GARBSEN, Germany--Dec. 9, 2002--HELIOS Software GmbH, a leading developer of network and prepress server software, introduced advanced new features now available in its 4th generation HELIOS ImageServer 2.5. Now shipping on HELIOS CD018, ImageServer 2.5, formerly HELIOS EtherShare OPI, supports server-based image transformation, repurposing and conversion. This allows automated conversion of file format, resolution, color space, and compression, for web and print needs. ImageServer also provides OPI image replacement, server-based ICC Color Management, color separation, and proof printing capabilities. Additionally, ImageServer 2.5 includes a new Script Server service that helps automate tasks via "hot folders." When files are dropped into a hot folder, a process is automatically started, converting the files according to a given script. HELIOS Script Server provides an effective solution to the prepress community that has been asking for ways to automate tasks and batch process image format changes, file transformations, and printing to designated print queues. For instance, a hot folder could be configured to automatically convert all input images to color-matched TIFF files tagged with appropriate ICC profiles. Or, files could be converted into Internet PNG files, with transparent clipping path support, and with all colors (including spot colors) converted into RGB. Key Benefits of HELIOS Script Server include: * It is event-driven instead of relying on polling * Scripts are serialized to avoid overloading a server system * Script Server configuration and log files can be easily configured via EtherShare Admin * Fail Safety of the Script Server is provided by the HELIOS Base Service Controller * Custom scripts can be kept short. A few lines of a UNIX shell script or Perl script are sufficient to automate server processing tasks. See http://www.helios.de/products/OPI/ES_OPI.html for more details on the new HELIOS ImageServer 2.5 and other HELIOS server products.