Xerox Equips iGen3 Digital Press to Enhance Photo Quality, Increase Color Consistency and Productivity

Innovative software makes it easier to print photo memory books, greeting cards, full-color books

ROCHESTER, N.Y., Oct. 12, 2006 -- Even flawed original photos can look good in print especially when they are made on Xerox Corporation’s (NYSE: XRX) flagship Xerox Xerox iGen3™ Digital Production Press, thanks to image-improving software invented by Xerox.

Xerox is rolling out new software for the iGen3 Digital Production Press at Graph Expo, North America’s largest printing show of the year, held Oct. 15-18 in Chicago. The image quality software provides ultimate color reproduction by improving color consistency in prints, making it easier to know when to reset the press for optimum color performance, and more effectively rendering photos - all designed to help commercial printers, online photo companies and design shops boost productivity and profits of image-intensive documents.

“We continue to invest in and enhance the iGen3 technology platform to deliver more value and productivity based on Xerox’s expertise in digital technology, color science and control systems,” said Quincy Allen, president, Xerox Production Systems Group. “Our customers will now be able to generate new business in the burgeoning market where photos and printing intersect.”

Developed by the company’s product engineers and research scientists, the iGen3 image quality software makes it possible to easily print a range of photo-filled materials on the iGen3 digital press, including photo books, greeting cards, posters, calendars, and personalized photo memory books containing wedding, vacation or baby pictures. Such items are increasingly ordered by consumers through online photo services. The Photo Marketing Association states that the value of the custom photo service market approached $1 billion in 2005 and is expected to double by 2007.

Xerox’s image quality software enables printing professionals to achieve the most pleasing photo rendering in photographic-intensive documents by optimizing color balance, tone scale and flesh tones. The software also makes the Xerox iGen3 press more productive by checking color output and alerting the press operator when an adjustment is necessary. And it ensures that the color output of the iGen3 press is repeatable every time a document is printed from day to day, week to week - across multiple machines in multiple locations.

“This new software has minimized the amount of time we spend adjusting our presses,” said John Lacagnina, ColorCentric Corporation, a Rochester, N.Y.-based digital printing company specializing in short-run photo book printing and book publishing. “Using this software, I have been able to go up to three weeks without having to calibrate my iGen3 digital presses and, just as important, without worrying about job consistency.”

In July, Xerox announced another photo enhancement software called “Automatic Image Enhancement.” This software is designed for all Xerox digital color products, including the iGen3 press. AIE adjusts for sharpness, exposure, contrast and colorfulness to enhance poor photograph quality. It also optimizes each photo independently with smart evaluation that only touches those photos in need of repair. This software can be found in a new 5.1 version of Xerox’s FreeFlow™ DocuSP™ controller - which processes and submits jobs to digital presses - and FreeFlow™ Process Manager 5.0 software.

Pricing and Availability
The new iGen3 image quality software will be available worldwide by year-end and will be standard with the purchase of a Xerox iGen3 digital press. It will be available to existing customers via a software upgrade in 2007.

Contact Information

Karin Stroh

Media Contact

Xerox Corporation

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