OfficeMax First Office Products Superstore Operator to Market with CrystalGraphics’ PowerPlugsÔ

First office products superstore chain to sell hot new MicrosoftÒ Office add-ins


Santa Clara, California ¾ (June 10, 1999) ¾  3D animation pioneer CrystalGraphics, Inc., of Santa Clara, California and OfficeMax, Inc. (NYSE:OMX) have an arrangement which will make OfficeMax the first office products superstore chain to market CrystalGraphics’ new PowerPlugs: Transitions I and PowerPlugs: PhotoActive FX I software titles.

CrystalGraphics, Inc., a leading developer of 3D graphics software announced their new “Power Plugs” product line on April 14, 1999 during the spring 1999 RetailVision show in San Francisco.   “We are pleased to be working with OfficeMax, an industry leader in computer software sales.  This is a significant first step for CrystalGraphics on the road to retail sales for our new PowerPlugs product line.” said Robert J. Courtney Jr., President and CEO of CrystalGraphics.

About PowerPlugs: Transitions I
PowerPlugs: Transitions I energizes PowerPoint presentations with TV-style 3D transition effects.  Developed in cooperation with Microsoft, (NASDAQ: MFST), CrystalGraphics’ Power Plugs: Transitions I enables presentations to stand out from the crowd with unique and innovative effects.  During the Microsoft Office 2000 launch, OfficeMax will be giving PowerPlugs: Transitions I away FREE, while supplies last, to OfficeMax customers when they purchase any one of the new Microsoft Office 2000 versions.

About PowerPlugs: PhotoActive FX
OfficeMax will also offer PowerPlugs: PhotoActive FX I.  PhotoActive FX allows users to add impressive still and animated photo effects to their PowerPoint presentations.  Pre-created, yet fully customizable for maximum ease-of-use, these artistic still and animated effects give presentations a more professional look.  PhotoActive FX I includes over 140 unique effects including Coloring, Cookie Cutters, Edges, Frames, Fine Arts, Lights and Shadows, Rotations, Text, Texture Art and Transitions. Animated Photo Effects include full-image animated effects, overlay, text animations, image transitions in and image transitions out.  Examples of these unique effects can be viewed on the World Wide Web at: http://www.crystalgraphics.com/products.powerplugs.photoactivefx.effects.html  

About CrystalGraphics
CrystalGraphics is a leader in the development of incredibly easy-to-use animation software designed to help businesses communicate more successfully ¾ on the Web, through presentations, and through videos.  As an early pioneer in the 3D Web and videographics industries, CrystalGraphics developed and markets several award winning products, including: Crystal 3D VORTEX, Crystal 3D IMPACT! Pro, PowerPlugs: Transitions and PowerPlugs: PhotoActive FX.  More information about CrystalGraphics products can be found on the World Wide Web at www.crystalgraphics.com, or by calling 1-800-394-0700.

About OfficeMax
OfficeMax operates more than 870 full-size superstores in over 370 markets in 49 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.  OfficeMax also features in-store modules, CopyMax and FurnitureMax, devoted exclusively to print-for-pay services and office furniture.  Through joint venture partnerships, OfficeMax operates a total of 19 international locations in Japan and Mexico, and expects to launch operations in Brazil later this year.  In addition, OfficeMax has 18 delivery centers throughout the United States to serve its catalog and direct marketing businesses, including OfficeMax.com on the Internet at http://www.officemax.com, enabling individual consumers and businesses to buy a wide assortment of merchandise using personal computers.

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CrystalGraphics, 3D IMPACT, 3D VORTEX, PowerPlugs, Transitions and PhotoActive FX are trademarks of
CrystalGraphics, Inc. All other trademarks and trade names are the property of their respective owners.
©1998- CrystalGraphics, Inc.