It has a new interface and more power. Features include SmartMarks, which position themselves in relation to the sheet size and page parameters and can combine marks into groups.

A complete set of marks can be completed with one mouse-click, which Creo claims makes it possible to create new templates in a "fraction of the time". If the sheet size or page details are altered then the marks are repositioned automatically.

The product also includes a PDF native and PostScript imposition, Acrobat and QuarkXPress compatibility, built-in colour separator, fully integrated PostScript previewer and Mac OS X and Windows support.

The Preps 5.0 supports Postitive Focus's other software from Creo including the UpFront 3.0 and Pandora 2.6.

In 2002 Creo incorporated Preps page-imposition software into its Prinergy and Brisque products after buying ScenicSoft for 6.2m.

Story by Philip Chadwick