Plug-n-Play Module Simplifies Handling of Digital Images and File Formats

COLOGNE, Germany, September 24 -- Kodak Professional, a division of Eastman Kodak Company, today announced a new component for its lab digitization solution: the Kodak Professional Digital Analyzer Workstation, a turnkey hardware and software module that streamlines color correction of digital image files, simplifying the digital workflow to help reduce waste, increase first-print yield and boost productivity.

Designed to mimic a lab's traditional analyzer color-grading system, such as PVAC (Professional Video Analyzing Computer) or CVIS (Computerized Video Imaging System), the Kodak Professional Digital Analyzer Workstation accepts files from high-resolution scanners and digital cameras. By standardizing digital image files at the start of the workflow, the Digital Analyzer delivers high first-time yields from film scanning, resulting in higher quality and time savings at every stage in the digital workflow.

"The Digital Analyzer simplifies the complexities labs face with color management, particularly when working with a wide range of digital files," said Bill Poehlmann, Worldwide Product Manager, Lab Software, Kodak Professional. "Labs have to contend with varying film images and types that often lead to difficulty in scanning. They also receive digital files from other scanners and digital cameras in multiple formats. All of this leads to high remake rates and inefficiencies. The Digital Analyzer Workstation is designed to standardize images with speed and accuracy to maximize workflow productivity."

The Digital Analyzer easily integrates into professional laboratories' workflows, especially those serving the portrait and social industry. It is the latest component in Kodak Professional's modular lab digitization solution that can be customized for versatility, scalability and productivity to satisfy specific needs of customers. It supports a key Kodak growth strategy, namely, to simplify digital imaging.

The Digital Analyzer Workstation is equipped with a GUI (graphical user interface) design that looks like the interfaces on traditional analyzer systems. Its familiar design and intuitive operation simplify both set-up and training processes. Powered by Kodak's image science technology, the device will be available in late 2002 and will carry a suggested list price of USD$29,950.

A Complete Lab Digitization Solution
The Digital Analyzer Workstation is part of a complete, scalable lab digitization solution from Kodak Professional built upon Kodak Pro Series Software, which is developed and manufactured for Kodak by Halse Imaging Systems Ltd. As the "digital backbone," it links individual modules in Kodak Professional's lab digitization architecture and provides for the overall productivity and efficiency of the system.

The software is a scaleable digital workflow system for professional digital imaging labs, whether handling wedding, portrait, school or commercial work. Pro Series software is a modular, open-architecture system used to create and prepare digital orders from input to output. The flexibility of the system allows for a range of digital products to be produced efficiently and neatly to link input and output modules.

Enhancements to the software announced today include support for Kodak's new laser printers, improved controls for color and density, additional image adjustment controls and a range of order entry improvements.

"Hundreds of labs worldwide now invest in some aspect of Kodak Professional's modular lab digitization system as digital processing continues to advance," said Nick Parsons, Worldwide Marketing Manager, Lab Digitization, Kodak Professional. "With the new features and enhancements that we announce today, labs can be assured that Kodak is delivering a completely scalable digital workflow solution to help increase their productivity and profitability, as well as their competitive appeal in the marketplace."

Quality Kodak Professional Components
New products introduced earlier this year further support Kodak Professional's modular approach to providing solutions for digital workflows.

The Kodak Professional HR 500 Plus and HR Universal film scanners featuring Digital ICE technology are key modular digital components in a total digital imaging architecture to meet the stringent requirements of professional photographers and labs for scanning, image management, storage, and output.

Kodak Professional's venerable HR 500 high-speed film scanner has been equipped with Digital ICE technology and other upgrades to become the Kodak Professional HR 500 Plus Film Scanner. The HR Universal Film Scanner, which features Digital ICE technology and other enhancements found in the HR 500 Plus scanner, can scan 4"x5" film at a rate of more than 200 4"x5" scans an hour making it ideal for commercial labs and image archives.

A family of highly productive printers for the professional lab market the Kodak Professional RP 30 Laser Printer, SRP 30 Laser Printer and RP 50 LED Printer offers exceptional image quality, versatility and speed for the most demanding lab environments. They strengthen Kodak Professional's role as a single source for a complete digital imaging solution.

The new Kodak scanners and printers are available for immediate delivery, with the exception of the SRP 30 printer, which is scheduled to ship in the fourth quarter of 2002.