Canon U.S.A. To Offer KPG Matchprint Professional Server and Proofing Media for Use With Its Mid-Range CLC Systems.

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Seybold San Francisco 2002

Booth #1201 (South Hall)

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 10, 2002

Canon Inc. (NYSE: CAJ)

Through Agreement With KPG, Color Market Share Leader Will Elevate

Offerings to Proofing Marketplace

In broadening its reach to publishing professionals, Canon U.S.A., Inc., a subsidiary of Canon Inc. (NYSE: CAJ) and U.S. market share leader in color laser copier/printers(a), announced today it will offer the Kodak Polychrome Graphics (KPG) Matchprint Professional Server for use with its CLC 1140 and 1180 systems, allowing the Canon products to accurately and consistently create comps, proofs, and prints.

The Company also announced its plans to offer co-branded proofing media with KPG that is specifically designed for the CLC 1140/1180.

"By offering the KPG Matchprint Professional Server and co-branded proofing media, Canon will expand its penetration in the professional publishing market with a system that offers significant value when compared to competitive products," said Mason Olds, director and general manager, Color Systems Division, Canon U.S.A. "This solution when used with our new mid-range CLC systems will empower our creative, pre-press, print, and publishing customers to quickly and inexpensively simulate a Matchprint contract proof."

"KPG is excited about supporting the Canon CLC 1140/1180 models and bringing accurate and consistent color to an even broader range of customers," commented John Schloff, staff vice president, digital printing and color, Kodak Polychrome Graphics. "The KPG Matchprint Professional Server delivers critical color across a extensive range of applications from concept to output."

The KPG Matchprint Professional Server delivers color-critical proofing and short-run printing, with a price-per-page that's economical enough to allow output at every step of the process. It also simulates the pioneering Matchprint Analog proofs, and other industry standard color spaces, so the color you see at the beginning of the process equals the color you see at the end. The Canon CLC 1140/1180 models produce full color laser output in a 12" x 18" size allowing full color 2-up bleeds. It produces 11 color pages-per-minute (ppm) and black-and-white output at 42 ppm. When combined with the CLC 1140/1180 engines, whose Real Time Calibration feature provides a 70% improvement in color consistency and accuracy, the KPG Matchprint Professional Server will turn the mid-range CLC devices into color-accurate concept proofers and short-run color printers.

Key features of the KPG Matchprint Professional Server include:

- KPG Matchprint proof simulation

- KPG Color Locking technology to maintain color consistency

- KPG Color Fidelity Module to deliver highly accurate color

- Support of ICC compliance

- PDF support

- Enhanced color capability, including creation of custom colors, use of two PANTONE(R) color libraries, more color separations and RGB printing

- Enhanced workflow capability, including reusable RIP files, reusable spool files and unlimited spoolers and hot folders

The co-branded proofing paper that Canon and KPG will offer will be available in two types: Publication base, which simulates the stocks that are used by magazine and catalog publishers, and Commercial base, which is common as a base for commercial proofing. The co-branded paper will offer a watermark for authenticity purposes, and meets KPG's exacting specifications for proofing bases and Canon's specifications for image quality and reliability.

The Canon CLC 1140/1180 and KPG Matchprint Professional Server and proofing media will be demonstrated in Canon's booth, #1201 South Hall, at the Seybold 2002 Conference and Exposition, which takes place at the Moscone Convention Center here from September 9-12.

Pricing and Availability

The KPG Matchprint Professional Server and co-branded media are expected to be made available through all authorized Canon U.S.A. dealers and subsidiaries. The suggested retail price of the KPG Matchprint Professional Server is $27,300. Final specifications and availability will be announced at the time of launch.

About Kodak Polychrome Graphics

Kodak Polychrome Graphics provides one of the broadest portfolios of digital and conventional solutions available in the graphic arts industry today, including a wide range of computer to plate and conventional lithographic plate products, digital, inkjet, and analog proofing products, digital printing applications, color workflow tools, and Kodak branded graphic arts films. With headquarters in Norwalk, Connecticut, USA, the company serves customers around the globe with regional offices in the United States, Europe, Japan, Asia Pacific and Latin America. Additional information regarding Kodak Polychrome Graphics may be found on the company's website: www.kpgraphics.com.

About Canon U.S.A.

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 $26 billion. Canon U.S.A. employs approximately 11,000 people at over 30 locations. For more information, visit www.usa.canon.com.

(a) Source - Gartner Dataquest "Digital Document and Imaging Group Integrated Document Output (Copier, Printer, Fax)--Database", 5 March 2002.

All page-per-minute statistics based on standard letter-sized output.

Matchprint is a trademark of Kodak Polychrome Graphics. Kodak is a trademark of Eastman Kodak Company. PANTONE is a trademark of Pantone, Inc. All referenced product names, and other trademarks, are the property of their respective owners.

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