UltraGiclee Print Certification Program To Give Printmakers Confidence Selling Work

LONG BEACH, Calif. --March 4, 2005-- Fine art printmakers and their customers will soon have a guarantee on the longevity of certain Epson fine art prints through Epson's new UltraGiclee(TM) print certification program. This certification will enable printmakers to sell their work and enable customers to buy these prints with confidence that the prints will last.

UltraGiclee certified fine art prints, which can only be created on selected Epson professional printers using select professional media and EPSON UltraChrome(TM) ink, will be warranted to resist noticeable fading for 80 years from the original date of purchase when the print is printed, framed, handled and displayed according to warranty conditions. If a warranted print fades, Epson will provide the ink and paper needed to make a replacement print. Current certified printers include the EPSON Stylus Pro 4000, 7600 and 9600 printers, and certified media include UltraSmooth(TM) Fine Art Paper, Textured Fine Art Paper and PremierArt(TM) Water Resistant Canvas for Epson.

"This is the first program in digital fine art printing where a printing system has not only been tested for print longevity but also guaranteed," said Greg McCoy, senior product marketing manager, Professional Supplies, Epson America Inc. "Using Epson professional printers, Epson UltraChrome Ink, archival Epson media and approved finishing sprays and techniques, fine art printmakers will have the confidence that the prints they sell will be guaranteed against fading for 80 years."

The Museum of Fine Art in Boston is using the Epson Stylus Pro 9600 and UltraSmooth Fine Art Paper to create UltraGiclee fine art reproductions in-house, enabling the museum to share its collections with as many people as possible.

"We're amazed at how easy it is to create digital fine art reproductions that meet our requirements of color accuracy and longevity," said Debra LaKind, MFA Head of Rights, Licensing and Visual Archives.

Wilhelm Imaging Research (www.wilhelm-research.com) has independently tested the printers, inks and papers used in Epson's UltraGiclee certification program for the fine art, fine art reproduction and fine art photography industries. Final prints made according to the program's specifications will be registered and accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity.

In order to earn UltraGiclee certification, printmakers will attend a training class on proper printing and finishing techniques. Classes will be offered starting in late spring in various cities across the country. Details will be available at www.epson.com/ultragiclee beginning March 14.

About Epson

Epson offers an extensive array of award-winning image capture and image output products for consumers, businesses, photographers and graphic artists. The company is also a leading supplier of value-added point-of-sale (POS) printers and transaction terminals 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.

Note: Epson and EPSON Stylus are registered trademarks and Epson UltraChrome is a trademark of Seiko Epson Corporation. UltraGiclee and UltraSmooth are trademarks of Epson America Inc.