Upgrade Offers Increased User Enhancement for Viewing Geospatial Imagery...

San Diego, California - ESRI User Conference, June 26, 2000- LizardTech Inc., the leader in imaging technologies, today announced the release of its MrSID® GeoViewer 2.1 software product. MrSID GeoViewer 2.1 allows users to display, explore and work with imagery in MrSID format.

MrSID is a wavelet-based imaging technology that allows up to a 95 percent file size reduction while maintaining geometric accuracy and providing for real-time viewing, panning and printing of massive-sized imagery, including files larger than a gigabyte.

This latest upgrade of GeoViewer expands the capabilities of the free MrSID technology for viewing and working with MrSID images. The MrSID GeoViewer is available for free from LizardTech's Web site at www.lizardtech.com. Decoder Software Developers Kits (SDK's) are also available at the Web site.

Enhancements in MrSID GeoViewer 2.1 include faster zooming and panning capabilities, the ability to view, save and print MrSID metadata and export to TIFF, GeoTIFF, TFW and TAB formats. These latest improvements will also allow users to take full advantage of the most up-to-date high-resolution technology from satellite, remote sensing and aerial image providers.

The MrSID GeoViewer utilizes LizardTech's patented "Selective Decompression" technology to display only the quality and portion of the MrSID image that the user wishes to view. This allows for real-time display of imagery that previously took minutes or even hours to compute using other imaging formats.

"As a NASA education program, we work with thousands of teachers and students around the world to help them integrate and understand remote sensing imagery and related geospatial data in their classrooms," said Alex Philp, assistant director, Earth Observing System Education Project, The University of Montana.

"As a free and versatile product, LizardTech's GeoViewer is the best available tool to assist us in accomplishing our NASA objectives. When combined with the exploding number of MrSID data sets, the global education community has an unprecedented, user-friendly solution for overcoming the financial, technological and content barriers to learning."

"We are continually improving the MrSID GeoViewer technology to support the growing needs of the geospatial community," said John. R. Grizz Deal, LizardTech's president and CEO. "Since MrSID is the standard imaging technology for the Geospatial market, providing free viewers allows more users to reap the benefits of high resolution imagery."

MrSID GeoViewer 2.1 Technology at a glance:

• Easily open and display MrSID images on any 8, 16, or 24-bit screen.
• Real time pan and zoom.
• View, save and print MrSID metadata.
• Export any part of the image to TIFF at any resolution with accompanying world file (.TFW).
• Full image overview.
• Tool for measuring distances.
• "Lens" tool provides full-resolution view instantly.
• "Snap" tool captures image to clipboard for easy copying and pasting.
• "Ruler" tool displays coordinates and pixel size of mouse location.
• Fully-functional online help.
• Windows 95/98/2000 and NT 4.0 support

About LizardTech

Founded in 1992, LizardTech is a privately-held company focused on developing innovative imaging solutions that provide users of all levels with bandwidth optimization and instant access to high-resolution, multipurpose digital images and multimedia content. The company licensed Generation I of its MrSID technology from Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) and acquired its DjVu technology from AT&T Labs for the commercialization of both product lines. LizardTech is now integrating its next-generation image software into a wide variety of platforms and applications under its Chromafire™ Imaging Solutions brand.

LizardTech's innovative technology has been recognized by its customers and integration partners, including Adobe Systems, Graphic Arts Center (GAC), the Library of Congress, ESRI®, netLibrary, Getty Images® (art.com) and hundreds of others worldwide.

LizardTech's technologies are on more than 15 million desktops and integrated into over 200 applications. LizardTech's investors and shareholders include Oak Investment Partners, AT&T, Encompass Ventures, SeaPoint Ventures, Kirlan Ventures, Summit Ventures, Shurtleff Group and Staenberg Private Capital.

In 1998, LizardTech was voted the Washington Software Alliance's Most Promising New Company. Additional information about the Seattle-based company can be found on the World Wide Web at www.lizardtech.com. LizardTech Europe is located in the Netherlands and can be contacted at: LizardTech Europe B.V., Hullenbergweg 379- 5th/6th Floor, 1101 CR Amsterdam Z.O., Netherlands. Phone: (31) 20 365 69 60, Technical Support (31) 20 365 69 61, e-mail: info-europe@lizardtech.com.

MrSID is a registered trademark, and the MrSID logo, LizardTech, DjVu, Chromafire and their associated marks are trademarks of LizardTech, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.