Breakthrough Technology Linking Digital Cameras and Photo Printers Takes Another Step Toward Becoming an Industry Standard LONG BEACH, Calif.--Feb. 19, 2002-- Epson America Inc. today announced that PRINT Image Matching (P.I.M.) technology has been accepted throughout the digital imaging industry with the publishing of Exif 2.2, a new JPEG file standard. Exif 2.2 is based on the P.I.M. concept, incorporating seven print matching parameters and will be implemented industry-wide in the near future. This will give customers an even wider selection of digital cameras that can be used to produce better prints automatically with PRINT Image Matching technology. PRINT Image Matching-enabled printers and software released after the third quarter will support cameras using Exif 2.2 and current P.I.M-enabled digital camera models. PRINT Image Matching technology, which Epson announced in February 2001, ensures that P.I.M.-enabled digital cameras and P.I.M.-enabled printers work perfectly together to create the best possible prints. The first P.I.M.-compatible products began shipping in summer 2001 and by the fall, there were 35 P.I.M.-enabled products from 16 manufacturers of digital cameras, photo printers and software. To date, over two million PRINT Image Matching-enabled products have been shipped worldwide. "Epson and its partners recognized that not only do consumers have the desire and need to achieve high quality prints from their digital camera files, but also have the expectation to do so with minimal effort,'' said Keith Kratzberg, director, photo imaging, Epson. "P.I.M. has addressed that need and has been enthusiastically accepted by consumers. As additional digital camera manufacturers move forward with the Exif 2.2 file type, more people will be able to enjoy high quality P.I.M. prints.''