Jasc Software Makes Virtual Painter Available Worldwide; The Maker of Jasc Paint Shop Pro to Offer Special Effects Filters Previously Available Only in Japan

Business Wire, Sept 4, 2001

Business Editors & Technology Writers

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 4, 2001

Jasc Software, home of the world-famous photo and Web graphics editor, Jasc(R) Paint Shop Pro(TM), today announced the world debut of Virtual Painter, a unique suite of special effects filters designed specifically for adding realistic painting effects to digital photographs. A recent agreement with Mr. Taka Umemura, the creator of Virtual Painter, and P&A, Inc. of Tokyo, Japan, the distributors of Virtual Painter in Japan, allows Jasc Software to make these digital imaging effects filters available to the rest of the world.

"As digital photography continues to gain in popularity throughout the world, Jasc Software continues in its commitment to offer users high-quality solutions that extend their photo enhancement capabilities," said Kris Tufto, president and CEO of Jasc Software. "The recently released Jasc Paint Shop Pro 7 Anniversary Edition answers this need perfectly, as does Virtual Painter, an extremely distinctive and robust collection of photo effects filters. We are thrilled to offer Virtual Painter to users outside Japan. We're confident that digital photographers and everyone interested in creating digital masterpieces will fall in love with Virtual Painter's beautiful, easy-to-use effects."

Virtual Painter is a collection of 12 easy-to-use special effects plug-in filters that let users turn their favorite digital photos into realistic-looking paintings in seconds. These filters install directly into an image editor such as Paint Shop Pro. Users can simply access a photo and apply the desired Virtual Painter effect, including Pastel, Collage, Rectangles, Drawing, Silk Screen, Impasto, Color Pencil, Pointillism, Oil Painting, Gouache, Watercolor, and Triangles. These painting styles can be applied to one of 12 different simulated materials, including Paper (Smooth, Medium, or Rough), Washi (Japanese rice paper), Canvas (Fine, Medium, or Rough) Stucco (Smooth, Rough, or Sand), Wood, and Cork for added realism. With its unique array of effects and intuitive interface, Virtual Painter offers everyone who works with digital images unlimited flexibility and creativity for one-of-a-kind digital photos.

Availability

A physical boxed version of Virtual Painter is available at a suggested list price of $49.00 from Jasc Software. An ESD version is available for $45.00 from Jasc Software. An evaluation copy of Virtual Painter may be downloaded from Jasc Software's Web site at www.jasc.com. Free, unlimited technical support is available to registered users directly from Jasc Software. International customers should contact the Jasc Software Master Representative in their country for availability. For Master Representative contact information, please visit www.jasc.com/world.

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.

About P&A, Inc.

P&A, Inc. is a software distributor in Japan for Jasc products and other quality software. P & A, Inc. can be reached at Fudoya Bldg 4F, 2-10-1 Akebono, Tachikawa, Tokyo, 190-0012 Japan, by e-mail at info@panda.co.jp, by phone at 011 81 (42) 525-9501, and by fax at 011 81 (42) 525-9502.

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