To search the Digital News content (plus any other content) on this site, enter the word(s) in the box below and click on the "Search" button. News Archive Q3 2006 Q2 2006 Q1 2006 Q4 2005 Q3 2005 Q2 2005 Q1 2005 Q4 2004 Q3 2004 Q2 2004 Q1 2004 Q4 2003 Q3 2003 Q2 2003 Q1 2003 Q4 2002 (NOTE: the following is a mixture of press releases and editorial comments. When ONLY a company-provided press release is used--either in full or excerpted--it will be identified as such.) PRESS RELEASE: HAHNEMUHLE FINEART ANNOUNCES FINEART PEARL PAPER 3/25/06 - (3/15/06) In response to the growing demand for a superior fiber-based digital fine art media with the look and feel of a traditional darkroom photo paper, the Hahnemuhle mill is introducing the newest member of its digital FineArt media collection. As with all Hahnemuhle papers, FineArt Pearl has been developed to the highest standards using only the finest raw materials and manufacturing techniques. FineArt Pearl 285gsm is a triple coated, lignin free, 100% alpha-cellulose paper. The result is a surface that is remarkably similar to a traditional silver gelatin double-weight photo paper. In a side-by side comparison to similar papers from competitors, Hahnemuhle FineArt Pearl proved to be significantly superior in D-Max, white point and surface structure. When FineArt Pearl was previewed at PMA 2006 in Orlando, the response from those who saw the samples was overwhelmingly positive! We've already been flooded with inquiries about the paper. The good news is that FineArt Pearl 285gsm should be on shelves by mid to late April. It will come in all standard sheet and roll sizes. Specs: pH: 7.9-8.5 weight: 285gsm brightness: >100 (final testing not completed) dmax: 2.88 SOURCE: Hahnemuhle USA www.hahnemuehle.com ^ back to top PRESS RELEASE: ILFORD IMAGING EXPANDS RANGE OF GALERIE INKJET PRODUCTS 3/10/06 - (2/22/06) Based on a survey conducted with selected customers within the national group of independent ILFORD dealers, new items have been added to the GALERIE Professional Inkjet product range. These products therefore represent the sizes most asked for by end user customers as the applications for GALERIE products continues to grow. The ten new GALERIE items, and their approximate dates of availability, are: • Smooth Gloss IGSGP9 4"x6" 100 sheets mid-March • Smooth Pearl IGSPP9 4"x6" 100 sheets mid-March • Smooth Gloss IGSGP9 5"x7" 30 sheets mid-March • Smooth Pearl IGSPP9 5"x7" 30 sheets mid-March • Smooth Gloss IGSGP9 17"x22" 50 sheets mid-March • Smooth Pearl IGSPP9 17"x22" 50 sheets mid-March • Smooth Gloss IGSGP9 17"x100' rolls in stock now • Smooth Pearl IGSPP9 17"x100' rolls in stock now • Smooth Heavyweight Matte IGSHMPUS 13"x19" 50 sheets late April • Smooth Heavyweight Matte IGSHMPUS 17"x22" 25 sheets late April As always, GALERIE Smooth products are fully compatible with all photo quality inkjet printers, give professional results using both dye and pigment inks, and feature Instant Dry characteristics. ILFORD Imaging USA Inc, in concert with ILFORD Imaging Canada Limited, is the exclusive North American distributor of traditional Black & White photographic materials and photo quality inkjet media under the ILFORD brand. SOURCE: ILFORD Imaging USA Inc www.ilford.com ^ back to top PRESS RELEASE: HP UNVEILS PROFESSIONAL PHOTO PRINTER BUILT ON COMPANY'S SCALABLE PRINTING TECHNOLOGY New exclusively formulated pigment inks offer print longevity of more than 200 years with select papers. 2/23/06 - (2/23/06) HP today announced a new professional photo printer featuring breakthrough print speeds and, for the first time, introduced a new portfolio of exclusively formulated HP Vivera pigment inks and digital fine art media. The new printing solution is the latest system based on HP's scalable printing technology, announced last summer. These new solutions round out HP's growing portfolio of photography products geared toward the $780 million professional and advanced amateur photography market. Designed to offer photographers greater choice and flexibility with their professional printing needs, the HP Photosmart Pro B9180 Professional Photo Printer, together with HP Vivera pigment inks and select HP fine art papers, deliver professional image quality and increased fade resistance for prints that last more than 200 years. (1) Thanks in part to the use of HP's scalable printing technology, the HP Photosmart Pro B9180 is capable of producing 13 x 19-inch photos in as fast as 90 seconds. (2) Additionally, this new professional photo printer includes the HP Photosmart Pro Print plug-in for Adobe Photoshop(R), which automatically synchronizes Photoshop and the printer driver for a single user interface and color management. "We are delighted to be working with HP to provide solutions, like the HP Photosmart Pro Print plug-in, that will enhance a photographer's workflow," said Deborah Whitman, vice president of product management, Digital Imaging, Adobe. "As the industry-standard in professional digital imaging software, Photoshop has set the bar for high-quality digital imagery and the HP Photosmart Pro Print plug-in streamlines the path to printing those images from Photoshop." HP expands Vivera family to include pigment inks HP expanded its Vivera product portfolio to include pigment inks, offering greater flexibility for printing on a broad array of media. HP Vivera pigment inks provide professional image quality and long-lasting photo permanence, accurate and consistent color reproduction, and smooth transitions and detail. In addition, HP Vivera pigment inks are smudge-, water- and humidity-resistant. The first HP printer to use Vivera pigment inks is the newly introduced HP Photosmart Pro B9180, which features eight efficiently designed Vivera pigment individual ink cartridges, allowing professional photographers to replace only the ink colors used. New media offers choice for professional photographers The HP Photosmart Pro B9180 allows photographers to print on an extensive assortment of media including canvas, watercolor, stiff pre-matte and film up to 1.5-mm thick, as well as new HP Advanced Photo Paper. The new paper is thicker and provides customers with lab-quality, vibrant color photo prints that dry instantly and exhibit excellent water resistance. With this new assortment of media, consumers can create prints in varying sizes from 3.5 x 5-inch up to 13 x 19-inch, with or without borders. HP also introduced four new digital fine art papers to work seamlessly with the HP Photosmart Pro B9180. The HP Hahnemuehle Smooth Fine Art Paper, HP Hahnemuehle Watercolor Paper, HP Aquarella Art Paper and HP Artist Matte Canvas offer artists and photographers professional color-accurate prints with exceptional image quality and outstanding durability, meaning that prints maintain color integrity and resist fading for generations. (2) Backed by HP Total Care HP offers a comprehensive support package for the HP Photosmart Pro B9180 that includes one-year limited hardware warranty backed by HP Customer Care, service and support, including one-year technical phone support. With HP Total Care, customers have more options for convenient support, including eSupport options such as printer diagnostics and software driver updates, the ability to chat real-time with a support agent, and 24x7 toll-free technical support in both English and Spanish. HP Total Care strives to deliver quality support with one-hour email response times, increased first-time resolution rates, and reduced customer hold times. For support information visit www.hp.com/support. About HP HP is a technology solutions provider to consumers, businesses and institutions globally. The company's offerings span IT infrastructure, global services, business and home computing, and imaging and printing. For the four fiscal quarters ended Jan. 31, 2006, HP revenue totaled $87.9 billion. More information about HP (NYSE, Nasdaq: HPQ) is available at www.hp.com. (1) Fade