DIMA 2007 and PSPA 2007 kicked off yesterday and run through today. DIMA 2007 is held at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nev. PSPA 2007 is held at the Renaissance Las Vegas Hotel next to the Convention Center. PPFA 2007 starts today and runs through March 11 at the Las Vegas Conventon Center.

  PMA 07 will run March 8-11 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. PSRO 2007 runs March 8-11 and SPAA 2007 runs March 8-9; both will be at the Convention Center.

  Read the PMA Show Daily each day of the show for news and product trends. Also, check out the PMA Show Blog daily.

PMA awards will be presented and and elections will be conducted prior to each PMA 07 Official Business Session, March 8-11, at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nev.

  On March 8 at 9:15 a.m., the Hall of Fame Award -- the highest honor presented by the association -- will be presented to Mike Worswick, chairman and CEO of Wolfe's Cameras, Camcorders & Computers.

  Distinguished Services Award recipients will be honored prior to the start of the session on Friday, March 10. Recipients include: Brian B. Ainsworth, Photos Ar' Nice Inc.; Ken Lassiter, PIEA; Edwin London, Fotoshop Inc.; Harry L. Reiter, Town & Country Photo Dealers; and Monte Zucker, Monte's Photographic Education and Digital Resource Center.

Although many people are most familiar with Graham Nash from his role in the musical group Crosby, Stills & Nash, he has been a photographer longer than he has been a musician. In 1990, Nash and his friend and fellow artist R. Mac Holbert founded Nash Editions, widely considered the world's best digital fine-art print making house. At tonight's  DIMA 2007 Closing Keynote address, Nash and Holbert will be honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award, and will speak about their work. If you'd like to know more, download podcast number 036 from the DIMAcast podcast library to hear PMA magazine Senior Editor Jennifer Kruger's recent interview with Holbert and Nash about their friendship and business.

The prospect of life without hope is bleak. PSPA 07 General Session speaker Chip Eichelberger nevertheless reminded his audience on Tuesday, "Hope is not a strategy." Nor is standing pat by doing "good" work.

  "The biggest reason why a business fails is an owner making a few errors in judgment day after day," says Eichelberger. "Studio owners require a compelling vision of where they want to be a year from now, and a plan how to get there."

  He shared a relevant personal anecdote about being in rural Louisiana and coming upon a hound dog yelping over and over.

  "When the dog owner appeared I asked him what was the matter with his dog," Eichelberger said. "He's lying on a nail."

  "Why doesn't he get off the nail," I asked.  "I guess it's not a very big one," he explained.

  Keep watching the PMA Show Daily for more coverage from PSPA 2007 and other PMA 07 events.

The members of the Professional School Photographers Association International (PSPA) elected 2007-2008 officers today at the PSPA 2007 Official Business Session at its annual convention held at The Renaissance Hotel, Las Vegas, Nev. PSPA is a member association of PMA.

Of the hundreds of digital products on dis-play at the PMA Sneak Peek 2007, the offi-cial press event of the PMA 2007 International Convention and Trade Show in Las Veags, Nev., 18 were selected by a panel of digital imaging editors to receive the prestigious DIMA Innovative Digital Product Award.
  DIMA Innovative Digital Product Awards are given to products or services utilizing new technologies and/or applications that make the product either distinct or the first of its kind.
  A panel of industry press evaluated the en-tries. Companies honored for their innova-tive products, in alphabetical order by company, are:

Zigview S2

Argraph Corp., Carlstadt, N.J.

The Zigview S2 revolutionizes SLR photography with its remote detachable 2.5-inch LCD viewfinder, which can be used both on and off the camera. The Zigview S2 attaches to a digital SLR viewfinder and displays a live video feed from the viewfinder to its high resolution LCD screen. You can tilt and rotate the LCD for viewing at any angle, including from the front of the camera. The Zigview S2 offers a motion detection shutter release, a sophisticated intervalometer, and a Bulb exposure controller.

SensorScope System
Delkin Devices Inc., Poway, Calif.

