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News Archive
(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:
PANTONE AND COLORVISION UNVEIL PRINTFIX™,
AN AFFORDABLE SOLUTION FOR PROFESSIONAL QUALITY DIGITAL PRINTS.
6/22/03 - (6/11/03) Pantone, Inc. and ColorVision Inc., a Datacolor company, today announced PrintFIX, an integrated hardware/software solution that delivers accurate printer profiles for outstanding photographic inkjet prints. PrintFIX is the latest addition to the award-winning PANTONE COLORVISION™ line of accurate and affordable color control solutions for photo, design and prepress applications.
PrintFIX offers a user-friendly solution for amateur and professional photographers, and graphic and fine artists who are frustrated by prints that do not match their monitors, and who do not wish to invest in expensive, comprehensive color management solutions. PrintFIX is particularly applicable to anyone who prints on a variety of inkjet paper stocks from different manufacturers and wants to maintain color accuracy and consistency from the monitor to printer to produce professional quality digital prints. The initial release of PrintFIX will support the majority of Epson's inkjet printers, with new models and manufacturers being added continuously.
As a plug-in for Adobe® Photoshop® or Adobe Photoshop Elements, PrintFIX prints a calibration chart--a series of color patches--that are read back into the computer with the USB PrintFIX Patch Reader. Within minutes, the PrintFIX software creates an ICC profile of the printer¹s color behavior on specific inkjet paper, creating a high quality print that matches what is seen on the monitor.
"PrintFIX was developed in response to a critical need expressed by our customers," explained Brian Levey, vice president of ColorVision. "Specifically, 'How can I get my prints to match what I see on my screen without being a color guru or breaking the bank?' PrintFIX provides an affordable way for users to get professional quality prints. The savings gained from avoiding the waste of time, paper and inks involved in the usual trial and error of matching quickly pays for the product."
"PrintFIX is a breakthrough in the price/performance ratio in color management," said Richard Herbert, president of Pantone. "This is the first time an affordable integrated hardware/software solution has been provided for printer profiling. PrintFIX is an exciting addition to the growing PANTONE COLORVISION product line."
Pricing and Availability: PrintFIX has a suggested retail price of $352. PrintFIX is currently available for most EPSON® photo printers, with new models and manufacturers being added continuously. New printer-specific calibration charts may be downloaded as they become available at www.colorvision.com/support.html. Pantone and ColorVision offer free telephone support and free software upgrades as new versions are released.
PrintFIX is also available bundled with SpyderPRO™ with OptiCAL™, the professional's choice for monitor calibration, now with a three-user license, a $704 value, specially offered at $587.
PANTONE COLORVISION products are available from Pantone and ColorVision at www.pantone.com and www.colorvision.com.
System Requirements: System requirements include OSX 10.2 or better, or Windows® 98, ME, 2000 or XP; Adobe Photoshop 5.5 or better, or Photoshop Elements; and a supported color printer.
More information on Pantone and ColorVision is available at www.pantone.com or www.therightcolor.com and www.colorvision.com, respectively.
SOURCE: ColorVision, Inc. http://www.colorvision.com
PRESS RELEASE:
CREO ANNOUNCES FIRST 22 MILLION PIXEL CAMERA BACK WITH PORTABLE POWER AND LARGE FORMAT SOLUTION: LEAF VALEO 22.
6/17/03 - (6/9/03) Creo Inc. announces the Leaf(tm) Valeo 22 digital camera back for in-studio and portable shooting. It utilizes a newly developed 22 megapixel CCD that is designed for medium and large format photography. In studio, the Leaf Valeo 22 camera back features live video view and electronic shutter control. On location, the Leaf Valeo 22 offers the fastest capture rate in the industry and a burst rate of eight frames. A detachable 6 x 7 cm display and removable Digital Magazine provides Leaf Portable Power. Demonstration units are available from July 2003 and commercial shipments begin September 1, 2003.
New Technologies...
The Leaf Valeo 22 camera back contains a mega-sized sensor. The 4,056 x 5,356 resolution in a sensor size of 48 x 36 mm provides exactness and diminishes moiré issues. Raw data files reach 126 MB in 16 bit. Advanced imaging technologies include the 16 bit Leaf High Dynamic Range (HDR) raw data format; Leaf double-sensor-readout (DSR) technology, and the 512 MB internal memory buffer for eight fast continuous frames. Other features include:
-- Full lens coverage: The CCD imaging area fits the 6 x 4.5 lens-coverage. Focal length needs minimal conversion, thus lens perspective usage is the same as with film. The 3:4 classic photographic ratio is efficient and minimizes cropping;
-- Fastest frame rate: The fastest capture speed in the industry is achieved with a unique DSR technology that doubles the capture rate without sacrificing image quality.
In Studio - Large Format Power...
The Leaf Valeo 22 camera back features a complete digital solution for the studio photographer. An optional large format solution includes live video view, and electronic control of shutter speed and aperture. This allows the photographer to compose, focus and adjust lighting by viewing the large computer monitor. The shutter speed, aperture steps in 1/10 f-stop intervals, and electronic control makes the Leaf Valeo 22 most accurate and consistent.
