Adobe Systems and PictureWeb Form Alliance to Offer Easy Access to Photos Online; Adobe PhotoDeluxe Software and PictureWeb Picture Service on America Online Provide Consumers with Unique Digital Photo Offering

Business Wire, Jan 4, 1996

LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 4, 1996--Adobe Systems Incorporated (Nasdaq: ADBE) and PicturePlaces, Inc. (keyword: PictureWeb), a partner of the America Online (AOL) Greenhouse, today announced a strategic alliance regarding consumer digital photography here at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES). Designed to promote the use of digital photography among consumers, this unique offer combines Adobe PhotoDeluxe photo editing software for Macintosh and Windows with the PictureWeb picture service to provide easy access to photo digitization technology and software for enhancing and modifying personal photographs. The offer provides Adobe PhotoDeluxe users with a PictureWeb starter kit, including access to the PictureWeb service, and 10 free hours on AOL for new members. In addition, members of AOL can access product information and tips and techniques regarding Adobe PhotoDeluxe software in the PictureWeb main menu, and order the software online using the service.

"We have been searching for the perfect product that combines great picture editing tools with incredible ease-of-use to recommend to our PictureWeb customers," said Terry Ulick, co-founder, PictureWeb. "Adobe PhotoDeluxe is the perfect product -- consumers can use it for creating exciting photo projects once they have received their digital pictures from the PictureWeb service."

"This alliance greatly advances the consumer digital photography market. PictureWeb is a quick and easy means for digitizing personal photographs and Adobe PhotoDeluxe software provides consumers with the tools to get creative with their photos," said Bruce Chizen, vice president, Adobe consumer products group. "Adobe PhotoDeluxe and PictureWeb offer an ideal solution to the question of what to do with the dozens of pictures taken during the holidays. Consumers can easily develop their film using the PictureWeb service and then use Adobe's software to add their images to a 1996 calendar, or `thank you' card."

Easy Digital Photography Comes to the Home

The PictureWeb service provides members a quick, easy and cost-effective way to share photographs electronically with family and friends. Adobe PhotoDeluxe will come with a PictureWeb starter kit including a special offer for photo digitization using the PictureWeb service. Within 24-hours of receiving prints, slides or negatives, PictureWeb provides original images online for instant viewing and downloading. These images can then be incorporated into calendars, greeting cards, or dozens of other creative projects using Adobe PhotoDeluxe software. Photo clean-up such as removing "red eye," enhancing image quality an removing unwanted objects can also be performed using the software.

In addition, the PictureWeb starter kit comes with an America Online start-up disk good for 10 free hours on AOL for new users who sign-up for the service. The PictureWeb starter kit will come in the Adobe PhotoDeluxe package, or customers can receive the kit by calling PictureWeb customer service at 1-800-398-8342.

PictureWeb members can also easily receive Adobe PhotoDeluxe product information and can view sample activities by accessing an Adobe PhotoDeluxe button in the PictureWeb main menu. Members can then purchase Adobe PhotoDeluxe software through the PictureWeb service at the estimated street price of $89.

Adobe PhotoDeluxe Software for Enhancing and Modifying Personal Photographs

Adobe PhotoDeluxe offers many of the same rich features as found in Adobe Photoshop, the industry-leading image-editing software for professional graphic artists and designers. The product features a user-friendly interface that visually guides users through a series of easy-to-follow steps for modifying photos. The program provides users two modes of working in the program: Guided Activities and On Your Own. In either mode, the user interface visually guides both novice and expert users through each step of the photo modification and enhancement process.

Projects included in Guided Activities include customizing a card with photos, text and clip-art, creating a calendar with personal photos for each month, or removing dust and scratches from an old photo. Adobe PhotoDeluxe simplifies each project by guiding users through each step in the activity from opening a photo file to saving and printing. Projects created in Guided Activities can be further modified in the On Your Own mode using the same easy-to-use tools.

PictureWeb Online Service for Digital Pictures

Established in September 1995, PictureWeb is the first online picture service. PictureWeb is a part of the AOL Greenhouse, a business unit of America Online that supports entrepreneurs in the creation of ground-breaking interactive content developed exclusively for the online medium. Features of PictureWeb include PictureAlbums for storage of members' high-resolution pictures, freeing up users valuable hard drive space, and PictureCircle for sharing pictures with friends, family and business associates online. The service also offers 24-hour online picture development for a cost of $.99 per photo (with no minimum) for downloading, viewing or sending to other online areas.