Graph Expo--On the Verge

* Adobe's PDF—as is the norm of late—was the command topic for most prepress-related discussions and workflow demonstrations, ranging from Agfa's well-established Apogee workflow to Scitex's new Brisque Extreme to the PDF-based Prinergy offering from Creo/Heidelberg.

* The well-known powers of the pressroom and the bindery, likewise, stretched the gamut of their respective automation and digital machine control capabilities. Automation has hit the pressroom like never before, featuring closed-loop color control coupled with plate changers, washup devices and quick makereadies. GRAPH EXPO also served as a window to the on-press imaging and enhanced digitization targeting the pressroom for DRUPA 2000, with new technologies from Akiyama (working closely with plate manufacturer Presstek), Heidelberg, Scitex/KBA, Xeikon, Screen and others;