On-location -Portable Power with 22 Million Pixels...
The entire Leaf Valeo camera back family integrates optional Portable Power, a unique approach for portable professional digital photography with innovative solutions for image storage and display. The Leaf Valeo camera back works with a removable 5 GB or 10 GB Leaf Digital Magazine for storing hundreds of uncompressed 16 bit images. The Leaf DP-67 is a detachable 6 x 7 cm image display and control unit based on the HP iPAQ pocket PC. It acts as both a "digital proof" and a "personal photographic assistant".
The Leaf Valeo 22 fits into the established Leaf workflow consisting of the Leaf(tm) Capture V8 and Leaf(tm) oXYgen image and editing applications, which cover all needs from capture to RGB/CMYK print.
Leaf Valeo Availability and Upgrade Options...
Two upgrade options are being offered to assist photographers who want to work digitally today and be among the first in the world to use the new Leaf Valeo 22 camera back.
-- Option 1: Purchase a Leaf Valeo 11 now and be among the first to receive the Leaf Valeo 22. The cost of the Leaf Valeo 22 is only the difference in the price of the trade-in.
-- Option 2: Upgrade to the new Leaf Valeo 22 by receiving trade-in value for any existing camera back. Offer valid until September 30, 2003.
For more details about the upgrade options, contact Leaf by visiting www.creo.com/leaf.
[Editor's Note: no price information was available at this date.]
Creo Leaf: A History of Innovation...
Leaf introduced the world's first digital camera back, the Leaf DCB, in 1992. Leaf continues this tradition with the Leaf Valeo portable and in-studio digital camera backs. Other Leaf products include the Leaf(tm) Volare, Leaf(tm) Cantare XY camera backs, and the Leaf(tm) Capture V8 and Leaf(tm) oXYgen image editing applications. For more information about Leaf, visit www.creo.com/leaf.
SOURCE: Creo Inc. http://www.creo.com/leaf
PRESS RELEASE + EDITORIAL:
DIGITAL PICTURE FRAME PROVIDES EASY WAY TO VIEW DIGITAL PICTURES ANYWHERE.
6/12/03 - (5/28/03) It often falls to Dad to prepare
pictures from the digital camera for viewing by the whole family. This
Father's Day, make his job as easy as pressing a button. Digital Frames,
Inc. has created an electronic device that instantly displays 8-inch by 10-inch equivalent photos anywhere you want. Simply insert the media card
from your camera into the slot on the electronic picture frame and
automatically view all the pictures you have taken.
"We wanted to create a new option for viewing digital pictures; a product
that was not complex or time-consuming to use, and that would display
pictures anywhere in the house," said Charlotte Westbrook, CEO of Digital
Frames, Inc. "Industry research shows that digital camera owners are taking
more pictures than ever, but they are actually viewing fewer of them," added
Ms. Westbrook, who serves on the board of the Consumer Electronics
Association's Small Business Council.
The DPF-104 model allows users to view and share their pictures easily and
quickly. The unit displays color pictures on a high resolution, 10 inch
diagonal LCD screen. There are no subscription fees, and the product does
not need to be connected to a PC, phone line, or the internet. An unlimited
number of photographs are displayed from the inserted memory card. The
Digital Picture Frame can be placed on a shelf or table similar to a
traditional picture frame, or can be mounted on the wall.
The DPF-104 from Digital Frames, Inc. is a perfect Father's Day gift, and is
available at www.amazon.com (search for Digital Picture Frame) and
www.eframecentral.com.
[Editor's Note: If you're reading this, you're probably savvy when it comes
to digital imaging, and would probably not want to use a digital picture frame
only with camera memory card input. You undoubtedly spend a lot of time with
image editors tweaking and fine-tuning their images. And, you would want to
create a specific "show" of images to use a product like this. I asked Brian
Gardner, Digital Frames' VP Sales & Marketing, if the product could be used
in such a way, either linked to the PC or able to run custom image selections in
some other way.
He explained, "For users that want to go from the PC to the digital frame,
we recommend using a card reader. As you know, these readers are inexpensive
and very easy to use. On most operating systems, the reader automatically comes
up as another 'disk,' so the user can simply drag and drop the photo's onto
the card. The users can even create folders, so several sets of custom images
can be separated. Once photo's are on the card, simply take the card from the
reader and put it in the frame.
"In this way, custom selections of tweaked images can be shown. On the
frame, the user can select among folders, with each folder being a custom
slide show; only the images in the selected folder will be shown.
"We feel using the media card as a 'floppy disk' is simpler, faster, and
more powerful than a USB connection. The USB poses several inconveniences: (1)
the frame and power supply must be moved to the computer area (try finding an
open AC outlet there!), (2) usually, custom software must be installed on
the PC and used to transfer the images over the USB, (3) some incompatibilities
still may exist between PC, software, camera, and frame.
