• News

March 1, 2006 - Swatchbox Technologies, a leader in home design software tools, announced today that Ace Hardware, one of the nation’s largest cooperative retail organizations, has launched a new paint color design tool, Ace Colors for Your Life™.

“We are thrilled for the opportunity to offer this paint design application through such a widely known and respected channel as Ace Hardware,” said Michael Brunzell, vice president of sales and marketing at Swatchbox.  “The Ace Colors for Your Life software allows users to experience the new Ace color system on their own photographs, in the comfort of their home.  They can then go to the store already having an understanding of how the color system is organized and with an idea of what colors they are interested in.”

Ace Hardware’s new Color Visualizer software allows consumers to experiment with more than 1400 colors from the Ace Colors for Your Life paint palette before purchasing paint.

“When painting, it’s critical to be able to visualize colors in their intended setting before taking a risk on the final choice,” said Janet Davidson, a marketing analyst with Ace Hardware. “This software allows you to stretch your imagination, creativity and style when painting a room by trying several wall colors to get just the right combination before purchasing paint.  It’s truly the next generation of color selection.”

Ace’s Color Visualizer software features an easy-to-use tutorial and the ability to colorize a variety of interior and exterior photos preloaded in the pictorial library, including main walls, ceilings, trim, accent walls, objects and more. Users can also import personal home images that were scanned, saved from a digital camera or loaded from a CD.

As a special bonus, Ace’s Color Visualizer software includes a unique Discover Your Colors Quiz that scientifically matches your individual personality with color palettes that create a perfect ambiance in the home, while offering helpful “how-to” advice on interior and exterior painting.

Ace’s Color for Your Life CD retails for $8.99 and is available now at participating Ace Hardware stores. A free, online version of the tool will be available for use at www.acehardware.com in late Spring.

About Swatchbox Technologies

Swatchbox Technologies™ (www.swatchbox.com) is a leader in virtual design tools for the home. We provide virtual design tools for manufacturers, retailers and online publishers. The company’s Swatchbox Rendering Engine enables homeowners to design and decorate using digital photographs of their own homes to make better design decisions before embarking on home improvement projects. Manufacturers of home design products gain increased awareness and purchase consideration of their products through interactive product placement within the company’s home design tools. Retailers provide homeowners with design tools that encompass entire home improvement projects and enjoy higher average ticket. Online publishers that offer home design tools on their websites benefit from increased traffic, session duration, user registrations and incremental advertising revenue. Swatchbox Technologies clients include Ace, Alcoa, Armstrong, Benjamin Moore & Co., Clopay, Dupont, Lowe’s, Mohawk, Pittsburgh Paints, Raynor, Sherwin Williams, Time Warner, True Value, Valspar, and Wayne-Dalton. Swatchbox Technologies is based in Westborough, Massachusetts.