The SensorScope from Delkin Devices

The SensorScope System is a complete sensor cleaning system kit for digital SLR cameras. The system includes components to safely inspect and clean a DSLR's camera sensor of all types of contaminants, wet or dry. There is a SensorScope for inspecting the camera sensor. The SensorVac is a miniature vacuum designed to remove loose particles from the sensor chamber. More stubborn pieces or wet contaminants are re-moved with the use of the SensorWand and SensorSolution. The SensorWands are dou-ble sided, designed for quick, one wand cleaning and drying of the sensor. The SensorSolution is safe to transport by air.

Epson Stylus Photo 1400
Epson America Inc., Long Beach, Calif.

The latest in the Epson line-up of Ultra Hi-Definition ink jet printers, the Stylus Photo 1400 shares the same technology as the Epson Stylus Photo R260 and R380, including Claria ink and DX5 MicroPiezo print heads. With an estimated street price of $399.99, this new photo printer is designed to deliver the ultimate combination of image quality, high-speed performance and value in the 13-by-19-inch category.

FacePro for Mobile Phones
FotoNation Ltd., Galway, Ireland

FotoNation FacePro for Mobile Phones is an advanced face tracking product designed to be embedded in mobile cameraphones. FacePro finds and tracks human faces in the phone's camera module during the capture preview and thus enables the camera to continually optimize the acquisition parameters of focus and exposure, dramatically increasing the quality of the captured image. FacePro for Mobile Phones also uses the captured face information for associating a face with the address book on the phone.

FujiFilm IS-1
Fuji Photo Film U.S.A. Inc., Valhalla, N.Y.

The Fujifilm IS-1 is a 9 megapixel point-and-shoot camera capable of capturing both visible and infrared light, designed for law enforcement, medical/dental and science professionals. The IS-1 digital camera fea-tures a Fujifilm Super CCD sensor and ISO 80-1600 capabilities. Fujifilm's Real Photo Technology enables IS-1 users to capture images using visible and infrared light. Users can apply lens filtration to isolate specific wavelengths to achieve a desired effect. In addition, Fujifilm's Picture Stabilization technology uses the heightened sensitivity of the IS-1 and high-speed shutter settings to reduce blur caused by camera shake and subject movement.

Hitachi Hybrid
Hitachi Home Electronics America Inc., Chula Vista, Calif.

The Hitachi Hybrid camcorder provides the flexibility to choose between formats by offering the convenience of DVD plus the capacity of HDD. Users may, for example, record an entire event to HDD, but only save the magic moments to DVD. With just the push of a button, users can edit and make DVD copies right on the Hitachi Hybrid, without a PC.

Gorillapod Family
Joby Inc., San Francisco, Calif.

The Joby Gorillapod is a bendable, flexible camera tripod that secures a digital camera to virtually any [img]surface. Its legs bend and rotate 360 degrees, allowing users to wrap it around a tree branch, hang it from a railing, or perch it on a rock while camping. The original Gorillapod was first launched at PMA 2006. Now, the Gorillapod is available in three sizes: Gorillapod, Gorillapod SLR, and Gorillapod SLR-Zoom. Each size is intended to capture a unique market segment.

Photobook Pro
KIS Photo-Me and Digital Portal Inc.

KIS Photo-Me Group

Echirolles, France

Digital Portal Inc., Grand Prairie, Texas

The Photobook Pro makes high quality photo albums, photo books and double-sided photo products utilizing silver halide photographic paper as well as many inkjet and non-photo paper materials. It is an automated on-site photo book bind-ing and assembly system, yielding the lowest cost per book in the industry, the companies say. The system applies adhesive, scores the paper, folds the pages and delivers a bound Photobook in less than 3 minutes. It offers a range of options for customization, and can be ordered for use with the KIS/Digital Portal DKS minilabs and KIS e-Station Kiosks, or with non KIS branded minilabs.

Lensbaby 3G
Lensbabies LLC, Portland, Ore.