"Using JPEG's on media cards keeps things VERY simple, almost completely
universal, intuitive; and it allows the frame to display an almost unlimited
number of images, limited only by the card." --Harald]
SOURCE: Digital Frames, Inc. http://www.digitalframes.net
PRESS RELEASE:
EPSON, EFI AND WAYPORT GIVE BUSINESS TRAVELERS MOBILE ACCESS TO COLOR PRINTING IN AIRPORTS.
6/9/03 - (6/3/03) Business travelers are now able to quickly and easily print high-quality full-color documents at numerous airports across the United States through a trial program being offered by Epson America Inc. and Electronics for Imaging (Nasdaq: EFII) at Wayport's
Laptop Lane airport business centers.
Epson is providing either EPSON AcuLaser(r) 8600 printing/copying stations
or EPSON Stylus(r) CX5200 all-in-one products to 15 Laptop Lane airport
business centers powered by Wayport in nine major metropolitan airports:
Hartsfield Atlanta (three locations), Chicago O'Hare (two locations),
Dallas-Fort Worth, Seattle-Tacoma, New York LaGuardia, Salt Lake City,
Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky (three locations), Oakland (two locations) and
Philadelphia. These centers will also be equipped with EFI's PrintMe(tm)
mobile and Internet printing solution, enabling business travelers to print
from Laptop Lane computers and their own laptops, PDAs, cell phones or other
mobile devices without having to install software drivers or undergo a
complex setup process. With this combined solution, travelers will have the
full convenience of simple-to-use color printing and copying services while
they are away from the office.
"There are 45 million business travelers each year," said Dorinda Hill,
product marketing manager, Epson. "Many of these travelers need printing
services while on the road for such things as last-minute revisions to
presentations or handouts, printouts of sales materials or just printing
their emails, but they generally do not carry printers and thus have
difficulty printing while away from the office. Our service offers them a
secure, high-quality on-demand printing and copying solution."
"We've found that a convenient color printing and copying solution is one of
the main business services travelers are looking for in airports," said Greg
Purcell, director of airport operations for Wayport, parent company of
Laptop Lane. "Through the Laptop Lane partnership with Epson and EFI, a
traveler can upload a document via any Internet connection to be printed and
ready for pickup using their secure Document ID at any of Wayport's 15
full-service Laptop Lane locations, saving valuable time before a big
business meeting, for example. With the Epson/PrintMe solution at Laptop
Lane locations in nine major airports, millions of business travelers now
have a convenient printing solution exactly where they need it."
To use the service, people establish either a wired or wireless secure
high-speed connection to the Internet via Wayport in one of the designated
Laptop Lane locations and upload or email their documents to PrintMe.com.
Each document is assigned a private Document ID (DocID) number that is
securely provided to the user. Users simply enter the DocID into the PrintMe
station, a small device with a keypad and LCD attached to the Epson printer,
to quickly and confidentially print their document. Using PrintMe DocIDs,
travelers can also print documents uploaded by colleagues, clients and
vendors. This convenient color printing and copying service will be
competitively priced.
"One of the most vexing problems for mobile professionals is printing while
away from their desk. With PrintMe, business travelers can print vital
documents wirelessly from any Internet-connected device. We are pleased to
work with Epson to make 'on the road' printing convenient and hassle-free
for Laptop Lane customers," said Mike Weimar, director of Marketing, EFI's
PrintMe division.
SOURCE: Epson America, Inc. http://www.epson.com
PRESS RELEASE:
NEW TWGA REPORTS PREDICTS PRINTING INDUSTRY ON VERGE OF DIGITAL PRINTING EXPLOSION.
6/4/03 - (5/29/03) TWGA predicts commercial printers are about to go digital in a big way. According to a report released today, TrendWatch Graphic Arts is predicting that commercial printing is on the verge of a tremendous upswing in the acquisition and acceptance of digital printing presses and direct digital imaging devices. According to the report, "Digital Color Printing: Ready for Primetime," the number of commercial printing establishments having digital color presses will increase by 234.1% by 2007. In addition, the report predicts a 66.7% increase in the number of commercial printing establishments having direct imaging presses, during the same time period.
TWGA's new report on digital color printing finds that the technology is ready for primetime nearly a decade after it was introduced. The report, which analyzes the market forces driving digital color printing, investment levels in press equipment, product applications, user markets, and customer markets, is available for online purchase at the TWGA eStore in PDF format. For more information about this and other TWGA reports, go to the main TWGA website page (http://www.trendwatchgraphicarts.com).
According to the Report...
--The top five challenge for producers of digital color printing products are economic conditions (66%), capabilities of sales personal (41%), competition (34%), pricing (33%), and reducing internal costs (28%);
--The top five sales opportunities for producers of digital color printing products are improving economic conditions (60%), short-run color using digital presses (29%), increasing full-time sales personnel (29%), digital color variable printing jobs (29%), and broadening fulfillment, shipping, and mailing capabilities (24%);
--Book Printers are leading the pack in planned investment in digital color printing systems, followed by firms that already own digital presses, and quick printers;
--Jobs designed for digital color printing were a big growth area for creative professionals; 10% said this service increased a lot and 28% said it increased a little;
-- Currently the number one use of digital color presses by commercial printers is for the production of brochures and business cards.
