Agfa Introduces DuoScan T2500; High-Resolution Scanner Positioned as Staple for Designers, Photographers and Pre-Press Professionals.

WILMINGTON, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 1, 1998--Agfa introduces the DuoScan T2500, the newest addition to its award-winning line of midrange scanners. The DuoScan T2500 incorporates Agfa's TwinPlate(tm) technology and dual-lens optical system in an easy-to-use 8 by 14-inch scanner. With its wide range of scanning options and advanced software tools, the DuoScan T2500 gives photographers, designers and pre-press professionals a single unit that can handle all their scanning needs.

The entire DuoScan system is designed to ensure high-quality results on the first scan. Agfa's FotoLook driver software and ColorTune color-management software simplify the process with highly accurate default settings. In addition, a wide variety of editing and image enhancement tools let the user make improvements during the scanning process.

Advanced Technology Features

The TwinPlate technology refers to the DuoScan's two separate scanning beds--one for transparencies and the other for prints or any kind of reflective art. Both beds have different optical paths, each optimized for the different types of original. For those who scan a large number of both transparent and reflective originals, the DuoScan T2500 eliminates the need for cumbersome transparency modules and captures color, highlights and details more accurately.

Included with the DuoScan T2500 is a set of glassless batch holders, designed to completely eliminate distortion caused by the glass. The glassless batch holders result in more accurate color capture and sharper scans.

The DuoScan 2500's unique Dual-Lens optical system employs two lenses, one for standard resolution (1250 ppi) and the other for very high resolution (2500 ppi). The system's components, including the apochromatic lens, were specially designed at the Agfa Optics Centre in Munich, Germany. "This was done to respond to the multiple demands of single users," explained Per Save, vice president of marketing, Input Systems for Agfa's Desktop Products Group. "While a standard resolution scan may be needed for position only or for use in multimedia or Web applications, the same user will want a high-resolution scan for four - or even six- color (Hi-Fi) process printing."

Agfa's Super Apochromatic lenses automatically correct the color and dimensional distortions that can take place during scanning to deliver sharp, color-correct images. Extremely flat mirrors eliminate light wavelength variations and reflect 95 to 99 percent of the light. This is critically important for high-resolution scans, which require an extremely focused light. The level of illumination not only results in a better scan, but more light actually speeds the scanning process.

The split optical path involves switching mirrors instead of moving the lenses. As a result the lenses always stay at a perfectly calibrated, factory-set fixed position. That provides better control over the optical path, and further eliminates the possibility of distortion by a moving lens.

The 36-bit (12 bits per color) flatbed scanner has a maximum true optical resolution of 2500 x 2500 ppi, interpolated to 5000 ppi. Density range is 3.4 Dmin - 3.5 Dmax. Maximum scanning area is 8 x 12 in (200 x 300 mm) for transparencies and 8 x 14 in (200 x 350 mm) for reflective originals.

Unique Image-Editing Tools

The DuoScan T2500 comes with a unique set of scanning, image-editing and color-management software. They combine to expand the scanner's operational simplicity and unprecedented versatility. In "output" mode, for example, FotoLook 3.0 automatically resizes an image and sets the correct resolution based on the users selected output requirements. The preview mode is completely interactive, giving the user full control over the scanning process, and the ability to view a screen proof at any time during the process. And users can access ColorTune color profiles, as well as ICC profiles, directly from FotoLook to specify color spaces for the different system components.

Agfa's exclusive Total Film Scanning (TFS) technology improves the quality of color negative scans. Users select from a list of film brand names and types or create a specific film profile. This allows the software to make adjustments for a specific film's characteristics, greatly improving the quality of the scan.

A "fail safe" batch scanning feature saves scan settings automatically, particularly important in a high-volume environment. If the scanning is interrupted for any reason, the user does not have to reset the scanning parameters.

Price and Availability

The DuoScan T2500 also offers true cross-platform compatibility with a SCSI 2 interface and both Mac and Windows versions of the software bundle. The DuoScan T2500 is available for immediate shipment at the manufacturer's suggested price of $4,495.

About Agfa

The Agfa-Gevaert Group is a worldwide manufacturer of imaging products and systems, with annual worldwide sales of $4.5 billion. Agfa-Gevaert manufactures and markets products and systems for the electronic and photographic prepress, medical, and technical diagnostic and amateur and professional photographic markets. Headquartered in Europe, Agfa-Gevaert is wholly-owned by Bayer AG. In the United States, Agfa operates as a division of Bayer Corporation, with headquarters in Ridgefield Park, New Jersey. Bayer, headquartered in Pittsburgh, has major businesses in chemicals, health care and imaging technologies. Agfa is on the World Wide Web at http://www.agfahome.com.

(Product names mentioned herein may be trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective companies.)

EDITOR'S NOTE: Color images of Agfa products are available for download from Agfa's press site on the World Wide Web at http://www.agfapress.com or by contacting Scott Signore of Agfa DTP at 978/658-5600, ext. 5567

Product and company information can be found on Agfa's home page on the World Wide Web at http://www.agfahome.com.