TOPAZ Scanner Family Redesigned & Upgraded with Numerous Features

-Increased Speed & Resolution
-Unique COPIX Option Precisely Digitizes Existing Film Separations
 and Lineart; with JPEG Save Available
-Robot Automated Scanning Option Now More Affordable
-Depth of Field Enables Digital Capture of 3D Objects up to 20mm
-LinoColor 4.1 Included, Provides Background Scanning

MAY 20,1996 -- HAUPPAUGE, N.Y. -- Linotype-Hell today announced immediate
availability of its next generation TOPAZ and TOPAZ Robot CCD Scanners,
the market's most popular1 flatbed/transparency scanners in the category.
Compared to their predecessors, the new TOPAZ units offer a speed increase
of up to 200%, additional 1300 dpi for maximum optical resolution of 5,080
dpi, a more affordable Robot automated scanning option, and the company's
new, exclusive COPIX option for Copy Dot and Descreen functionality. Copy
Dot and Descreen enable precise digitizing of existing film separations
and lineart for integration in unlimited digital prepress production
paths.

Another exclusive TOPAZ feature is its ability to digitally capture 3D
objects up to 20mm. In addition, all new TOPAZ scanners include
newly-released LinoColor 4.1, whose new features include JPEG compression
and background scanning.

Since it was launched 1-1/2 years ago, over 2500 TOPAZ scanners have been
sold. TOPAZ has also won numerous international awards.

All TOPAZ family products include 1 week training. The new TOPAZ remains
listed at $49,000, and a TOPAZ Robot now lists at $64,000. List for the
COPIX option is an additional $19,000 for either model, with a field
upgrade cost of $20,000. All TOPAZ scanners, old and new, are
field-upgradeable to TOPAZ Robot for an additional $18,000; however, only
the newer TOPAZ units can utilize COPIX.

SPECIFICATIONS

The new TOPAZ Family now incorporates a higher-resolution color CCD which
can resolve 3 x 8,000 pixels. Maximum optical resolution is now 5,080 dpi,
and can be interpolated to 11,000, allowing an enlargement factor of
2,500%. Further productivity advantage is realized via super-fast scanning
speed.

The new TOPAZ can scan all types of originals, including reflective,
transparency, color, contone, lineart and black-and-white originals both
positive and negative, and allows 3D objects up to 20 mm in depth to be
scanned. The scanning format is A3+ (12" x 18") for reflective originals,
while the width of the original has been extended to 9.8 for
transparencies. This means that originals can now be arranged more
effectively for batch scanning.

In addition, the larger format combined with the COPIX option enables
double-page spread scanning of film separations.

APPLICATIONS

TOPAZ is ideal for printers, repro houses, corporate and publishers, and is
particularly suited for archiving and Web applications. The variety of
options assure users of expandability as their requirements change.

NEW LINOCOLOR 4.1

All TOPAZ scanners are driven by LinoColor professional color scanning and
reproduction software running on a Power Macintosh. LinoColor software
features ColorAssistant, which enables automatic analysis of the original,
and JobAssistant for automated, batch scanning. The latest version,
LinoColor 4.1, also allows background scanning. Therefore, while TOPAZ is
processing high resolution scans, the operator can prepare prescans for
high resolution processing.

LinoColor 4.1 now also incorporates a JPEG compression facility, which
accelerates workflow even further. In addition, LinoColor is compatible
with ColorSync 2.0, and thus permits end-to-end color management on the
basis of ICC profiles.

TOPAZ ROBOT - APPLICATION DETAILS

In September 1995 Linotype-Hell successfully launched the TOPAZ Robot.
TOPAZ Robot is employed as a "workhorse" by those users who frequently
have to wrestle with high volume production peaks, or who wish to build an
archive of digital images. The Robot system can now accommodate nine 35mm
transparencies in each cassette, a 50% increase. With five containers each
holding five cassettes, TOPAZ Robot can now handle 225 35mm
transparencies. TOPAZ Robot can support versatile workflows that can
include multiple workstations. Alternatively, TOPAZ Robot can be
programmed to automatically scan multiple originals without requiring an
operator.

Bundled Cumulus image database software automatically catalogs images and
saves to a flexible database.

TOPAZ COPIX - APPLICATION DETAILS

Although digital prepress is experiencing enormous growth (as evidenced by
rapid adoption of digital imposition, CtP and digital printing), a large
number of advertisements, double pages and packaging art create breaks in
the digital workflow because they are still only available as separated
sets of films.

TOPAZ COPIX provides a solution by precisely digitizing film separations,
thereby allowing their integration into digital prepress production
routes. A special scanning tray with a format of 12" x 18" is available
for reflective and transparency originals.

Standard register systems such as Bacher, Kodak and Stoesser ensure an
optimum level of register accuracy.

COPIX, which is controlled via LinoColor 4.1, comprises two digitization
procedures, Copy Dot and Descreen. Copy Dot produces a digital facsimile
copy of the screened films which can be integrated directly into page
layout. The Descreen procedure descreens the films using digital filters,
and then generates a CMYK data set.

While both procedures offer users significant advantages, best results are
achieved using the Mixed-Mode function. Mixed-Mode combines the CMY
separations obtained with Descreen and the black separation generated by
Copy Dot. The digitized data are then output in TIFF-CMYK or DCS, with
optional JPEG compression.

TOPAZ COPIX is ideal in a Streamline Production system with the
Signastation digital imposition station and GUTENBERG CtP system. TOPAZ
COPIX will be available from early June 1996.

SUPPORT

Linotype-Hell supplies a comprehensive range of services for all the
scanners in the TOPAZ family, including training courses, a quick-response
support line backed by a team of experts, as well as installation and
field service. The two multimedia CDs about TOPAZ and LinoColor provide
useful training tips for both entry-level scanner users and professionals
alike.

Linotype-Hell provides the world's largest range of prepress products and
systems, including scanners, RIPs, imagesetters, color technologies,
computer-to-plate systems, fonts, as well as consulting services. The
company introduced the PostScript RIP in 1985, and today has over 29,000
installed worldwide. Linotype-Hell also maintains its status as provider
of the world's largest font library, as well as the world's largest
installed base of imagesetters.

Linotype-Hell Company is the U.S. subsidiary of Linotype-Hell AG, based in
Eschborn, Germany. U.S. headquarters are located at 425 Oser Avenue,
Hauppauge, New York, 11788. Phone 516-434-2000 or 800-842-9721. Fax
516-434-2706.
 
 =========================================================
 From the 'New Product News' Electronic News Service on...
 AOL (Keyword = New Products) and Delphi (GO COMP PROD)
 =========================================================
 This information was processed from data provided by the
 company/author mentioned. For additional details, please
 contact them directly at the address/phone# indicated.
 Trademarks are the property of their respective owners!
 =========================================================
 All submissions for this service should be addressed to:
 BAKER ENTERPRISES,  20 Ferro Dr,  Sewell, NJ  08080  USA
 Email:   rbakerpc@aol.com   --or--   rbakerpc@delphi.com
 =========================================================
