-- EagleRIP: A PostScript 3 raster image processor (RIP) that runs under Windows NT and Windows 2000, EagleRIP can connect to a variety of output devices including imagesetters and platesetters from Agfa, ECRM, Dainippon Screen, Creo and Heidelberg as well as inkjet proofing devices from HP, Encad and Epson. EagleRIP advanced features include multiple workflow support, Portable Document Format (PDF) 1.3 as well as PostScript (PS) 3, a fast screen preview and support for file formats including PS, Encapsulated PostScript (EPS), PDF and Tagged Image Format File (TIFF).

-- EagleProof: Combing the EagleRIP and Kodak's color management technology, EagleProof ensures output consistency between the digital proof and film or plate. EagleProof allows users to create their own ICC profile for individual press environments, and includes typical profiles for offset and newspaper printing. A wide range of printers from HP and Epson are supported.

-- EagleBlaster: Supporting "RIP once, output many" workflows, EagleBlaster enhances the performance of large format output devices, outputting screened raster TIF files to any one of a 100-plus popular output devices. EagleBlaster also includes CCITT G3/G4, Packbits, LZW compression schemes and No Compress.

-- EagleOPI: Processing TIFF and EPS images and supporting multiple RIPs and imagesetters, EagleOPI uses industry-standard workstations, networks and PostScript. Small files are used to minimize network traffic while original high-resolution files are used for complex editing. Cropping, scaling, rotation and colorization made to view files are transparently applied to the high resolution files before printing.

The company also is announcing two digital workflow systems:

-- ElecRoc: An open architecture, Job Description Format (JDF)-based workflow, ElecRoc uses four key technologies: JDF, eXtensible Markup Language (XML) database, PDF and Internet protocols.

-- Eflow: Combining EagleRIP technology and post-RIP imposition software, Eflow filters PostScript and PDF errors at the earliest stage and provides the facility to automatically step-and-repeat as well as to make last-minute changes.

Canto and HELIOS plan to develop the use of HELIOS EtherShare OPI image format technology in Canto's Cumulus image database, as well as the automatic synchronization of HELIOS server volume content and Cumulus catalogs.

It is the first Australian newspaper to digitize and place on-line its earliest archives. The archives can be searched and viewed by keyword or date. The first release covers 1840 to 1860, and contains about 30,000 full-page images.

Zhejiang Daily Group now supports more than 800 users with just three full-time IT administrators. ZHEJIANG DAILY's IT staff has also deployed both Unicenter Asset Management and Unicenter Remote Control to maintain a current inventory of all hardware and software assets, manage software authorization and licenses and resolve software and configuration problems across the entire infrastructure from their workstations.

Recently, four news publications -- the NEW YORK TIMES, WASHINGTON POST, TIME magazine and NEWSWEEK -- used DEMs supplied by East View to explain the battle of the Shah-I-Kot, Afghanistan, to their audiences. The company provided the four news publications DEMs at 1:100,000 scale, but can also provide 1:50,000 scale.

Methode's eXtensible Markup Language (XML)-based editorial system is "channel-neutral." Editorial content, natively created in XML, is automatically customized for publication in different media and editions, eliminating multiple copies as well as downstream transformations for repurposing. This allows significant gains in productivity, accuracy and news response times.

Based on open standards and web technologies, Methode will enable the FT to organize the workflow across its 500 journalists and using the system's "work-anywhere" features, editorial teams will be able to participate in the workflow from any location in the world.

The company has also announced an agreement with Autonomy Corp., of Cambridge, England, to use Autonomy's information management technology as the basis for Methode's indexing, retrieval and cross-referencing capabilities.

The companies said that a feature of Autonomy's technology that was critical to its implementation within Methode is the ability to extract concepts from documents, and understand their meaning in context. Autonomy's technology is able to automate the categorization and cross-referencing of information.

Instant PDF is Enfocus' tool for PDF document creators, while PitStop Professional is the all-in-one interactive editing and automated correction tool. Screen Trueflow users will be able to include PDF pre-flighting and file correction functionality into Trueflow.

