---------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Florida SunFlash SunPics Introduces NeWSprint XP Software SunFLASH Vol 39 #1 March 1992 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Extends NeWSprint Software Capabilities Lets Network Users Print on Output Devices with High Resolution, Large Size SEYBOLD, Boston, Mass. -- February 18, 1992 -- SunPics, the Sun Microsystems, Inc. business dedicated to printing and imaging, today unveiled NeWSprint XP, licensable software that extends the capabilities of NeWSprint 2.0 software to a wider range of printing devices. The new technology, which will be available to developers and original equipment manufacturers, makes it possible to print files from any computer on a network-including Macintosh, IBM and IBM-compatible PCs, workstations, minicomputers and more-to output devices such as imagesetters, high-resolution laser printers, large-format plotters, and other high raster memory output devices. These devices are used by professional publishers, desktop publishers, newspapers, and others who require fast, high-quality, PostScript-compatible output. SunPics also announced that the first adopters of NeWSprint XP technology will be ECRM and SRS Imaging, both of which have agreed to license the new technology and incorporate it in upcoming products. Like the NeWSprint 2.0 product, NeWSprint XP speeds up the performance of output devices by allowing the page imaging process to be handled by powerful SPARC central processing units (CPUs) rather than by the slower processors resident in the output device. Printing becomes a background task in a network printing environment; no dedicated workstation is needed for imaging. This in turn can reduce printer costs, because no dedicated CPU or memory is needed in the output device. It also allows the functionality of output devices to be increased through software upgrades rather than hardware replacement. The NeWSprint XP technology, co-developed with Linotype-Hell A.G., a leading supplier of imagesetters, incorporates high-performance banding. This innovation allows a single page raster image to be split into small bands, which reduces system memory requirements, and provides licensees with a configurable PostScript-compatible solution for a wide range of memory-intensive devices. Through a new feature called OpenScreening, SunPics' shared halftone library interface, developers can incorporate their own proprietary screening process or take advantage of the patented screening process developed by SunPics that provides PostScript level 2 compatibility for monochrome devices. All the key features of NeWSprint 2.0, including PC/Macintosh interoperability and Type 1 font support, are available in NeWSprint XP software. Documents from applications such as Quark Xpress, for example, can be easily output at high resolutions. In addition, NeWSprint XP software will be able to take advantage of internationalized offerings from SunPics, including localizable, scalable foreign language fonts in F3 outline format. For example, NeWSprint XP software combined with Nihongo NeWSprint allows Japanese scalable fonts from Morisawa and Co. to be output on high-resolution devices. NeWSprint XP is bundled with 57 F3 outline fonts from major font suppliers including Linotype, Monotype, ITC, and Bigelow and Holmes. A developer's kit that lets programmers create and distribute easy-to-install NeWSprint XP-supported products is also provided under the licensing agreement. NeWSprint XP is available April 30 as a licensable technology through SunPics. Prospective licensees should contact SunPics for terms and conditions at (415) 336-3801. SunPics: Kathryn Watson (415) 336-6851 Hi-Tech Public Relations: Lisa Sheeran (415) 864-5600 # # # # 1992 Sun Microsystems, Inc. Sun, the Sun logo, SunPics, the SunPics logo, NeWSprint, F3, and OpenScreening are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc. SPARC is a registered trademark of SPARC International, Inc., licensed to Sun Microsystems, Inc. Products bearing SPARC trademarks are based upon an architecture developed by Sun Microsystems, Inc. UNIX is a registered trademark of UNIX System Laboratory, Inc. PostScript is a registered trademark of Adobe Systems, Inc. All other products or services mentioned herein are trademarks of their respective owners. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ For information send mail to info-sunflash@sunvice.East.Sun.COM. Subscription requests should be sent to sunflash-request@sunvice.East.Sun.COM. Archives are on solar.nova.edu, paris.cs.miami.edu, uunet.uu.net, src.doc.ic.ac.uk and ftp.adelaide.edu.au All prices, availability, and other statements relating to Sun or third party products are valid in the U.S. only. Please contact your local Sales Representative for details of pricing and product availability in your region. Descriptions of, or references to products or publications within SunFlash does not imply an endorsement of that product or publication by Sun Microsystems. John McLaughlin, SunFlash editor, flash@sunvice.East.Sun.COM. (305) 776-7770.