IMSI Redefines Entry Level CAD with TurboCAD Designer 2D & 3D; Latest Release Includes a Complete Guide to Learning & Using CAD Plus 2,000 CAD Symbols and 101 Home Plans.

SAN RAFAEL, CALIF.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 28, 1996--IMSI (NASDAQ: IMSI), a leading developer and publisher of quality software for the home and small business markets, announced today that it will ship an upgrade to TurboCAD Designer 2D and 3D(R), for Windows, on June 30, 1996 at a targeted street price of $29.95.

TurboCAD Designer 2D and 3D is a 2D computer aided design application with a full stand-alone 3D modeler and includes "The Complete Guide to Learning and Using CAD", a reference book which explains the basics of CAD concepts and terminology, then takes the user through real-life CAD projects from beginning to end.

"TurboCAD Designer 2D and 3D is our response to what we feel has always been a void in the consumer CAD market. This product is the first in the consumer category to combine a powerful and easy to use desktop CAD package with a vehicle that actually teaches all the basics necessary to get the most out of computer aided design," said Martin Sacks, president and CEO. "We believe this release opens a wide range of opportunities in the consumer and educational CAD markets. Users in these markets will also have a built-in upward migration path to our more professional TurboCAD 2D/3D product."

In addition to "tool tips" and "hints" that appear as the mouse runs across the user interface, the user will benefit from templates and wizards designed to take the guesswork out of CAD. All menus and tool bars use standard Microsoft Office names and images which make them easily recognizable by anyone who uses Windows programs.

TurboCAD Designer 2D and 3D includes a variety of advanced features, such as fully automatic and associative dimensioning. This ensures that dimension lines are associated with objects and automatically update when objects are edited. Advanced handle-based editing and node editing-used to quickly reshape objects-build on the user's familiarity with such concepts from general "draw" programs, while providing the precision of a professional CAD package.

TurboCAD Designer 2D and 3D also includes 101 sample home plans and over 2,000 professionally created, discipline specific symbols. The symbols are easily accessible to the user with the click of the mouse from TurboCAD Designer 2D and 3D's unique "Drag and Drop" symbol library palettes.

With full OLE 2.0 compatibility, users can easily create complex documents using TurboCAD Designer 2D and 3D. This allows the user to place documents from other applications, like MS Word or Excel, into TurboCAD Designer 2D and 3D drawings. Likewise, they can embed TurboCAD Designer 2D and 3D drawings into documents from other OLE 2.0 compliant applications.

Along with the powerful 2D features, TurboCAD Designer 2D and 3D includes a stand-alone 3D modeler. The 3D modeler allows a user to import a 2D drawing and create 3D rendered counterparts with multiple views. It includes intuitive tools and extensive prompts to guide users in creating simple to complex 3D shapes and a unique "Virtual Trackball" for easy rotation and visualization of objects. Complex objects can be built by combining simple objects.

"TurboCAD Designer 2D and 3D takes powerful CAD capabilities and makes them truly accessible to the consumer mass market," said Rob Halligan, Vice President of Marketing. "Priced affordably at around $30, TurboCAD Designer 2D and 3D offers the best CAD solution of any other entry level CAD product on the market today."

Founded in 1983, IMSI is a leader in developing and publishing quality consumer software for home and small business. The company offers a range of high quality, affordably priced products including TurboCAD 2D/3D., Masterclips 35,000. Premium Image Collection, FloorPlan Plus 3D., and FormTool Gold.

IMSI is headquartered in San Rafael, Calif., with wholly owned subsidiaries in the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Australia and South Africa. For more information, contact Victoria Rierdan at IMSI, 1895 Francisco Boulevard East, San Rafael, CA 94901-5506. Telephone: [phone], Fax: [phone], E-Mail: [e-mail]. -0-

Note to Editors: IMSI, TurboCAD, Masterclips 35,000, FloorPlan Plus 3D, and FormTool, are trademarks of International Microcomputer Software Inc. Other products and companies mentioned herein are used for identification purposes only and may or may not be trademarks of their representative companies.

CONTACT: IMSI

Victoria Rierdan, 415/257-3000

[e-mail]