For Immediate Release
Adobe Announces Photoshop 5.5
World Standard Image Editing Software is Now the First Integrated
Solution for Web and Print
San Jose, Calif., (June 17, 1999) (Nasdaq:ADBE)-Adobe Systems
Incorporated today announced the newest version of Adobe Photoshop,
the world's leading professional image editing software. Photoshop
5.5 software once again sets the standard-providing the first
integrated solution for professionals who need to produce the highest
quality images for both Web and print. Photoshop 5.5 includes Adobe
ImageReady 2.0 software, the cutting-edge Web production component
that interacts seamlessly with Photoshop software to provide a
complete creative environment. This eliminates the need for customers
to use multiple applications, which restricts both creativity and
productivity. Adobe Photoshop 5.5 is part of Adobe Systems' complete
family of digital imaging products, which includes Adobe Photoshop
LE, Adobe PhotoDeluxe, and Adobe ActiveShare.
Adobe will demonstrate its unique line-up of digital imaging
products-which serves the entire range of users including Web and
graphics professionals, business professionals and consumers-at next
week's PC Expo in New York City (Booth #4334).
Adobe Photoshop is already the most frequently used professional Web
graphics software application today*, and version 5.5 significantly
extends its Web functionality. Whether designers are optimizing Web
images with Web-safe colors or taking advantage of powerful slicing
and JavaScript rollover capabilities, Adobe Photoshop 5.5 software
delivers the ideal balance of creativity and productivity tools.
Consistent Adobe Tools
Based on the Adobe standard user interface, Adobe Photoshop 5.5
software allows users to move smoothly and quickly between
environments without breaking the creative flow. Photoshop now
includes a set of advanced features for optimizing and compressing
Web graphics. For more advanced Web graphics tasks, such as
JavaScript rollovers, animation, and image slicing, a "jump to"
button quickly transfers the image to Adobe ImageReady.
"Photoshop 5.5 really helps me transport my print designs to the
Web," said Andy Makely, a Senior Graphic Designer for USWeb/CKS in
Atlanta. "With one click, my design jumps from Photoshop into
ImageReady and I'm ready to slice it up, optimize the images and save
everything as HTML. Being able to preview my work in a browser from
ImageReady is the icing on the cake. This kind of integration really
streamlines the Web design process."
Create Superior Web Graphics
Adobe Photoshop 5.5 provides new tools for creating and optimizing
the most advanced Web graphics. Multiple LiveView panels in Photoshop
5.5 software's new Save for Web window let designers quickly find the
best compression options, translating into shorter image download
times and higher quality Web graphics. The new Lossy GIF feature
dramatically reduces file size, as much as 10-50% smaller than
previously possible, with minimal loss of image quality. Advanced Web
features are available in the Adobe ImageReady software component,
where designers can slice large graphics into HTML tables with the
new Slice tool and create powerful JavaScript rollovers without
writing a line of code. Layer-based animations and image maps make
these a snap.
Expand Creative Possibilities
Adobe Photoshop 5.5 software addresses the tedious and time-consuming
task of image-masking with the new Background Eraser and the Extract
Image command. Users can quickly create instant transparency with the
color decontamination capabilities of these tools so images can be
cleanly composited on another background, saving hours of working
with complex selections. Photoshop 5.5 software's new creativity
features extend even further with the new Art History Brush, which
allows users to create an entirely new genre of images by
interactively applying realistic paint strokes.
Adobe Photoshop 5.5, when paired with Adobe GoLive software,
provides a complete professional Web solution. Photoshop also
features tight integration with the family of award-winning Adobe
solutions-including Adobe After Effects, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe
InDesign, and Adobe Premiere-to enable users to create compelling
designs, digital imagery and motion graphics for the Web, multimedia
and print.
Pricing and Availability
Adobe Photoshop 5.5 is expected to ship in July for an estimated
street price of $609 (U.S.). Registered Photoshop 5.0 and ImageReady
1.0 users in North America will be able to upgrade for the special
estimated promotional price of $129 (U.S.) after rebate until May
2000. All other registered users of previous versions of Adobe
Photoshop will be able to upgrade for an estimated street price of
$199 (U.S.). For more information customers can call 1-800-492-3623
or visit
http://www.adobe.com/prodindex/photoshop/main.html.
About Adobe Systems Incorporated
Founded in 1982, Adobe Systems is a leading provider of graphic
design, publishing, and imaging software for Web and print
production, and the fourth largest U.S. based personal software
company with annual revenues approaching $1 billion. The company
builds award-winning software solutions for Web and graphic
designers, professional publishers, document-intensive organizations,
business users, and consumers. Adobe's products enable customers to
create, publish and deliver visually-rich images and documents across
all print and electronic media. The company employs over 2,400
employees worldwide and has operations in North America, Europe, the
Pacific Rim, Japan and Latin America. Adobe's worldwide headquarters
are in San Jose, California and its web site is located at
www.adobe.com.