FOSTER CITY, Calif. - Nov. 13, 2006 - EFI, the world leader in color digital print servers, superwide format printers and inks, and print management solutions for commercial and enterprise printing, today announced innovative enhancements to EFI's Bestcolor-driven Designer Edition, the powerful solution for proofing and producing high-quality inkjet prints. Designed for graphic arts professionals and photographers, EFI Designer Edition 5.1 includes powerful new features that increase efficiency by enabling out-of-the-box printing of accurate proofs, and vivid, full color images. EFI Designer Edition 5.1 also offers improved integration with customers' existing applications and working environments. Thanks to its capabilities as one of the foremost proofing systems on the market, creative users and prepress companies are set to benefit from the recent developments to the powerful, cost-effective Designer Edition. Additionally, photo features will provide photographers with all the functionality they require to produce vivid, brilliant photos. Supporting the major industry standards, from ICC to PDF/X, JDF, ISO, and SWOP, Designer Edition 5.1 seamlessly integrates with other illustration, photo and layout applications to offer increased impetus to EFI's popular digital proofing solutions. With an emphasis on simplicity, high-quality proofing and printing with easy setup, Designer Edition 5.1 comprises a host of new key features that increase efficiency by enabling out of the box printing of accurate proofs, and vivid, full color images. Graphic arts professionals and photographers will benefit from an improved user interface, which delivers full control over digital proofing and printing needs, while increasing efficiency and cost effectiveness. In addition, customers will also benefit from an array of new features to Designer Edition that includes: - A new version 2.1 of the Ugra/FOGRA media wedges, including support of EyeOne iSis and DTP70 - Multicolor profile support - Support of seven-color ICC source, simulation and paper profiles - Full support of new multicolor printers - Integration of the latest Adobe CPSI 3017 - Full support up to PDF v1.7 - Accelerated processing of PDF- and PS-based files - Online Profile Updater - the easiest way to update to the most recent ICC paper profiles - Support for L*a*b* correction profile to achieve the most accurate color in proofing applications - Grayscale conversion to five different gray shades, from warm to cold, provide photographers with an easy, effective way to convert their images to black & white in different gray shades. Designer Edition 5.1 supports the latest printers from HP (Photosmart PRO B9180, HP Z2100 Photo Printer, and HP Z3100 Photo Printer) and Canon (iPF 500/600/700/5000/9000), enabling users to benefit from the latest printing technology. With Designer Edition 5.1's multicolor profile support, customers benefit from the very wide color gamut of these printers and are able optimize their system for color printing as well as for proofing. Also available in an XXL version, EFI Designer Edition can be deployed in the wide format printing area. "Like all EFI solutions, Designer Edition 5.1 is designed to provide superior value to our customers. This is underscored by the advanced developments we have applied to Designer Edition, which will provide graphic arts users and photographers with the most innovative tools available in order to excel," said Stefan Spiegel, general manager, Graphic Arts Solutions, EFI. "EFI Designer Edition 5.1 is a feature-rich, yet cost-effective solution that brings increased quality and efficiency to users." Availability EFI Designer Edition 5.1 will be available from Nov. 1, 2006 as a hybrid solution, running on Mac OS X as well as on Windows. The software is sold through certified EFI dealers and distributors. More information is available at http://www.efi.com/bestcolor .