For Immediate Release

Submission of Precision Graphics Markup Language (PGML) Specification Acknowledged by World Wide Web Consortium (W3C)

San Jose, Calif., (April 13, 1998) (Nasdaq: ADBE) - Adobe Systems Incorporated today announced the submission of a proposal to improve creation of and access to vector graphics for Web content. Adobe teamed with IBM, Netscape, and Sun Microsystems in response to the World Wide Web Consortium's (W3C) interest in a vector graphics specification. The submission, known as the Precision Graphics Markup Language (PGML), is a 2D graphics language that provides precise control of layout, fonts, color and printing, which will result in Web pages with compelling text, images and graphics, as well as dynamic events and animation. The submission of the PGML specification can be found at http://www.w3.org/Submission/.

"Adobe is committed to developing tools and driving standards for the Web. The PGML proposal solves a growing need for a precise specification that enables members of the Web community to readily and reliably post, control and interact with graphics on the Web," said John Warnock, CEO of Adobe Systems.

Web Content Creator Benefits

PGML will be fully compatible with leading drawing and illustration programs, such as Adobe Illustrator used by content creators, including graphic artists, enabling them to easily export vector graphics to the Web from their favorite graphics programs without loss of quality. Therefore, Web content creators can develop the same high-quality content they normally design for print, and use PGML to post it to the Web in an acceptable file size without resorting to time-consuming, quality-reducing tricks.

"PGML will allow CorelDRAW users to easily publish smaller, scalable vector images to the World Wide Web," said Dr. Michael Cowpland, president and chief executive officer of Corel Corporation. "We look forward to working with W3C members to establish PGML as an XML-based vector graphics format for the Web."

"Vector graphics have many advantages over the bitmap formats GIF, PNG and JPEG because vectors are scalable, faster to download, and print better than bitmaps. The Web has long needed a vector file format standard that is not dependent on plug-ins or proprietary authoring solutions, said Lynda Weinman, best-selling author of Designing Web Graphics. "One of the things I like best about PGML is its ability to contain searchable text; something no other graphic file format to date contains. The current proposal for the PGML specification has my complete support and endorsement."

End User Benefits

For end users of Web content, PGML offers faster download speeds, better graphic interactivity, resolution-independent printing, zoomable graphics, animation and special effects without the need for plug-ins. As a result, Web pages will communicate better because the experience will be richer and the visuals more compelling.

Developer Benefits

Because PGML is based on the same imaging model as Adobe PostScript language and Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF), few changes to existing applications are required to make them PGML authoring packages. PGML is also compatible with XML (eXtensible Markup Language), CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) and DOM (Document Object Model), and other Web specifications, providing developers with a fully-integrated solution for posting high-end graphic content to the Web.

"We believe that PGML is an important step to making XML the preferred choice for publishing 'print quality' documents on the web. It will allow users to preserve the image quality of their illustrations while exploiting the economies of doing e-business," said Rod Smith, director of Internet technology and distiquished engineer for IBM. "By implementing the reference code for PGML in Java, the submission partners have made sure that PGML will be available on any platform."

"Sun is happy to support the PGML proposal which is based on the same imaging model included in the Java 2D API that is in the next major release of the Java Development Kit," said Dr. Lew Tucker, director of strategic relations at Sun Microsystems' JavaSoft division. "This proposal underscores Sun's commitment to open standards, and makes support of PGML much easier for systems supporting the Java platform."

About the World Wide Web Consortium

The World Wide Web Consortium (at http://www.w3.org/) was created in 1994 to lead the World Wide Web to its full potential by developing common protocols that enhance the interoperability and promote the evolution of the World Wide Web. Services provided by the Consortium include: a repository of information about the World Wide Web for developers and users; sample code implementations to embody and promote standards; and various prototype and sample applications to demonstrate use of new technology. To date, more than 250 organizations are Members of the Consortium.

About Adobe Systems

Based in San Jose, Calif., Adobe develops supports software products to help people express and use information in more imaginative and meaningful ways, across all print and electronic media. For more information, see Adobe's home page at www.adobe.com.

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