Pixlabs' PhotoFramer Digital Photography Software Renders Photorealistic Frames On-Screen 

Redwood City, CA - June 24, 2003 - Pixlabs, producer of digital photography software today announced the introduction of PhotoFramer, a program to render high-quality, double matted frames for digital images.  When digital photographs are viewed on screen in email or on a web page, they are often viewed against a distracting backdrop of desktop clutter.  “For hundreds of years, artworks have used frames to focus attention on the art,” says Roger Meike, President of Pixlabs.  “We created PhotoFramer so digital photographers can easily create similar effects on-screen to bring out the best in their photos.”

The choice of colors for mats and frames greatly affects how an image looks.  PhotoFramer uses a proprietary scheme to suggest colors based on the contents of the image; however, the creative user can always choose colors directly from the picture using a simple eyedropper, or create custom colors. 

The program generates frames in a wide variety of customizable sizes, textures and styles that produce plastic, wood, marble, metal and special effect frames as well as different types of mats.  Easy-to-use resizing options make it simple to create thumbnails or full-size images for web photo galleries.  PhotoFramer also integrates with existing email programs to make sending sized, framed images simple and easy. 

PhotoFramer is useful for prints as well.  It previews colors and sizes of mats before heading to the framing shop.  A special “matte only” frame even allows the user to print mats with their image to avoid the need to buy and cut expensive matte board.

The rendering engine used by PhotoFramer was developed at Pixlabs for its Digital Photo Utilities product which professionals and enthusiasts use to generate frames as well as edit EXIF metadata, generate web galleries, caption, rotate, rename and organize digital images.  Rather than Digital Photo Utilities’ drag-and-drop, batch-oriented processing; PhotoFramer features an intuitive, easy to use interface more suitable to consumers.  Monika Schoenhoff, Pixlabs’ Vice President of Marketing says, “Our Digital Photo Utilities product brought online framing to the professional and semi-professional digital photographers.  Now, with PhotoFramer anyone can create spectacular frames.”

Key Product Features:

- Renders photorealistic, shaded, texture mapped, double matted frames

- Proprietary algorithms to suggest colors

- Matte, frame and wall colors can also be selected using a simple eyedropper

- Completely customizable. User can create own styles

- Integrates with existing email programs to make sending pictures easy.

- Creates thumbnails and effects for online web galleries

- Prints mats with pictures to save buying and cutting matte board

Pricing and Availability:

PhotoFramer is available this month for $19.95 (regularly $29.95) from http://www.pixlabs.com.

Requires Windows 98 or greater and Microsoft .NET Framework (a free download from Microsoft Windows Update page – http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com) 

About Pixlabs:

Pixlabs develops and sells software products to digital photography consumers, enthusiasts and professionals.  The company is located in Redwood City, CA and is privately held.  More information available at http://www.pixlabs.com/  

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