results based on preliminary display permanence testing under glass by Wilhelm Imaging Research using HP Advanced Photo Paper, HP Matte Photo Paper, HP Hahnemühle Smooth Fine Art Paper and HP Hahnemuehle Watercolor Paper; similar display permanence with HP additional HP recommended papers. Preliminary results, to be updated as test progresses--see wilhelm-research.com. (2) Printing with HP 38 pigment inks. Based on light and thermal fade resistance testing by Wilhelm Imaging Research or HP's Image Permanence Lab. For more details visit www.hp.com/go/printpermanence. SOURCE: Hewlett-Packard Company www.hp.com ^ back to top PRESS RELEASE: CANON'S NEW GALLERY-QUALITY PIXMA PRO9000 AND PIXMA PRO9500 PHOTO PRINTERS ARE FIRST TO EARN "PRO" DESIGNATION 2/21/06 - (2/21/06) Canon extends its industry-leading role among professional photographers and advanced amateurs with the introduction of two affordable, new professional photo printers: the ten-color PIXMA Pro9500 and the eight color PIXMA Pro9000 models. The first Canon PIXMA printers to earn the Pro designation, both the PIXMA Pro9500 printer--which utilizes long-lasting, pigment-based inks--and the PIXMA Pro9000 printer--which uses long-lasting, dye-based inks--produce brilliant, gallery quality prints up to 13 x 19 inches on a variety of specialty media and fine art papers. "These printers are a breakthrough not simply for Canon but for the industry," stated Yukiaki Hashimoto, senior vice president and general manager of the consumer imaging group at Canon U.S.A., Inc. "We have not simply reformulated inks, we have re-examined the selection of inks needed to create some of the finest, long-lasting prints possible." "While Canon produces the number one digital cameras of choice for photo pros and advanced amateurs, our ultimate goal is to provide the complete digital imaging solution of choice for these discerning, demanding and discriminating photographers, imaging professionals and enthusiasts," added Mr. Hashimoto. "As our vast selection of lenses anticipate and respond to the optical needs of photographers, so too, these new professional photo printers provide robust, digital imaging solutions for a community we value and vow to serve." "Wilhelm Imaging Research is currently testing the ChromaLife100 system and Lucia pigment-based inks," said Henry Wilhelm, president of Wilhelm Imaging Research, Inc. "A review of preliminary test data indicates that prints made with the Lucia pigmented inks and select Canon photo and fine art papers will have WIR Display Permanence Ratings in excess of 100 years for color images and significantly beyond that for monochrome. The pigmented inks also provide excellent short term color drift behavior which is critically important for color managed workflows and for proofing applications." The PIXMA Pro9500 Photo Printer Designed and developed to accommodate pro photographers and imaging professionals that wish to present the highest possible quality portfolios of their work as well as those who generate gallery-standard prints for sale, (and understandably need them to last), the PIXMA Pro9500 Photo Printer delivers output that lives up to that promise and more. Ten individual tanks of Canon's long lasting, Lucia branded pigment based inks and Canon's 7,680 nozzle print head (compared with the competitor's 1440 nozzle print head) and Full-photolithography Inkjet Nozzle Engineering (FINE) technology are at the core of this top-performance photo printer. These Lucia inks--photo black, matte black and gray as well as cyan, magenta, yellow, photo cyan, photo magenta, red and green--are precisely placed by the PIXMA Pro9500 Photo Printer in three-picoliter droplets (min.) to create photographs and other works of art that are rich in detail, texture and tone. Indeed, the PIXMA Pro9500 printer's dramatically wide color gamut and extraordinary color reproduction in the green, red, and yellow-to-orange color ranges help this printer produce color images of exceptional virtuosity and quality. Still, this printer delivers remarkable results when printing gallery-grade monochromatic photos. For these "black and whites," the inks are key. The Matte Black ink provides high density true black renditions on fine art papers; the Photo Black ink provides high contrast and, most telling of all, the gray ink reduces graininess and lines, stabilizes the gray balance in the print (by using less color in the gray image areas). The gray ink also reduces the photo phenomenon known as metamerism where composite gray inks (achieved with combinations of cyan, magenta and yellow ink) make image areas look different under different lighting conditions (such as sunlight, fluorescent light and incandescent light). This aberration is due to the differences in spectral reflectance properties of each of the composite colors. To further increase productivity, efficiency, and value, Canon designed the PIXMA Pro9500 model so that all ten individual ink tanks can reside in the print head at all times, saving time (and ink) by eliminating the need to swap out tanks before printing. Now, pros who may have been inconvenienced by swapping ink tanks can simply load all the tanks in this new PIXMA Pro model and never worry about which ink goes with which project. The PIXMA Pro9000 Photo Printer The PIXMA Pro9000 Photo Printer uses Canon's high-performance, high-density 6,144 nozzle print head to deposit precise and constant 2-picoliter ink droplets--delivering approximately 11-million droplets per square inch--to produce impressively detailed prints with remarkable quality and speed. This eight-ink printer features a wide color space that rivals positive film and delivers vivid coloration and high glossiness. Indeed, the combination of these new individually packaged inks--Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Photo Cyan, Photo Magenta, Black, Red, and Green--and Canon Photo Paper Pro glossy stock creates beautiful finished images. The Canon-to-Canon Connection While the PIXMA Pro9500 and PIXMA Pro9000 printers borrow design elements from Canon's digital SLR line: curved edges reminiscent of the lines on Canon digital SLRs and 'pro-black' pebble finish, the Canon-to Canon synergy is not limited to style, color and curves. Indeed, that connection is closest with Canon's new EOS 30D professional digital SLR. The EOS 30D Digital SLR connects directly with these two printers via a PictBridge connection powering its advanced camera direct capabilities. This feature permits manual adjustment of color or black and white images from the camera's LCD screen all without the need of a computer connection or additional image management software. Professional users can now adjust contrast, color tone, saturation, color balance, and even add shooting information directly on to their prints. The Canon-to-Canon direct connection simplifies the professional photographers' workflow. Easy-PhotoPrint Pro Both the PIXMA Pro9500 Photo Printer and the PIXMA Pro9000 Photo Printer are bundled with Canon Easy-PhotoPrint Pro software. Easy-PhotoPrint Pro is a plug-in software program for Adobe applications Photoshop CS and Photoshop CS2, and Canon Digital Photo Pro (DPP) version 2.1, which permits one-click image transfer; offers simple settings for color management and allows users to configure printer settings once for images on multiple sheets. Among its myriad other features, the Easy-PhotoPrint Pro software facilitates the printing of RAW images (as a high quality TIFF or JPEG) without having to save from DPP software. The Easy-PhotoPrint Pro software also creates pattern prints that demonstrates different color balance, brightness, and contrast than the original image and prints them on a sheet of paper for easy comparison. This pattern print can present 48 possible image variations allowing users to see what their print will look like without wasting vast quantities of paper, ink, and of course, time. Users can even configure