April 7^th 2004 Cambridge, UK: Syncroscopy, a world leader in unique digital imaging solutions for microscopy will be hosting at Analytica, on Stand 351, Hall A4, the first European showing of its new Auto-Montage software, for rapidly producing perfectly in-focus images of 3-D samples.

The new Auto-Montage Essentials and Auto-Montage Pro software are the next generation of Auto-Montage, the premier image reconstruction technology invented by Syncroscopy. The affordable Auto-Montage Essentials is ideal for use with BMAP, TIFF or JPEG source image files captured by any digital camera. The software selects and combines the focused areas from these images, to quickly generate an in-focus ‘Montage’ image, Depth Map and 3-D anaglyph.

Auto-Montage Pro, a more sophisticated software comes with time saving features such as, capturing source images directly from a digital camera and an automatic source image calibration. The software, with its easy to use interface screen offers a range of ways to view the ‘Montage’ image, guaranteeing users the best image of their samples. For automated analysis, a measurement option is available and this provides length, depth and volume data in seconds.

Syncroscopy will also be exhibiting SyncroScan and the “real time” version, SyncroScan RT, its automated microscope sample scanning systems. The systems combine motorised microscope stage, Z stepper and a high-resolution camera interfaced to a PC and scanning software. SyncroScan allows automatic capture and stitching of each frame of a microscope image to instantly produce one large image map, ensuring rapid sample checking and accuracy.

Martin Smith, Syncroscopy’s Divisional Manager commented: “We are proud to be showing such exciting new software and systems for use with optical microscopes at this year’s Analytica. Any microscopists that visit us on Stand 351 will not be disappointed, because the Syncroscopy range will offer them the perfect solution for quickly and easily creating authentic images of a wide range of samples.”

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For Further Information Contact:

Jayne Arthur, Syncroscopy, Beacon House, Nuffield Road, Cambridge, CB4 1TF, UK.

Tel: +44 (0)1223-727127 Fax +44 (0)1223-727101

Email: jayne.arthur@syncroscopy.com Web site: www.syncroscopy.com

Editor Contact:

Dr Sue Pearson, PO Box 170, Hitchin, Hertfordshire SG5 3GD, UK.

Tel/Fax +44 (0)1462-635327 Email: sue6.pearson@ntlworld.com

Note to Editors

About Syncroscopy

Syncroscopy develops and manufactures world-leading digital imaging solutions for extending the capabilities of optical microscopes. Syncroscopy's innovative brands include: Auto-Montage, unique software that produces infinite depth of focus images and has 3-D modelling and measurement features; Montage Explorer software, for accurate seamless image stitching of large sample images; and SyncroScan, an automated system, which attaches to digital microscopes to allow high speed sample scanning and precise image stitching. Syncroscopy's software and systems are used by more than 2,000 organisations internationally and include many of the world's major research institutes.

Syncroscopy, founded in 1998 is a division of the Synoptics Group based in Cambridge, UK. The Group’s other divisions, Syngene and Synbiosis, specialise in digital imaging solutions for molecular biology and microbial applications respectively. Synoptics currently employs 50 people in its UK and subsidiary operation in Frederick, USA. The Group has profitable revenue of almost $10 million and continues to grow rapidly.