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 Tuesday, March 06, 2007  Wednesday, March 07, 2007 Thursday, March 08, 2007 Friday, March 09, 2007 Saturday, March 10, 2007 Sunday, March 11, 2007 Monday, March 12, 2007 Tuesday, March 13, 2007 Wednesday, March 14, 2007 Thursday, March 15, 2007 Friday, March 16, 2007
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Thursday, March 08, 2007
PMA 07 PMA Cruisin' Commandos take over the desert again after PMA 07 If you are attending PMA 07 and have a valid motorcycle endorsement consider joining the Cruisin' Commandos for a two-day motorcycle ride through the southwest. The group will depart March 12, after PMA 07, and return to Nikon, HP share their vision during first Executive Keynote session Two executives from the photo industry - and a third from the movie business - showed attendees their company's outlook and strategy at today's Executive Keynote sessions. Presenting were Michio Kariya, president, CEO and COO of Nikon Corp., and Vyomesh (VJ) Joshi, executive vice president, Imaging and Printing Group, HP. Joshi was joined by Jeffrey Katzenberg, the chief executive officer of DreamWorks Animation SKG, who explained his film company's work with HP. With Nikon celebrating its 90th anniversary, Kariya explained how the company makes it a priority not simply to deliver high-quality products but also anticipate what people will want and need. "We must predict how technology will be used in home, work and play," he said. "Our goal is to keep our edge and stay ahead of consumer expectations. We can't just wait, we have to invent." He explained how the life cycle and prices of digital cameras have changed dramatically since it introduced the Nikon F3 in 1980. That camera was 20 years in development and also stayed on the market for 20 years. In September 1999, Nikon introduced the Nikon D1, which had a life expectancy of 1.5 years. Prices have dropped dramatically however, as the D1, which had a price of $5,000 at its introduction, broke the $20,000-plus barrier. In 2002, the D100 cost $2,000; two years later the D70 cost $1,000 and the D40 after that was $599. The company also demonstrated how Wi-Fi technology enables users to take and upload pictures in minutes. "Not only can you instantly post images to the Web, you can view them wirelessly on the computer or even connect to an HDTV system," Kariya said. "We are thinking of other ways to help people enjoy their digital images." HP's Joshi debuted HP DreamColor Technologies, which he said promises to deliver unrivaled color fidelity across HP product categories - displays, printers, imaging systems (see separate release for more information). DreamWorks Animation and HP have a long partnership, and Katzenberg explained how work with HP has enabled the company to deliver consistent color throughout the 130,000 frames that typically make up an animated feature. "Color is one of the most vital tools in animation and in storytelling. If we had picked the wrong shade of green for Shrek, I probably wouldn't be here today," he said of the movie he produced. "Having predictable and consistent color through the production pipeline is an important part of the process. There are no accidents in animation, each detail is designed with intention, and that includes the exact color." Katzenberg treated attendees to a film clip of the upcoming movie Shrek the Third to demonstrate the power of HP DreamColor. Joshi also explained how, with the decline of the 4-by-6 print, other photo products will gain importance. HP's Snapfish, for instance, reported that fourth quarter photo book sales increased 500 percent, and fourth quarter calendar sales were up 400 percent. "We have to use the Internet as the growth engine," he said. "Snapfish generated nearly 1 billion prints and cards in 2006. In 2006, half of all the prints in the "Major retail partners report more than 90 percent of online orders are picked up in stores," he added. Joshi said HP is also committed to working with independent retailers, and he showed a video clip demonstrated how its products have been a