About the Report...
This new special report is of value to both solution and service providers. It offers critical analysis of the true value of digital printing as well as emphasizes the perceptions and trends at work in the industry. The report, "Digital Color Printing: Ready for Primetime," offers much more, including:
-- Digital Printing Equipment: Analysis of investment levels, prices, and technology adoption;
-- Product Applications and Opportunities: The product types and volumes produced are identified and discussed;
-- State of the Market: Overall market assessment of the status of digital color printing as a mainstream production tool and product offering;
-- Digital Printers' Perspectives: Delves into the market where digital color production lives;
-- Customer Perspectives: Discusses what lies ahead for digital color printing and how it's strongly linked to buyer markets.
-- Variable Data; Explains the happenings in the area of digital color printing known as the killer application.
These are just some of the issues analyzed in this new Special Report.
Methodology...
The foundation of this report is based upon data compiled from TrendWatch Graphic Arts' proprietary historical databases (for printers, design and production firms, publishers, and Internet design and development firms) as well as the TrendWatch Graphic Arts Printing #16, and #17, Design & Production #14, Publishing #14, and Installed Base Market Share Benchmark Study. Information was also gleaned from various industry sources, including trade associations, newsletters, and experts.
Availability...
The 100+ page TWGA "Digital Color Printing: Ready for Primetime," report is available for purchase by visiting the secure TrendWatch Graphic Arts eStore online at www.trendwatchgraphicarts.com or by phone at 866-873-6310. The price for the report is $1595. TrendWatch Graphic Arts eStore customers can download this report in PDF Acrobat format immediately after purchase.
SOURCE: TrendWatch Graphic Arts http://www.trendwatchgraphicarts.com
PRESS RELEASE:
DELL ENTERS PRINTER MARKET WITH FOUR PRODUCTS FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSUMERS TO CORPORATIONS.
5/28/03 - (3/25/03) Dell today introduced four new printers for customers ranging from individual consumers to corporations, bringing a new level of value and convenience to those who purchase printers and associated ink and toner cartridges.
The printers feature the Dell Ink Management System™ or Dell Toner Management System™, which simplify the purchasing process by displaying ink or toner levels on the status window during every print job and proactively prompting users to order replacement cartridges.
When cartridges begin to get low, the status window will deliver a message alerting users that it is time to order a replacement cartridge from Dell. One click of a mouse leads to Dell's online imaging supply store (www.dell.com/supplies), which recognizes each user's printer model and offers the appropriate replacement ink or toner cartridge, greatly reducing the risk of buying the wrong cartridge. New cartridges can be delivered as quickly as the next business day.
Along with the printer launch, Dell has established a program to recycle outdated printers at no additional charge for anyone who purchases a new Dell printer1. This is the first offer of its kind among major electronics companies. Customers-without ever having to leave their home or office-can easily ship their older printers, regardless of the manufacturer, to approved recycling centers. Dell provides a pre-paid postage label and simple instructions to arrange for pick-up. More information can be found online at www.dell4me.com/recycling.
"We plan to improve the customer experience of purchasing printers and replacement ink or toner by delivering the same value, attention to service and industry-leading products as Dell has over the past 18 years," said Tim Peters, vice president and general manager, Dell Imaging and Printing. "These four printers are just the first models in what will be a broad line of products that meet the needs of all customers, from individuals to large corporations."
The Dell printers announced today are:
* The Dell Personal All-in-One Printer A940, an all-in-one printer, scanner and standalone copier, with fax software2. The A940 features up to 4800 x 1200 dots per inch (dpi) print resolution, enabling high quality photographic printing, and up to 600 x 2400 dpi resolution when scanning. It prints black text at speeds of up to 17 pages per minute (ppm) and color up to 12 ppm. It sells for $139.
* The Dell Personal Laser Printer P1500, a personal laser printer designed for business or home use featuring speeds of up to 19 ppm, 1200 image quality (IQ) and 600 dpi. The P1500 is available for $289.
* The Dell Workgroup Laser Printer S2500 and S2500n, a high-volume laser printer series available in networked (n) and non-networked versions, delivering speeds of up to 22 ppm. The S2500 and S2500n print at 1200 IQ, 600 dpi and sell for $499 and $839, respectively.
The A940, P1500 and S2500 printers come with one-year next business day advanced exchange service3, while the S2500n includes one-year next business day onsite repair4. All printers and cartridges include 24x7, toll-free technical support. Additional information and specifications can be found at www.dell.com/printers.
Replacement cartridges start at $29.99 for black ink and $74.99 for a 3,000-page yield Use & Return toner cartridge, with shipping included for standard delivery5. Dell's Use & Return toner cartridges are priced at a discount and can be used only once. Ink cartridges and Use & Return toner cartridges ship with prepaid packaging so that customers can send their empty cartridges back to Dell for proper recycling.
