New Illustration Product Transforms Enterprise CAD and 2D Data at a Fraction of the Price of Adobe Products

  New Illustration Product Transforms Enterprise CAD and 2D Data at a Fraction
  of the Price of Adobe Products

Canvas 14 Increases the Value of Technical Data and Professional Illustrations
               from the Engineering Department to the Boardroom

Business Wire

SEATTLE -- June 12, 2012

ACD Systems International, Inc. today announced Canvas 14 and Canvas 14 +GIS,
the easiest and most effective way to transform technical CAD and 2D data into
creative illustrations that can be used throughout the enterprise. With Canvas
14, engineers and designers can draw and edit precise documents that can be
quickly and easily annotated and shared. The additional Canvas +GIS allows for
the use of geo-data within illustrations. Both products provide the
capabilities of the Adobe Product Suite, including Photoshop, Illustrator,
InDesign and Acrobat at a fraction of the cost. Companies currently using
Canvas include Boeing, Caterpillar, GM, Chevron, Lockheed Martin and NASA.

“Big Data presents incredible opportunity for companies, but it also creates
incredible challenges,” said Frank Lin, General Manager and CTO of ACD
Systems. “Enterprises must be able to take complex technical data and
transform it into information that can be easily understood and immediately
impactful. For example, an aircraft engineer can develop an illustration of
the latest passenger aircraft which he can use for production. The same
illustration can be used by the marketing department for a brochure, or
infographic creation, by customer service for support, by maintenance for
repair documentation and by the CEO for a Board of Directors presentation.
ACD’s commitment to accuracy, speed, ease of use and the ability to protect
and preserve data makes this solution ideal for companies that are committed
to getting the most value out of their data.”

Canvas makes it easy and inexpensive to create, annotate, dimension and share
technical data.

Create and Edit with Precision

Only Canvas allows for the ability to work intuitively with both vector and
raster images in the same document using the same tools. On the Fly
illustration can be used to instantly add re-usable dynamic objects to
drawings, geometry and position data can be edited and raster images can be
created, edited and augmented with a host of industry standard and specialized
techniques, tools and filters. Canvas’ proprietary SpriteLayers™ and
SpriteEffects™ technologies can be used to apply image and transparency
effects without affecting the original objects. And visually complex
information can be presented with unprecedented speed in a logical and easy to
understand format via Canvas’ Flowchart Palette. Any image can be imported
non-destructively and exported using over 100 different industry standard file
formats.

Quickly and Easily Annotate and Dimension

Canvas’ technical markup and advanced dimensioning tools facilitate the
iterative process of reviewing documentation and providing feedback, resulting
in more useful illustrations. Format dimensions can be added to illustrations
including linear, chain and baseline dimensioning tools. The highest level of
precision is ensured via engineered accuracy and control. Professionally
formatted and editable text can be added to vector objects and raster images.
And with SpriteEffects, a zoom lens can be created to emphasize a specific
area in a map or diagram. Dynamic charts and tables can be created in a
variety of formats. A montage feature is also available for the creation of
montage effects using a digital light table.

Increase the Value of Illustrations via Sharing

Canvas allows anyone to use previously developed illustrations in their own
documents – extending the life and value of visual assets while protecting the
integrity of the original data. Projects can be easily shared, discussed and
developed in a free-flowing document exchange. Canvas already includes word
processing, illustration, publication, animation and presentation tools, so
there’s no need to purchase a number of programs. Time-saving templates are
also included. Data can be preserved in PDF files and Canvas is the only
product on the market that allows editing of PDFs. Canvas’ secure encryption
and password protection ensures that documents can be shared with confidence.
Full control can be exercised over who can open, edit and print designs.

Powerful Geographic Tools from Canvas 14 +GIS

Canvas 14 +GIS offers a powerful set of geographic-based features and commands
that support all GIS formats, define complex map projections, and perform
advanced property operations. This makes Canvas +GIS an indispensable tool for
professionals in the gas/energy, aerospace, automotive, education and
government sectors—any market that requires the use of geo-related
illustrations.

Canvas Users: High Importance Creators and Consumers

Canvas users fall into two segments—the developers of illustrations and those
that consume these illustrations.

  * Super Users or Illustration Creators are seasoned engineers and industrial
    drafters. They are high demand and prolific producers of technical
    illustration. Examples of documents they create include aircraft
    schematics, oil and gas surveying maps, and product manufacturing
    specifications.
  * Illustration Recipients can be in any department within the organization.
    They use these technical illustrations to understand important issues,
    products or topics, and make critical decisions or communicate important
    items. They may also repurpose illustrations to create other documents for
    their needs or to share with their constituents.

Availability and Price

Canvas 14 and Canvas 14 +GIS products are available immediately via
www.acdsee.com. Canvas 14 is priced at $599.99 USD and Canvas 14 +GIS is
$799.99 USD.

Product Support:
Web: https://acdsystems.desk.com/
Email: support@acdsystems.com

Sales Support:
Web: www.acdsee.com/en/partners/corporate-sales
Email:sales@acdsystems.com
Phone: 1.800.579.5309

About ACD Systems International Inc.

Founded in Texas in 1993 by imaging visionary Doug Vanderkerkhove, ACD Systems
is one of the largest and most respected independent digital editing and
management companies in the world. Doug foresaw the importance of the
convergence of analog and digital (print, photos, scans, video and metadata).

The company’s products include ACDSee Pro 5, ACDSee 14, and Canvas 14 +GIS,
which help Fortune 500 companies, enhance, manage and disseminate their
valuable digital assets. Customers include General Motors, Caterpillar,
Boeing, The New York City Fire Department, NASA, CNN and the Royal Canadian
Mounted Police. Today ACD holds six patents and millions of ACDSee products
are in use throughout the world. In fact, ACDSee products are so popular in
Asia that they are second only to Louis Vuitton in product piracy.

ACD Systems can be found online at www.acdsee.com, on Twitter at @acdsee, and
on Facebook at www.facebook.com/acdsee.

Contact:

K/F Communications
Jordan Sturm, 650-255-6509
Jordan@kfcomm.com
or
Julie Karbo, 415-255-6505
Julie@kfcomm.com