Software Imaging Broadens its Partnership with Xaar Plc

Helping to Improve ‘Time to Market’ for Xaar Customers

OXFORD — July 13, 2004 — Software Imaging is pleased to announce a new agreement that will see Software Imaging providing Xaar plc (based in Cambridge, UK) with printer drivers to form a key component of Xaar’s new peripheral development systems, which are designed for the industrial printing market.

Xaar’s peripherals offering, announced at drupa 2004, includes Xaar print control and ink supply systems which will enable Xaar’s printhead customers to quickly and easily prototype and manufacture printing machines. Under this new announcement, Software Imaging’s printer drivers are being integrated into this package, providing the drivers necessary to complete the print development process.

Xaar’s peripherals offering will include PCI systems (using a fiber optic transmission link for very high data rates, even with large arrays of grayscale printheads), ink supply systems, head mount systems and vacuum filling systems.

The printer drivers form part of a tailored industrial imaging version of Software Imaging’s successful “Sorcerer” and “ColorCore” technologies. The products will support all Xaar inkjet heads and will be used for a wide range of printing applications, from packaging and large-scale graphics to specialized industrial printing (e.g. ceramic tiles, circuit boards and vehicle livery printing). The technology uses flexible color management that supports several color channels with multiple levels of intensity up to continuous tone, coupled with AM and FM halftoning, ensuring both print quality and speed.

The new peripheral development system will eliminate the traditional problems associated with introducing new print devices by:

• Providing a modular development tool kit
• Reducing development time
• Enabling faster time to market for new print devices.

“Software Imaging was the natural choice for this project,” said Hugh Baker-Smith, Sales & Marketing Director for Xaar plc. “We had already worked with them for many years, using their PrintMagic, Sorcerer and ColorCore technologies in the development of our printheads, so we knew that their extensive experience would be invaluable for our peripheral development system.”

“Software Imaging will be providing drivers with the ability to deal with very high data transfer rates and a broad range of products,” said Mick Heys, Head of Business Development, EMEA of Software Imaging. “This latest announcement highlights Software Imaging’s reputation in delivering exactly what the customer wants via custom development. We are very pleased to be broadening our partnership with Xaar and look forward to helping Xaar’s customers benefit from this development system.”

Note to editors: This is the first of many new announcements during 2004/5 from Software Imaging, focused specifically on industrial imaging. If you would like a briefing on Software Imaging’s strategy for Industrial Imaging, please contact us.

About Software Imaging

Founded in 1989, Software Imaging is the world’s largest independent supplier of Microsoft Windows, Apple Macintosh and Linux imaging technologies, printer drivers and related services. The company delivers Driver Development Kits (DDKs), technology licensing, consultancy, training, support and custom development services to customers around the world. Software Imaging technologies give customers time-to-market advantage, reduced cost and deliver enhanced driver stability, color performance and print quality.

Since the company began, Software Imaging has been at the forefront of global innovation in printing software, and has licensed technology to major suppliers of printer and digital copiers as well as engaging in many other imaging related developments. Customers include Canon, Epson, Hewlett Packard, Konica, Lexmark, Microsoft, Océ, Olivetti, Ricoh, Samsung, Sharp, Toshiba, Xerox and many others. Software Imaging is the Microsoft development partner for Unidrv. There are now over 85 million devices containing Software Imaging technology in use around the world. Software Imaging is headquartered in Oxford, England, with offices in Japan, Korea, the United States and Canada.

About Xaar

Xaar plc is a market-leading inkjet technology company. It targets the world’s office, commercial and industrial printing markets. The office printing market is approached through Xaar’s licensees; the industrial printing market is targeted by XaarJet, the manufacturing arm of Xaar; and a combination of partners and key players work with Xaar to serve the commercial printing market. Vivid Print Innovations Inc., the applications division of Xaar, provides Xaar’s in-house specialist integration service.

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