X-Rite Introduces Enhanced Line of Plate Control Solutions

-- Offers the industry’s highest level of accuracy; new firmware and software improvements support latest screening and plate technologies and FOGRA Measuring Bar standard --

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GRAND RAPIDS, Michigan, March 14th, 2008 -- X-Rite, Incorporated, (NASDAQ:XRIT) a global leader in color technology, today announced its new, enhanced line of plate control solutions designed to meet the wide ranging needs and budgets of pre-press and printing professionals. Designed to improve on-press productivity, and drastically reduce down-time costs and production waste, X-Rite’s plate control solutions offer the industry’s highest level of accuracy, repeatability, and imaging range, including extreme highlights and shadows. Featuring new firmware and software that support the latest screening and plate technologies and the FOGRA FMB measuring bar standard, X-Rite’s new plate control portfolio includes:

iCPlate2: offers a high level of plate reading accuracy for standard plate reading applications. Featuring a high camera resolution, automatic calibration and a very long battery life, X-Rite’s iCPlate2 is available in two configurations: iCPlate2 X, which is most suited to customers who only troubleshoot their plates occasionally but who need a highly accurate device to help them easily diagnose problems; and iCPlate2 XT, which is ideal for customers who regularly check plates but don’t necessarily print to a control or to an industry standard. iCPlate2 supports current screening technologies including AM, FM, hybrid and concentric screening.

PlateScope: this new version of PlateScope (version 6.1) offers unsurpassed accuracy and repeatability for the latest plate screening technologies. It supports all current screening technologies including AM, FM, XM and hybrid screen types. PlateScope is ideal for customers who are disciplined about process control, printing to standards such as SWOP, Gracol (G7), FOGRA or ISO, or who are coordinating output between multiple CTP devices.

“Our plate control solutions are designed to give printers the confidence of knowing their plates are right the first time, every time,” comments Chris LaFontaine, X-Rite’s worldwide market manager for print. “When you consider the time and expense involved with running today’s press operations, and the tight profit margins printers operate under, having control over plate quality, and being able to trouble shoot problems quickly and accurately can make the difference between making or losing money on a job.”

Using cutting-edge plate reading advances, X-Rite’s plate control solutions support the latest plate and screening technologies, including process-less, low latency plates (i.e. Fujifilm Pro-T) as well as standard offset plates. A complete list of supported plates is available from http://www.xrite.com/documents/apps/public/misc/en/PlateScope_iCPlate2_Supported_Plates_en.pdf.

X-Rite’s plate control solutions are equipped with high resolution black and white cameras, to ensure that the edges of dots are accurately detected and reliably measured, even when dealing with extreme highlights and shadows, the areas of most concern in the print process.

X-Rite plate control devices provide language-independent operation with an easy to use, icon-based graphical user interface (GUI), and clear visual readings of plate characteristics via a large LCD display. Each model comes complete with a handheld plate reader, a calibration target, and Capture Tool software to transfer measurement data to any Windows application. All of X-Rite’s plate reader devices are designed for both right- and left-handed operation.

In addition, the new line of plate control solutions features X-Rite’s PlateQuality software, to provide consistent plate quality that is verifiable, allowing users to measure and keep track of their goals and progress over time. PlateQuality is available as a standard feature of PlateScope and as an option for iCPlate2.

X-Rite’s iCPlate2 and PlateScope plate control solutions are available immediately from X-Rite and its extensive global network of authorized re-sellers. Existing iCPlate II customers (Basic or Advanced) wishing to upgrade to the new iCPlate2 (X or XT) functionality, can purchase an upgrade from X-Rite (for a complete list of upgrade options and pricing, please visit: www.xrite.com). All existing PlateScope customers can update their devices to the latest version for free.

About X-Rite

(NASDAQ: XRIT) X-Rite is the global leader in color science and technology. The company, which now includes design industry color leader Pantone, develops, manufactures, markets and supports innovative color solutions through measurement systems, software, color standards and services. X-Rite’s expertise in inspiring, selecting, measuring, formulating, communicating and matching color helps users get color right the first time and every time, which translates to better quality and reduced costs. X-Rite serves a range of industries, including printing, packaging, photography, graphic design, video, automotive, paints, plastics, textiles, dental and medical. For further information, please visit www.xrite.com.

US Press Contact:
Véronique Froment:
veronique@highrezpr.com
Tel: + 1 603-537-9248

EU Press Contact:
Ute Richter:
ute.richter@hotwirepr.com
Tel: +49 (0) 69-25 66 93-20