DIGITAL bytes

PALO ALTO, CA—R.R. Donnelley announced the development of a new Inventory Management Solution (IMS), which is a book-on-demand, soft-cover production system that it says is designed to help book publishers improve cash flow through shorter printing runs. The system will combine a HP Indigo 3000 digital color press with an integrated, in-line binding module. According to John Conley, vice president of digital services for R.R. Donnelley, the first IMS module will be installed this summer in the company's Harrisonburg, VA, book plant. (www.rrdonnelley.com / www.hp.com)

HUDSON, NH/VANCOUVER—Presstek Inc. and Creo Inc. report signing an agreement under which Presstek's Anthem chemistry-free thermal plate can be bundled with new sales of Creo four- and eight-page Trendsetter Quantum computer-to-plate systems in the United States, Europe and Canada. The companies previously had announced the successful qualification of Anthem plates for use on Trendsetter Quantum devices when equipped with the processless option. (www.presstek.com / www.creo.com)

MARBLEHEAD, MA—DDAP Association has released new interactive training software called "Digital Delivers" that is designed to educate graphic arts professionals on the advantages of using standard, accredited digital file formats. The software steps users through all the DDAP-recommended workflows and provides a foundation for building a digital ad strategy. In addition to covering the tools and terminology, the program is said to addresses the business issues of digital ad delivery and coach users on how to build a digital ad team, publish ad specs and communicate with advertisers. (www.ddap.org)

RIDGEFIELD PARK, NJ—In six months of commercial sales, Agfa Corp. reports it has delivered more than 150 of its Palladio violet-laser, flatbed platesetters. The manufacturer says the fully automated, four-up machines are designed for small- to medium-sized printers. Two of the early adopters in the U.S. were Bramkamp Printing in Cincinnati, and Marcus Printing in Holyoke, MA. (www.agfa.com)

RESTON, VA—A new data standard for variable print jobs has been released by the ANSI- (American National Standards Institute) accredited Committee for Graphic Arts Technologies Standards (CGATS). The new document's rather ungainly title is "ANSI CGATS.20, Graphic Technology—Variable Printing Data Exchange Using PPML and PDF (PPML/VDX)." It is said to create an open standard for variable data exchange by combining PPML's capabilities for encoding the layout of variable data with the PDF format's openness, reliability and soft-proofing benefits. (www.npes.org)

WAUKESHA, WI—The Graphics Factory recently completed its transition to CTP-based production by installing a Fujifilm Dart Luxel T6000 thermal platesetter and PictroProof digital color proofer. The company is a medium-sized sheetfed printer servicing a variety of businesses in the Milwaukee area and in northern Illinois. (www.graphics-factory.com / www.fujifilm.com)