the color settings for different types of papers and adjustment values can be stored for later use. New Fine Art Papers Coinciding with the debut of these two new professional photo printers, Canon is adding two new fine art printing papers to the company's already extensive line of available media: * The 100 percent cotton, Fine Art Paper "Photo RagTM" (ideal for printing photo art as well as copies of water colors, oil paintings, woodblock prints and illustrations); and * Fine Art Paper Premium Matte (a heavy 210g/m2 paper with a smooth matte finish that conveys an artistic, gallery-grade look to photographs and other art content). Both new papers are offered in 8 x 11-inch and 13 x 19-inch sizes. Additionally, Canon has extended its quality media lineup with a new 8 x 10­inch size of their popular Photo Paper Pro and Photo Paper Plus Semi Gloss media, as well as a new 13 x 19-inch size for its Photo Paper Plus paper, making it easier than ever to go directly from printer to frame. Canon will debut the PIXMA Pro9500 and PIXMA Pro9000 photo printers in its booth (#3509) during the Photo Marketers Association (PMA) exhibit in Orlando, Fla., from February 26th - March 1st, 2006. About Canon U.S.A., Inc. Canon U.S.A., Inc. delivers consumer, business-to-business, and industrial imaging solutions. The Company is listed as one of Fortune's Most Admired Companies in America and is rated #35 on the BusinessWeek list of "Top 100 Brands." Its parent company Canon Inc. (NYSE:CAJ) is a top patent holder of technology, ranking second overall in the U.S. in 2005, with global revenues of $31.8 billion. For more information, visit www.usa.canon.com. SOURCE: Canon Inc. www.usa.canon.com ^ back to top PRESS RELEASE: PRINT BRILLIANT COLOR AND BREATHTAKING DETAIL WITH CANON'S NEW imagePROGRAF iPF5000 LARGE FORMAT PRINTER Canon's New imagePROGRAF iPF5000 Prints Eye-Catching Color Images Up To 17-inches Wide Just Minutes 2/21/06 - (2/21/06) Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leading provider of office imaging systems, ink-jet technology and digital photography equipment, today unveiled the new 12-color imagePROGRAF iPF5000 pigment ink large format printer, designed to produce professional-style prints at unparalleled speeds with outstanding archival image quality. This next evolution in Canon's large format portfolio provides one of the industry's largest color gamuts with Canon's 12-color inkset featuring new Lucia pigmented inks. Engineered for speed and advanced image quality, the iPF5000 model uses Canon's new L-COA controller and dual print heads to lay down ink quickly and accurately using the most nozzles per-color in the industry. Coupled with a suite of innovative image processing software, the iPF5000 device is ideal for professional photographers and digital artists looking to have their images stand out in a crowd. "The imagePROGRAF iPF5000 printer provides a range of newly developed technological features above and beyond previous Canon products including a large new inkset to position Canon as the premier digital imaging solution provider from capture through output. The iPF5000 model is truly the next generation in large format printing," said Tod Pike, senior vice president, Imaging Systems Group, Canon U.S.A., Inc. "Canon has capitalized on its heritage and reputation in the digital imaging market to bring about this outstanding print solution for the high-end digital artist and photographer." Radiant Color The iPF5000 printer's new Lucia inkset features Red, Blue, Green, Gray, Photo Gray, Cyan, Photo Cyan, Magenta, Photo Magenta, Yellow, Regular Black, and Matte Black pigmented inks. The large color gamut provided by 12 ink colors allows the iPF5000 printer to reproduce brilliant hues and tones. The use of gray tones allows the printer to render smooth gradation for crisp monotone output. The iPF5000 printer loads all 12 ink tanks at once and utilizes automatic switching between Regular Black and Matte Black, helping to eliminate wasted ink and time swapping out ink tanks. The use of ink colors such as gray, blue, red, and green allows the printer to more accurately reproduce tones within these color ranges using significantly less ink. This new device experiences less metamerism in its output by reducing the number of inks needed to match colors. This is especially evident through the use of gray inks. "Wilhelm Imaging Research is currently testing the Lucia pigment-based inks," said Henry Wilhelm, president of Wilhelm Imaging Research, Inc. "A review of preliminary test data indicates that prints made with the Lucia pigmented inks and select Canon photo and fine art papers will have WIR Display Permanence Ratings in excess of 100 years for color images and significantly beyond that for monochrome. The pigmented inks also provide excellent short term color drift behavior which is critically important for color managed workflows and for proofing applications." Blazing Print Speed A technological triumph, the imagePROGRAF iPF5000 model uses Canon's new dual print head design that has a total of 30,720 ink nozzles. The iPF5000 printer employs 2,560 nozzles per color for rapid print speeds, a maximum resolution of 2400 x 1200 dpi, and a four picoliter droplet size. The increased number of nozzles and automatic clogged nozzle detection helps reduce wear-and-tear on the printhead. Canon's newly developed L-COA controller enables the iPF5000 printer to operate at fast print speeds and accurately lay ink for optimal image quality. As the last link in the image processing chain, the L-COA controller intelligently processes the data directing the rapid printing process. Combined with Canon's dual print head design and the most ink nozzles per color in the industry, the L-COA controller helps achieve print speeds of under three minutes for 16.5" x 23.4" (A2) size prints with 1200x1200dpi resolution on a glossy photo paper. With more than 30 types of Canon-branded media available and the introduction of seven new fine art papers, the new iPF5000 printer provides users with a wide array of print options ranging from glossy to canvas. The variety of media available for the new iPF5000 provides the versatility and flexibility to complete any number of industry applications. For the high-speed high-production professional, the iPF5000 printer offers four media feed options--a front-loading cassette for pre-cut sheet, a rear manual feed, a front straight path manual feed for thicker media up to 1.5mm, or an optional roll feed for longer paper lengths. The device features automatic media switching between the cassette and the roll feed so users can keep two media types loaded and ready to print, making their selection from the print driver. The printer also comes with a built-in rotary media cutter standard. The optional roll feed comes with two and three-inch core adapters to accommodate all 17-inch Canon roll-stock media. The optional roll feed and standard rotary media cutter help the iPF5000 printer to provide true-borderless prints. Workflow Software That Enhances Productivity and Image Quality Along with exceptional printing speeds and enhanced image quality the iPF5000 model also provides a suite of workflow software Print Plug-in for Digital Photo Professional* (DPP) software allows users to directly process and print RAW image file from their DPP software. This plug-in is an export module that bypasses the operating-system-dependent print driver ­ allowing processing of 16-bit RGB images, which dramatically increasing gradations and as a result, overall image quality. The users will be able to save color profile and print settings to apply to future jobs with the print history function. For those with Adobe(R) Photoshop(R) workflow, the Print Plug-in is also available for Adobe(R) Photoshop(R) for Windows and Macintosh with the same functionality. These two Print Plug-in export modules combine an easy to use operation with advanced image