SOURCE: Dell Computer Corporation http://www.dell.com
PRESS RELEASE:
MINOLTA INTRODUCES THE STYLISH NEW DiMAGE SCAN ELITE 5400 FILM SCANNER.
5/20/03 - (5/12/03) The new Minolta DiMAGE Scan Elite 5400 offers professional quality scans even for those new to film scanning and digital image processing. Minolta's stylish new 35mm film scanner combines incredible 5400dpi resolution with advanced features such as Digital ICE image restoration technology from Applied Science Fiction, 16-bit A/D conversion, USB 2.0 connection, a new Quick Scan function and easy-to-use controls. The DiMAGE Scan Elite 5400's high resolution capability can easily make up to full-frame 24 inch photo-quality prints.
"High quality film scanners play an increasingly important role for film-based photographers seeking to convert their important photographs into the digital realm," said Jon Sienkiewicz, vice president of marketing, Minolta Corporation's Consumer Products Group. "Now, with the introduction of the new DiMAGE Scan Elite 5400 film scanner, Minolta once again establishes the high water mark in both quality and ease of use. Not to mention the fact that the design of this unit looks so gorgeous, users will be proud to add it their workstation."
With 16-bit A/D conversion, the new Minolta DiMAGE Scan Elite 5400 will reproduce the rich variations in tone and color of an original film image. 16-bit A/D conversion is able to distinguish 65,536 tonal gradations for each color channel--capturing the depth and subtly of the original film image.
Advanced Technology: The new Minolta DiMAGE Scan Elite 5400 incorporates several advanced image enhancing technologies allowing users to get the best results possible from their pictures without the need for any complicated software procedures. Featured in this new scanner, Applied Science Fiction's award winning Digital ICE technology which automatically reduces the appearance of dust and scratches as well as other film surface contamination such as fingerprints.
Minolta's unique Grain Dissolver reduces the affect of film grain in the scanned image. And, Minolta's Pixel-Polish tab makes improving picture quality simple. Automatic image-processing corrections are made by clicking on the parameters which best describe the picture; the DiMAGE Scan Utility will instantly show the result. For critical control over image sharpness, the scanner can be manually focused. A large manual focus dial on the scanner unit allows fine adjustments to be made.
Versatility: The DiMAGE Scan Elite 5400 is easily connected to either a PC or Macintosh computer using an IEEE1394 (FireWire) or USB 2.0 interface. Both interfaces have fast data transfer rates, which is important for handling the large image files that can be created with the DiMAGE Scan Elite 5400.
Stylish Design: The outward appearance of the scanner reflects the sophisticated technology used in the DiMAGE Scan Elite 5400. The stylized metal body is the antithesis of the usual drab featureless design of computer products. The slim, vertical design creates a small footprint to minimize clutter around the computer. And the supplied stand can be used to stabilize the scanner unit.
Based on the designs used with Minolta's top-of-the-line DiMAGE Scan Multi PRO, the DiMAGE Scan Elite 5400's film holders use a hinged cover to hold filmstrips and mounted slides. The slide mount holder allows a single slide to be changed without having to eject the holder from the scanner.
Simplified Scanning: The scanner's new Quick Scan function makes initializing the scanner and software as easy as pressing a button. Quick Scan permits the selection among the standard DiMAGE Scan Utility, the Easy Scan Utility, or the Batch Scan Utility as well as setting a short cut to a specific application. The Batch Scan Utility allows large volumes of film to be scanned without having to make individual settings for each image. By simply pressing the scan button on the front of the DiMAGE Scan Elite 5400 a user can activate the utility for each batch of film.
The scanner's Easy Scan Utility simplifies the scanning procedure for users who are new to film scanning and image processing. Simply select the film type, the pictures to be scanned, and how the images are to be used; the scanner will do the rest. Automatic image processing can also be applied. The images can then be saved directly to the computer or printed out on a printer.
The DiMAGE Scan Elite 5400 is scheduled to ship mid-June. MSRP is $1,099.
SOURCE: Minolta Corporationhttp://www.minoltausa.com
PRESS RELEASE:
KODAK ANNOUNCES AGREEMENT TO ACQUIRE APPLIED SCIENCE FICTION™ TECHNOLOGIES.
5/18/03 - (5/12/03) Eastman Kodak Company today announced a definitive agreement to acquire Applied Science Fiction's proprietary rapid film processing technology, Digital PIC™, and other key assets, the company's latest effort to make photography in all its forms easy and ubiquitous in a digital age. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
Applied Science Fiction is the creator of the award-winning Digital ICE™ and Digital
ICE 3™ technologies, the leader of automatic photo restoration applications, as well as the inventor of the cutting-edge digital dry film processing system Digital PIC. Digital PIC rapidly develops standard color negative film without chemical mixing or plumbing. The process simultaneously renders a digital image file that can be used to print photographs and write images on a CD.
