Extensis Press Release

Charity publishes images more easily with asset management solution

Northampton, 12th April 2005 – Extensis has today announced that Christian Aid is using Portfolio and Portfolio NetPublish Server to handle an ever-increasing demand for images from the developing world.  The Charity uses Extensis’ popular digital asset management solution, Portfolio, to archive in excess of 6000 images per year, as well as making the data accessible to all staff via Portfolio NetPublish directly from their desktops for better internal and external use.

Christian Aid has been exposing the issue of poverty through images for many years and strives to work wherever the need is greatest. The need to reduce labour intensive processes, make photo research services more accessible to Christian Aid’s 500 staff and an ever increasing demand for images, led the charity to adopt Portfolio SQL Connect and Portfolio NetPublish Server.

Jonathan Parsons, technical projects manager for Christian Aid’s Common Knowledge Programme comments, “Key to our needs was finding a product that was flexible in scope, simple to operate/maintain, fully cross platform and demonstrated a viable road-map.  Our previous method for archiving photo stock was manual and very labour intensive.  The introduction of a collaborative, data enriched and visual system via Portfolio has dramatically changed the way the Photo Unit works.”

Portfolio NetPublish is of specific benefit to Christian Aid as its entire digitized image catalogue is opened up to staff.  This not only encourages self-service but enables persistent re-use of archived material.  Parsons continues, “There really is no comparison between our current and old method of archiving photography.  Christian Aid can now offer a greater proactive service to external image requests, something that is critical following a major event such as the Tsunami in 2004.  Our media department was inundated with requests for comment and interviews – whilst taking the call, media staff were able to search the image database and email prospective images to journalists immediately.”

Extensis Portfolio & NetPublish are used by a wide variety of charitable and non-profit organizations including The Arts Council, Tearfund and PDSA.  Richard Bamford, European Business Manager for Extensis explains, “The public perception of a charity is often based on witnessing the good work that goes on.  Portfolio helps to promote this work by facilitating the cataloguing and publishing of project images that may have previously gone unnoticed. In an age where the number of charities is increasing and the public are less loyal in who they donate to, an increased profile is imperative.”

About Portfolio
The Portfolio suite of Digital Asset Management (DAM) products is designed to meet the needs of the most demanding creative professionals and workgroups through four components: Portfolio Client, Portfolio Server, Portfolio NetPublish and Portfolio SQL Connect. Portfolio provides powerful Client/Server digital asset management for both desktops and networked workgroups, allowing collaborative teams to organize, find and share digital files quickly.

Portfolio Server offers more expandability and integration options with optimized connection modules for Microsoft SQL Server, and Oracle and MySQL engines. Portfolio Server leverages standard ODBC technology, enabling integrators and IT professionals to create customized solutions that provide easy access to the information stored in the database.

About Extensis
Extensis, a division of Celartem, Inc., is the world’s leading provider of software solutions that empower digital asset creators and users. Extensis’ award-winning products are used by hundreds of Fortune 5000 companies and include Suitcase and Font Reserve for font management, Portfolio for asset management, and plug-in enhancements for Photoshop and QuarkXPress. Extensis was founded in 1993 and is based in Portland, Oregon, and the United Kingdom. Extensis is a division of Celartem, Inc., which is wholly owned by Celartem Technology Inc., (Hercules: 4330). For additional information, visit http://www.extensis.com or call +44 1604 636300.

About Celartem
Celartem Technology, Inc, develops and sells innovative technologies for storage, access and distribution of rich media content. Celartem has developed technology in the areas of digital image compression, scalable image viewing and secure content distribution and management. Celartem is listed on the Osaka Securities Exchange, Hercules: 4330. Established in 1996, Celartem is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan and has a wholly owned subsidiary, Celartem Inc. with headquarters in Seattle.

About Christian Aid
Christian Aid works in some of the world’s poorest communities in more than 50 countries.  Christian Aid acts where the need is greatest, regardless of religion, helping people to tackle the problems they face and build the life they deserve.  At home and overseas, Christian Aid campaigns to change the structures that keep people poor, challenging inequality and injustice.  For further information please visit www.christianaid.org.uk.