success in Dan's Camera City, 2007 DIMA Photo Kiosk Shoot-Out winners announced With a record turn out of 33 photo kiosks, the 4th annual DIMA Photo Kiosk Shoot-Out was held on Wednesday, March 7 at PMA 07. Eight winners were named winners from four different categories and two different panels of judges - self-service experts and consumers. The four categories include: 1. Digital Order Station 2. Instant Print Kiosk 3. Software Only 4. Other Than Photo The participating kiosks were evaluated by a panel of expert judges, including Francie Mendelsohn of Summit Research Associates, Rockville, Md.; Robert Porter of Euro Kiosks Network, Madrid Spain; and Lawrence Dvorchik of KioskCom (JD Events), Trumbull, CT. Judges evaluated the kiosk systems using criteria such as customization, flexibility of options, reporting, and other benefits important to retailers. The winners of the "Expert's Choice" award in the each category are as follows: Digital Order Station Winner Storefront Digital Order Station Storefront, Instant Print Winner Storefront Instant Print Station Storefront, Software Only Winner Storefront PhotoKiosk Storefront, Other than Photo Winner Lucidiom Luci Lucidiom Inc., Kiosk systems were also judged by a panel of consumers evaluating features such as user friendliness, ergonomics, feature set, quality of print, overall experience, and more. The winners of the "People's Choice" award in each category are as follows: Digital Order Station Winner Kodak Picture Kiosk G4 Order Station Eastman Kodak Co., Instant Print Winner Kodak Picture Kiosk G4 Digital Station Eastman Kodak Co., Software Only Winner Storefront PhotoKiosk Storefront, Other than Photo Winner Kodak Picture Kiosk G4 24" Print Station Eastman Kodak Co., DIMA 2007 Printer Shoot-Out winners named The winners of the DIMA 2007 Digital Printer Shoot-Out were announced at PMA 07 in Las Vegas, Nev. Winning entries, displayed during PMA 07, were chosen from 114 prints entered by 30 companies. Entries in the DIMA Digital Printer Shoot-Out were produced from files created by color workflow experts at X-Rite Color Services. Participants were asked to provide specific information pertaining to the equipment used (printer, RIP), the consumables used (output media, ink/toner/dye), and the production timing. A panel of expert judges voted on the entries, based on the overall quality of the digital print and the accuracy of color as compared to the target print. The panel of judges included well-respected names in the industry: Richard Lerner, RSL Digital Consultants; Rick Lucas, Digital Attributes/Lucas Imaging; and Phil Nelson, Phil Nelson Imaging LLC. Judging for the event took place at GTI Graphic Tecxhnology Inc., which donated the space and a 5,000 Kelvin lighting environment. A new quantitative element was added to the judging process this year. A GretagMacbeth Color Checker with known values was embedded into the DIMA Target File, which was measured to determine the delta E of the actual value. Qualitative criteria also judged included neutral gray balance reproduction, saturation, shadow depth and quality, overall tonality and detail, highlights and specular highlights, flesh tones, hue shift, and text. The winners of the DIMA 2007 Digital Printer Shoot-Out are as follows:
RA-4 Digital Printer, 13 to 29 inches wide LPS-24 Pro Noritsu Koki Co. Ltd., Wakayama, Japan
RA-4 Digital Printer, Digital Minilab, 12 inches maximum KIS Photo-Me Group, Echirolles, France
RA-4 Digital Printer, Digital Minilab, 8 inches maximum DKS 1610 KIS Photo-Me Group, Echirolles, France
RA-4 Digital Printer, Industrial High-Speed 4-by-6 inches Europa 10 Digital Printer Express Imaging Systems, LLC, Seattle, Wash.
Digital Press Xerox DocuColor 250 Xerox Corp., Webster, N.Y.
Inkjet, 36 to 49 inches wide Epson Stylus Pro 9800 ColorBurst Systems, Ashburn, Va.
Inkjet, 18 to 35 inches wide Epson Stylus Pro 7800 ErgoSoft US LLC, Nashua, N.H.
Inkjet, 9 to 17 inches wide Epson Stylus Pro 3800 ColorBurst Systems, Ashburn, Va.
Inkjet, 8.5 inches wide or less -- $100 to $199 HP Photosmart D7360 Hewlett-Packard Co., Palo Alto, Calif.
