The product will be distributed by Positive Focus at the end of October and joins DirectSmile, DirecType and I-clue as providers of image personalisation software.

"What differs from other products on the market is that uImage is less text reliant," said Positive Focus managing director Ivor Dixon.

Meanwhile, DirecType's manufacturer SDZ Direct World has said it will fight a law suit from rival Newsign Werbeagentur, which produces DirectSmile. The suit is based on copyright and competition law infringement. If it wins, DirectSmile claims that SDZ would have to phase out its software and pay "not insubstantial compensation".