Regensdorf, Switzerland; June 6, 2005 – GretagMacbeth, the worldwide technology leader in color measurement and management solutions, announces the availability of a new and enhanced version of its ink formulation solution, Ink Formulation Software 5.0 (IFS 5), which includes four vertically focused packages designed to meet the specific needs of the targeted user. IFS 5 provides enhanced functionality to help ink suppliers and printers easily share color data and make ink mixing fast, reproducible and more consistent than ever. It also speeds the process of formulating special inks, avoiding delays on press, increasing efficiency and ensuring customer satisfaction. The software’s intuitive user interface, networked database, administration tools, and Internet communications enable everyone in the ink supply chain to efficiently share color data and significantly speed the ink formulation process. What’s new in IFS 5 New key features include batch processing capabilities; support for new substrates including metallic foils and transparent films – which is critical to the packaging industry; an enhanced math engine; and support for GretagMacbeth’s color exchange format (CxF). These major enhancements provide a quick ROI (return on investment) and can save the customer up to three times over traditional formulating costs. The enhanced math engine in IFS5 provides more accurate matching for the most challenging applications such as absorbent substrates – resulting in better first time recipes and fewer corrections. The new engine can calculate roughness and absorption to predict substrate characteristics, eliminating the need to reformulate ink when the user changes substrates. Fewer assortments are required, meaning less time and labor to update and maintain formulation databases. The new batch processing capabilities in IFS 5 result in considerable savings of time and money in the mixing process. The system can operate automatically and unattended, thus facilitating faster and easier exchange of colorant information and recipes. The software’s improved ability to formulate ink recipes for substrates such as metallic foils and transparent films is the ideal solution for packaging and label printing environments where these substrates are widely used. IFS 5 also supports GretagMacbeth’s color exchange format (CxF) standard to ensure integration in the entire print production workflow. “Our latest version of Ink Formulation software provides ink manufacturers the unique capability to significantly reduce the implementation time and cost for new colorants and substrates, while at the same time extending the range of possible substrate types like metallic and transparent foils,” states Jan Keller, market manager pressroom of GretagMacbeth. “And with our enhanced math engine that calculates the ink absorption, printers get the flexibility to switch the printing material even at the last second and adjust recipes according to new printing conditions. This new option adds significant value for printers in terms of time savings and customer satisfaction.” With the release of IFS 5, GretagMacbeth is offering a new tool on its website, www.gretagmacbeth.com, to help ink manufacturers and printers calculate the substantial savings they can realize with IFS5 software- up to three times the costs over their current ink formulation processes. This new tools lets customers assess their own individual Return On Investment and quickly see the payback based on their individual company figures. Four new IFS 5 vertical solutions IFS 5 is available in four new vertically focused, modular and upgradeable solutions to meet the specific business needs of both ink manufacturers and printers. IFS 5 InkManufacturer (includes ColorQuality Pro) – an enhanced feature rich upgrade from the current IFS 4.2 Full system targeted at ink manufacturers/suppliers and large printers. It allows them to create, store, maintain, and modify an unlimited number of colorant databases with an unlimited number of recipes and formulation data for all of the inks they offer. It features batch formulation for existing recipes and color guides to shorten the mixing process. Viscosity calculations for flexography and gravure, balance and dispensing systems and opaque inks, all of which were previously optional features, are now included in the standard package. The ColorQuality Pro module license included with the software ensures users maintain high quality standards by entering reference data, setting tolerances and color standards. IFS 5 PrinterPro (includes ColorQuality Pro) – an enhanced upgrade from the current IFS 4.2 Satellite Version, aimed at large commercial and packaging printers. It allows them to formulate custom inks by importing and using colorant databases supplied by their preferred ink manufacturer, without having to create and maintain their own colorant databases. The solution includes viscosity calculations for flexography and gravure processes and the ColorQuality Pro module license which provides the option to check the data in a closed quality system. IFS 5 PrinterBasic – a cost-effective system designed for small to medium sized printers. It allows them to easily and quickly formulate custom inks, working with a database supplied by their preferred ink manufacturer. Configured with either a Spectrolino or SpectroEye color measurement device, this solution is ideal for the commercial printer that previously could not cost-justify having in-house formulation capabilities. IFS 5 Online (includes ColorQuality Pro) – a new web-client solution (based on IFS Manufacturer) for ink manufacturers and suppliers that allows their customers to access a centralized, easily updatable database of ink formulation data via the Internet. IFS Availability The new IFS 5 solutions are available now through GretagMacbeth’s worldwide distribution network.