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'S New WorkStream Imaging Automation Software Ships

Santa Barbara, CA , United States - ZBE Incorporated, a manufacturer of professional photo imaging technology, has just shipped its new digital print production and workflow solution for labs: "WorkStream IA", which is the first of two independent, yet integrated software applications. Released this month, WorkStream IA was made available to over 100 domestic Chromira labs for user-based installs. WorkStream DS, created for the workflow of digital studios and photographers, will be available during the fourth quarter of 2002.

ZBE's WorkStream IA (Imaging Automation) application manages order management and the print production process in the digital photo lab or the imaging service bureau. In the professional lab, WorkStream IA handles all aspects of order creation, management and production from order entry and scanning, through color correction, cropping and retouching, to scheduling and printing. In addition, WorkStream IA provides package creation with image rendering tools to produce the exciting new customized products.

"With ZBE's WorkStream Imaging Automation, professional imaging labs have dramatically streamlined and automated their digital workflow, improving production efficiency at virtually every step of digital production. At the same time, WorkStream provides seamless integration of orders generated in the studio, 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 IA is designed to seamlessly accept photographer- or studio- prepared orders for fast and accurate order fulfillment between the lab and their customers, utilizing the compatible WorkStream D.S. (Digital Studio) application.

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.

WorkStream I.A. is compatible with both the Chromira 30 and Chromira 50 large-format high-resolution digital RA-4 photographic printers as well as the Fuji Frontier digital mini labs.

ZBE, Incorporated is headquartered in Santa Barbara, CA, USA and has been serving professional imaging needs since 1980.