Media, 4-by-6 inches HP Advanced Photo Paper, glossy Hewlett-Packard Co., Palo Alto, Calif.
Media, 8.5-by-11 inches Innova FibaPrint Gloss F-Type Innova Art, Gloucester, N.J.
Media, 13-by-19-inch sheet or 13-inch roll Innova FibaPrint Gloss F-Type Innova Art, Gloucester, N.J.
Media, 24 inches wide or larger Innova FibaPrint Gloss F-Type Innova Art, Gloucester, N.J.
RIP, less than 20-inch printer ColorBurst X-Proof RIP (17 inches) ColorBurst Systems, Ashburn, Va.
RIP, 20-inch or larger printer ColorBurst X-Proof RIP (60 inches) ColorBurst Systems, Ashburn, Va.
Dye Sublimation, 8-inch roll CHC-S1245 -- Shinko Kanematsu USA Inc./KG Digital Imaging Solutions, Somerset, N.J.
Dye Sublimation, 8-by10-inch cut sheet Fujifilm ASK 4000 Fujifilm USA, Inc., Valhalla, N.Y.
Dye Sublimation, 6-inch roll DNP Photo Imaging America Q4 6-Inch Roll Printer DNP Photo Imaging America, San Marcos, Texas
Creative Application, Textile LexJet Water-Resistant Satin Cloth with PreLume using the Epson Stylus Pro 9800 printer, Epson UltraChrome K3 Inks, and ColorBurst X-Proof RIP (60 inches) ColorBurst Systems, Ashburn, Va.
Creative Application, Paper Innova FibaPrint F Type Gloss paper using the Epson Stylus Pro 3800 printer, Epson UltraChrome K3 Inks and the ColorBurst X-Proof RIP (17 inches) ColorBurst Systems, Ashburn, Va.
Creative Application, Alternative Substrate Beaver TexPrint XP Plus and Bison Coating Luster Tile using the Epson Stylus Pro 9600 Sawgrass Sublijet IQ Ð Jet Black and ErgoSoft StudioPrint V12/Color GPS Profiler ErgoSoft US LLC, Nashua, N.H.
Creative Application, Black and White Kodak Professional Inkjet Photo Paper, Lustre Finish using the Epson 7800 with Epson Ink Eastman Kodak Co., Rochester, N.Y.
Creative Application, New Technology/Application Shinko Media 4-by-6 Sticker Print using the Shinko CHC-S8175-5 printer Kanematsu USA Inc./KG Digital Imaging Solutions, Somerset, N.J. DIMA membership elects new officers The members of the Digital Imaging Marketing Association elected 2007-2008 officers today at the DIMA 2007 Official Business Session during the annual conference held in the Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada. The officers are President Brian Ainsworth, Photos Ar' Nice Inc., Gainesville, Fla.; President-Elect Steve Olock, Dan's Camera City, Allentown, Pa.; First Vice President Chris Lydle, Chris' Camera Center South, Aiken, S.C.; Second Vice President Phil Gresham, Fotofast, Brisbane, Australia; Immediate Past President Brian Mundy, Photomation, Anaheim, Calif.; Director-at-Large Michael St. Germain, Concord Camera Store, Concord, N.H.; Secretary/Executive Director Ted Fox, PMA, Jackson, Mich.; and Trustees Jamie Bardin, EZ Prints Inc., Norcross, Ga.; Michel Labadie, Les Pros de la Photo, Montreal, QC, Canada; Joshua Litwin, Memento Press Inc., San Francisco, Calif.; Gabrielle Mullinax, Fullerton Photographics, Fullerton, Calif.; Paul Rentz, Rush Hour Photo & Wireless, Corvallis, Ore.; Lee Varis, Varis PhotoMedia, Los Angeles, Calif.; and pDeerfield, Ill. Holbert and Nash honored with Lifetime Achievement Award R. Mac Holbert and Graham Nash, founders of the premier fine art digital print making house Nash Editions, were presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award yesterday at the DIMA 2007 Closing Keynote address. After accepting the award, Nash and Holbert spoke about their friendship, their business and how they pioneered the fine art print making process. Nash may be most famous for his role in the music group Crosby Stills & Nash, but he is also well known for his fine art photography. Holbert, also an artist, was tour manager for Crosby Stills & Nash. Starting with an IRIS printer, a device initially designed for color-proofing for commercial printing, Nash experimented in the late 1980s with creating large-scale digital photos. Using image management software written by Nash and Holbert, a hand-built scanner, and an IRIS Graphics IRIS 3074 printer, they developed methods to adapt the printer's output to the fine art printing of black-and-white photographs on archival paper substrates. Conceived in 1989 and opening its doors in 1991, Nash Editions celebrates its 14th anniversary this year. Since the inception of Nash Editions, the Nash and Holbert have developed new technologies and techniques to advance the world of fine art reproductions to incredibly high standards. Their philosophy is to bring the sensibilities of traditional fine