X-Rite Introduces ColorDesigner® PLUS Software to Increase Profitability of Paint Retailers and Manufacturers Worldwide by Improving In-Store Efficiency and Data Management

X-Rite Inc. is launching its new ColorDesigner® PLUS software package that aims to increase profits of paint retailers and manufacturers worldwide by improving the process of color picking, matching and custom mixing architectural paints.

Designed to work seamlessly with all major types of paint dispensing equipment, ColorDesigner PLUS gives users more options to search paint collections and match colors, input data for new families of paints, create recipes for small scale manufacturing and connect with X-Rite's CAPSURE instrument that is becoming a critical tool for the contractors and interior designers to pick and match paint colors at worksites.

X-Rite will unveil the more powerful software package at the European Coatings Show 2011 being held from March 29-31 at the Exhibition Centre Nuremberg in Nuremberg, Germany, and attendees can view demonstrations at stand 9-350 in Hall 9. In North America, the company will demonstrate the product at the Home Hardware Spring Market near Toronto on April 10-12 and the 2011 Do-It-Best May Market in Indianapolis on May 21-23.

"ColorDesigner PLUS is a truly universal software package for paint retailers and paint manufacturers," said Dave Visnovsky, X-Rite product manager responsible for the program. In developing the package, X-Rite has incorporated the recommendations of major paint manufacturers and trade and retail point-of-sales users at a number of the more than 15,000 ColorDesigner installations worldwide. Information about ColorDesigner PLUS may be obtained by visiting www.xrite.com or contacting Visnovsky at dvisnovsky@xrite.com.

As an example of those improvements, X-Rite has made sure that paint companies and retailers in any market can link ColorDesigner PLUS with their existing colorant dispenser equipment easily and seamlessly, Visnovsky said. Even with the added features and enhanced graphics, ColorDesigner PLUS has improved speed and stability on personal computers over the original ColorDesigner.

ColorDesigner PLUS offers the following improvements:

· one software package that drives all major types of dispensers;

· a novice step-by-step or expert approach to navigating the software to match the skill level of the individuals who access the system;

· simpler workflows to eliminate confusion over how to search databases when looking up or matching colors;

· a seamless connection with CAPSURE so measurements and recorded information can be easily downloaded into a paint store's computer;

· methods that allow paint manufacturers and colorant providers to input paint recipes and optical data of bases and pigments into the software's database;

· applications that allow paint companies and colorant providers to convert existing databases into the ColorDesigner PLUS format;

· a modular system that allows users to customize the look and feel of ColorDesigner PLUS' presentation, and;

· time-saving applications such as the ability to easily call up a family of paints and a way to list the order of color collections to suit the software's user.

The ColorDesigner PLUS package also can be used by smaller paint manufacturers to easily calculate recipes for custom-sized paint batches of up to hundreds of liters or gallons. ColorDesigner PLUS is a cost-effective alternative to X-Rite's sophisticated laboratory software that is used by large paint manufacturing companies.

About X-Rite

(NASDAQ: XRIT) X-Rite Incorporated is the global leader in color science and technology. The company, which now includes design industry color leader Pantone, Inc., develops, manufactures, markets and supports innovative color solutions through measurement systems, software, color standards and services. X-Rite's expertise in inspiring, selecting, measuring, formulating, communicating and matching color helps users get color right the first time and every time, which translates to better quality and reduced costs. X-Rite serves a range of industries, including printing, packaging, photography, graphic design, video, automotive, paints, plastics, textiles, dental and medical. For further information, please visit www.xrite.com.