processing to produce extremely high quality prints. The imagePROGRAF Printer Driver 2006 for the iPF5000 has host of features that enable even the novice users to start printing like a pro. Features such as Easy Settings enables a user to print optimum quality simply by selecting a per-configured print setting from a list of popular poster types. For more advanced users, the printer driver has advanced color control capability, including ICC Color Matching to enable the use of custom output ICC profiles, and Monochrome Photo mode to produce superb monochrome output with a capability to fine-tune gray balance and tonality of highlights and shadows. The driver is compatible both Windows(R) and Macintosh(R) operating systems. For Windows driver, the driver has extra productivity enhancing features such as Free Layout tool that allows for the nesting of separate documents into a single document, and also an imageRUNNER enlargement copy hot folder function, built right into the printer driver. Digital Photo Print Pro (DPPP), an image editing and management program provides any level of user the means to create high quality large format output from their digital images. DPPP includes tools to correct red-eye, remove dust and fix back light problems along with options for designing image layouts. This software also has the capability of 2-way communication with Photoshop to give the advanced user more flexibility in their image editing process. PosterArtist 2006 is also bundled with the printer, providing an easy way to create signs and posters. The imagePROGRAF iPF5000 printer will be available through authorized Canon U.S.A. dealers in April 2006 with a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $1,945. Canon will debut the imagePROGRAF iPF5000 larege format printer in its booth (#3509) during the Photo Marketing Association (PMA) exhibit in Orlando, Fla., from February 26th - March 1st, 2006. About Canon U.S.A., Inc. Canon U.S.A., Inc. delivers consumer, business-to-business, and industrial imaging solutions. The Company is listed as one of Fortune's Most Admired Companies in America and is rated #35 on the BusinessWeek list of "Top 100 Brands." Its parent company Canon Inc. (NYSE:CAJ) is a top patent holder of technology, ranking second overall in the U.S. in 2005, with global revenues of $31.8 billion. For more information, visit www.usa.canon.com. * Digital Photo Professional version 2.1 or later SOURCE: Canon Inc. www.usa.canon.com ^ back to top PRESS RELEASE: LYSON BULK FEED SYSTEM FOR EPSON STYLUS PHOTO R2400 SAVES USERS UP TO 70% ON INK COSTS Features new version of renowned Lyson Cave Paint™ pigment ink set simple to use--installs in 30 minutes 2/6/06 - (2/6/06) Lyson, Inc., a leading provider of inks, media, and related products to the printing, photography, graphic arts, and other allied industries, has introduced a bulk ink feed system and bulk ink for Epson's popular Stylus Photo R2400 inkjet printer. Unlike most bulk feed systems, which use modified generic bottles and foam-filled standard ink cartridges, the Lyson bulk feed system for the Epson R2400 uses components specifically designed for use in continuous ink supply systems. The space-saving modular ink reservoirs can be topped up while printing, and sealed when not in use to prolong ink life. The proprietary bulk ink feed cartridges feature built-in pressure dampers to automatically regulate ink flow, filters to protect the print head, and uses no foam rubber (which can deteriorate and lead to clogging during use). Even the ink tubing used is laboratory standard to reduce thickening of ink over time. "This system features a new version of our Cave Paint pigmented inks, which provide a comparable color gamut to Epson's Ultrachrome K3, while delivering deep rich blacks with no gloss differential," says Tony Martin, president of Lyson, Inc. "The installation and use of this system couldn't be easier--it takes about 30 minutes to install, and doesn't require any permanent modification to the printer." The Lyson bulk feed system for the Epson Stylus Photo R2400 retails at $399, and comes complete with a set of eight 4 oz. Ink bottles and a CD containing instructions, a user guide, and free ICC color profiles for Lyson inks on a variety of media. For more information on the Lyson bulk feed system for the Epson Stylus R2400, please contact sales@lysonusa.com or call (847) 690-1060. SOURCE: Lyson, Inc. www.lysonusa.com ^ back to top PRESS RELEASE: INKVILLAGE LAUNCHES NANOCHROME INKJET INK WITH INFU6 TECHNOLOGY Digital Photography and Fine Art Giclee Print Professionals are raving about NanoChrome™, a newly patented archival ink producing outstanding printed images with the widest color gamut and the truest blacks suited for all media used for fine art and photographic digital printing. 2/4/06 - (12/1/05) InkVillage, a PrintVillage company, announces the release of a new Hybrid Resin Infused inkjet ink called NanoChrome™. For the first time in digital printing history, any media type including; Photographic, Fine Art and Cast Coated medias can be professionally printed using one ink source from a single piezo inkjet printer of any size. Because pure dye compounds are infused into superfine, non-clogging UV resistant resin particles, NanoChrome™ combines the best attributes of both dye based and pigment based inks all into a one, more powerful ink set. NanoChrome's UV resistance is equivalent to the best pigmented ink sets without the typical dull "pigment look" on glossy photo paper. The result is a metamorism free image that remains glossy (including blacks) with no need for gloss optimizers. Owners of existing 4, 6 or 7 cartridge color inkjet printers can now reproduce glossy blacks and colors without upgrading to the new 8 color printers. As an added feature NanoChrome™ uses a patented new ink base that contains only trace amounts of glycol, therefore printed materials exit dry from the printer. NanoChrome™ can produce prints of archival quality that are virtually identical to the original. Previous comparison tests have stunned professionals in the digital printing world. The proprietary Infu6™ Hybrid Resin Infusion Technology in NanoChrome™ achieves a color gamut unimaginable with any pigment ink (including Epson's UltraChrome®) and wider than most dye based ink sets. The reduced need for color correction results in increased productivity for professionals and professional results even for the less experienced individual. The difference in color quality of NanoChrome™ compared with OEM inks including UltraChrome® is obvious to the naked eye by simply comparing side by side images. A blind test was conducted with ten fine art reproduction professionals including two color specialists and an ink industry executive. Images were printed on the same media and printer model in exact conditions using the two different inks. 100% of the subjects chose the NanoChrome™ printed image as the superior print to UltraChrome®. Digital Photography professionals are also enthusiastic about the archival qualities of this revolutionary ink set. NanoChrome™ Hybrid Resin Technology has met the strict challenges of fade resistance tests conducted by independent laboratories and industry specialists. Test results are available at www.inkvillage.com and conclude that fade resistance is comparable or better than major archival inks currently on the market while maintaining more vivid and dense colors. NanoChrome™ ink features Infu6™, a breakthrough in ink technology that resulted from over 5 years of research culminated with a series of patents relating to inkjet technology for piezo print heads. About InkVillage: Inkvillage operates as an ink and media supply distributor with a focus on Fine art reproductions and Digital Photography under the umbrella of PrintVillage . More information can be found at www.InkVillage.com. About PrintVillage: PrintVillage maintains status as one of the top giclee' fine art reproduction