The hardware division was sold to a management buyout team led by Gary Jones, a former board director and hardware division chief operating officer. Jones resigned from the board of Global Graphics in February in order to head up the bid and avoid any potential conflict of interest. The transaction includes the lithographic, flexographic, letterpress and scanning equipment manufacturing businesses worldwide and was valued at $US6.4 million (Euro 7 million).

The company recently signed an agreement with Hewlett-Packard Co. of Palo Alto, Calif., to make available a range of printing software technologies for HP digital publishing systems. This agreement has already resulted in the installation of multiple Harlequin raster image processors (RIPs) into HP Production Flow -- a digital print system platform -- to boost the "horsepower" of HP Indigo digital presses.

Global Graphics has introduced Jaws PDF Server, which can be configured as a virtual printer to support any native application and also accepts PostScript, Portable Document Format (PDF) and TIF files directly.

The company has announced full compatibility with the latest Macintosh OS X operating system for its Harlequin RIP. The Harlequin RIP running under Mac OS X offers the same set of features that are an industry standard in both high-end print production and the color proofing arena.

Harlequin ProofReady plug-ins, which offer superior color control for the Epson and Hewlett-Packard range of inkjet printers, are also available on Mac OS X.

Global Graphics' MaxWorkFlow is now in version 3.6, which features new modules that provide system status reports in real time and can automatically append barcodes to documents, film or plates to automate the flow of work.

ShadowCaster 3.0 adds six types of effects to XPress: drop shadows, inner shadows, outer glows, inner glows, bevels and embosses. An effect can be applied to any Quark XPress item, including type and pictures. Each effect allows control over opacity, blur, intensity, color and blend modes. Effects can be combined with one another.

In addition, ShadowCaster 3.0 combines XPress layouts with transparency offering 14 blend modes and opacity controls to every XPress item.

The newspapers include the NATIONAL POST (343k), British Columbia's VANCOUVER SUN (168k) and THE PROVINCE (200k), Alberta's CALGARY HERALD (119k) and EDMONTON JOURNAL (145k), the OTTAWA CITIZEN (145k) and MONTREAL GAZETTE (141k). The 27 titles have a combined daily circulation of more than 1.7 million.

Circulation Command includes canvassing tools to help increase circulation as well as tools to help attract and manage additional revenue from inserts and home delivery of advertising materials.

Southam will be using the Circulation Command software, together with its Web technology and hand-held devices, in order to sell and distribute all the major paid for daily titles across the group in Canada. Users will be operating on thin client terminals connected via a Wide Area Network through to a single Oracle database running on a fault-tolerant HP RP8400 server operating in Winnipeg, Manitoba, the group's central information technology headquarters. The system will also support a centralized call center, also in Winnipeg

In a press release, the company said, "It's been nice to have been known as Monotype Systems and to have successfully provided innovative and cost-effective products to the publishing marketplace."

The company also announced that it has sold the Digital Dot 1270, a 13-inch-by-22-inch 1270-dots-per-inch (dpi) copy-dot scanner to several newspapers, including the ALLENTOWN (Pa.) MORNING CALL (128k), THE EXPONENT-TELEGRAM (16k) of Clarksburg, W.Va., THE ADVERTISER (44k) of Lafayette, La., the ANNAPOLIS (Md.) CAPITAL (46k), THE HERALD-DISPATCH (35k) of Huntington, W.Va., Nevada's LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL (166k), the BEND (Ore.) BULLETIN (28k), Swift Newspapers of Carson City, Nev., and Eagle Web Press of Salem, Ore.

Other U.S. entities involved in Newsplex include South Carolina Educational Television, where a model facility is to be built; the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation of Miami, and Digital Technology International of Springville, Utah.

The interface supports all six ink colors, the Epson Variable Droplet EDS screens and the fast Firewire interface standard on the device. The package includes a variety of ICC color profiles and combined with the new Harlequin version 5.5 TrapWorks engine, traps can be proofed in full color on the Epson 10000.

Xitron is a wholly owned subsidiary of Autologic Information International Inc. of Thousand Oaks, Calif. -- which itself is a division of Agfa Graphic Systems of Ridgefield Park, N.J.

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