Appeals To Consumers Who Want Style As Well As Quality.

CeBIT Hanover, Germany - 22 March 2001 - Agfa announced its latest "e" generation scanner, the SnapScan e26. Designed for the home user, the new scanner appeals to consumers who do not feel they should sacrifice style for quality. Agfa puts 48-bits of scanning power in a sleek, silver torso to complement any home or office decor. The new SnapScan also comes with a powerful suite of software to address every scanning need.

The SnapScan e26 provides 600 x 1200 ppi (pixels per inch) resolution and 48 bits (16 bits per RGB colour). Bit depth is important because it determines the number of colour variations per pixel the scanner can record-the higher the bit depth the greater the colour detail. The portrait/letter-sized scanner adds fast data transfer with an easy-to-use USB interface.

Three programmable buttons provide one-touch scanning capability. One button lets the user scan and send the image directly to the printer. Another button scans and sends the image directly to the selected email client. The third button launches Agfa's ScanWise software for manual control of scan settings. At the click of the AGFAnet icon users can choose to transmit their images directly to a photo lab and order professional photographic prints.

Additional software includes Adobe PhotoShop LE for the Windows platform and Adobe PhotoDeluxe for the Macintosh. Both applications provide intelligent and creative image manipulation. Ulead PhotoExplorer lets users organize, store and locate images easily. NTM Web Personal offers easy Website creation, and ReadIris OCR (optical character recognition) software, which recognises 55 languages, lets users easily convert hard-copy documents-originals, faxes and photocopies-into editable text.

ScanWise Software.

ScanWise is unique in its ability to completely simplify the scanning process while producing optimum quality results. It actually communicates with other software in the computer-image editors; web browsers; fax, email, printer, word processing, and OCR programmes. Each time ScanWise is launched, the software locates the resident applications and determines the optimum settings for each application. If the user wants to attach a photograph to an email, for example, he or she simply selects the email application as a final destination and ScanWise automatically selects the RGB colour mode, screen resolution, opens up the email and pastes the image directly into the application. For more experienced users ScanWise provides manual override settings for individual control over the whole scanning procedure.

AGFAnet Print Service.

AGFAnet online photo print service is designed for the steadily growing group of digital-image users who want high-quality hardcopy output. Increasingly scanners and digital cameras are becoming a mainstay in business and at home. And the Internet provides easy access to a countless number of digital images. As a result the need for hardcopy output is continually increasing for a variety of applications. Agfa offers the AGFAnet Print Service as a convenient, yet innovative solution.

The AGFAnet Print Service client software is designed to make ordering prints quick and easy. A wizard guides the user through the ordering process. First he/she chooses a lab from a list of independent photofinishing labs in the AGFAnet network, next he /she selects the images to be printed, indicates the print size, the number of prints, and the method of payment. Users can also choose to crop their images with simple-to-use tools.

Via an Internet connection, the AGFAnet Print Service client sends the images and the ordering information to a central server, which automatically transmits the order to the selected lab for processing. Within two to three days the photographs are returned by mail.

Price and Availability.

The SnapScan e26 will be available May 2001 at the manufacturer's suggested price of 99 euros.


Agfa Adds Two High-End Scanners To "E" Generation Snapscans.

SnapScan e42 and e52 Designed For Imaging Enthusiasts And Home-Office Professionals.

CeBIT Hanover, Germany - 22 March 2001 - Agfa announced the ScanScan e42 and SnapScan e52. The two scanners offer home office professionals and imaging hobbyists a broad range of scanning functions at a full 48-bits of colour depth. Four programmable buttons and three interchangeable coloured handles add ease of use and style to these versatile scanners.

The new Agfa scanners provide 1200 x 2400 ppi (pixles per inch) resolution and 48 bits of colour depth to deliver richly detailed highlight and shadow areas. A USB interface simplifies connectivity and speeds data transfer.

The scanners' four programmable buttons broaden their versatility and provide fool-proof functionality. One button lets the user scan and send the image directly to the printer. Another button scans and sends the image directly to the selected email client. A third button launches Agfa's ScanWise software for manual control of scan settings. The fourth button launches ReadIris OCR (optical character recognition) software for converting paper documents into digital text.

To broaden the complement of professional scanning functions Agfa adds a transparency module to the SnapScan e52. The fully integrated module provides optimal scanning of slides or film negatives. Agfa also includes two slide holders.

The SnapScan e42 and e52 bundle of advanced imaging software puts professional scanning power in the users hands. Agfa's newest release of ScanWise provides intelligent, automated scanning. The software senses image characteristics and automatically adjusts the image's settings for the best overall scan. It also takes into account the final destination of the image, e.g. email, web page, printer. Adobe PhotoShop LE provides the full set of the industry-standard professional image-manipulations tools. Ulead PhotoExplorer lets users organize, store and locate images easily. NTM Web Personal offers easy Website creation, and ReadIris OCR (optical character recognition) software, which recognises 55 languages, lets users easily convert hard-copy documents-originals, faxes and photocopies-into editable text.

Both scanners are Macintosh, Windows 98/2000/Millennium compatible.

ScanWise Software.

ScanWise is unique in its ability to completely simplify the scanning process while producing optimum quality results. It actually communicates with other software in the computer-image editors; web browsers; fax, email, printer, word processing, and OCR programmes. Each time ScanWise is launched, the software locates the resident applications and determines the optimum settings for each application. If the user wants to attach a photograph to an email, for example, he or she simply selects the email application as a final destination and ScanWise automatically selects the RGB colour mode, screen resolution, opens up the email and pastes the image directly into the application. For more experienced users ScanWise provides manual override settings for individual control over the whole scanning procedure.

AGFAnet Print Service.

AGFAnet online photo print service is designed for the steadily growing group of digital-image users who want high-quality hardcopy output. Increasingly scanners and digital cameras are becoming a mainstay in business and at home. And the Internet provides easy access to a countless number of digital images. As a result the need for hardcopy output is continually increasing for a variety of applications. Agfa offers the AGFAnet Print Service as a convenient, yet innovative solution.

The AGFAnet Print Service client software is designed to make ordering prints quick and easy. A wizard guides the user through the ordering process. First he/she chooses a lab from a list of independent photofinishing labs in the AGFAnet network, next he /she selects the images to be printed, indicates the print size, the number of prints, and the method of payment. Users can also choose to crop their images with simple-to-use tools.

Via an Internet connection, the AGFAnet Print Service client sends the images and the ordering information to a central server, which automatically transmits the order to the selected lab for processing. Within two to three days the photographs are returned by mail.

Price and Availability.

The ScnapScan e52 will be available May 2001. The SnapScan e42 will follow in July 2001. Manufacuterer's suggested retail price is 229 euros for the SnapScan e52 and 179 euros for the SnapScan e42.