Miami Beach, Florida– December 20, 2004 -- Graphics of the Americas, the largest annual international graphic communications education and exhibit showplace, today announced excellent exhibit sales to date, in addition to an overwhelming amount of new equipment and software vendors, as well as returning exhibitors to the industry’s first conference and tradeshow of 2005. The event organizers attribute this to a number of factors, including the addition of new educational components, including Xplor’s Two Day Variable Data and Digital Color Conference, InDesign Conference, and PhotoShop Down and Dirty Tricks Track. The Miami Beach Convention Center will also feature a number new exhibit floor features, including JDF in Action, International Buyers Program, On Demand Book Making Factory, Wide-Format Sign and Banner Hall, as well as Xplor’s Ask the Expert Pavilion. In addition, the conference organizers are seeing a large number of new exhibitors from a recently canceled regional conference originally scheduled for March of 2006. “We are very excited at the rate that our show floor is filling up,” said Chris Price, vice president and general manager of Graphics of the Americas. “This year’s conference and exhibit is attracting a number of new equipment and software vendors, the latter whose role has become increasing more important in the industry and especially critical in variable data and digital color printing.” To date, Graphics of the Americas 2005 will feature 125 new vendors, including Accuratech Machine Industries, Airesys, Anchor Software, Anderson & Vreeland, BILLHÖFER, Cyrious Software, Gluing Machinery Systems, Ko Tai Machines, Lytrod Software, Nipson and Xeikon who will be exhibiting for the first time at Miami Beach Convention Center. In addition, a number of loyal supporters are returning to Graphics of the Americas once again, including AB Dick, Aeromatrix, Duplo, Hamada of America, Hewlett Packard, MAN Roland, MBO, Muller Martini, PressTek, Ryobi, Shinohara USA and Xerox. The popularity of Graphics of the Americas can be credited to the fact that the conference and exhibit attracts over 20,000 industry decision makers—both print providers and creative professionals—with 40 percent traveling from Latin America. Graphics of the Americas is also certified by the United States Department of Commerce, which greatly benefits non-US exhibitors by reducing or eliminating duty and customs paperwork for equipment and product display shipments to the show. Conference Highlights for Graphics of the Americas 2005 Xplor’s Two Day Variable Data and Digital Color Conference (February 3rd and 4th): a combination of case studies, best practices, as well as expert discussion that will address the application, value and business side of variable data and digital color. In addition, the conference will feature two days of presentations from seasoned industry professionals that will provide insight into the future of variable data and digital color for both printers, creative and marketing professional audiences in the transactional printing, direct mail and vertical market applications. InDesign Conference (February 3rd and 4th): features two full day InDesign seminars presented in English and Spanish. Scheduled to speak are renowned top designers Jose Bodet, Emanuel Infante, Jessica Kornfeld and Frederico Platón. Photoshop Down and Dirty Tricks Track (February 5th): focuses on the latest and most important Photoshop tips, tricks and time-savings techniques. Created by PhotoShop Users Magazine and presented by NAPP, PhotoShop Down and Dirty Tricks Track is packed with latest tips and techniques used by leading PhotoShop professionals. Exhibit Highlights for Graphics of the Americas 2005 JDF in Action: a combination of dedicated presentation theater and exhibits will feature three days of multi-vendor presentations and hands-on demonstrations designed to provide attendees with a clear understanding of the emerging standard. International Buyers Program: designed to provide exhibitors with comprehensive information including market conditions, best export prospects, financing, finding distributors, legal and cultural issues for sales and marketing their products overseas. This program also assists attending buyers to match up with products they sell. On Demand Book Making Factory: provides attendees, both printers and creative professionals to observe a complete solution for the growing on demand book market. Products to be featured include Smart Papers, Hewlett Packard, D&K Group, Multiboard and Exactbind. Wide-Format Sign and Banner Hall: where buyers will be able to make comparisons and purchase wide-format, sign and banner printing equipment; substrates and media, as well as consumables and accessories. Exhibitors include Aeromatrix, CeluPal Internacional, Digital Graphics Systems, Digital Technology Group, Encad, Hewlett Packard, MacDermid Colorspan, Mardel Imaging, Nazdar, Neon 2000, NUR, Oce, Poli Signs, Roland, Scitex Vision, Sign Supply, Vutek, Xerox and Zund America. Xplor’s Ask the Expert Pavilion: provides attendees with an excellent opportunity to learn more about technical solutions for their business problems directly from the experts. The pavilion features a theater style format with 45-minute presentations followed by Q & A sessions in an informal forum for gathering the most up to date solutions from recognized leaders.