facilities in the U.S. With interests in all areas of digital printing and imaging technologies, PrintVillage remains on the cutting edge of research and development through its subsidiary: US Sublimation, a world leader in the dye sublimation supply industry with exclusive North American distribution channels of Rotech Digital® inks, Jetcol-Jetran™ transfer papers, and Lemaire Calendar Heat Presses. PrintVillage has developed InkVillage to service and distribute high end ink and printing solutions for photographic and fine art print professionals. Products include: NanoChrome™, Atelier Inks, Dual Chambered Continuous Flow Bulk Ink Delivery Systems, Refillable High Capacity InkJet Cartridge Systems, Custom ICC Profiling, and Media. SOURCE: InkVillage www.InkVillage.com ^ back to top PRESS RELEASE: KONICA MINOLTA ANNOUNCES WITHDRAWAL PLAN FOR CAMERA BUSINESS AND PHOTO BUSINESS 1/27/06 - (1/20/06) Konica Minolta has long been a leading company in photo imaging business covering wide range of imaging from input to output. In addition, we have provided inspiring products and services by fusing our unique technologies. In camera business, we have expanded picture-taking opportunities by developing innovative technologies such as the world's first autofocus cameras. In 1962, our camera, well-accepted for its high reliability, boarded on the US's first manned spaceship "Friendship 7." Also, ever since introduction of the world's first body-integral autofocus SLR camera, Maxxum/Dynax series, in 1985, SLR cameras have become more popular among picture-takers, and we have succeeded in selling 16 million units of interchangeable lenses since then. However, in today's era of digital cameras, where image sensor technologies such as CCD is indispensable, it became difficult to timely provide competitive products even with our top optical, mechanical and electronics technologies. In photo business, represented by the silver-halide photography such as color film and color paper, we have produced Japan's first photographic paper in 1903, and Japan's first color film in 1940, thus pioneering joy of photography for more than a century. In 1984, we introduced the world's first compact washless photofinishing system known as a minilab system. The minilabs contributed to the expansion of worldwide photographic market by making photos closer to consumers and amazingly shortening delivery time. However, traditional silver-halide photographic market is shrinking astonishingly by the surge of the worldwide digitization. In such a changing world, profits for camera and photo businesses worsened in recent years, and it became necessary to drastically reform business structure for the further growth of Konica Minolta. Ever since we decided and announced restructuring guidelines of our businesses on November 4, 2005, we have been considering practical and detailed plan, and we would like to announce our decision made today as follows: 1) Camera Business In camera business, we have reached an agreement with Sony Corporation(Sony), having numerous image sensor technologies such as CCD and CMOS, to jointly develop digital SLR cameras in July 2005. In order to continue to have our customers use Maxxum/Dynax lenses, and to maximize possibilities of the optical, mechanical and electronics technologies accumulated through development of SLR cameras in the years to come, we came to the conclusion that it was best to transfer assets concerning camera business to Sony. Since then, we have been negotiating with Sony, and as a result, we have reached an agreement with Sony to transfer a portion of assets regarding digital SLR camera system to Sony*1. In this relation, we have decided to withdraw from camera business*2, such as film cameras and digital cameras, within Konica Minolta Group as of March 31, 2006. Sony is planning to develop digital SLR cameras compatible with Maxxum/Dynax lens mount system, so that the current Maxxum/Dynax users will be able to continue to use them with Sony¹s digital SLR cameras. In addition, we will consign camera service operations for Konica Minolta, Konica,Minolta brand cameras and related equipment to Sony. *1 Pease refer to the news release, "Partial Transfer of Assets Related to Digital SLR Cameras", separately announced today. *2 Except for digital SLR cameras and interchangeable lenses produced for Sony. 2) Photo Business In today's shrinking photographic market represented by color film and color paper, we have been considering to scale back and to continue photo business at an appropriate size; however, when we foresee the photographic market, it is quite difficult to maintain profitability in this field, and we have decided to withdraw from photo business. As schemed below, we will, as much as possible, avoid causing any inconvenience in providing products to our worldwide customers in the course of withdrawal. For color film and color paper, while considering our customer needs, we will step-by-step reduce product lineup and cease our color film and color paper production by the end of fiscal year ending March 31, 2007. For minilab business, we will cease production of the system by the end of fiscal year ending March 31, 2006; however we will have such company as Noritsu Koki Co., Ltd to provide maintenance and customer services so as not to cause any inconvenience to our customers. *1 Pease refer to the news release, "Consignment of Service and Maintenance Operations for Minilabs", separately announced today. In line with the above scheme, with consideration to our customers and regional situations, we will step-by-step reorganize our sales offices and withdraw from all of our photo sales activities by September 30, 2007. 3) Personnel Management As a part of Konica Minolta Group's restructuring, we will proceed with withdrawal plan for camera and photo businesses and aggressively shifted their management resources to other Konica Minolta Group companies. While continuing this effort, in order to rationalize a number of employees, we have decided to reduce worldwide Konica Minolta Group employees by 3,700 from the current 33,000 including early retirement offering by September 30, 2007*. * The early retirement offering is for Konica Minolta Group's holding company, five business companies and two common function companies in Japan. The expenses to be incurred with this restructuring are already included in the forecast for fiscal year ending March 31, 2006. Konica Minolta Group will make our utmost efforts not to cause any inconvenience to our customer due to the decision we made this time. At the same time, camera and photo businesses are our traditional businesses ever since our founding, and we wish to express our heartfelt appreciation to the worldwide Konica Minolta fans for their patronage to our products for more than a century. Konica Minolta Group is aiming to become more powerful corporate group by swiftly meeting market changes and pursuing "selection and concentration". We will, from now on, be concentrating our business resources on non-consumer businesses, such as the core "business technologies" field, the strategic "optics and display devices" field, and the growth expected "medical imaging" and "sensing" fields, increase competitiveness, and endeavor to further expand corporate value. Outline of camera business Main business: Manufacturing, sale, and related services of photographic equipment such as digital cameras, film cameras and lenses Fiscal year ended March 31, 2005: Net sales: 117,000 million yen (Forecast for fiscal year ending March 31, 2006 is 75,000 million yen) Operating Loss: 7,300 million yen Outline of photo business Main business: Manufacturing, sale, and related services of consumer and commercial photographic materials, inkjet media, and related equipment Fiscal year ended March 31, 2005: Net sales: 151,500 million yen (Forecast for fiscal year ending March 31, 2006 is 110,000 million yen) Operating Loss: 1,400 