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Quark Releases Cutting-Edge QuarkXPress XTensions Through Quark Labs
New Technology Portal Offers QuarkXPress Users and Developers Access to Technology Previews, Proofs of Concept and Powerful XTensions
SAN FRANCISCO - 1/16/2008 -
Quark Inc. announced
today Quark® Labs, a new portal featuring
innovative QuarkXPress® 7 XTensions® that are not initially being released as
commercial products. Designed as a testing ground for QuarkXPress technology and
a community for QuarkXPress users and developers, Quark Labs offers free access
to technology previews, proofs of concept and both new and familiar XTensions.
The new XTensions featured on Quark Labs are built to enhance a user’s
experience with QuarkXPress 7 and increase productivity by automating common
user actions. The XTensions on Quark Labs include Welcome Screen, Image Drag and
Drop 1.0b, and ShadowCaster 3.3.
-- Welcome Screen: Welcome Screen is a navigation screen that appears
immediately upon launching QuarkXPress 7. It allows users to open recent
projects, create new projects, create new libraries and more without clicking
through a variety of menus or options. Welcome Screen also features training
videos, an RSS feed of Quark-related news and is currently available for
English-language Mac® environments.
-- Image Drag and Drop 1.0b: A long-time wish-list item for QuarkXPress users
debuts as a technology preview on the site. Image Drag and Drop 1.0b allows
users to drag images from almost anywhere -– folders, their desktop -– and drop
them into a QuarkXPress 7 document. The source code for this technology preview
will also be available on the site.
-- ShadowCaster 3.3: One of the most popular QuarkXPress XTensions of all
time, ShadowCaster adds transparency, blend modes and special effects such as
shadows, glows and bevels to QuarkXPress layouts. Version 3.3 is compatible with
QuarkXPress 7.
In addition to access to new and emerging XTensions that are not available
elsewhere, Quark Labs offers users and developers a way to communicate with the
Quark developers who are creating new software for QuarkXPress 7. Visitors can
implement and test XTensions concepts and provide both constructive and critical
feedback.
“Quark Labs is all about moving technology forward through collaboration with
the Quark community,” said Paul Schmitt, vice president of emerging technologies
and strategic alliances for Quark. “By making our development ideas and concepts
available we hope to solicit honest feedback that will positively affect the
direction of both Quark and QuarkXPress 7.”
Quark Labs will be updated continually with new technology previews, concepts
and XTensions. In the near future updates to the site will include enhancements
for the Mac OS® experience as well as third-party application compatibility
add-ons.
For more information and to access the new XTensions, please visit Quark Labs
today at http://labs.quark.com/.
About Quark Quark Inc. (www.quark.com) is an innovative software
company providing design, production, and collaboration solutions that are
transforming the business of creative communications. Quark has provided
award-winning software for professional publishers since its flagship product,
QuarkXPress, changed the course of traditional publishing. Denver-based Quark
Inc. is privately held.
# # #
Quark, QuarkXPress and XTensions are trademarks or registered trademarks of
Quark, Inc. and its affiliates in the U.S. and/or other countries. All other
marks are the property of their respective owners.
Contact: Sarah Rector, Quark Inc., srector@quark.com, 303-894-3753