art printmaking together with the world of digital imaging. Official Business Session speaker Stephen J. Dubner discusses Freakonomics This morning at PMA 2007, Official Business Session speaker Stephen J. Dubner, co-author of Freakonomics, presented an entertaining and eye-opening discussion on conventional wisdom - and why it isn't always so wise. Often, people assume two things have a cause-and-effect relationship, when they are actually merely correlated. For example, kids who are read to frequently and who grow up in households with lots of children's books tend to do better on reading tests than do children who grow up in homes with no books. It's easy to assume it is because of their exposure to books that children who have them perform better - a cause and effect relationship. But research shows having books and performing well on tests are merely correlated, Dubner said. To prove the point, he noted children who grow up in homes with many children's books -- but who never read them, and are never read to -- also perform better in reading tests than children without. Further, children with access to books, whether they are read or not, also outperform their bookless counterparts in math tests. The real cause of their higher performance in reading and math is not the books, Dubner said, but the fact that households with many children's books tend to also have higher incomes and to put a greater value on education than households without books. Omura presents business models of the future at DIMA Retailer General Session To determine their business model, photo retailers must first define their target market, value proposition, core competencies and profit drivers, Dr. Glenn Omura, professor of marketing at Technology has created an economy where all consumer products are now commodities - anything any retailer can sell may also be purchased online or through a competitor. Service is the only differentiator. Given that, retailers must now view products simply as mechanisms through which to sell services. Omura presented four business models for the future: Do it yourself (for example Build-a-Bear), in which the consumer generates the products; guerilla (for example Nike's online site where consumers can design their own shoes), wherein you find a market niche and offer a deep-level product unlike anything else; IT (for example, YouTube), wherein the consumer outsources his data to a third party; and portfolio (for example, a car wash concept that offers a coffee bar and soap canons for kids to shoot at their car), in which you offer a broad assortment of services and products in partnership with the customer. PPFA kicks off PPFA 2007 yesterday with keynote address The Professional Picture Framers Association opened PPFA 2007 yesterday at the Vivian Kistler, CPF, GCF, a well-known educator with more than 30 books and videos to her credit, took the podium during lunch to share tips on how framing retailers can attract more customers. Her advice: hold special events -- at least four a year -- and plan at least one to support a charitable or community cause. If possible, schedule special events on a regular basis -- the third Thursday of every month, for example -- which will increase the impact of your advertising. There also were lots of laughs as Kistler recounted anecdotes from her more than 20 years as a gallery and frame shop owner. Following lunch, Kistler signed copies of her book, "Event Planning & Marketing for Frame Shops & Galleries." Attendees selected from among more than a dozen courses offered during this first day of the Convention. Classrooms were filled to capacity for lectures on the basics of mounting, designing shadow boxes, and identifying/framing digital prints. PSPA 2007 General Session speaker stresses personal goals, commitment for success "Have you ever been told five reasons why your goals won't work?" asked Desi Williamson, PSPA General Sessions speaker, adding, "You only need one." Williamson, who set and accomplished his personal goal to become one of the top, public speakers in the country did so after failing as a football player. "Whether in football or business, success doesn't depend on being the strongest, the fastest, or the most talented. A willingness to work the hardest and making a personal commitment to be the best can overcome many disadvantages." "I hear business people say that they are adapting to change," says Williamson, adding, "That's no good. If you are adapting to change it means that change has already past you by." Fifty percent of current Fortune 500 companies did not exist 15 years ago, Williamson notes. Many of the companies, such as FedEx found a niche and the willingness to serve underserved markets. Jones Soda CEO Peter Van Stolk to speak at tomorrow's Official Business Session By setting his products apart from the rest and developing an emotional bond with his customers, Peter van Stolk, CEO of Jones Soda Co., PSRO 2007 kicks off with customer service seminar, digital scrapbooking workshop, trade show tour