million yen SOURCE: Konica-Minolta Group www.konicaminolta.com ^ back to top PRESS RELEASE: DIGITAL IMAGE ARCHIVES UNVEILS IMAGEVAULT, A REMOTELY SUPPORTED RAID 5 LAN IMAGE BACKUP STRATEGY 1/20/06 - (1/20/06) Digital Image Archives LLC today announced the availability of imageVault, its fully automated and supported backup solution. Aimed at photography and graphic design studios, imageVault is powered by Infrant Technologies ReadyNAS™ 600. Infrant's award-winning network storage device is bundled with Digital Image Archives' Remote IT service agreement, providing 24/7 monitoring of both the ReadyNAS and its backup sessions. "We're very excited about the possibilities created through our relationship with Infrant Technologies," said Amadou Diallo, owner of Digital Image Archives. "Our core focus is to provide image creators with solutions that reduce the burdens of maintaining new technologies. With imageVault we can implement reliable backup strategies that protect our customers' valuable image assets without adding responsibilities to existing staff, or requiring a cost-prohibitive support infrastructure." This solution comes in two basic configurations, imageVault NYC and imageVault Plus. Both plans provide automated backups from any Mac or PC workstation on the local network. With the added value of a Remote IT service agreement, maintenance and support of both the ReadyNAS and its backups are handled by Digital Image Archives. Remote IT Through remote communication with the storage device, a Digital Image Archives technician is alerted of any power loss, component failure, or backup error. In the event of hardware failure or backup error, the customer will be contacted with either a quick fix for the issue or instructions on returning the unit for diagnosis and repair. With an active Remote IT service agreement, there is never a charge for return shipping, labor or in-warranty parts replacement. With this superior level of service, customers gain the peace of mind. If the need for data recovery arises, the data will actually be available. imageVault NYC Available immediately, imageVault NYC offers a fully supported RAID network backup implementation to customers in the NYC area. Digital Image Archives configures and tests each ReadyNAS in a RAID 5 setup. A technician installs the storage device at the customer's location, creating custom backup schedules based on the their requirements. In the event of any hardware or backup error, a technician will be automatically alerted and dispatched on-site to resolve the issue at the customersí earliest convenience. imageVault Plus Scheduled for nationwide rollout in Q2 2006, imageVault Plus combines the custom configuration and remote monitoring of imageVault NYC with a remote server backup plan. This fully redundant solution provides a premium level of data protection. With an on-site device that backs up images over the local network, and then backs itself up nightly to one of Digital Image Archives' remote servers, customers can be confident of data recovery in the event of physical damage or theft in their studio. Availability and Pricing imageVault NYC is available immediately to customers within the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan and Queens, New York City. Configurations are provided in various storage capacities and with monthly or annual Remote IT service agreements starting at $1150USD. imageVault Plus will be available to customers nationwide in the second quarter of 2006. Pricing has not yet been determined. About Digital Image Archives Digital Image Archives LLC provides photographers, graphic designers and other image creators with solutions to manage growing archives of digital images. Its mission is to design remotely supported solutions that allow customers to work efficiently with their digital content without adding to their in-house support responsibilities. For more information please visit http://www.digitalimagearchives.com. SOURCE: Digital Image Archives www.digitalimagearchives.com ^ back to top PRESS RELEASE: RESHAPING NIKON'S FILM CAMERA ASSORTMENT 1/15/06 - (1/11/06) As the film camera market shrinks and the popularity of compact digital cameras increases, demand for products that offer advanced features and extra value is growing rapidly. Additionally, the demand for high performance digital SLR cameras is also steadily increasing as customers shift from film SLRs or upgrade from compact digital cameras. With film cameras accounting for an ever smaller percentage of Nikon's total sales volume, the company has decided to concentrate its vast resources toward those business categories that continue to demonstrate the strongest growth. Consequently, as Nikon focuses more on the digital camera business, the company must adopt appropriate measures to ensure its continued success. With that, the Nikon film camera lineup will be reshaped, allowing more of Nikon's planning, engineering and manufacturing resources to be focused on the digital products that now drive our thriving industry. The measures that Nikon will adopt include discontinuing production of all large format Nikkor lenses and enlarging lenses, as well as several of our film camera bodies, manual focus Nikkor interchangeable lenses and related accessories. Sales of these products will cease as supplies are depleted. Importantly, Nikon's film camera business will continue with our flagship model F6(TM) and with the FM10(TM), allowing the Nikon brand to continue serving the two strongest segments of the 35mm film camera market. Both professionals and dedicated amateurs who continue to view film as their preferred format along with students in need of an economical camera to learn the fundamentals of photography will have ideal Nikon products from which to choose. Additionally, Nikon will continue to produce the manual focus 85mm f/2.8D PC Micro-Nikkor(R). With the interests of its customers in mind, Nikon will offer continued post-sale service for products whose production has ceased for a period of 10 (ten) years from Nikon Inc.'s last date of sale. This shift in business strategy and in the utilization of resources will allow Nikon to further its storied history and reputation as a leader in the ever-growing digital market and continue to offer groundbreaking new products and technology for photographers of all skill levels. SOURCE: Nikon Inc. www.nikon.com ^ back to top PRESS RELEASE: HASSELBLAD ANNOUNCES WORLD TOUR WITH ADOBE AND HP... ...and gives attendees the chance to handle the world's first 39 megapixel DSLR camera and the most comprehensive line of 39 megapixel camera backs on the market. 1/11/06 - (1/9/06) Hasselblad has teamed up with Adobe Systems Incorporated and HP for the Hasselblad 'No Boundaries' World Tour 2006, which will bring the market's hottest professional photographic and imaging products to 20 cities around the world from 17th January to 9th March 2006. Consisting of instructive seminars and hands-on studio sessions, each World Tour day will feature demonstrations of the Hasselblad/Adobe Digital Negative workflow using the Instant Approval Architecture (IAA) and flexible capture modes of the Hasselblad H2/H2D, an in-depth walkthrough of Adobe® Photoshop® CS2 Camera Raw and new photo printing solutions from HP. With product specialists at hand to answer any technical questions, the World Tour will be a 'must attend' event for any professional photographer looking to improve their imaging workflow and optimise their entire imaging process. Hasselblad will also use the World Tour as a platform for the launch of the world's first high-end, true 39 megapixel, digital auto-focus camera. Compatible with the entire ranges of Hasselblad H and V System lenses, the Hasselblad H2D-39 incorporates the company's unique Digital APO Correction (DAC) technology and delivers images of unsurpassed sharpness and resolution, while simultaneously reducing any moiré effect to a minimum. Hasselblad