LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y. & FOSTER CITY, Calif.--Oct. 17, 2001-- Canon U.S.A., Inc., the leading provider of networked digital copier/printer solutions, and Electronics for Imaging Inc. (EFI), the world leader in enabling networked printing solutions, announced today the immediate availability of a new high performance print controller for Canon imageRUNNER 5000 and 6000 models. The new Canon imagePASS-L1 Print Controller is targeted to mid-volume users who print large, complex black-and-white graphics, and also demand true Adobe PostScript 3 and variable data printing capability. The imagePASS-L1 was co-developed by Canon and Electronics For Imaging, and features EFI's Fiery X3(TM) technology. This powerful controller supports 10/100 Ethernet connectivity with two separate interfaces and enhances multi-tasking capabilities while minimizing network traffic. The imagePASS-L1 is designed to maximize the print output of the imageRUNNER 5000 and 6000. "The new imagePASS-L1 provides an excellent platform for our imageRUNNER 5000/6000 customers, driving benchmark productivity when printing high-resolution images and variable data output.'' said Dennis Amorosano, director of Marketing, Canon U.S.A. Copier and Networked Office Systems Division. "With this introduction, and our continuedpartnership with EFI, Canon customers are offered high quality print capabilities and controller consistency across black-and-white Canon imageRUNNER and color CLC systems, making imagePASS a very attractive solution for existing Canon customers, and new mid-volume prospects.'' "This mid-range controller is a result of a long term on-going partnership with Canon and EFI,'' said Bernie Lepore, director of Sales, Electronics For Imaging. "The Fiery X3, which underpins the imagePASS-LI paired with the imageRUNNER 5000 and 6000, gives demanding users a powerful and reliable solution.'' Designed around 50 and 60 page-per-minute digital print engines capable of supporting 2400 x 600 dpi and 256 grayscale resolution, and up to 200,000 and 230,000 impressions per month, respectively, the imageRUNNER 5000 and 6000 cater to large corporate departments by bringing the reliability, and document handling capability, of systems targeting the Central Reprographic Department (CRD), to the general office user. High-end document finishing, such as multi-position stapling, 2/3-hole punch, and saddle-stitch booklet making capability, are all possible through intuitive device drivers at the user desktop. The imagePASS-L1 offers a host of Fiery technologies developed by EFI, including several job management, document editing, and throughput enhancing features such as: Fiery Downloader(TM) - A utility that allows a user to send PCL, PostScript, Encapsulated PostScript (EPS), Portable Document Format (PDF) and TIFF files directly to the Canon imagePASS-M1 without using the original application they were created in. Fiery Web Tools(TM) - A utility that offers users access to many PostScript functions via the Internet or a company's intranet for added remote management capability. This includes viewing and controlling job status (direct, print, hold), and Canon imagePASS-L1 and Canon imageRUNNER 5000/6000 functions. The ability to change the configuration of the controller remotely with a password is also possible. Fiery Link(TM) - A Java application that supplies information on print queue activity and the status of available printing resources. The Canon imagePASS-L1 also comes with EFI's Command Workstation, which is an intuitive, graphical user interface (GUI) for managing jobs, print queues, and workflow from a centralized location. This is ideal for high-volume environments that require a considerable level of device control and efficiency. Command Workstation supports up to 5 EFI controllers in the same view, which makes it easy to move jobs from one machine to another. The DocBuilder utility within Command Workstation allows an end-user to open a thumbnail view of any held PostScript or raster data job and perform electronic collation and document merging. Command Workstation also contains Freeform for variable data printing, which combines a set of common master elements of a document with a set of variable elements that change from copy to copy. For example, this application would commonly be used for direct and targeted mailings that require that each document be customized. Pricing and Availability The Canon imagePASS-L1 for the imageRUNNER 5000 and 6000 is available today through Authorized Canon U.S.A. Dealers and Canon Business Solutions locations at a suggested retail price of $5,200. The imageRUNNER 5000 and 6000 are available today through Authorized Canon U.S.A. Dealers and Canon Business Solutions locations and have base suggested retail prices of $17,000 and $21,500, respectively. For more information on imageRUNNER products, please visit www.imagerunner.com.