San Jose, Calif., (August 4, 1998) (Nasdaq: ADBE) -- Adobe Systems Incorporated announced today that a new report by market research firm Dataquest ranks Adobe®, PhotoDeluxe® as the number one selling consumer photo-editing software product in the world. With more than twice the revenue of any other vendor and the number one position in worldwide unit shipments, Adobe leads a category that grew a remarkable 239 per cent in 1997 and is expected to continue robust growth well into 2001, according to the report.

"Adobe is well positioned as the industry standard for graphics professionals and has now successfully opened up new business opportunities and reached a new base of customers in the mass market," said Suzanne Snygg, Industry Analyst, Dataquest."The bottom line is Adobe shipped more product and made more money that any other vendor in the consumer photo editing software category. With extensive experience, product strength, and strong brand equity, Adobe is the force to be reckoned with in the consumer photo editing market."

"Professionals have long understood the power images have to make ideas stand out, which is why Adobe Photoshop has been so successful," said Kyle Mashima, Vice President and General Manager of Adobe’s Home and Office Products Division. "Adobe PhotoDeluxe makes good pictures even better, making photography more fun and helping consumers share pictures in meaningful and creative ways. Helping a new set of customers communicate with the same impact as the pros has created a growth opportunity for Adobe and another large base of satisfied customers."

Surpasses competition with awards and innovations

Adobe PhotoDeluxe 2.0 software is the number one selling consumer photo-editing software program that lets customers with nothing more than point-and-click computer skills enhance and personalize digital photos. Based on Adobe® Photoshop®, the world standard photo design and production tool for graphics professionals, Adobe PhotoDeluxe leads the consumer photo editing software market in worldwide marketshare and technology innovations.

Based in San Jose, Calif., Adobe Systems Incorporated develops and supports products to help people express and use information in more imaginative and meaningful ways across print and electronic media. For more information, visit the Adobe website at www.adobe.com.

"PhotoDeluxe is Everyman’s photo editor, " said Jim Seymour, columnist and contributing editor for PC Magazine. "It may be the bargain of the year in PC software."

Adobe PhotoDeluxe software has garnered an impressive list of industry awards, including the highest ratings possible from leading computer trade publications and accolades from industry analysts. In comparative product reviews, Adobe PhotoDeluxe easily beat out the competition. Honors include:

• PC World "Best Buy" Award. In a competitive review of eight consumer photo editing software products, PC World said, "Adobe PhotoDeluxe 2.0 is flat-out the best all-around photo editor for the average business user for two reasons: It’s strikingly easy to comprehend and use, and it's pleasingly customizable."
• c/net "Editor’s Choice " Award. Reviewing the leading consumer photo editing packages, c/net said, "For the best in powerful imaging tools, rich Web integration, complete file support, and overall ease of use, go with Adobe PhotoDeluxe".
• Windows Sources "Stellar " Award
• Family PC "Recommended " Award
• Digital Focus Excellence in Imaging Award for "Best Photo Editing Software of 1997"
• Lyra Research, Inc./Questra Consulting Award for "Most Compelling Digital Applications Product of 1997 "

Using a breakthrough feature called Adobe Connectables, Adobe PhotoDeluxe 2.0 is the only consumer photo-editing software program that delivers customers free guided activities every month via the Web. It is also the only consumer photo-editing software program with Smart Features, such as one-step red-eye removal and Adobe SmartSelect, which make complex tasks easy to perform so customers can concentrate on having fun and getting great results.

About Adobe Systems Incorporated
Based in San Jose, Adobe develops and 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 located at http://www.adobe.com.

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