Canon And EFI Announce New Print Controller for High-Volume imageRUNNER Devices.

Business Editors/High Tech Writers

LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y. & FOSTER CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 17, 2002

New imagePass-M2 Print Controller Offers Greater Speed, Improved

Performance, Enhanced Security Features

Canon U.S.A., Inc., a subsidiary of Canon Inc. (NYSE: CAJ) and leader in digital imaging solutions, and Electronics For Imaging (Nasdaq: EFII), the world leader in software and hardware imaging solutions for network printing, announced today the availability of a new print controller option to power Canon's imageRUNNER 7200, 8500, 85 and 105 digital networked office systems.

The new solution, known as the Canon imagePASS-M2 Print Controller, features Fiery(R) X5 technology and is specifically designed to handle complex graphics and variable data output commonly associated with high-volume black-and-white printing.

Jointly developed by Canon and EFI, the imagePASS-M2 incorporates a robust Intel Pentium III 866 MHz processor and a 20GB hard disk to maximize the output of the high-volume imageRUNNER devices and obtain a faster processing speed than its imagePASS-M1 predecessor. The new imagePASS-M2 also features NetWise(TM) for seamless network connectivity to all popular networks, true Adobe Postscript 3support and several new enhanced security features, including IP Blocking and Job Log Protect.

"The imagePASS-M2 is the latest in a series of products resulting from the successful relationship between Canon and EFI," said Dennis Amorosano, director and assistant general manager for Canon U.S.A.'s Copier and Network Office Systems Division. "By incorporating the latest EFI technology and state-of-the-art features, the imagePASS M-2 coupled with Canon's high-volume imageRUNNER engines will deliver an ideal black-and-white solution for busy corporate reprographic departments and print-for-pay environments."

"We are delighted that Canon has chosen EFI's Fiery X5 server technology to boost the output of the imageRUNNER engines and deliver high speed, high quality black-and-white printing solutions to Canon's customers," said Bernie Lepore, director of Sales for EFI. "The Fiery X5 server and its workflow management tools bring speed and quality to demanding printing environments."

The new imagePASS-M2 Print Controller is designed for Canon's products for the Segment 5 and 6 marketplaces: the imageRUNNER 7200, 8500, 85 and 105 models. The imageRUNNER 7200/8500/105 are black-and-white digital copiers with optional network printing and scanning capabilities, with speeds of 72 pages-per-minute (ppm), 85 ppm and 105 ppm, respectively. The imageRUNNER 85 is an 85 ppm black-and-white production printer. All four devices are targeted toward high-volume document production environments, including Central Reprographic Departments, Print-for-Pay and Print-on-Demand environments. All four devices also offer extensive document finishing options such as single-and multi-positioning stapling, automatic 2/3 hole punching, automatic saddle-stitch booklet making, booklet trimming, Z-folding and document insertion. For consistency in product offerings, the connectivity, software, and document finishing tools available are identical for all imageRUNNER 7200, 8500, 85 and 105 devices.

High performance features of the imagePASS-M2 include:

-- Command WorkStation(TM), the industry's most popular printing workflow application that sets the standard for conveniently managing and manipulating digital print jobs.

-- Direct Queue Printing Support

-- Fiery FreeForm(TM), for simple creation of master templates and variable information for fast and easy variable data printing.

-- Fiery DocBuilder Pro(TM) imposition software for editing and assembling entire documents before RIPing the files.

-- IP Blocking to permit or deny printing access to or from a specific or range of IP addresses.

-- Job Log Protect to enable only the system administrator/operator to view password protected job logs on the server

-- On Board CD-ROM for easier software installation and upgrades.

-- Apache Web Server Security Enhancements

-- Parallel Port Interface Adapter

Pricing and Availability

The imagePASS-M2 is now available through authorized Canon dealers and Canon Business Solutions locations at a suggested retail price of $7,950. For more information on Canon's imageRUNNER devices, visit www.imageRUNNER.com.

About Canon USA

Canon U.S.A., Inc. delivers consumer, business-to-business, and industrial imaging solutions. In 2001, the Company was listed as one of Fortune's Most Admired Companies in America, and was ranked #41 on the BusinessWeek list of "Top 100 Brands." Its parent company Canon Inc. (NYSE:CAJ) is a top patent-holder of technology, ranking third overall in the U.S. in 2001, with global revenues of $22 billion. Canon U.S.A. employs approximately 11,000 people at over 30 locations. For more information, visit www.usa.canon.com.

About Electronics For Imaging

Electronics For Imaging (www.efi.com) is the world leader in imaging solutions for network printing. EFI's industry-leading core technology offers powerful document management tools, seamless networking, high fidelity color and black-and-white output, and greater productivity and cost efficiency. EFI products support a broad range of printers, copiers, multifunction devices, mobile communications devices and printer speeds of up to 2000 ppm in color. EFI has pioneered many innovative imaging solutions, including the Fiery, EDOX(R), Splash(TM) and DocStream(TM) brands of print controllers, Velocity workflow software, eBeam Web-enabled whiteboards and PrintMe Networks(TM) which enables anytime, anywhere printing. Unimobile(TM) is EFI's mobile messaging solution for interactive data delivery. EFI employs more than 900 people and maintains 23 offices worldwide.

NOTE TO EDITORS: Fiery, EDOX and eBeam are registered trademarks of Electronics For Imaging, Inc. in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and certain other foreign jurisdictions. EFI, Electronics For Imaging, Command WorkStation, DocBuilder Pro, Fiery FreeForm, Fiery NetWise, PrintMe, PrintMe Networks, Splash, DocStream, Velocity and Unimobile are trademarks of Electronics For Imaging, Inc. All referenced product names, and other marks, are trademarks of their respective owners.