will also launch three new 39 megapixel digital backs, the Hasselblad CFH-39, CF-39 and CF-39MS, built to meet the needs of professionals who require the best, for both mobile and studio shooting. The digital backs match the design and functionality of the Hasselblad H2 camera, but now produce the supreme image quality offered by 39 megapixels. The Hasselblad CFH-39 digital back fits onto view cameras using the H-system interface plate and the Hasselblad CF-39 line of digital backs offers 39 megapixel digital capture with Hasselblad's interchangeable camera interface, the i-Adapter, and the option for true color multi-shot capture. All the new products also feature the new Hasselblad Natural Color Solution, which takes the color reproduction of digital cameras to the next level. On show during the World Tour, the combination of Hasselblad's H System cameras and Version 4.5 of its FlexColor software, together with Adobe Photoshop CS2, the DNG format, and the new professional photo printers from HP, will set new standards in image quality and workflow. Attendees at each event will benefit from the following sessions: Instruction Sessions • The H2 Platform: Key Features and Benefits • Using DNG and Adobe Photoshop CS2 Camera Raw: Changing your workflow • A new color engine for a new way of working: FlexColor 4.5 • The HP digital darkroom: getting the most from your palette Hands-on Studio Sessions • Going with the flow: Untethered shooting with the H2D • Tethered shooting with the CF/CFH digital backs on the H2 camera, an unsurpassed combination • Digital doesn't start with the back: The H System lenses • V96C back and V System cameras as well as Hasselblad Flextight scanners • DNG/Adobe Photoshop CS2 Camera Raw: Hands-on Trial • HP professional photo printers: Hands-on Trial Christian Poulsen, CEO of Hasselblad, commented: "We've given considerable thought to what would be of interest to professional photographers who have made or are considering making the move to digital imaging. In securing Adobe and HP as partners for The Hasselblad World Tour 2006, we feel that we've put together a roadshow of significant educational content that will be of real value to professionals who want to streamline their imaging processes. Attendees will also be able to try out our brand new 39 megapixel camera and digital backs and be the first to experience the astounding image quality they deliver. Places at each event are limited, however, so I would urge anyone wishing to attend to sign up via our web site as soon as possible." Professional photographers interested in joining the Hasselblad World Tour 2006 should register online via www.hasselblad.com/worldtour. Please note that space at each venue is limited and that registration must be completed at least seven days before each World Tour date. Attendees who have registered will then receive by return e-mail an entry ticket which must be produced when signing in at the event. In the United States, the World Tour 2006 will be held in conjunction with Hasselblad's ClearFocus Studio events. For full details regarding the US leg of the tour and to register as an attendee, please visit the event website at www.clearfocusstudio.com. SOURCE: Hasselblad www.hasselblad.com ^ back to top PRESS RELEASE: ADOBE UNVEILS LIGHTROOM PUBLIC BETA AND DELIVERS NEW TECHNOLOGY FOR DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY WORKFLOWS Professional Photographers Instrumental in Developing New Modular Software to Import, Manage, Develop, and Showcase Images 1/11/06 - (1/9/06) Adobe Systems Incorporated (Nasdaq:ADBE) today introduced the public beta of Adobe® Lightroom™, an all-new digital imaging solution for professional photographers. With its modular, task-based and streamlined environment, Lightroom's goal is to deliver a complete photography workflow. As Adobe collects more feedback from photographers, modules and feature sets will likely change, as customers decide on their popularity and priority within digital photography workflows. Initially available as a beta for Macintosh, Lightroom will later support both the Windows® and Macintosh platforms. "We first showed an early version of Lightroom at the Adobe Ideas Conference in April 2005 to demonstrate a new streamlined digital photography experience, from capture to print," said Shantanu Narayen, president and chief operating officer of Adobe. "Today's Lightroom Beta leverages Adobe's renowned digital imaging innovation, in areas such as raw image processing, so that even in beta form photographers will find world class technology that complements Photoshop. We look forward to the feedback from the photography community as we refine the product over the next few months." New Open Architecture Focuses on the Image Lightroom Beta has been designed with a radical new user interface that puts the focus on what photographers really care about: the image. With just one click, the control panels and tools fade into the background in Lights-Out mode, allowing the image to take center stage. The innovative Identity Plate feature allows photographers to apply their own branding to the application and its output, so that it becomes their own personal gallery for showcasing work. Photographers also can rapidly scroll through hundreds of images and Quick One-to-One Zoom allows instant magnification of the finer points within the image. "Lightroom defines the future workflow for the professional digital photographer," said Seth Resnick, a premier corporate, editorial and stock photographer. "It delivers exactly the functions photographers need to speed up their workflow in a way that was never before possible." High-Quality Raw Processing Leveraging industry-leading Adobe Camera Raw technology, Lightroom supports over 100 cameras and incorporates raw conversion into a single workflow experience. Adobe continues to advance the state of the art in raw processing, as evidenced by the new split-toning controls which create richer black and white images. This extends photographers' creative control, providing new parameters for making adjustments and more freedom to address precise areas of the photograph on the histogram. Upon import, files can be converted to Digital Negative format (DNG) or renamed and segmented by folder or date. Images can also be showcased via slideshows with drop shadows, borders, Identity Plates and different colored backgrounds. The size and position of the images can be manipulated and delivered in Macromedia Flash®, Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) or HTML formats. A variety of templates are offered for contact sheets with the ability to add identity plates or produce a fine art print. Pricing and Availability The public debut of Lightroom Beta for Macintosh OSX 10.4.3 will occur at Macworld 2006 on January 10, 2006 in San Francisco at Booth #1307 and is available for free download from the Adobe Labs Web site at http://labs.adobe.com/technologies/lightroom . Recommended system requirements are Macintosh OSX 10.4.3, 1 GHz PowerPC G4 processor, 768 MB RAM and a 1024x768 resolution screen. Regular updates to the software will be posted on the site, feedback will be collected and the final product is expected to be introduced in late 2006. Further details around pricing, system requirements and availability have yet to be determined. About Adobe Systems Incorporated Adobe revolutionizes how the world engages with ideas and information - anytime, anywhere and through any medium. For more information, visit www.adobe.com . SOURCE: Adobe Systems Incorporated www.adobe.com ^ back to top PRESS RELEASE: COLORVISION PRINTFIX PRO OFFERS PHOTOGRAPHERS SPECTRO-PRECISION PROFILING WITH TRADEMARK AFFORDABILITY AND EASE AT MACWORLD 06 Next Generation In Award-winning ColorVision Color Calibration Tools on Display. 