PSRO 2007 -- the annual convention for the Professional Scrapbook Retailers Organization, a PMA member association, kicks off today and runs through Saturday. Industry consultant Rob Comeau will lead off at 11:00 a.m. with a 2-hour session, "Connect With Customers." Comeau, owner of At 4:00 p.m., PSRO Director Jeanne Wines-Reed, founder and editor of Scrapbook Retailer magazine, will lead a PSRO Guided Trade Show Tour, customized for scrapbook retailers highlighting the scrapbook pavilion, The Complete Picture inspiration center, and some of the latest innovations for capturing, preserving, and displaying images. Vote for your favorite in the PPFA International Framing Competition Entries in the International PRINT and OPEN Framing Competition of the Professional Picture Framers Association -- the grand finale of yearlong chapter-level competitions -- are 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. 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. Judging was held yesterday, and winners will be announced during today'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. PPFA offers full day of sessions, All-Member Luncheon meeting
Day 2 of PPFA 2007, the annual convention of the Professional Picture Framers Association, opens with "Framing Mythconceptions," with David Lantrip, MCPF; "Introductory Mat Cutting," with Brian Wolf, CPF; "Framing for Difficult Customers," with Jim Miller, MCPF; "Strip Lining and Stretching Canvas," with Rob Markoff, CPF; and "Taking the Mystery Out of Financials," with Joyce Michels, MCPF. Kerry Wilson, MCPF, will teach an all-day prep/review class for the Certified Picture Framer exam; and Chris Paschke, CPF, GCF, will teach an all-day CPF Recertification course. The PPFA General Session Luncheon is also an all-member meeting, with voting for the new slate of board members and officers. Winners of the PPFA International Framing Competition will be announced (with the exception of the Popular Choice vote that continues through Saturday noon). After lunch, Nona Powers, MCPF, GCF, will teach "Color I"; Ellen Collins, MCPF, will lead a hands-on workshop, "Painted Glass Mats"; Baer Charlton, CPF, will teach an advanced class, "The Socio-Anthropological History of Framing"; Jeff Makoff will teach "Small Business Decision Making"; and Vince DeGeorge, CPF, will present "Framing and Installing Heavy Frames and Mirrors." Rob Markoff, CPF, will lead a tour of the PMA 07 trade show floor, and Carol Graham will present a technology demo of FrameReady software. At 4:15 p.m., Powers will continue with "Color II," and Charlton will present "Cutting Glass Ovals, Odd Shapes and Fan Cases." Markoff will lead "Maximizing the Profit in Your Picture," and Michael Derr, CPF, will teach "Adding Letters, Words and Phrases." A Round Table discussion is also on tap. PMA 07 Trends PMA 07 product and service trends PMA is highlighting just some of the new trends and innovations in its PMA 07 coverage this year in the "PMA 07 Trends" section of Newsline International and the online PMA Show Daily. For a full and exhaustive listing of all the new products and services, visit the Virtual Press Office, where many exhibitors post full product releases in the "PMA 07" section. Color management solutions offer new tools professionals Pantone Inc., News about Pantone huey was also announced. Pantone huey can now run natively on the new Windows Vista operating system, and the software update is available free at www.pantone.com. In addition, Pantone huey is available in Fujifilm's FinePix S5 Pro System Package, which is designed to appeal to wedding, portrait and studio photographers. The Fuijifilm FinePix S5 Pro System Package includes the Pantone huey monitor calibrator, a CCD dust blower, and the Fuijifilm FinePix S5 Pro D-SLR, available now for a suggested $1,999.95. The X-Rite i1DisplayLT