Lensbaby selective focus SLR camera lenses take photos with one area in sharp focus, with that "sweet spot" surrounded by graduated blur. Photographers can move the sweet spot of sharp focus anywhere in the photo by bending the flexible lens tubing.  
  The Lensbaby 3G SLR lens locks in the  desired bent position simply by pressing a button. Then, using a traditional barrel focus mechanism, photographers can do fine fo-cusing and precisely place the sweet spot of sharp focus before pressing the shutter re-lease.

Freedom Universal with Snooze Feature
   and
Freedom Universal with Product Finder
Merchandising Technologies Inc., Hillsboro, Ore.

Freedom Universal with the new snooze feature is a shop and compare tool -- a powered merchandising and security system integrated with a digital merchandising screen that delivers SKU-specific information instantly when a product is lifted. The snooze feature allows retailers to disarm a single position on the display, providing for a more thorough, untethered, one-to-one product demonstration.
  Freedom Universal with the Intuition product finder feature is a shop, gather, select and compare tool -- a powered merchandising and security system integrated with a digital signage screen that delivers SKU-specific information instantly when consumers touch the screen. An attract loop invites shoppers to interact with a touch-screen to input their purchasing criteria. Consumers can narrow down product selection, and compare the features and benefits of multiple products. Visual indicator lights built into the display, at each position, will then guide shoppers to the live product/s that best meet their needs, where they can pick it up and experience its features and capabilities.

Stylus 770 SW

  and
SP-550 UZ Ultra Zoom
  and

Olympus America, Center Valley, Pa.

The Stylus 770 SW is a 7.1-megapixel ultra-compact camera designed to take great photos in nearly any environment, including in water down to depths of 33 feet and in winter weather as frigid as 14 degrees Fahrenheit (-10 degrees Celsius). It can also survive falls up to 5 feet and up to 220 pounds of pressure. Within the camera's rugged exterior is an array of innovative technologies to ensure clear, sharp images in the roughest of shooting situations. It features a 2.5-inch HyperCrystalT LCD and Digital Image Stabilization.
  The new Olympus SP-550 UZ Ultra Zoom compact camera with an 18x optical zoom lens (28-504mm equivalent in 35mm photography), which gives users the ability to shoot telephoto, wide-angle and macro  with one lens. It offers Dual Image Stabilization and the broadest focal range available on any digital point-and-shoot. The camera's full manual exposure control provides professionals and photo-enthusiasts with unlimited creativity, while its automatic settings and Built-in Help Guides will put novice users at ease.
  The EVOLT E-510 DSLR camera features a Live-View LCD that enables photographers to compose shots from a wide range of angles; Digital and Mechanical Image Stabilization; a Dust Protection System; and a 10-megapixel image sensor, among other innovations.

Nexlab 1000 with Print Tower

Pixel Magic Imaging Inc., San Marcos, Texas

The Nexlab 1000 with Print Tower is a high speed, dry digital minilab solution. The new Print Tower allows for multiple high speed dye sublimation printers to work together to produce more than 1,600 unique prints per hour. A single tower can produce prints sizes from 4-by-6 to 8-by-12. The Print Tower includes a back printer and order sorter. The Nexlab 1000 with Print Tower offers  output speeds that rival chemical based digital minilabs.

rotation360
Think Tank Photo, Santa Rosa, Calif.

The rotation360 backpack incorporates an innovative beltpack that can be slid to the front for easy access to lenses, flashes, filters, memory cards and other accessories, then slid back around and secured into place at the base of the backpack, all without re-moving the pack from your back. While the main attraction of the rotation360 is the revolving beltpack, the camera strap and the speed with which its O-rings can be clasped to the shoulder harness are other attractive features. The shoulder harness bears the weight of the camera, making it seem noticeably lighter.

iGen3 Digital Production Press
Xerox Corp., Stamford, Conn.

Even flawed original photos can look good in print when they are made on Xerox Corp.'s flagship Xerox iGen3 Digital Pro-duction Press, thanks to image-improving software invented by Xerox. Xerox has developed image quality soft-ware providing ultimate color reproduction by improving color consistency in prints, making it easier to know when to reset the press for optimum color performance, and more effectively rendering photos -- all designed to help commercial printers, online photo companies and design shops boost productivity and profits of image-intensive documents.