Applied Science Fiction, based in Austin, Texas, has external trade tests of this innovative
technology underway in the U.S. and Europe.
"Our goal is to give consumers greater flexibility, capability and access to their pictures
taken with photographic film or digital cameras," said Dan Palumbo, president, consumer
imaging products and services, and senior vice president, Kodak. "It's a fact that virtually every picture taken can be improved for color, brightness, and composition. We are putting all of that power, including innovative film processing, in the hands of consumers. All of our research tells us that's exactly what consumers want. For this reason, Kodak is pleased to acquire Applied Science Fiction's assets, especially its intellectual property portfolio including the innovative Digital PIC technology, and combine it with Kodak's own world-class expertise in kiosks. As a result, Kodak's will be the first and only kiosks capable of taking any input, including film, and giving the consumer exactly the prints they want, in minutes, not hours or days."
"Applied Science Fiction was formed in 1995 by a group of scientists and engineers who
shared a common vision about digital imaging. Now, nearly eight years later, many of Applied
Science Fiction's image enhancement technologies have become widely used by OEMs and
consumers throughout the world," said Dan Sullivan, president and CEO of Applied Science
Fiction. "Combining the Kodak brand name and Kodak's extensive expertise in distribution,
sales, service and support with the revolutionary Digital PIC technology, Kodak and Applied
Science Fiction are in the best position to market with this new technology."
Kodak sees a generation of Picture Maker kiosks that function much like automatic picture
machines, available everywhere and providing processing and printing for either film or digital camera users. Since these machines will accept film or digital camera input, as well as prints, consumers will be able to preview and select, edit and print their pictures in a matter of minutes. These kiosks will appeal both to existing photo retailers who want to give consumers greater access to their pictures as well as to the expanding channels for picture-taking activities such as vacation and entertainment venues.
"Preview and select is a concept that has proven to offer strong consumer benefits," Palumbo
said. "By linking it to kiosks, we take the benefit to a whole new dimension in terms of
accessibility and ease of use."
Kodak will maintain operations in Austin, Texas, but will integrate Applied Science Fiction's
technologies and key personnel into its Consumer Imaging business. Specific details about
product plans are currently under development and will be disclosed at a later date. Closing of the transaction is subject to customary reviews and approvals.
SOURCE: Applied Science Fiction, Inc.http://www.asf.com
PRESS RELEASE:
BOWHAUS UNVEILS INKJET CONTROL PRINTMAKING SOFTWARE FOR MONOCHROME FINE ART INKJET PRINTING.
5/8/03 - (4/25/03) Los Angeles-based BowHaus has announced the release their new printmaking software. InkJet Control is a printmaking application that was developed for quality conscious digital B&W Fine Art Printmakers that demand full control over their printer
and media. Users of InkJet Control can use quadtone or hextone inks from different
manufacturers and create their own unique profiles for popular Epson printers.
InkJet Control is a stand-alone application (not a plug-in) that frees the B&W printmaker
from "canned" profiles or RGB workflows. The printmaker can create, edit and save their
own 16-bit profiles, which controls the tonal shape of each individual ink, dictating where
each ink starts, stops and how the inks merge together.
All of InkJet Control's profiles and rendering algorithms operate in 16-bit, over 65 million
shades of gray, resulting in smoother gradations and transitions. InkJet Control supports
both 8-bit and 16-bit single channel grayscale TIFF files. 8-bit grayscale files are internally
converted to 16-bit during printing to take advantage of the 16-bit profiles and rendering
algorithms.
Another innovative and unique feature is the "Blender" tool, a slider-type interface that
allows the printmaker to mix two profiles together. Printmakers using sepia and cool toners
(MIS VM Inkset) can use the Blender feature to instantly vary the hue from warm to cool.
Printmakers with access to a densitometer can micro-tune each profile with InkJet Control's
powerful 16-bit Linearization Engine. Using densitometric readings from a printed target
strip, the Linearization Engine removes "bumps" and inconsistencies to create an ideal tonal
curve. The Linearization function also ensures consistent results despite minor variations
found from printer to printer, different batches of ink or paper.
InkJet Control ships with a set of profiles and OpenPrintMaker, an open source printing
utility which uses InkJet Control's innovative 16-bit ink/paper profiles and performs the
actual printing. The OpenPrintMaker utility currently supports the Epson 860, 1160, 1280,
2200, 7000 and 7500. InkJet Control is a MAC OS 9.x application that retails for $199.
A Windows and OS X version of InkJet Control will be announced soon.
For more information, contact BowHaus at 323-937-8400 (Mon-Fri 9am- 6pm PST) or
email software@bowhaus.com.
About BowHaus
LA-based BowHaus, Inc. has been bringing high-end digital imaging to professional
photographers since 1992, making them one of the first "all-digital" photo labs in the
country. The company provides Crosfield drum scans for a broad range of users including:
stock-photo companies, graphic designers, fine artists, museums and photographers
seeking to digitally preserve their traditional photo archives. Digital output includes high-resolution LVT transparencies and negatives, Fujix prints, Iris pre-press proofs, wide-format NovaJet prints and Epson fine-art printmaking.
