 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
.
|
||||||
| . |
|
FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE: Special Edition of Koyosha Graphics' Display-Enhancing XTension Ships with QuarkXPress 4.1 San Francisco, Calif., (December 1, 1999) - Koyosha Graphics of America, Inc. (KGA), developer of imaging solutions for the desktop publishing market, today announced the inclusion of Enhance Preview XT-Special Edition (EPXT-SE) as part of the QuarkXPress 4.1 upgrade. EPXT-SE is a display-enhancing XTensions software module for QuarkXPress that lets users view high resolution previews of imported pixel-based images (such as TIFF, JPEG, EPS, and DCS) and supports all the clipping path capabilities introduced in QuarkXPress 4.0. The version of EPXT-SE that's included with the QuarkXPress 4.1 upgrade (EPXT-SE 2.1.4r2) includes performance, stability and compatibility enhancements over previous versions and is an update to the version of EPXT-SE that's been available since January 1999 on Quark's Web site. The new version also provides improved network performance, better handling of EPS files, and does not require Apple's QuickTime extension to create compressed preview files. "EPXT-SE is a streamlined version of the 4.0-optimized commercial version of EPXT," said Mark Sangster, product manager for KGA's imaging solutions. "We're providing EPXT-SE free of charge to QuarkXPress users so they can experience the benefits of our display-enhancement technology. We're confident that users will be impressed enough to explore the expanded capabilities of the full product. We're sure that EPXT will augment any workflow." EPXT-SE enables graphic designers and production artists to view high resolution previews instead of the 36- and 72-dpi previews QuarkXPress normally displays. Additionally, users can display enhanced images at magnifications up to 800% and still view Photoshop-quality previews. This ensures greater accuracy when placing, cropping, positioning, and scaling imported images. Because EPXT-SE generates high resolution previews from the original image files, enhanced previews are more color-accurate than standard previews. EXPT-SE also lets QuarkXPress 4 users precisely create or edit clipping paths without having to use an image-editing program. "The combination of the Enhance Preview XT-Special Edition and the new clipping path functions in QuarkXPress are a natural," said Don Lohse, QuarkXPress product manager at Quark, Inc. "Getting higher resolution previews of pictures makes working with the paths a lot easier and much more precise." The special edition of Enhance Preview-XT offers the key capabilities of the full version, including image enhancement and display and the option to apply smoothing (antialiasing) to enhanced previews. Smoothing eliminates the "jaggies" that normally occur at high zoom magnifications and with images that have been enlarged using QuarkXPress' picture-scaling controls. EPXT-SE allows users to enhance and display one image at a time, and all of its features are available in an easy-to-use palette. EPXT offers QuarkXPress users similar display benefits to those available in Adobe InDesign, however, EPXT's performance is significantly faster because it doesn't save the entire high resolution image preview in RAM. Instead, enhanced preview cache files are stored on disk and accessed only when needed. EPXT efficiently uses memory, requiring only 2MB of additional RAM allocated to QuarkXPress. Display of enhanced previews can easily be toggled on or off from the EPXT palette, as required. EPXT also helps minimize the size of QuarkXPress documents containing color or grayscale TIFF images because, unlike InDesign, it doesn't embed high resolution previews in the document. The full version of EPXT 2.1.4 goes beyond the special edition version by enabling users to simultaneously enhance all images, images in currently selected picture boxes, or user-specified images in a batch mode. It also includes the option to display all images in a document using enhanced previews. This enables users to soft proof entire documents at any time prior to output. Additionally, the full version provides the option to automatically create enhanced previews during import. Enhanced preview cache files can be stored in a user-specified folder or in the same folder as the original graphic file, and cache files can be removed manually or automatically when a user-specified limit is exceeded. The full version also includes the option to use any of three sharpening settings when displaying enhanced previews. This, in addition to using the smoothing (antialiasing) option, can dramatically improve the output quality of screen captures and pages saved as pictures (in EPS or raster formats) and as HTML pages using export XTensions. Finally, EPXT 2.1.4 allows users to modify several preference settings, including the option to define custom keyboard shortcuts for all EPXT-related commands and the option to create compressed or uncompressed cache files. System Requirements EPXT-SE 2.1.4r2 requires QuarkXPress 4.04 or higher, Mac OS 7.6.1 or higher with at least 12MB RAM allocated to QuarkXPress, or a Pentium II PC running Windows 95, 98, or Windows NT 4.0 with 24MB RAM. Pricing and Availability The special edition version is localized to French, German, Italian, and Spanish languages for users of QuarkXPress Passport and into Japanese for the East Asian version of QuarkXPress. EPXT 2.1.4 can be purchased for $99 through resellers, such as The PowerXChange and Publishers Toolbox, internationally from XChange and XCite, or directly from KGA's Web site at www.koyosha.com/xt/store (there is also an electronic download version available for $85). Additional distribution information is available at www.koyosha.com/xt/purchase/. A fully functioning, 30-day trial version of EPXT is available at www.koyosha.com/xt/demo. About Koyosha Graphics of America Founded in 1994, Koyosha Graphics of America, Inc. is based in San Francisco, California, and is affiliated with Koyosha Ltd., Tokyo, Japan. KGA develops and localizes imaging and publishing software for the desktop publishing market and has released products, such as EPXT and PPXT(TM). These products were developed to enhance design and production processes, display and print workflow, and may be used as import filters for the Flashpix file format. Enhance Preview XT and Precision Preview XT are trademarks of Koyosha Graphics of America, Inc., an affiliate of Koyosha Ltd. QuarkXPress, QuarkXPress Passport, QuarkXTensions, and XTensions are trademarks of Quark, Inc., and all applicable affiliated companies, Reg. U.S. Pat. & Tm. Off. and in many other countries. All other names are either registered trademarks or trademarks of their respective owners.
|