25,000 copies of Creo Preps sold worldwide

According to a Creo press release, Preps, which was released in 1993, is used in 89 countries on six continents. MacDonald & Evans, a 100-year-old sheetfed commercial printer in Braintree, MA, USA, purchased the 25,000th copy. “Preps has been a valuable tool for our company for many years, and we look forward to using this outstanding piece of software for many more years,” said Frank Piazza, owner.


Eliminating the need for manual stripping, Preps is able to impose any combination of PostScript, PDF, EPS, DCS, and TIFF source files into signatures. These imposed signatures can be output to any PostScript-compatible device such as a computer-to-plate device, imagesetter, on-demand printer, digital printer, wide-format imposition proofer, or laser printer.

“The 25,000th copy of Preps marks a huge accomplishment for Creo,” said Chris Ries, Preps product manager. “Preps drives and reflects innovation and profound change in the graphic arts industry over the years. Creo is proud to have reached this important milestone.”

Within two years of its launch date, more than 1000 copies of Preps had been sold. From early on, Preps provided support for Brisque, Prinergy and Apogee workflow solutions, as well as Adobe CPSI RIP and PDF processing capabilities. It also paved the way for integrated workflow systems with the addition of PDF in 2000 and JDF support in 2002.

Enhanced JDF integration
Preps 5.1 features a new JDF import functionality, providing the first opportunity for thousands of users worldwide to implement useful connectivity between estimating and prepress departments. Preps can now import JDF files from management information systems (MIS).

When a JDF file is imported, Preps expresses it as a new job and attempts to match the imposition details specified with existing templates. If a valid match is found, Preps will automatically populate the signature list. If no match is found, Preps will create a placeholder signature, which can be resolved once an appropriate template is created. Preps can then export a JDF file that includes the original JDF plus the JDF imposition layout and mark flats. The JDF can be used downstream by prepress workflows, or upstream by the MIS system to update imposition details from the missing original.