IRVINE, Calif. (Dec. 18, 2008) –  In an effort to meet the color-critical demands of marketing, design and pre-press professionals, Toshiba America Business Solutions Inc. (TABS) today announced the release of the EFI GA1211 Fiery controller designed exclusively for the e-STUDIO4520c series of color multifunction products (MFPs). Advanced color management features, as well as improved print speeds boost color production capabilities of the award-winning e-BRIDGE MFP series.

"The Fiery-driven e-STUDIO4520c is a flexible and affordable solution for Toshiba customer's that produce short-run digital color printing and require fast, exceptional color quality," said Joe Contreras, director, Product and Solutions Marketing, TABS. "By enhancing their design capabilities and increasing their productivity and efficiency, Toshiba aims to help customers compete more effectively and improve profitability in today's uncertain marketplace."

"EFI and Toshiba have a long standing, successful relationship and we're excited to collaborate on this new line-up of MFPs," said John Henze, vice president of marketing, Fiery division, EFI. "The Fiery ensures perfect color every time, fast document turnaround, even for the most complex VDP work, and powerful customization capabilities to help customers realize greater efficiency and competitiveness."

Advanced Color Management Features

The new Fiery features System 8e software, which comes standard with Fiery ColorWise, the EFI in-RIP color management system ensuring consistent, high-quality color across
applications, platforms and file formats. The optional Spot-On feature is crucial for graphic arts professionals matching corporate branding colors. Spot-On allows users to create and save a corporate brand color once, then print it accurately in any document thereafter. It also provides standardized color for all users, includes several pantone libraries by default and allows for the addition of a user's own groups and spot colors. Another optional image quality feature is In-RIP Auto Trapping – a technology that produces a cleaner finish for page elements with adjacent colors.

Increased Productivity An Added Value

The Fiery-driven Toshiba e-STUDIO4520c's performance is further enhanced by Smart RIP technology. Smart RIP dramatically speeds the printing of image and graphic-rich Microsoft Office and Adobe applications by combining intelligent processing with efficient use of the latest hardware.

The optional Hot Folders feature also delivers improved efficiency by automating printing. Simply drag and drop files into folders with the desired pre-configured print settings for streamlined job submission and consistently accurate results.

User-Friendly Print Management

Enhancing usability, EFI's Command WorkStation centralizes job management for all EFI Fiery-driven devices. The intuitive user interface enables customers to effortlessly manage printing processes and workflows directly from their desktop. Administrators can view a job's print status, hold, process and print jobs, preview page content, reorder pages and combine pages from different jobs. Additionally, the Command WorkStation interface accounts for users with varying levels of expertise.

Variable Data Printing Made Simple

With bundled EFI FreeForm software, variable data printing comes standard on this Fiery. FreeForm simplifies mail merges, resulting in sophisticated and high-quality personalized mailings customized to appeal to a targeted audience. The technology enables the system to RIP all but the variable data only once, thus allowing for greater efficiency, speed and productivity.

Other beneficial features of the Fiery include user authentication and job accounting which tabulates usage at a per-user level, and versatile media support (thick paper and banner printing). Additionally, files can be printed from USB mass storage devices that are connected to the Fiery, increasing overall flexibility and promoting the MFP as a document portal. GA1211 supports Windows 2000, XP, Vista, Server 2000, Server 3000, Mac 0S 10.4 and 10.5.

Toshiba customers can obtain the GA1211 Fiery Controller through their local Toshiba authorized dealer. Visit www.copiers.toshiba.com to search for an authorized Toshiba dealer by location.