makes easy work of color balancing monitors for digital imaging enthusiasts and serious photographers with a Wizard-driven user mode, and comes packaged within an X-Rite i1Display measurement device for fast color reads. This Mac and Windows compatible emission-only colorimeter features an ambient measurement head and X-Rite i1Match software for monitors. And powered by a handheld spectrophotometer, the Swiss-engineered X-Rite i1PRO, the X-Rite i1PhotoLT delivers color accuracy for CRT, LCD and laptop displays and can profile any inkjet, laserjet or photo printer that accepts RGB data. This new hardware/software package is Mac and Windows compatible. By PMA Senior Editor Bonnie Gretzner Companies strive to make cameraphone images better and easier to use Getting consumers to use the multitudes of images they are capturing on cameraphones has been a difficult hurdle for the imaging industry, but a number of companies are working to change that. FotoNation announces its Red-Eye Correction Technology for cameraphones, which is directly embedded in the handset so consumers can automatically take redeye free cameraphone every time, with no software retouching needed. FotoNation Red-Eye Technology automatic detection and correction of red-eye will be available on the Nokia N73, N80 and N93 series of cameraphones. In addition, Exclaim, In addition, Exclaim has partnered with the Kodak Gallery to make uploading, downloading and sharing of photo and video captured on cameraphones easy and instantaneous. Kodak Mobile Link is available now on leading CDMA BREW Wireless carriers in the The program eliminates the need to attach photos to MMS messages for uploading. Instead, camera phone users simply press a button and their photos are automatically connected to Kodak Gallery, where they can be shared, printed and stored. Users can also view their Kodak Gallery albums within the application. An automatic account creation feature enables users who do not have a Kodak Gallery account to create one through their mobile phones. Verizon Wireless, By PMA Senior Editor Jennifer Barr Kruger Companies tweak media to improve, add to offerings for professional imagers New papers and films debuted at PMA 07, many improved versions of an existing product, promising to deliver more accurate reproductions for professional imagers. For instance, Eastman Kodak Co., Ilford Imaging Ilford Imaging Switzerland GmbH, the manufacturing operation, together with the Ilford worldwide digital imaging and color photo businesses, has been owned by Japan's Italy-based Ferrania Technologies expanded its line of inkjet print media for retailers with its OptiJet Professional Papers. These new inkjet papers a broad color gamut resulting in exceptional color reproduction, Ferrania says. The line includes three finishes - 260 gsm, 10.4-mil glossy and luster, and 180 gsm, 9-mil matte heavyweight - in cut sheet sizes from 4-by-6 inches to 13-by-19 inches. The inket papers are 100 percent compatible with all inkjet printers and inks. Other media for the fine-art market also debuted at PMA 07. InteliCoat Technologies,
Moab by Legion Paper Co., Not simply an update, Fuji introduced a new paper for professionals. Fujifilm Fujifilm says the high D-max, purer whiteness and vibrant color reproduction deliver a wide tonal range, sharp text quality and high color saturation. PEARL Paper is coated with the latest generation of Fujicolor Crystal Archive digital emulsion technologies. The paper will be available in select sizes up to 50 inches in width beginning this spring. Premier Imaging Products also offered new products: High-Gloss Canvas and Gloss/Matte Duo Photo Paper. The first is on a poly/cotton base with a 2:1 weave for stretching properties and added strength. It's an acid-free product. The second is double-sided 12-mil photo paper with a high gloss surface on one side and a matte finish on the other. It is especially suited for trading cards, postcards and brochures. By PMA Senior Editor Bonnie Gretzner Fujifilm showed its new FinePix S5 Pro at a PSPA preview; new lenses introduced at PMA 07 Fujifilm U.S.A. Inc., hosted a pre-PMA 07 event for Professional School Photographers Association (PSPA) members to give attendees a first look at the Fujifilm FinePix S5 Pro DSLR with such features as: the new Film Simulation modes, Real Photo Processor Pro, Super CCD SR Pro technologies, the password-protected menu lock-out functionality, barcode