Contact: Tim Sexton, VP Marketing / Michelle Cowan, Marketing Coordinator
ZBE, Incorporated, 1035 Cindy Lane, Carpinteria, CA 93013 USA
Phone: (805) 576-1600; fax: (805) 576-1601
Email: info@zbe.com

ZBE, Inc. Launches WorkStream, Version 2.0
with powerful new tools for the lab and studio user.

January 9, 2004 - Carpinteria, CA: - ZBE Incorporated has just released WorkStream, Version 2.0, an advanced version of the digital print production and workflow solution that integrates imaging lab operations with their digital studio / photographer customers. This upgrade includes new user-handy features that help maximize digital imaging workflow and enhance productivity. Users can now create their own custom color effects such as sepia toned prints, and quickly create exciting new graphically enhanced single or multi-image products with a powerful new product builder. In addition, WorkStream V2.0 delivers added speed, for faster image loading. WorkStream now also helps the user by automatically checking for software updates and installing them itself, and it allows DS users to queue FTP orders for export.

The software complements ZBE's Chromira 30 and 50 RA4 digital photographic printers including all of the new Chromira 5x models, but now also comes with WorkStream RE, which provides an automated interface to just about any printer in the industry. WorkStream will increase your profitability and decrease the demands on your time. Plus, WorkStream's lab-studio integration characteristics will help labs print images just the way their customers want - the first time.

ZBE's WorkStream software has many key benefits for a variety of imagers. Especially valuable for portrait/social labs is a fast drag-and-drop package order creation feature, with a generous selection of package units. For volume-production imaging labs, WorkStream I.A. streamlines order finishing by integrating job and order grouping with efficient image nesting and paper management options. WorkStream will also provide quick automation of composite templates, allowing an unlimited potential of new imaging products from simple logos to posters, calendars and greeting cards. An intuitive and powerful suite of VCNA-style image-editing controls, with real-time on-screen soft proofing and integrated color management, speeds image production. This powerful suite of image editing controls include on-screen cropping, sizing, rotation, global color, saturation, contrast, and sharpness control. Sophisticated retouching is provided via a seamless integration with PhotoShop.

WorkStream is comprised of two independent, yet integrated software applications, WorkStream IA (Imaging Automation) for imaging labs and WorkStream DS (Digital Studio) for digital studios and photographers.

“With WorkStream IA, professional imaging labs can dramatically streamline and automate digital workflow, and improve production efficiency at virtually every step of digital production. At the same time, WorkStream provides seamless integration of orders generated in the studio by WorkStream DS, requiring little or no manual handling by the lab,” said Zac Bogart, president of ZBE Inc. “Conventional silver halide workflow has been highly refined over 30 years and now, WorkStream provides the same level of refinement to digital imaging workflow.

WorkStream DS (Digital Studio) runs in the photographer's studio. WorkStream DS is used to prepare images and orders that will be printed at the photo lab. All aspects of the order can be entered directly by the photographer including image color corrections, cropping and composition, retouching and product selection. WorkStream DS automatically generates an
order archive and database for your studio. Orders prepared in WorkStream transfer seamlessly to the photolab for automated production. A key benefit of WorkStream DS is that it allows the lab's customers to efficiently transfer precisely prepared, cropped, and edited final orders and image files via the Internet or CD to a WorkStream I.A. imaging lab.

ZBE, Incorporated is headquartered in Santa Barbara, CA, USA and has been serving professional imaging needs since 1980. For information on how to download WorkStream, go to www.zbe.com.