendor once, output many) workflow system. The software generates a set of production workflow files and allows work to be rendered once. Other features include trapped and screened separations, a down sampled, de-screened color composite proofing file generated from the bitmap separations and a 72 dots per inch preview file. DigiPage files can be used independently or in conjunction with any open prepress interface applications.

www.fusionsystems.com

The Press-Enterprise in Riverside, Calif., signed a contract to purchase CCI Europe/s NewsDesk Release 6 system. The Press-Enterprise will also install a CCI Disaster Recovery Solution. The Press-Enterprise joins another Belo Group newspaper, The Dallas Morning News, who recently purchased a CCI AdDesk production system and uses CCI NewsDesk.

www.ccieurope.com

Integrated Color Solutions Inc. released Remote Director 2.0, a new version of its proofing system. New features allow multiple users to collaborate in proofing sessions, permit cable and DSL connectivity and allow color-calibrated “static” proofing sessions for remote viewing.

Remote Director was certified by Specifications for Web Offset Publications Inc. SWOP certification means it can be used to approve jobs for press production without the need for hard-copy proofs.

www.icscolor.com

HomeTown Communications Network of Livonia, Mich. went live with its new Miles 33 FutureProof advertising system. HCN publishes the Livingston County Daily Press & Argus, as well as 38 weekly and twice-weekly newspapers in Michigan. The new advertising system went live around the same time two of HCN’s Michigan printing facilities completed its retrofit project to adjust the presses to a 50 inch web width. The FutureProof system consists of 125 ad-booking stations, 14 pagination stations and 55 production tracking stations over various sites.

www.miles33.com

Siebel Systems Inc. and IBM Corp. announced an expansion of their strategic global partnership including endorsement of the IBM Websphere platform for development and deployment of the vertical industry customer relationship management applications from Siebel Systems. Siebel Systems is extending an existing relationship with IBM by standardizing J2EE development on WebSphere. The two companies previously worked together for several years and have more than 1,000 joint customers. Each company is committing 100 software developers to the effort and each is investing $150 million over a three-year period.

www.siebel.com

www.ibm.com

Phoenix Newspapers Inc., a subsidiary of Gannett, Inc., selected RouteScience PathControl to control the cost of its network connectivity. PathControl uses patent-pending technology to manage corporate wide access network connectivity and e-business applications. A spokesperson at Phoenix Newspapers said PathControl will automate control of the newspaper’s network connections, distribute traffic to the lowest cost link and will help save in bandwidth costs.

www.routescience.com

The State Journal-Register in Springfield, Ill., licensed Publishing Business Systems’ MediaPlus Advertising Management, Advertising InSight, and Transient Management solutions. The contract also includes The Courier in Lincoln, Ill. Both newspapers are owned by Copley Press Inc. of La Jolla, Calif.

www.pbs.com

Quark Inc. said it would resume full responsibility for its Quark Publishing System editorial management application. Modulo Systems Corp., which had taken over the development and marketing of QPS in October 1999, will now focus its efforts on sales and service.

Quark last summer took the first step to regain control of QPS when it resumed writing code for the product. Quark said it took the latest step so it could coordinate development of both QPS and its Digital Media System. QPS, released in 1993, is now being at more than 850 publishing sites worldwide. The next release, version 2.2, will be available this spring, Quark said.

www.quark.com