Stephen Dubner, co-author of Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explains the Hidden Side of Everything," will open PMA 07 tomorrow with an Official Business Session titled after his book. His presentation will focus on new, unpublished research on many things people assume are true -- but may actually not be. The session will take place at 9:15 a.m. on March 8, in rooms S220-S223, Level Two, at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nev.

  "There is a huge gap in what people say they want and what they actually want, or what they say they believe and how they behave. It may not be lying; it may be people think very differently about themselves than they actually are," Dubner says. An interview with Dubner appears in the March issue of PMA magazine.

PMA 07 is offering the first ever round table discussion tomorrow, where women in the imaging industry can come together to exchange ideas. The A4 session, "Women in Imaging Round Table," will be held Thursday, March 8, from 2:00-3:00 p.m. in the Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nev.

  The round table will be moderated by Fran Herman, ellaprint.com, and it will address the marketing, sales, and business challenges women face in addition to being an owner, daughter, wife, or mother while creating a network of knowledge and support among colleagues. Speakers include Liz Cutting, NPD Research; Laura Oles, author of "Digital Photography for Busy Women"; and Jessica Sarber, Sarber's Camera.

Several issues dominated the discussion during this morning's PSPA 2007 General Session "PSPA Town Hall Meeting," during which PSPA board members fielded questions from the audience, and also outlined the PSPA certification program currently in its formative stage.

  First was the certification process itself and which, if any, markers of "quality" should be included. Several audience members offered ideas, including a minimum number of exposures per year, awards to indicate levels of technical competence, etc.

  Entry point into the certification process also received attention, with some audience members voicing concern over a newcomer joining PSPA, and automatically becoming certified.

  Background checks also garnered much attention and were seen as necessary by an overwhelming majority of attendees. Questions arose regarding how wide the scope and how expensive background checks should entail, from local checks to the national level.

For most photo retailers, the days of relying on 4-by-6 prints to lead sales are long gone. How they can stay relevant in the eyes of their customers was the topic of a DIMA 2007 session yesterday. Ravid Butz, CEO of CAMEO Style, Minneapolis, Minn., and former CEO of PhotoLounge, a retail photo shop in Philadelphia, Pa., told audience members that PMA 07 provides an excellent opportunity to find new products and services to offer customers. In choosing those new offerings, however, retailers must be sure they are offering what people want; then, they must inform customers about the new items, and inspire customers to experience them.

  The most strategic, effective, inexpensive and measurable way of doing this is through an opt-in e-mail newsletter, Butz said. He advised using an e-mail service such as www.constantcontact.com, which provide valuable measurement tools and will prevent your messages from ending up in recipients' spam filters. Keep your messages short and be sure they provide value to your customers, rather than using the newsletter to sell something. Keep to a regular timetable, but don't send out newsletters too often. Once a month is a good rate for most stores, Butz said.

  For more on this session, see the April issue of Digital Imaging Digest.     

Graham Nash, award-winning photographer and legendary member of the rock group Crosby, Stills & Nash, will sign Epson prints of his black-and-white David Crosby portrait at DIMA 2007. Nash will greet attendees and sign the prints prior to receiving the DIMA Lifetime Achievement Award with longtime Nash Editions partner, master printmaker Mac Holbert, during today's Closing Keynote address. 

  Nash printed the portraits on the new Epson Stylus Pro 3800. The Crosby portrait is featured in Nash and Holbert's new book, "Nash Editions Photography and the Art of Digital Printing," which illustrates the convergence of fine art and digital printmaking through thought-provoking essays and world-renowned artwork. The book features a brief history of printmaking and an essay by Holbert on the genesis of Nash Editions and fine-art digital printing, detailing the studio's interactions with major artists. The book's more than 100 illustrations include Nash Editions artwork, photos of artists in the studio and images of the machines used in digital printing.

PPFA 2007, the annual convention of the Professional Picture Framers Association, a PMA member association, gets under way today with a full day of business and hands-on framing sessions.