scanning to image file metadata, use of extended-dynamic range, white balance and color fine tuning, post-capture face detection, and noise reduction technology. Price is a factor too. By not having to make lenses that cover a 35mm full-chip size, manufactures can introduce new zoom lenses with a wide-angle focal-length that would cost less to make. But there are drawbacks to using older film-camera lenses on new DSLRs, from mandatory manual focusing, to other issues raised by poor electronic interface between the lens and the DSLR body. Some of the new "digital" lenses include the Sony 16mm-80mm Zeiss f/3.5-4.5 DT zoom, the Nikon 18mm-135mm f/3.5-5.6G, packaged with the Nikon D80 DSLR. The new Tamron SP AF 17mm-50mm f/2.8 XR Di II, is billed as covering a 35mm image sensor on a camera that offers one, uses an APS-C-size image sensor. The combination should result in great sharpness. By PMA Senior Editor Larry Thall HP launches DreamColor Technologies for accurate digital color reproduction across multiple devices, partners with DreamWorks HP, Announced today, the system will first be made available to the graphic-intensive creative community and professional photography market through select HP printers. Over time, it will be implemented across a broader range of markets and HP product categories, including PCs and monitors. Accurately matching colors, time after time, from display imagery to print has been a long-standing challenge for imaging engineers. To date, there hasn't been an easy way to effectively control color reproduction between various input devices, processing steps and output devices, HP explains. HP DreamColor is a step toward a solution in which all devices involved in the capture, design, editing and printing process use sensor-based, closed-loop control systems for definitive color reproduction. "We've tapped the in-depth experience at HP to deliver the highest standard of digital color consistency across our broad product line," said Vyomesh Joshi, executive vice president, Imaging and Printing Group, HP. "HP DreamColor will provide our customers with the confidence that their artistic intent will be preserved as they move from device to device in the workflow." The HP DreamColor initiative was born out of HP's success in meeting the demanding standards for color accuracy at DreamWorks Animation SKG. HP has been working with DreamWorks on new technologies since 2001, when they collaborated on the animated feature "Shrek." In 2005, the companies developed the HP Halo Collaboration Studio, which allows businesses to conduct meetings in different locations around the world in a vivid, real-time, face-to-face environment. Said CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg, "The lack of consistency of color throughout the entertainment ecosystem - from creation to viewing to printing - is frustrating. HP DreamColor solves the problem and lets us focus on what's most important: developing the best movies possible." KIS focusing on growth in its press conference Growth opportunities in the Villard said the new KIS Photobook Pro is designed to produce a photo book from 3.5-by-5 up to 12-by-18 in just a few minutes, leveraging lab systems currently in use. The margin on a photo book, he noted, is better than that from 500 4x6 prints. The press conference also announced a new KIS kiosk for small shops, a new generation of kiosks -- Speed Lab 100 -- available in three versions, and new automated digital minilab -- Speed Lab 200 -- able to accept all payment methods. The new DKS 16 & 17 series minilabs are capable of printing from 1,000 to 2,000 prints per hour, in sizes up to 8-by-12 and 12-by-18, respectively. During the press conference, the company announced it is working on a high speed, low cost inkjet photo kiosk, capable of producing a 4x6 print in two seconds. By PMA Senior Editor Don Long Lexar offers software suite with flash cards Lexar, In addition to sought-after image editing and management applications from Corel, select Lexar flash memory cards now include downloadable Image Rescue 3, the recently introduced version of the company's image recovery software that features a redesigned user interface, as well as Lexar Backup n Sync powered by Sharpcast, a simple-to-use application for automatically backing up important images and syncing them across multiple devices and the Web. Powered by Sharpcast, Lexar Backup n Sync eliminates traditional