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Global Graphics and Software Imaging Announce Compatibility Across Print Solutions for Microsoft's XPS Document Format

Posted on: Tuesday, 24 January 2006, 12:00 CST

Global Graphics and Software Imaging today announced cross compatibility for their respective XPS RIP and XPS printer driver product ranges, delivering support for Microsoft's new print and document format XML Paper Specification (XPS). This joint initiative on compatibility is designed to deliver high quality output, excellent performance and rapid time to market for Independent Hardware Vendors (IHV's).

Global Graphics, experts in scalable RIP technology and page description languages (PDLs), and Software Imaging, the largest independent printer driver developer, are partnering to offer a host-based native XPS rasterization capability within an XPSDrv printer driver. This combined approach will enable those manufacturers of desktop raster-based inkjet and laser devices that require a complete solution to be ready for market when the next version of Microsoft's operating system, Windows Vista(TM), becomes available. Global Graphics and Software Imaging have worked together to develop a joint solution that is being demonstrated at the Lyra Imaging Symposium in Rancho Mirage California, where both companies' chief technology officers are participating on the Microsoft XPS focused Industry Panel.

"Since our XPS Early Adopter program was launched in September 2005 we have released five revisions of our core XPS RIP to support the evolving draft XPS specification", comments Adrian Ford, Global Graphics' chief technology officer. "Our technology enables us to provide a broad range of scalable options, from host-based, to embedded, to high-end server solutions, which address the needs of IHVs' product families. The work we've been doing with Software Imaging ensures the compatibility of our technologies, and allows us to jointly provide solutions for IHVs that deliver quality, performance, flexibility and rapid time to market".

"The joint efforts of Software Imaging and Global Graphics, combined with a close working relationship with Microsoft, has allowed us to leverage the best technologies our respective companies have to offer", explained Tony Harris, chief technology officer of Software Imaging. "This XPS RIP Driver solution serves as a welcome addition to our broad range of XPS and Vista compatible technologies, and will enable both companies to bring new and exciting solutions to our customers."

The joint demonstration shows an eight-color photo inkjet printer being driven by a native XPS print path. The print path includes an XPS printer driver implementation that uses XPS filter and XPS driver technology from Software Imaging and an XPS RIP from Global Graphics.

Global Graphics has provided consultancy and proof of concept development services to Microsoft for XPS for almost three years and developed a prototype XPS RIP which it first demonstrated at WinHEC in April 2005. Successive iterations of its XPS RIP technology have been released to IHV partners on its Early Adopter Program in step with Microsoft's on-going development of the XPS specification. Global Graphics XPS RIPs are available for high end print servers, networked embedded printers, desktop embedded scalable solutions and low-end, desktop raster printers.

Software Imaging has worked closely with Microsoft on their Windows printing technology since concluding an agreement between the two companies in November 2003, and created a prototype XPS filter pipeline which was also demonstrated at WinHEC in April 2005. Software Imaging provides a comprehensive set of development services which extend the value of the XPS filter pipeline, and the company's CDA and Sorcerer Driver Development Kits (DDKs) not only support current and legacy Windows operating systems, but are completely compatible with Vista and XPS.

Notes to Editors

About Global Graphics

Global Graphics (http://www.globalgraphics.com) is the technology expert for open document and print solutions committed to the continuous development of industry standards. It is a leading developer and supplier of sophisticated high performance RIPs, PDF document, workflow and color solutions to Independent Hardware Vendors, Independent Software Vendors, system integrators and resellers. These partners include the world's leading vendors of digital pre-press systems, large-format color printers, color proofing systems, workgroup copiers and printers, desktop inkjet printers and software applications. Customers include: HP, KonicaMinolta, Sharp, Agfa, Kodak and Quark. Global Graphics is a subsidiary of Global Graphics S.A. (Euronext:GLOG)

About Software Imaging

Founded in 1989, Software Imaging (http://www.softwareimaging.com) delivers printer driver technology, embedded printing systems, specialty applications and imaging consultancy to customers around the world. Headquartered in Oxford, England, with offices in Japan, Korea, the United States and Canada, the company is at the forefront of global innovation in print software, and has licensed technology to major suppliers of printer and digital copiers. Customers include Canon, Epson, Konica, Lexmark, Microsoft, Ricoh, Samsung, Sharp, Toshiba, Xerox and many others. There are over 85 million devices containing Software Imaging technology in use around the world.

About XPS

The XPS Document format is a paginated, fixed-format, representation of electronic documents and is based on XML and the new graphics architecture that Microsoft is developing alongside Windows Vista. As an open, cross-platform document format, XPS allows users to create, share, print and archive documents. When combined with the new print subsystem, its capabilities as a new page description language mean that it will offer significant improvements in fidelity and increased performance in rich graphics content that users increasingly demand.

Trademarks

Global Graphics, the smarter alternative, Harlequin, the Harlequin logo, are trademarks of Global Graphics Software Ltd. which may be registered in certain jurisdictions. All other company, brand and product names are the registered trademarks or trademarks of their respective owners.

Source: Business Wire

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