Imation Corp. will preview a wide range of new digital and conventional products for the printing and publishing industry at the Seybold Conference and Exhibition in San Francisco (Booth No. 1435).

The new products include Imation's Rainbow Model 4700 proofing system, a four-page (A2-size) ink jet digital solution that features proven Rainbow color technology to users who require large format, contract quality proofs. The new Rainbow 4700 will have a list price of less than $80,000 and is expected to be available during the first quarter of 1997.

Imation will also enhance its market leading position in digital proofing today by announcing that its Rainbow family of proofers are the first output devices to earn OPEN(TM) (Open Production ENvironment) Aware certification, a distinction given to products certified to run within Luminous Corporation's OPEN(TM) production workflow environment.

OPEN is a centralized electronic production manager that integrates and automates many tasks associated with prepress imaging that previously required stand-alone applications.

Imation today will also provide details of new Windows(TM) compatible software for its Rainbow digital proofing system -- Rainbow Software Version 4.1 -- that will expand the system's current Macintosh platform and allow users to run controller software on a PC with either Windows 95 or Windows NT. Rainbow version 4.1 for Windows '95 and NT will retail for $700 and is expected to be available in December 1996.

The increasing strength of Imation's digital workflow capability was enhanced significantly by the company's recent announcement that it will acquire Luminous Corporation of Seattle, Wash., a leading developer and marketer of desktop software to the prepress, print production, printing and graphic arts industries.

"These new product announcements and our acquisition of Luminous are part of Imation's strategy of broadening our technology and marketing position to deliver high value imaging and information solutions to our customers," said Bill Monahan, chairman and chief executive officer, Imation Corp. "We are confident that those customers moving to increasingly automated, digital workflow environments will benefit from our expanding imaging and information solution capabilities."

Imation Leverages Dry Film Expertise For Printing Industry

The company will also announce today that it is leveraging its proprietary dry film technology in the medical imaging industry, to develop an exclusive new dry film for the printing industry. According to Chuck Oesterlein, vice president, Imation Printing and Publishing Systems, the new dry film will be used in a new family of dry film imagesetters being developed by Scitex and other systems developers, and will be commercially available in the first half of 1997.

"This is a significant step in the development of a technology that promises to have a tremendous impact in the marketplace," said Oesterlein. "Scitex has extensive expertise in the development of top-quality imagesetting equipment and represents an excellent technology partner for Imation."

Commercial printers, quick printers and digital trade shops and originators will realize substantial benefits from the use of "environmentally friendly" dry film, including reduced operating costs, increased productivity and the elimination of "wet chemistry" processing.

Strengthening Conventional Product Line

Imation today will also announce that it has developed large format Matchprint(TM) color proofing films and bases, a first in the printing and publishing industry. The exclusive Imation films -- 25" x 57.5" in size -- are available for Matchprint III Negative SWOP, Matchprint III Negative Lo-Gain and Matchprint Positive Color Proofing Films. The addition of these films provides the ideal solution for proofing 12-page signatures, especially for printers who use the Heidelberg Harris `Sunday' Press for magazine and catalog work.

"Our customers told us they needed faster turnaround times and these new Matchprint products should eliminate up to two hours per proof spent on tiling," said Rick Anderson, marketing supervisor, Imation Printing and Publishing Systems. "Large format Matchprint addresses a very specific need and will speed up the entire pre-press workflow considerably."

Imation supplies a variety of products and services worldwide for the information processing industry, specializing in imaging applications and information storage. The company manufactures and markets digital and conventional proofing systems, including the industry standard Matchprint color proofing system, imagesetting materials, printing plates, graphic arts films, carbonless paper products and chemistries to customers worldwide.

The business units that make up Imation had 1995 revenues of $2.2 billion while part of 3M. The company employs approximately 9,700 people worldwide and is based in Oakdale, Minn.

 

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