P.I.M. II Plug-in Enables Photoshop Users to Get Best Possible Prints from their Digital Camera

LONG BEACH, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 15, 2002-- Epson America Inc. today announced the availability of a PRINT Image Matching II (P.I.M. II) plug-in for Adobe® Photoshop® 7.0, 6.0, and Photoshop Elements 1.0 and 2.0 for Macintosh and Windows operating systems. The new plug-in enables Adobe Photoshop users who own a P.I.M. II-enabled digital camera and P.I.M. II-enabled Epson photo printer to take advantage of the print matching and automatic benefits offered by PRINT Image Matching technology to create the best possible prints quickly and easily.

The P.I.M. II plug-in allows users to import JPEG files containing P.I.M. or P.I.M. II information into Adobe Photoshop and print them with the color, quality and detail that PRINT Image Matching technology provides. The plug-in was designed to be flexible, giving users multiple options: a user can either import with P.I.M. II, import Exif 2.2 images with Exif Print technology, a new standard for digital cameras published by the Japan Electronics and Information Technology Industries Association (JEITA); or, the interface allows users to import an image with color expansion information only while disregarding other image enhancements for flexible print matching control.

"P.I.M. technology continues to have a significant impact on the growing digital imaging market," said Fabia Ochoa, product manager, photo imaging, Epson. "The availability of the P.I.M. II plug-in furthers Epson's pursuit to provide the ultimate photo printing solutions for consumers looking to print the best prints possible from their photo printer."

More About PRINT Image Matching II

P.I.M. II automatically optimizes digital photos from P.I.M. II-enabled digital cameras. P.I.M. II offers fourteen image control parameters (two more than the original P.I.M. technology) including "noise reduction" control and "custom scene" settings. P.I.M. II can also be used with TIFF (RGB type) images in addition to the more common JPEG capture file formats. Products that incorporate the new P.I.M. II technology are also completely backward compatible, enabling customers to seamlessly continue using devices that utilize original P.I.M. technology. The Epson Stylus® Photo line of printers support the original P.I.M., P.I.M. II as well as Exif Print technology.

Since June 2001, over 70 P.I.M.-enabled products have been available from more than 20 manufacturers of digital cameras, photo printers and software. P.I.M II partners include Adobe, AISoft, ArcSoft, Asahi Optical Co. Ltd. (Pentax Corporation), Casio Computer Co. Ltd., CBN Systems, E-Book Systems, JVC (Victor Company of Japan Ltd.), Konica Corporation, Kyocera Corporation, Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. Ltd. (Panasonic), Minolta Co. Ltd., NewSoft, Nikon Corporation, Olympus Optical Co. Ltd., Ricoh Company Ltd., Roxio Inc., Sanyo Electric Co. Ltd., Toshiba Corporation and Ulead Systems Inc.

The P.I.M. II plug-in is available to customers as a free download from the Epson Web site at www.epson.com, www.printimagematching.com and www.support.epson.com. More information on P.I.M. technology and a complete list of current P.I.M.-compatible products is available at www.printimagematching.com.

About Epson

Epson offers an extensive array of award-winning image capture and image output products for the consumer, photography, business and graphic arts markets. The company is also a leading supplier of value-added point-of-sale (POS) solutions for the retail market. Founded in 1975, Epson America Inc. is the U.S. affiliate of Japan-based Seiko Epson Corporation, a global manufacturer and supplier of high-quality technology products that meet customer demands for increased functionality, compactness, systems integration and energy efficiency. Epson America Inc. is headquartered in Long Beach, Calif. More information about Epson and its products is available by calling 1-800-GO-EPSON or visiting the company's Web site at www.epson.com.

Note: Epson and Epson Stylus are registered trademarks of Seiko Epson Corporation and PRINT Image Matching is a trademark of Seiko Epson Corporation. Third party brand or product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.