  First on deck are Gene Ausili, CPF, with "Buying and Pricing"; John Ranes II, CPF, GCF, with "Add Gifts: Diversifying Your Business;" Chris Paschke, CPF, GCF, with "Identifying and Framing Digital Prints"; Jim Miller, MCPF, GCF, with "Design and Construction of Shadowboxes;" and Kerry Wilson, MCPF, GCF, with "Framing Antique Samplers and Quilts."

  Vivian Kistler, CPF, is the keynote speaker at the PPFA General Session Luncheon, with her presentation, "Like Bees to Honey, Like Moths to a Flame -- How To Attract Customers." Kistler will sign copies of her latest book, "Event Planning for Frame Shops and Galleries," after her presentation.

  Kistler will be back at the podium after lunch with a session on "Colors and Trends"; and Paschke returns with "Mounting Basics." Other early afternoon speakers are Rob Comeau with "Customer Connections"; Bob Carter with "A 12-Step Program for Business Success"; and Kurt Johnson with "Postcard Primer -- Direct Mail Marketing 101."

  Johnson will repeat his session at 4:15; and Paschke continues with "Mounting Sensitive Items." Miller returns to the podium with "Non-Invasive Object Mounting, and Stuart Altschuler, CPF, offers "Fully Equipped: Tools of the Trade."

Entries in the International PRINT and OPEN Framing Competition of the Professional Picture Framers Association  -- the grand finale of yearlong chapter-level competitions -- will be judged today by a panel of PPFA judges.

  Winners will be announced at tomorrow's PPFA General Session Luncheon and All-Member Meeting -- with the exception of the Popular Choice vote which runs through Saturday until noon. The winner of that will be announced at Saturday's International Framing Competition Reception, 4:20-5:30 p.m., when all the winners will be celebrated and awarded their presentation checks.

  Competition entries will on display in the upper west foyer of the Las Vegas Convention Center, South Hall, just outside the upper-level entrance to the PMA 07 Trade Show floor, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday during trade show hours.

  Popular Choice voting -- open to any visitors to the framing gallery -- continues through Saturday noon. Drop by and enjoy the display of custom framed artwork -- and vote for your favorite.

  This OPEN Competition runs the gamut of subject, style, and framing techniques. In the PRINT Framing Competition, competitors frame a piece of art selected last year by PPFA chapter leaders. The 2007 selection is a limited edition silkscreen print designed by Chris Paschke, CPF, GCF. Her silkscreen, created on a 7-by-7-inch sheet of watercolor paper, features a deckle edge and the word "frame" written with a special calligraphic ruling pen and liquid resist in contemporary italic lettering.

  "Competition is the very best form of continuing education," Paschke says. "It teaches the frame designer to really see what they are looking at, and in turn shows them up close where they need to polish their techniques."

On the eve of PMA 07, leading national media have already kicked off their coverage. USA Today today featured the growing trend of HD cameras in the article, "Cameras Get Even More Fancy." The article features Canon's new Powershot TX-1, which takes stills and high-definition video clips.

  The Associated Press is distributing an article about the growing business of custom photo products. The article is being run in numerous newspapers and websites, and features new PMA Marketing Research reporting the size of the custom market will grow to more than $1 billion this year.

  By signing the licensing agreement, which is available on the EVERPLAY website, maintained by OSTA, any company can acquire a royalty-free license to implement the specification, use the trademarks and obtain rights to the patents owned by the EVERPLAY founders. In addition, a software development kit (SDK) v.1.10 and verifying tool v1.10 are available at no cost. OSTA will now manage the administration, licensing and future development of the EVERPLAY brand and specification.

Eastman Kodak Co., Rochester, N.Y., announced the latest additions to line of consumer digital cameras, including the Kodak EasyShare Z712 IS and Z885 Zoom Digital Cameras, with high ISO and image stabilization capabilities.

  The Kodak EasyShare Z712 IS Zoom Digital Camera combines a 12x optical zoom lens (36-432 mm equivalent Schneider-Kreuznach Variogon) with optical image stabilization. The 7.1-megapixel camera boasts a click-to-capture performance  of 0.26 seconds with superb picture quality, says the company. Available in April, the Kodak EasyShare Z712 IS Zoom Digital Camera will retail for $299.95.

