NEW YORK--April 7, 2003-- Electronics For Imaging and Xerox Corporation today announced the availability of the Fiery Q4500, a powerful new production class server for the Xerox DocuColor iGen3(TM) Digital Production Press. The new server provides a familiar operator interface for customers who favor Fiery front ends and want the industry's most advanced digital press. It enables DocuColor iGen3 users to use a full range of EFI open workflow solutions and components. The Fiery Q4500 is one of EFI's new breed of high performance servers for the production printing market, which feature color control, variable information (VI) and automation of many workflow processes. The Xerox DocuColor iGen3 is a breakthrough 100 pages-per-minute digital production press, which produces high-quality color printing with the look and feel of offset at a benchmark low cost. EFI's new server was developed using the Xerox Open Production Print Controller interface to tightly integrate the Fiery Q4500 with the Xerox DocuSP(TM) controller. Using this approach, EFI will be able to more easily and quickly deliver upgrades to the DocuColor iGen3. "By bringing the familiarity and ease of use that is the hallmark of the Fiery platform to our Xerox DocuColor iGen3 production printing customers, we expand their choices. Customers who are accustomed to the EFI workflow will be able to easily move to high volume, full color production printing," said Anthony Federico, Corporate Officer, Xerox Production Systems Group. Xerox has opened the interface to DocuSP allowing for full access to its production printing features. "This approach signals a new direction of increased openness for the Xerox workflow," said Federico. "We are now more seamlessly integrated with EFI workflow offerings and have expanded our customers' options for fully integrated digital workflows." The Fiery Q4500 offers precise color control, extensive variable data printing support (VDP), and workflow automation features all designed to maximize productivity and efficiency for DocuColor iGen3 customers. The Q4500 allows Xerox customers to take advantage of the robust features of both EFI's acclaimed digital front-end functionality and Xerox's production dependability. "There is a growing adoption of digital workflow in the production market from procurement to printing. Xerox and EFI are providing leading digital color printing solutions to make this transition seamless and profitable," said Guy Gecht, CEO of EFI. "Integrating the Fiery Q4500 with the iGen3 to create a powerful production workflow and migration path will bring print providers tremendous productivity and cost savings while enhancing the quality of service they can provide their customers." The Q4500 combines a dual processor platform with a parallel processing software architecture and includes EFI's latest industry-leading software tools for simulating color output and automating production job management processes in mixed engine environments. The server also provides the infrastructure and workflow tools necessary for printing color variable data at top-rated speed. Complete Print Production Workflow EFI's Fiery technology also offers integrated support for the company's Velocity(TM) workflow software line, opening new opportunities for iGen3 customers to benefit from a complete, end-to-end workflow solution that includes job submission, pre-press functionality and optimized management of multi-printer environments. Enabling printers to automate their processes ultimately leads to additional savings and greater control over their business. Additionally, the Fiery Q4500 offers sophisticated production automation tools; EFI's Fiery Graphic Arts Package for precision color management; and a flexible variable data printing platform that is compatible with the most extensive range of VDP languages available, including industry standard PPML, Xerox's VIPP, Fiery FreeForm(TM) and additional languages. The Fiery-driven iGen3 is on display in EFI's booth (#3535) at On Demand, the premier digital printing and publishing show. On Demand is being held April 7-9 at the Jacob Javits Convention Center in New York. Availability The Fiery Q4500 with Fiery System 5 software for the Xerox iGen3 Digital Production Press will be rolled out in selected North American markets during the third quarter. It will be sold by the Xerox direct sales force.