Pantone Press Release 12/02/04

Pantone Introduces ColorVantage Inks for Canon Desktop Printers; Offers Professional-Quality Color to Consumers

LAS VEGAS—(Business Wire)—Feb. 12, 2004 Now Offers Digital Photographers Expanded Choices With Support for Additional EPSON(R) Wide-Format Printer Models

Pantone, Inc., the global authority on color and 40-year provider of professional color standards for the design industries, today announced new PANTONE ColorVantage(TM) dye-based inks for the popular Canon brand of desktop printers, bringing professional-quality reproduction to consumers and photo hobbyists. In addition, the company announced expanded support for EPSON wide-format printers with its ColorVantage pigmented inks designed for the professional market.

Pantone began shipping the PANTONE ColorVantage family of products in November 2003 with support for several wide-format EPSON printers. At PMA, Pantone will showcase these and the newly supported Canon and EPSON models in its booth and demonstrate how to achieve accurate color from input to output. As part of this demonstration, the company will also highlight the Spyder(TM) monitor calibrator from the PANTONE ColorVision(R) product line working in conjunction with the PANTONE ColorVantage inks and papers to deliver vibrant, true-to-life output.

PANTONE ColorVantage is a family of premium inkjet products that includes pigmented and dye-based inks, papers and specially developed printer profiles. The products are designed for applications that require the most accurate color reproduction and the widest possible range of color such as color photographs and fine art reproduction. With support for Canon desktop printers, consumers gain the same color expertise that professionals have trusted for over 40 years.

“When snapping digital pictures, we spend most of our time on image input—resolution, lighting, focus—but to replicate that image in print, we need to take a few simple but crucial steps—including calibrating the monitor and selecting the best inks and paper for the job,” said Richard Herbert, president of Pantone, Inc. “With our tools, anyone from a professional photographer to a photo hobbyist can easily obtain vibrant, true-to-life color prints. Support for the Canon line of printers and expanded offerings for the latest EPSON wide-format printers mark the next evolution in our ColorVantage line to bring professional-quality output to consumers and professionals.”

PANTONE ColorVantage
The PANTONE ColorVantage ink formulations have been carefully designed to provide the largest color gamut possible. This makes ColorVantage inks richer, deeper and more saturated than other inks, offering vibrant, true-to-life reproduction.

PANTONE ColorVantage papers have been selected to provide the best performance and most accurate reproduction when used with PANTONE ColorVantage inks. The paper is available in a variety of finishes—high-gloss photo, semi-matte proofing, matte and fine art. Pantone will also introduce profiles for other media including professional papers from Epson that will provide optimal results when used with ColorVantage inks.

ColorVantage Availability
PANTONE ColorVantage pigment-based inks are available through office superstores including Staples online and mail order catalogs such as the ColorMall, Corporate Express, TigerDirect and PC and Mac Mall. ColorVantage inks are currently available for EPSON wide-format color printer models 1270, 1280, 5000, 5500, 7000, 7500, 9000 and 9500, as well as EPSON-compatible printers from Mimaki, Mutoh and Roland. Support for the EPSON Stylus Photo 2200 and EPSON Stylus Pro 7600, 9600 and 4000 will be available in spring 2004.

Pantone dye-based inks for Canon photo printers such as the i960 and i9100 and Canon all-purpose printers will be available in spring 2004.

About Pantone, Inc.
Pantone, Inc., developer of the globally accepted PANTONE Color Systems, is the leading source of traditional and electronic products for the selection and accurate communication of color. With over 40 years of experience, Pantone is recognized as the worldwide market leader in color communication and color technology for the graphic design, printing, publishing, textile and plastics industries. More information is available at www.pantone.com and www.pantoneinkjet.com.

About ColorVision Inc.

Headquartered in Lawrenceville, N.J., ColorVision Inc., a Datacolor company, is the manufacturer of the award-winning, state-of-the-art Pantone(R) ColorVision(R) product line of accurate and affordable color control solutions for photo, design and pre-press applications. ColorVision has become the market leader in digital color control since February 2000, providing cost-efficient, consistent, accurate color in digital darkroom environments. The Spyder(TM) product line offers integrated hardware/software color accuracy and production solutions for anyone, from professional designers to home hobbyists. More information is available at www.ColorVision.com.

PANTONE(R) and other Pantone, Inc. trademarks are the property of Pantone, Inc. ColorVision(R) and other ColorVision Inc. trademarks are the property of ColorVision Inc. EPSON and EPSON Stylus are registered trademarks of Seiko Epson Corporation. Canon is either a registered trademark or trademark of Canon Inc. in the United States and/or other countries.