SOURCE: BowHaus, Inc.http://www.bowhaus.com/inkjetcontrol
PRESS RELEASE:
PARROT ANNOUNCES THREE NEW CANVAS PRODUCTS.
5/1/03 - Parrot Hi-Performance Matte Canvas is a 17-mil, bright white acid free, artist stretch canvas. It contains a cotton/polyester blend with an optimized coating designed to provide high color gamut and resolution. This canvas is water and fade resistant when used with pigmented inks. Designed for museum quality fine art and photographic reproduction. Available in both large format and grand format roll sizes.
Parrot Cotton Matte Canvas is a natural-looking canvas for use with pigmented inks. This 20-mil, stretchable canvas has an ink-receiving layer, which makes it water-resistant and protects the surface from cracking. When used with pigmented inks, images are brilliant and well-saturated, making this an ideal canvas for fine art and photographic reproduction.
Looking for a new satin canvas for the Iris and large-format, dye-based printers? Parrot Premium Satin Canvas is an 18-mil, acid free, white cotton-polyester blend, artist stretch canvas. This canvas resists curling with high ink loads and has superior surface quality. Designed for museum quality digital fine art printing, this canvas is available in 35" x 47" sheet sizes.
SOURCE: Parrot Digigraphic Ltd.http://www.parrotcolor.com
PRESS RELEASE:
CODEPHOTO ANNOUNCES RELEASE OF EVENT PHOTO SITE.
4/26/03 - CodePhoto Incorporated (www.codephoto.com) announces the next version of its online photo display system. The CodePhoto system allows for the organizing, viewing, manipulation, and purchasing of photographs from any type of event. Already hosting thousands of photos online, the CodePhoto system has been an aid to event organizers and professional photographers that wish to increase revenue by having their events displayed to wider audiences.
CodePhoto was designed with a unique set of features. These include allowing users to customize photos before they are ordered, the quick display of photos, and the ability to organize photos for fast retrieval. Additionally, their digital address book encourages sharing of pictures, and exposes them to as many potential customers as possible. These features are designed to encourage higher sales for CodePhoto's customers. Prints are ordered on one of CodePhoto's secure servers and are automatically printed and fulfilled by CodePhoto. The CodePhoto system can also be customized to blend in with an existing customer's website for a personalized look and feel.
"We are very excited about what we are able to offer," says CEO and founder Eric Nissan. "We are creating new revenue streams for our customers, while we handle all aspects of creating a digital market place for them. It really has become a low-risk, high-reward proposition for our customers."
The CodePhoto system is designed to accommodate varied types of photos. These include wedding, sporting, concerts, parties, portraits; basically any type of event to be seen over the Internet.
For more information on CodePhoto features, and a demonstration of the system, please contact 516.524.6003, info@codephoto.com, or visit their website at www.codephoto.com.
SOURCE: CodePhoto Incorporated http://www.codephoto.com
PRESS RELEASE:
ILFORD IMAGING PIEZO COMPATIBLE INKJET MEDIA BRINGS "INSTANT DRY" OPPORTUNITIES FOR WIDE FORMAT USERS.
4/24/03 - (3/2/03) ILFORD offers two Instant Dry RC photographic papers to its ILFOJET line for wide format commercial printers. Uniquely suited to piezo inkjet printers as well as the HP 5000 Thermal series, the glossy and satin 9 mil RC papers have quickly become the most popular choice of media options available from ILFORD.
Both of the ILFOJET Instant Dry products incorporate a patented new coating technology. The design employs a nanoporous ceramic matrix to create a very fast dry surface while providing excellent compatibility with a wide range of piezo inkjet printers and inks. The new layer design is also compatible with today's most popular thermal inkjet printers, making the papers truly universal and suitable for a broad range of applications.
The new ILFOJET Instant Dry papers are touch dry instantly, allowing users to handle or roll the media immediately after printing is completed. Because of the very fast ink absorption rate, there is no cockling, bleeding or smudging. As a result, these ILFOJET papers set the standard for print quality, dry times and equipment compatibility. Besides offering superior image quality and performance, ILFORD uniquely offers sizes up to and including 60" wide in both a satin and glossy finish.
"The popularity of these new products in our ILFOJET line has been overwhelming for both ILFORD and our customers," said John Placko, Marketing Manager, Direct Channels & Commercial Markets for ILFORD. "By combining this revolutionary new coating technology with the outstanding performance characteristics already found in our ILFOJET line, we have vastly expanded the range of business opportunities available to imaging professionals in the print for pay segment of today's highly competitive market. ILFOJET Instant Dry paper enables our customers to confidently offer new services and enter new markets regardless of the types of printers and inks that they are using".
