Academy Awards(R) Ceremony Credentials Printed on Epson for Eighth Year in a Row

Academy Awards(R) Ceremony Credentials Printed on Epson for Eighth Year in a Row

Application Demonstrates How Epson DURABrite(R) Ultra Printers Address the Increasing Need for Photo ID Badges by Conveniently Delivering High Quality Water, Smudge and Fade Resistant Prints

HOLLYWOOD, Calif., Feb. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- For the eighth year in a row, officials with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) are relying on Epson quality to meet their printing needs. This year, the Epson Stylus(R) C88+ printer is the model of choice to help the Academy print thousands of high quality, durable photo identification badges that will be worn by everyone involved in the 79th Academy Awards production.

While the versatile C88+ can be used for a variety of letter size and smaller printing needs, the printer was selected for this critical application mainly because of its unique Epson DURABrite Ultra inks that deliver unsurpassed water, smudge and fade resistance. Other factors in the selection included the ability to get the best image quality possible in this type of application with fast printing speeds for maximum efficiency. Epson's quick-drying inks were another important factor so badges could be handled immediately as they came off the printer without smudges. And lastly, the Academy needed a printer with a paper path that wouldn't bend the badge and could handle thick media to accommodate the cutting-edge technology incorporated into the identification badges.

"Photo identification badges are being increasingly used in a variety of settings, and Epson's DURABrite Ultra pigment ink printers are well-suited for creating these quickly on the spot," said Colin Donahoe, director, Retail Printers, Epson. "We are glad to work with the biggest event in the entertainment industry to give organizers the control and convenience they need for this aspect of their operations."

"The Academy has high standards for every detail of our production and cannot have any compromises," said Deborah Cahn, credentials operations, AMPAS. "We found Epson's DURABrite Ultra printers to be the most compatible with the materials we are using for our badges. Plus, these versatile printers produce great quality and are so easy to use."

About the Epson Stylus C88+

The Epson Stylus C88+ is a sleek, high-performance letter-size ink jet printer that is perfect for the small office or the home. With DURABrite Ultra pigment ink, this printer provides smudge, fade and water resistance on any type of media, including ordinary plain paper and Epson Premium Photo Paper Glossy. The Epson Stylus C88+ features individual ink cartridges, giving users the convenience and control of only having to replace the color of ink that runs out. All the models can produce borderless prints in frame-ready sizes such as 4"x 6", 5" x 7", 8" x 10", and letter. This printer offers fast print speeds -- up to 23 ppm for black text and up to 14 ppm(1) for color text. The Epson Stylus C88+ is available for an estimated street price of $79.

About Epson

Epson offers an extensive array of award-winning image capture and image output products for the consumer, business, photography and graphic arts markets. The company is also a leading supplier of value-added point-of-sale (POS) printers and transaction terminals for the retail market. Founded in 1975, Epson America Inc. is the U.S. affiliate of Japan-based Seiko Epson Corporation, a global manufacturer and supplier of high-quality technology products that meet customer demands for increased functionality, compactness, systems integration and energy efficiency. Epson America Inc. is headquartered in Long Beach, Calif.

Note: Specifications subject to change. Epson, Epson Stylus, and DURABrite are registered trademarks of Seiko Epson Corporation. All other products and brand names are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective companies. Epson disclaims any and all rights in these marks.

(1) PPM measured after first page. See www.epson.com/printspeed for more

information about print speeds.

Source: Epson America, Inc.

CONTACT: Caroline Zubieta of Epson America, Inc., +1-562-290-4026,
caroline_zubieta@ea.epson.com; or Jane Fainer of Walt & Company,
+1-408-496-0900, ext. 1052, jfainer@walt.com, for Epson America, Inc.

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