YM & MGI Software Announce YM Digital Makeover Magic; Teens Have Freedom to Explore New Looks Without Risk

Business Wire, Nov 12, 1999

TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 12, 1999--

(TSE:MGI.)

MGI Software (TSE:MGI), the digital and Internet imaging leader, and Young & Modern (YM) Magazine, a leading teen magazine focusing on the inner girl, personal style, and fashion and beauty, today introduced YM Digital Makeover Magic, a makeover software product designed specifically for teens. Offering a wide array of the latest hairstyles, a complete line of makeup tools, countless fashion accessories, beauty tips from the professionals, and even a dedicated Web site where new content will be made available regularly, YM Digital Makeover Magic is an easy and entertaining way for girls to expand and explore the possibilities of their personal look. YM Digital Makeover Magic will be widely available later this month for an estimated street price of $29.99.

"Perhaps the greatest thing about YM Digital Makeover Magic is it gives girls the freedom to experiment with different looks risk free," said Tammy Palazzo, Director of Licensing, YM. "Many girls would like to try out a radically different hairstyle and color but are too scared that the look won't work. With YM Digital Makeover Magic, they can let their imaginations go wild testing out all kinds of personal transformations."

Once users bring in their digital photo, they can begin the makeover process by simply dragging and dropping new hairstyles onto their photo, then selecting the hair color of choice. Next, they can apply various kinds of makeup such as foundation, blush, and lipstick, making subtle adjustments with a blend sponge, or dabbing away mistakes with a virtual tissue. They can then accessorize with a range of jewelry from the special YM collection, hats, designer eyewear from REM Eyewear, and even body art. Once the makeover is complete, users can print the results on a home printer or share them through email. They can even put their new look on the cover of YM magazine or create a slideshow of their various makeovers.

"We have combined two very different areas of expertise to build a very compelling application," said Anthony DeCristofaro, president and CEO, MGI Software. "Girls using YM Digital Makeover Magic have the leading authority on teens and style providing the cool, and the foremost developer of easy-to-use digital imaging software delivering the power and control."

With YM Digital Makeover Magic, expert advice is never more than a click away. The YM Beauty Consultant function provides on the spot advice from hair and makeup pros whose clients include Drew Barrymore, Cameron Diaz, and Jennifer Lopez. Digital Makeover Magic also supplies users with a Personalized Color Palette that is unique to each user and provides recommended makeup colors based on individual physical characteristics. YM Makeover Magic even includes an MP3-enabled music player so girls can listen to their favorite songs while making themselves over.

Versatility

Girls will find many different uses for YM Digital Makeover Magic. Some will explore the whole range of makeover possibilities to find a brand-new look for themselves and may even print out the look as a reference for a stylist. Others will just have fun experimenting and taking their looks from classy to sassy, or expressing themselves with looks that are on the edge and some that are perhaps even a little over the edge. However, the YM Digital Makeover Magic experience does not necessarily end at expanding the possibilities of personal look and style; the program can also be used for investigating new looks for others, such as friends, sisters, parents, and even boyfriends.

Studio Approach

Even girls who have never worked with imaging software will find that YM Digital Makeover Magic is easy to navigate and that creating makeovers is an effortless and fun experience. YM Digital Makeover Magic is separated into four Studios to establish a clear, logical workflow. The Photo Studio is the area where girls acquire photos they wish to work on. Photos can be brought in from scanners, digital cameras, or from the computer's hard drive. Girls also can experiment on the digital photos of models supplied. The Makeover Studio is where users try on hair and apply makeup. Girls can select to put on anything from earrings to tattoos in the Accessories Studio. When the makeover is complete, users enter the Fun Studio where they can add funky frames, backgrounds, and even put themselves on the cover of YM magazine.

Web Site

MGI YM Digital Makeover Magic has its own dedicated Web site http://www.ymmakeover.com. The site is designed to ensure that girls' experience with the software is always fresh. The site will play host to new content such as hairstyles, makeup colors, and accessories, which will be available for users to download free.

System Requirements

YM Digital Makeover Magic requires Windows 95 or 98, Pentium 166 MMX minimum (266 MMX recommended). 32 MB of RAM, SVGA Video Card, 800x600 Screen Area, 16-bit True Color (24-bit True Color recommended), 80 MB Hard Drive space, plus 50 MB Hard Drive space for IE5 and DirectX 6.