Agfa Monotype Develops Custom Typeface for Lexmark International.

Business/Technology Editors

WILMINGTON, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 11, 2000

Agfa Monotype Corporation, a leading provider of fonts and font technologies, today announced the creation of an exclusive custom typeface family for Lexmark International, Inc., a major international supplier of laser and inkjet printers. The new typeface, Lexmark Bodoni, will be used worldwide as part of Lexmark's new corporate identity program.

"We had a specific need for a unique version of Bodoni. We had a vision, and teaming up with Agfa Monotype made our vision a reality," said Anne Gilkison, graphic design team leader at Lexmark. "The new Lexmark Bodoni typeface will be a staple in our corporate identity for many years to come."

This is not the first time the two companies have teamed up. Agfa Monotype has been a long-time provider of embedded fonts and font technologies to Lexmark for use in its printers. "We're proud of our continuing relationship and extremely pleased that Lexmark chose to work with us on its corporate identity program," said David DeWitt, director of sales for Agfa Monotype.

Type engineers and designers from Agfa Monotype worked closely with Lexmark to create multiple weights of the typeface for both Macintosh(R) and Windows(R) platforms. Lexmark Bodoni includes support for Western European, Central European, Turkish, Baltic, Greek and Cyrillic character sets. Two formats of the typeface were created--PostScript(R) Type 1 and TrueType(R) Enhanced Screen Quality (ESQ(TM)).

TrueType Enhanced Screen Quality (ESQ) fonts

While PostScript Type 1 has been a standard font format for years, demand for TrueType has risen, due in part to the proliferation of Windows computers in corporate environments and the increasing use of low-resolution devices such as laser printers and computer monitors. The difference between TrueType and Agfa Monotype's proprietary TrueType ESQ technology involves "hinting"--the ability of type engineers and designers to fine-tune the outline of the TrueType font for use on low-resolution devices. TrueType ESQ fonts are the result of superior hinting methods, allowing for the highest degree of font legibility and performance on screen and in print.

Agfa Monotype Custom Font Services

Agfa Monotype provides a variety of services for companies establishing corporate identity and branding programs. The company also works closely with clients to integrate custom typefaces into standard font sets that are used worldwide for both internal and external communications in all business locations and satellite offices. A partial list of Agfa Monotype's custom font services includes creating new font designs, modifying existing font designs, digitizing existing artwork, creating logo and symbol fonts, developing custom character sets and adding multilingual font support.

Agfa Monotype has provided custom fonts for such companies as Agilent Technologies, British Airways, Compaq, Entertainment Weekly, Microsoft, Scandinavian Airlines (SAS), Sonoma Vineyards and The New Yorker. Agfa Monotype offers a series of downloadable white papers on custom font issues and solutions from its commerce web site, http://studio.agfamonotype.com.

About Lexmark

Lexmark International, Inc. (NYSE: LXK) is a leading global developer, manufacturer and supplier of printing solutions, including laser and inkjet printers and associated supplies for offices and homes. Founded in 1991, Lexmark employs more than 11,000 people worldwide, markets its products and services in nearly 150 countries, and maintains sales offices or manufacturing facilities on five continents. Lexmark reported nearly $3.5 billion of revenue in 1999 and can be found on the Internet at www.lexmark.com.

About Agfa Monotype Corporation

Agfa Monotype Corporation is a major provider of digital content for graphic professionals. The company is a recognized leader in fonts and font technologies and an innovator in color and screening technologies. Agfa Monotype is a wholly owned subsidiary of Agfa Corporation, headquartered in Ridgefield Park, NJ. Agfa is part of the Agfa-Gevaert Group, one of the world's leading imaging companies, headquartered in Mortsel, Belgium. Agfa develops, produces and markets analog and digital systems, primarily for the graphics, medical and industrial radiography, and consumer imaging and photography markets. Worldwide, Agfa's annual sales are approximately $4.7 billion. Additional information about Agfa Monotype Corporation can be found on the company's web site at www.agfamonotype.com.

      Agfa Monotype locations

Corporate office:
Agfa Monotype Corporation         Agfa Monotype Ltd.
200 Ballardvale Street            Unit 2, Perrywood Business Park
Wilmington, MA  01887-1069 USA    Salfords, Redhill, Surrey RH1 5DZ UK
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Agfa Monotype Corporation         Agfa-Gevaert Japan, Ltd.
985 Busse Road                    8-1, Higashiyama 3-chome
Elk Grove Village, IL 60007 USA   Meguro-ku, Tokyo 153-0043 Japan
Phone    [phone]             Phone    [phone]
Fax      [phone]             Fax      [phone]