CHICAGO--Oct. 11, 2004-- EFI, the world leader in digital imaging and print management solutions for commercial and enterprise printing, today launched its next-generation Fiery System 6(TM) Software, and the Fiery Q5000 color server, raising the bar on digital printing performance and image quality. Demonstrated at Graph Expo in EFI Booth #4613, Xerox's #1431, and Enovation Graphic Systems' #4042, the new System 6 Software elevates the standard in color print functionality and efficiency, and the new Q5000 is EFI's preeminent server offering. The new Fiery solutions provide customers -- from the most demanding production class commercial print to midrange and entry-level production color environments -- with the ultimate in performance, workflow control, high-quality color management and variable data printing (VDP) support. "EFI delivers industry-leading solutions to conquer every conceivable digital imaging and print challenge faced today by customers in all production print environments -- commercial print, print for pay, franchise printers, service bureau, data center, and in-plant/CRD operations," said Guy Gecht, CEO, EFI. "Fiery users are equipped and empowered to best capitalize on profit opportunities in the high-growth digital color printing business with the solutions we're announcing today, the industry's most advanced capabilities and performance." Bowne & Co., headquartered in New York, is one such Fiery Q5000 color server user. The world's largest financial printer is fast evolving into an integrated, diversified and global document and information management solutions provider. Bowne & Co. deploys the new Fiery-driven Xerox DocuColor 8000 to produce high-quality, mission-critical documents at high volume. "The Fiery-driven Xerox DocuColor 8000 is the best and most flexible color printer we have used," said Michael Vorel, Bowne & Co.'s Director of Emerging Technologies. "The new Fiery color management tools allow us to quickly match the color palettes of our legacy Fiery front-end DocuColor. With the flawless, new Fiery-driven color printer, the team smoothly ran more than 400,000 impressions in one month. Without the ability to match the legacy color printing, extensive work would have been needed to accomplish this task." Customers rely on EFI for powerful, open VDP, high speed output, precision color tools, its line of powerful MIS solutions and for its award-winning software. With more than 1.2 million installations worldwide to date, Fiery is the de facto digital printing server. Delivering the industry's top speed, performance and functionality, EFI offers customers the leading edge, state of the art technology that is the Fiery hallmark. The Fiery Q5000 is the latest in the EFI server series named for the quantum leap in power delivered to high-level production printing environments. This new Fiery server provides incomparable image quality and speed for producing complex documents in mission-critical, high-end production printing environments. In addition to its ability to drive the highest capacity, most powerful printers, the Fiery Q5000 includes System 6 Software features that high-end production customers require. Fiery System 6 Software is available on the new Q5000 and as an upgrade for current Fiery customers. Fiery System 6 Key Features/Highlights include: The award-winning EFI Command WorkStation(R) is renowned for its technologically sophisticated yet intuitive interface and centralized print job management functionality. Enhancements include a variety of tools to further accelerate productivity. EFI's industry-leading Variable Data Printing solution is open, flexible, scalable and provides the most comprehensive, proven range of VDP languages, including industry standard PPML. EFI's compatibility with legacy languages enables Fiery systems to seamlessly integrate into existing VDP workflows. The Fiery workflow is consistent regardless of whether the job is VDP or non-VDP, removing complexity and allowing the user to learn a workflow once. EFI Impose Fiery Edition is a WYSIWYG server-based imposition application that enables entire documents to be edited and assembled quickly, before RIPping the files. Providing the unique ability to create an unlimited number of new custom imposition templates, this feature is independent of platform, application, and file format, and supports a wide variety of source documents, including all VDP languages. The new Fiery production tools enable the production of complex documents at unprecedented speed and accuracy, minimizing operator intervention and maximizing the full functionality of the printer finishing options. These new Fiery advanced tools for job management and submission drastically shorten turnaround times by eliminating bottlenecks and repetitive workflows. Enhancements include a more robust architecture, a single consistent workflow for all jobs and clear integration with other features. The Graphic Arts Package, Premium Edition, enables the highest level of color quality utilizing the most advanced tools for color proofing and control. Though technologically sophisticated, the Graphic Arts Package, Premium Edition, addresses the market's need for short learning curves and reduced complexity in the workflow. It leverages the familiar Fiery look and feel of the Command WorkStation user interface. Premium power tools include the EFI ImageViewer(TM), which offers a fast, accurate softproofing interface that zooms all the way to the dot cell level and file converters for the EFI Hot Folders to streamline job submission and integrate the Fiery server into existing graphic arts workflows; advanced trapping settings; and control bars and post-flight reports for advanced trouble shooting and controlling output. Availability Fiery System 6 Software and Fiery Q5000 are currently available through the company's OEM partners and showcased at Graph Expo 2004, taking place October 10-13th at Chicago's McCormick Place South, in EFI Booth 4613, Xerox Booth 1431, and Enovation Graphic Systems Booth 4042.