New Software is First to Combine Data Transmission with Live Remote Annotation, Proofing Verification

New York (April 23, 1997) -- Imation Corp. (NYSE: IMN), the imaging and information company recently spun-off by 3M, and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Luminous Technology Corporation, today introduced Luminous™ Virtual Network™ Pro software, the companies' first jointly developed digital production tool for the graphic arts industry.

Luminous Virtual Network Pro, which is expected to be available in second quarter 1997, is unlike other high-speed file transfer solutions. Through a broad range of telecommunication connections, the software allows graphic arts service providers to employ a single user interface to perform file transfers, job annotation and remote proofing with a simple drag and drop operation.

Designed as an integral piece of the total digital workflow, jobs submitted through the Luminous Virtual Network Pro application can be seamlessly integrated into production processes, such as an automated production pipeline using Luminous OPEN™ (Open Production Environment software). Additionally, through the use of a telecommunications file transfer method - ISDN lines, digital and analog telephone lines, TCP/IP, AppleTalk, enterprise intranets, or the Internet - the Mac( OS-based Luminous Virtual Network Pro software offers graphic arts service providers and their customers increased productivity and cost saving opportunities.

"The functionality and flexibility offered by Luminous Virtual Network Pro can provide a competitive advantage to graphic arts service providers," said John Pohl, marketing director, Imation Printing and Publishing Systems. "Other file transfer solutions require the graphic arts service provider to determine the required workflow and start the process manually. Luminous Virtual Network Pro is built upon an open architecture and is tightly integrated with production processes, allowing customers to automatically deliver and incorporate a job into a production workflow using a variety of data transmission methods."

Luminous Virtual Network Pro will be available worldwide in English in second quarter 1997 from authorized Imation and Luminous graphic arts distributors. Pricing information will be announced at a later date.

Remote Annotation and Proofing Verification

Luminous Virtual Network Pro software adds two new features to its integrated data transmission software. Through new Imation reviewing functionality, graphic arts service providers can review and interactively annotate images remotely on-screen, providing opportunities to avoid costly mistakes before production. Users will be able to save or print changes and annotations for later inspection.

For graphic arts service providers using Imation(tm) Rainbow™ Digital Color Proofing Systems, new Imation proofing functionality verifies whether or not the proof was successfully output at the remote site. With this function, the sender receives notification that the remote Rainbow(tm) color proofing system has received and processed the job or that an error occurred. Users will be able to send any file type supported by the Rainbow color proofing system to any Host site listed in their Luminous Virtual Network Pro address book.

Value-Add Workflow Solutions

Luminous Virtual Network Pro is an example of Imation's commitment to deliver innovative products and technology solutions designed for graphic arts, prepress, printing and publishing applications.

"As many of our customers and the industry in general move toward digital workflows, Imation is responding to customer needs for improved productivity through cost-effective solutions," said Pohl. "Imation plans to add industry-specific features to Luminous Virtual Network Pro that will simplify and enhance the growing use of telecommunications as the delivery mechanism of choice for integrating graphic arts jobs into production processes."

About Luminous Virtual Network for the Mac OS

Consisting of a "Host" module at the graphic arts service provider site and "Client" modules at numerous customer sites, Luminous Virtual Network Pro software links client sites to the service provider's prepress and print production system. High-volume color trade shops, service bureaus, print houses and enterprise print production departments can transmit to or receive jobs from their customers with any graphics file type. For example, digital advertisements can be submitted to newspapers in the Newspaper Association of America file format by using the Luminous Virtual Network Digital Ad Transmission job ticket tab.

Graphic arts service providers use the Host module to receive incoming jobs and route them automatically to production workflow processes. These processes can include software tools such as a Luminous OPEN pipeline, a Luminous Color Central(r) software printing queue, or devices including printers, imagesetters and proofers such as an Rainbow(tm) color proofing system. Customers can use the Client module to connect to the service provider's network to both retrieve and submit jobs.

Luminous Virtual Network Pro software supports host-to-point communications, giving large, multiple location enterprise users the ability to send and receive jobs within the organization easily, rather than designating one site as a central Host hub. The software is able to monitor many communications connections simultaneously, enabled through support for multiple sessions.

The software is compatible with most analog and high-speed digital telecommunications systems, including, but not limited to, ISDN services, switched 56 digital services, WAN routers, high-speed modems such as Global Village and other Hayes AT-compatible modems, Transware routers, MultiAccess MCC-256 cards with an Apple Internet router, and any communications method compatible with the Macintosh™ Communications Toolbox. Luminous Virtual Network software is a Luminous OPEN compatible application.

Luminous Virtual Network Pro System Requirements

The minimum system requirements for both the Host and Client modules of Luminous Virtual Network Pro is a 68030-based Macintosh or greater, Apple System 7.5.3 or greater, and 2 MB of RAM available to Luminous Virtual Network Pro.

Luminous Technology Corporation is an wholly-owned subsidiary of Imation Corp. Based in Seattle, Wa., Luminous develops software products, services and technologies for the prepress, print production, and graphic arts industries that support the shift to digital prepress and printing, as well as the expansion of media production for business intranets and the World Wide Web. Luminous serves its customers from regional sales offices and distribution channels throughout the globe. For more information about Luminous Technology Corporation, customers should call (800) 685-6736. International customers should call (206) 689-6700. Luminous' website is www.luminous.com.

Imation supplies a variety of products and services worldwide for the imaging and information industry. The company manufactures and markets digital and conventional proofing systems, including the industry standard Matchprint™ color proofing system, imagesetting materials, printing plates, graphic arts films, digital prepress software, software for digital communications services and carbonless paper products to customers worldwide. The company employs approximately 9,400 people worldwide and is based in Oakdale, Minn.

Additional information about Imation is available on the company's website at http://www.imation.com, by calling Imation toll-free at 1-888-466-3456, or through the company's toll-free shareholder information line at 1-888-IMN-NYSE (1-888-466-6973).

Luminous and Virtual Network are trademarks and Color Central is a trademark of Luminous Technology Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Imation. Imation, Rainbow and Matchprint are trademarks of Imation.

Copyright 1996 Imation. All rights reserved.