  The Kodak EasyShare Z885 Zoom Digital Camera boasts a 5x optical zoom lens and 8.1-megapixel resolution. When combined with high ISO (up to 8000), it tackles low-light environments and action situations with ease, says the company. The fast AF 5x optical zoom lens (36-180 mm equivalent) is combined with 10 automatic smart scene modes. Available in May, the Kodak EasyShare Z885 Zoom Digital Camera will retail for $199.95.

Nikon Corp., Melville, N.Y., updated its D40 SLR with the 10.2-megapixel D40x, featuring faster continuous shooting capability and wider ISO sensitivity than the earlier version.

Olympus Imaging Corp., Tokyo, Japan, announced plans to significantly expand the Olympus E-System, its industry-leading lineup of interchangeable-lens digital SLRs compliant with the Four Thirds System standard. Two new cameras are were announced -- the E-410, an ultra-compact, ultra-lightweight go-anywhere camera, and the E-510, a versatile, high-performance camera with advanced functions including new Mechanical Image sensor shift image stabilization A third. The successor to E-1 designed for professional use will make its debut this year, said Olympus.

  All three models incorporate the Fulltime Live View function, an enhanced rear panel LCD monitor that can be used to compose images while shooting, making these cameras suitable for both newcomers and professionals. These same capabilities, together with a wealth of professional level features and functions, will form the basis of the forthcoming successor to the E-1. As befitting a camera that will serve as the flagship of the Olympus lineup, the E-1's successor will boast tremendous improvements in both performance and functionality, taking the excellent picture quality, mobility and reliability of the E-1 to new and unprecedented levels.

  To support the new cameras, Olympus is also developing four interchangeable lenses. All will be fully compliant with the Four Thirds System standard, and three will incorporate the newly developed SWD (Supersonic Wave Drive) autofocusing system. Olympus also announces that it would be introducing a 2x teleconverter. These lens products are expected to be available from this year.

  The first chapter in the Olympus E-System story began in the fall of 2003 with the launch of the E-1. This marked Olympus's entry into the DSLR camera market, and heralded the arrival of the world's first fully DSLR camera system based on the Four Thirds System standard. Since then, the "designed for digital" Olympus E-System has continued to set new benchmarks for professional image quality, performance, mobility, and reliability thanks to compact, lightweight designs supported by features like the Dust Reduction System, says Olympus.

More professional imaging facilities are looking at printing presses as a way to offer products such as photo books, and many business owners have said it will be a "must" to offer these products. New enhancements, features and partnerships were shown to PMA 07 attendees.

  The Kodak NexPress Digital Production Color Presses (NexPress 2100 Plus and NexPress 2500) from Eastman Kodak Co., Rochester, N.Y., have added imaging enhancements that increase print provider productivity and quality for photo applications. First, through an agreement with DigiLabs Kodak is offering users of NexPress presses DigiLabs' software for desktop photo authoring, which provides photo service providers an e-commerce infrastructure and upload services that allow the production of personalized photo books, cards and calendars. Also, the NexPress Image Enhancement System extracts images from print-ready PDF files using preconfigured settings and automatically corrects scene balance, tone scale, noise, smoothing, JPEG deblocking, color profiling and red eye. It does so, says Kodak, without slowing down the press.

   Business owners can now work with Fujifilm to purchase a press, as Fujifilm U.S.A. Inc., Valhalla, N.Y., and Xerox Corp., Rochester, N.Y., have partnered to provide professional labs a solution to print photo books, photo calendars, greeting cards, as well as posters, trading cards and other products that employ double-sided printing, binding and finishing. The new solution will be offered by Fujifilm and will include Fujifilm's digital photo products and Xerox's DocuColor 240 and 250 Digital Color Printers. The printers can print up to 50 pages per minute in color, offer 2,400-by-2,400 dpi, and can handle jobs up to 13-by-19.

By PMA Senior Editor Bonnie Gretzner