1/11/06 - (1/11/06) Datacolor, an internationally known name in color technology, showcases a new spectro precision profiling tool in its ColorVision® digital imaging line at the 2006 Macworld Conference & Expo USA 2006. ColorVision® PrintFIX PRO™ is showcased at Booth No. 648 throughout the show held in San Francisco, CA from January 11-14, 2006. ColorVision PrintFIX PRO's handheld Spectrocolorimeter is designed to meet the needs of discerning photographic professionals as well graphic designers and digital imaging specialists--designed for easy, accurate output within the RGB workflow for inkjet, dye-sub, thermal, chemical and laser printers. PrintFIX PRO comes with stand-alone software for enhanced flexibility. Spectro technology enables support of a wide range of media, especially third party fine art papers, third party inks, and an unlimited range of RGB-driven printers. CONCISE, CONVENIENT PACKAGING The groundbreaking offering comes bundled with the Datacolor 1005 Spectrocolorimeter, patch reading hardware and is a native USB device. PrintFIX PRO rests on a calibration base when not in use and incorporates a spring-loaded wheel containing the device's calibration tiles--critical to maintaining instrument accuracy over time--ensuring they're always on hand when needed. The ColorVision PrintFIX PRO quality enhancements for this innovative, all-RGB product offer professional photographers, the following: * Exceptionally user-friendly tools. The PrintFIX PRO wizard guides the user through all the critical steps, including wizard-assisted printer setup, with a richly defined and highly detailed interface. The interface's plentiful help files maintain ease of use throughout the entire process for all user levels. For example, more advanced users can avail themselves of time saving short cuts that allow them to "skip to profiling process." Intermediate users and beginners have the ability to go through all necessary learning and testing steps. * Customized profiling choices in less time. In order to build the most accurate and consistent profiles on multiple printers, inks, and papers, a patch reader is essential. The PrintFIX PRO patch reader precisely measures calibration targets and save the data in L*a*b format. It also offers optimized higher patch targets. With precision and ease of use, PrintFIX PRO delivers customized profiling choices according to specific user needs. Some targets can be read in slightly over two-minutes, while more critical use targets can be read in under four. PrintFIX PRO saves read times for the most demanding devices, reducing time requirements from two hours to under 20 minutes and making high patch profiles much more justifiable. * Color Consistency, Capture to Presentation to Print For those serious about prints, the ColorVision PrintFIX PRO Suite is bundled with ColorVision Spyder2PRO™ the award-winning CRT, LCD and notebook monitor calibration hardware/software. The newly upgraded Spyder2PRO 2.0 also calibrates DLP & LCD projectors. PrintFIX PRO Suite gives creative professionals the assurance of complete color quality, print to presentation and is designed as an integrated hardware/software solution for photographers and artists, delivering a new destination point to today's popular RGB digital workflow of: Capture - Calibrate - Edit - Print/ Display/ Present and Share. Fueled by the quality and quantity of inkjet and laser printers on the market, in-house printing is booming--with usage increasing among professional photographers and serious enthusiasts alike. An estimated 7.7 billion digital images were printed in 2005 and that number expected to grow. Part of the COLORVISION® family of award-winning digital imaging products, PrintFIX PRO creates spectro printer profiles that support all RGB-driven printers. "PrintFIX PRO is our answer to the industry's need for a user-friendly, flexible tool to manage color in printing. It fills the gap between high-end laboratory spectros and unreliable low-end solutions. It is an RGB product that has at its core a world-class spectrocolorimeter for unprecedented quality. It allows printing straight from the software as well as direct proof profiles, eliminating the need for third party software. Plus, we are offering it at price point far below its performance value," confirms Datacolor Vice President Brian Levey for the ColorVision business unit. Pricing and Availability ColorVision® PrintFIX PRO™ - Will be available in stores February 2006. The product includes a Datacolor 1005 Spectrocolorimeter, patch reading hardware and stand-alone software. PrintFIX PRO has a US manufacturers' suggested retail price of $549 and can be found for less at many resellers. System requirement include: PrintFIX PRO: OSX 10.2 or better, or Windows 2000 or XP, 1024 x 768 or better color monitor. Sound card and internal or external speakers. Languages: English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Japanese, Traditional and Simplified Chinese, Korean. ColorVision PrintFIX PRO� Suite - utilizes the Universal ColorVision Software Interface, similar to Spyder2PRO and SpyderTV™, for seamless integration; ColorVision® Spyder2PRO™ hardware and software; a precise calibration system that color calibrates LCD, CRT and laptop monitors. PrintFIX PRO Suite has a US manufacturers' suggested retail price of $659 and can be found for less at many resellers. System requirements include: Spyder2PRO 2.0: OSX 10.2 or better, or Windows® 2000 or XP, 1024 x 768 or better color monitor. Languages: English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Japanese, Traditional and Simplified Chinese, Korean. About Datacolor and ColorVision ColorVision technology by Datacolor provides easy-to-use digital color control products to creative professionals, photographers, corporate customers and consumers around the world. Because color matters, leading businesses, creative professionals, and consumers worldwide choose Datacolor's innovative technology solutions to consistently achieve the right color. A Swiss-held company, Datacolor's strong worldwide presence encompasses global manufacturing and operational facilities with an international strategic network of sales and support offices. For more information about ColorVision by Datacolor, please visit www.colorvision.com SOURCE: ColorVision by Datacolor www.colorvision.com ^ back to top PRESS RELEASE: CREATE A NEW DIMENSION FOR YOUR IMAGES WITH THE NEW ACRYLICSANDWICH™ BLOCK MOUNT 1/8/06 - (1/6/06) PhotoArtistry Ltd (www.photoartistry.co.uk), the Internet-based providers of digital print solutions for artists and photographers have just announced their latest addition to their product range. The new block mount has been aptly named the AcrylicSandwich™ because the image is sandwiched between two thick sheets of clear acrylic Perspex™. The polished-edge acrylic block creates an optical illusion of giving the image a unique 3-dimensional effect. Commenting on the product from her Northampton office, Managing Director, Anne Herbert had this to say:"We have successfully established ourselves as providers of print display solutions for the photographic-art market. The AcrylicSandwich™ block has been introduced after months of research and development. The product provides an exciting new dimension to the way we display our art and photographic images and is a great addition to our canvas printing and MDF block mounting service. All our products are hand-made to perfection and this one is no exception". The AcrylicSandwich™ block will be launched at the SWPP (Society of Wedding and Professional Photographers) and BPPA (British Professional Photographers Association) Annual Convention at the Royal Court Hotel, Coventry from 13th-15th January 2006. Other exhibition venues include Design Interiors, NEC, Birmingham, 22nd to 25th January and Focus on Imaging, NEC, Birmingham, 26th February to 1st March 2006. SOURCE: PhotoArtistry Ltd www.photoartistry.co.uk ^ back to top Home | About Us | Advertise | Contact Us News & Reviews | How-To's | Resources © 2002-2006 Harald Johnson Communications. All rights reserved.