Jasc WebDraw Updated to Support SVG 1.0 Recommendation; Maker of Jasc Paint Shop Pro Offers New Preview Release of SVG Web Graphics Editor

Business Wire, Sept 24, 2001

Business Editors & Technology Writers

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 24, 2001

In support of the Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) 1.0 specification's recent approval as a World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) Recommendation, Jasc Software today announced an update to Jasc(R) WebDraw(TM), the first Web graphics and animation program to use SVG as its native file format. Refined through user feedback, this update, Preview Release 5, includes powerful new animation features, making it one of the first solutions to offer visual SVG animation authoring capabilities.

"Jasc Software has been eagerly awaiting the W3C's Recommendation of the SVG specification, and we are proud to support this announcement with our updated version of WebDraw," said ElShaddai Edwards, product manager at Jasc Software. "Preview Release 5 also gives us the opportunity to unveil WebDraw's powerful new animation capabilities, which have received rave reviews from early users."

"This version of WebDraw is really groovy and makes my SVG work much more efficient," said Jon Frost, developer for MP2KMag.com. "The new animation features work very smoothly, allowing me to produce cool SVG animations in just minutes. No other SVG authoring environment offers such a complete set of features for developing SVG graphics and animation."

WebDraw continues in the proud tradition of Jasc(R) Paint Shop Pro(TM), Jasc Software's awarding-winning photo and Web graphics editor. Like Paint Shop Pro, which has become the Web's most popular image-editing program by incorporating user feedback for ten years, WebDraw relies on user input as a key component in its development. WebDraw, with its cutting-edge SVG technology, heralds the next wave of digital imaging for the Web.

Recently finalized by the W3C, SVG is a specification for adding high-impact, XML-based vector graphics and animation to Web pages. SVG features small file sizes for faster Web page downloads, unlimited color and font choices, precision layout and design options, animation and high-resolution printing from a Web browser. With image effects ranging from simple blurs to event-based animation, SVG allows users to create Web graphics and animations that are rich in visual content and download quickly.

Current Version & Availability

WebDraw Preview Release 5 is available as a free download from the Jasc Software Web site at www.jasc.com for public use and feedback.

About Jasc Software, Inc.

Jasc Software provides Web designers and advanced users with leading, Windows-based digital imaging and management solutions that are powerful, easy-to-use, and affordable. The company is committed to using customer feedback to develop tools for Web site and digital image enhancement that provide advanced functionality at a low price. Jasc Software distributes its products in electronic and traditional forms via the Internet, software retailers and catalogers, and provides try-before-you-buy versions of its software via the Internet.

Jasc Software has been ranked by the Inc. 500, Deloitte & Touche's Minnesota Technology Fast 50, and Deloitte & Touche's Technology Fast 500. Its products have won numerous awards including: American Photo Editor's Choice Award; PC Magazine Reader's Choice, Web Techniques Web Tools Reader's Choice Award, PC World World Class Award; PC World Best Buy; PC Photo Editor's Choice; c/net Editor's Choice; PC Magazine Program of the Year; and Home Office Computing 100 Gold Award. For more information, Jasc Software can be reached at (800) 622-2793 or on the Web at www.jasc.com.

(c)2001 Jasc Software, Inc. All other product, company, or service names herein are trademarks of their respective holders.