chores of manually uploading, sharing, and backing up images and associated metadata like album titles, captions, and comments, by transparently synchronizing images to Sharpcast's servers via the Internet. Customers purchasing select CF and SD cards from all three Lexar card lines (Professional, Platinum II, and Standard) will be able to download desktop software for syncing and sharing an unlimited number of images, with an extra 100MB of online storage capacity free of charge for their original sized images. Unlimited online storage capacity for customers' original photos is available for $5.99 per month. Other Sharpcast-powered features like Group Albums and Photo Chat, give Lexar customers the solution for sharing unlimited original photographs among friends, and having a live conversation alongside the photos. More information about Lexar Backup n Sync is available at www.sharpcast.com/lexar. Retailers can get Kodak document scanners for shoebox scanning from Brooke International Brooke International, Sony debuts first wireless Cyber-shot digital camera Sony Electronics Inc., "This is a step towards realizing a platform for networked photo communication," said Phil Lubell, director of marketing for digital cameras at Sony Electronics. "We will continue to explore the possibilities for networked digital imaging as broadband Internet becomes more pervasive in American homes." The G1 model features a 3.5-inch LCD screen with resolution of 921,000 pixels. The new camera also offers a slide show with music function for sharing photos directly on the camera. The new models' camera-to-camera wireless capability makes it possible to send a photo at the push of a button, and it's also possible for up to four camera users to send each other photos in real time. With a DLNA-compatible PC, storing and sharing photos becomes simplified through wireless image transfer from the camera to the PC, says the company. The G1 unit also includes 2GB of internal memory. It can also be used as a "virtual photo album in your pocket" by storing up to 7,500 VGA-quality photos or 600 6-megapixel pictures. The camera's capacity can be expanded beyond its internal memory with an optional Memory Stick Duo media card or Memory Stick PRO Duo card. In addition to storage capacity, the DSC-G1 incorporates an auto image management system with sophisticated search functions, says the company. Users can organize photos by events, such as vacations or birthdays, and retrieve them later through keywords or labels. It's also possible to select an image and search for other photos with the same face, same color, or a similar shot composition. As with Sony's other new models introduced on Feb. 27, the DSC-G1 also integrates built-in technologies to minimize image blur, including Super Steady Shot optical image stabilization. It also has high light sensitivity, up to ISO 1000, to facilitate shooting at higher shutter speeds, as well as low-light conditions for more natural exposures or for settings where flash is not permitted. This new Cyber-shot model also features a distinctive design, and a Carl Zeiss 3x optical zoom lens is wrapped in a metal body. The DSC-G1 digital camera will ship in April for about $600. Additional accessories will include lenses, filters, batteries, travel chargers, sports packs and cases. Xerox is targeting specialty photo applications via partnerships In conjunction with MyPhotoFun, Xerox Corp., MyPhotoFun was launched by a Dutch-based digital printer and is now an independent company. In Also, Xerox reached an agreement with Powis to provide a binding and finishing device for Xerox digital production printers. The Powis Photobook Binding Workcell uses a special binding process for creating hardcover books with a choice of customizable covers to produce elegant photo books. Books are produced near the printing system with minimal setup and can be produced one at a time or in larger runs with suede, leather and other cover materials. ZoomAlbum takes a little look at photo book market at Sneak Peek
Ellen Marden, sales director, ZoomAlbum Inc., Kirkland, Wash., holds one of many types of pocket photo albums created using the company's consumer software. ZoomAlbum is one of several companies exhibiting consumer photo and photo book software at PMA 07 and Sneak Peek, a preview event for press prior to PMA 07. Photo by PMA Senior Editor Don Long |
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