-- Adobe Acrobat Capture 3.0 digitally captures an exact representation of paper documents and transforms them into compact, searchable, cross-platform Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) files. Acrobat Capture 3.0 Cluster Edition runs on a load balanced cluster of multiple workstations to accommodate high volume requirements. The Cluster Edition software provides the ability to convert an unlimited number of pages. Acrobat Capture 3.0 Personal Edition has an expected estimated U.S. street price of $699 and will be available later this month. Acrobat Capture 3.0 Cluster Edition has an estimated U.S. street price of $7000 per processor and is immediately available through Adobe's standard distribution channels. Both products require Windows NT Workstation and are available with an English user interface only (OCR support for 16 language dictionaries).

-- Adobe Acrobat InProduction manages PDF files through a print production workflow. InProduction extends Adobe Acrobat and consists of five tightly integrated tools for preflighting, handling color separation and conversion, specifying trim and bleed settings, and defining trapping parameters in PDF files. InProduction offers workflow productivity, reliability and control in color PDF print production. Adobe Acrobat InProduction, designed for Mac OS 8.5.1 or higher, is expected to ship in North America and Europe in Spring 2000. The full version of InProduction (includes InProduction tools and a full version of Adobe Acrobat 4.0.5 software) is expected to have an estimated street price of $899 in the United States. Existing Acrobat 4.0 customers can purchase a promotional version of InProduction (includes an Acrobat update to version 4.0.5) for an estimated street price of $699.

-- Adobe PDF Merchant is a server-based application that secures electronic content for distribution and sales via the Internet. The software provides publishers, authors, resellers and distributors the security needed to deliver electronic books directly to consumer devices. Adobe PDF Merchant can be integrated with existing e-commerce and transaction servers, creating a solution for encrypting volumes of Adobe PDF files and selling them over the Web. Once the content is secured, Adobe PDF Merchant creates an electronic key, which can be used within Adobe Acrobat software or the free Adobe Acrobat Reader software to unlock and read the material. Adobe PDF Merchant commerce server version is available immediately at an estimated U.S. street price of $5,000 per server with a per transaction fee obligation.

-- Adobe CoolType improves the clarity of type on LCD displays by improving the resolution for text displayed on an LCD screen as much as 300 percent, making reading much easier on even the smallest handheld devices. Providing sharper text and graphics on LCD screens will help make handheld devices a more suitable platform for reading longer documents. Adobe is also developing technologies to resize and reflow content to fit any device, while maintaining the high-fidelity and printing capabilities of the Adobe PDF format.

Adobe, based in San Jose, is on the Web at http://www.adobe.com/.

In addition, the San Francisco Newspaper Agency (SFNA), the business arm for the CHRONICLE and the EXAMINER, has signed a multiyear agreement with ASTech to facilitate its circulation marketing initiative. The agreement also includes the purchase of state-of-the-art technology including AnalytiX for Newspapers and Telemarketing Workstation.

The company also said it had selected Whitehat.com to manage delivery of its e-newsletters and to co-develop e-marketing initiatives for ASTech clients.

Whitehat.com, of Tempe, Ariz., is a supplier of 100 percent opt-in direct e-mail marketing solutions and its techniques enable direct e-mail marketers to engage in ethical, targeted e-marketing.

ASTech is on the web at http://www.astechnet.com/, while Whitehat is at http://www.whitehat.com/

Harlequin has distribution rights to its original equipment manufacturer (OEM) partners worldwide for the jointly developed MAXWorkFlow products. Plans call for Harlequin to begin shipping its next-generation RIP technology that incorporates the new MAXWorkFlow to its OEM partners in mid-2000, after its public debut at the German print trade show DRUPA in May.

Harris Publishing Systems of Melbourne, Fla., is on the Web at http://www.harris.com/hpsc/, while Harlequin of Waltham, Mass., is on the Web at http://www.harlequin.com/.

New distributors include Alpha Imaging Technologies, Lowell, Mass.; Arkin Medo Inc., Flushing, N.Y.; HPS Printing Products, Indianapolis; Mueller Graphics Supply Inc., Milwaukee; Multigraphics Inc., Mount Prospect, Ill.; Oldham Graphic Supply Inc., Springfield, Ill.; R-Graphics, Rockford, Ill., and Washington Printing Supplies, Fairfax, Va.

Monotype is on the Web at http://www.monoexpress.com/.

With this investment, Scitex will hold approximately 13 percent of the company's shares on a fully diluted basis. The company said the investment was part of it's strategy to pursue emerging Internet opportunities in relevant markets, and will fuel RealTimeImage's implementation of innovative Internet-based services for graphic arts, pre-press and printing professionals, as well as development of new Internet e-services opportunities.

The company also announced net income for the fourth quarter of 1999 of $12.8 million or $0.30 per share (diluted), compared to $6.4 million or $0.15 per share for the fourth quarter of 1998. Fourth quarter 1999 results include the reduction of $2 million in reserves associated with the company's sale of the digital video business in 1998. Excluding this item, net income from continuing operations for the fourth quarter of 1999 was $10.8 million or $0.25 per share. Revenues for the fourth quarter of 1999 were $196 million, up 11 percent from the $177 million recorded in the fourth quarter of 1998.

Scitex is headquartered in Herzlia, Israel with offices in Bedford, Mass. and is on the Web at http://www.scitex.com/, while RTImage is headquartered in San Mateo, Calif., with R&D in Or-Yehuda, Israel, and is on the Web at http://www.realtimeimage.com/.

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