ILFOJET Instant Dry papers are the first ILFORD media products to have been specifically designed to be compatible with piezo printing technology and the first ILFOJET RC papers that can accommodate pigment-based inks such as HP UV ink. The satin paper is particularly resistant to pressure marks and "matting", commonly found with other instant dry media products. The papers' heavy-weight 240gsm 9-mil RC base delivers both a premium photographic look and feel and the durability required for a variety of applications. Their immediate dry capabilities were designed to capitalize on the speed of today's faster inkjet printing technology without sacrificing image quality.
In addition to their compatibility with most piezo inkjet printers such as those from Epson, Mimaki, Mutoh and Roland, ILFOJET Instant Dry papers can also be used with the entire ILFOSTAR System, including the full range of ILFOSTAR NovaJet printers, ARCHIVA Ink and ILFOGUARD laminating products. Both products are also compatible with most HP DesignJet printers as well as Encad Novajet series printers.
The two papers are compatible with dye-based and pigment-based inks; both offer excellent laminate adhesion and are waterfast with most ink sets. Fully dried prints that are laminated resist light fading and the effects of humidity and air pollutants, producing optimum print quality and permanence.
ILFOJET Instant Dry papers are competitively priced versus comparable products in the market. ILFORD provides a complete range of top quality solutions for users of professional inkjet imaging technology.
SOURCE: ILFORD Imaging USA, Inc. http://www.ilford.com
PRESS RELEASE:
EPSON ANNOUNCES THE EPSON STYLUS PHOTO 900: THE FIRST PHOTO PRINTER UNDER
$200 TO PRINT DIRECTLY ONTO CDS AND DVDS.
4/16/03 - Epson America Inc. is
introducing the first photo printer under $200 that has the capability to
print directly onto CDs and DVDs without adhesive labels. The EPSON Stylus
Photo 900 is Epson's latest addition to its award-winning photo printer line
and is the second printer in the line to include the technology for printing
directly onto ink-jet printable CDs and DVDs. At this remarkably low price,
this technology is now more affordable and convenient than ever before.
CDs and DVDs have become the preferred media for storing digital
data, digital photos, digital music, and digital video. As the demand for
this storage media has grown, a need has emerged for a technology that
enables digital enthusiasts to safely and creatively label their growing
collection of CDs and DVDs. The EPSON Stylus Photo 900 is the perfect
solution for these digital enthusiasts because it allows them to print
directly onto ink-jet printable CD-R or DVD-R media right at home with
personalized text, graphics and photos. The EPSON Stylus Photo 900 is also
ideal for amateur photographers due to its incredible photo printing
capabilities on Epson papers.
"With the introduction of the EPSON Stylus Photo 900, Epson continues to
lead the ink-jet printing industry with affordable printers that have
innovative technology," said Parker Plaisted product manager, photo imaging.
"Whether you print customized CDs, print photos, or print everyday
documents, the EPSON Stylus Photo 900 offers a complete printing solution
for your digital lifestyle."
Printing Photos with the EPSON Stylus Photo 900
The EPSON Stylus Photo 900 provides a great deal of functionality, without
sacrificing image quality. Epson's superior 6-color Photo Ink system, with
up to 5760 x 720 optimized dpi and ultra-fine 4 picoliter ink droplets,
delivers prints that look like traditional photos. With the EPSON Stylus
Photo 900 customers can print high-quality photos at home without expensive
photo lab fees or reprint charges. Users also are able to make more prints
per cartridge with the printer's large capacity color ink cartridge.
This printer also offers PRINT Image Matching (P.I.M.) II and Exif Print
support, making it easy to get great prints automatically from P.I.M. and
Exif 2.2 enabled digital cameras. For more information about PRINT Image
Matching visit www.printimagematching.com.
Utilizing innovations such as PRINT Image Matching technology and Epson's
patented BorderFree(tm) photo printing technology, the EPSON Stylus Photo
900 produces outstanding photographic prints in a variety of frame-ready
photo paper sizes. Customers can effortlessly print their photos on Epson's
Borderless 4" x 6", 5" x 7", 8" x 10" and letter-size photo papers with no
borders to trim and no perforations to tear.
The EPSON Stylus Photo 900 has fast photo print speeds delivering a 4" x 6"
photo within 50 seconds on EPSON Glossy Photo Paper. The printer is also
capable of handling everyday printing tasks, such as printing sharp text
documents and web pages.
Printing Directly on Ink-Jet Printable CD-R and DVD-R Recordable Media
With the EPSON Stylus Photo 900, customers can print directly onto the
surface of ink-jet printable CD-R and DVD-R media thus eliminating the
expense, inconvenience, and risk of using adhesive labels. This is a
significant benefit to customers for three reasons. First of all,
manufacturers of CD and DVD drives warn customers against using adhesive
labels on CDs or DVDs because the adhesive label could delaminate and damage
the drive. Second, the cost of ink-jet printable CD-R and DVD-R media is
considerably less expensive than the combined cost of adhesive labels and
regular CD-R or and DVD-R media. Finally, printing directly onto ink-jet
printable CD-R or DVD-R media is much easier than printing on adhesive
labels and applying them to regular CD-R or DVD-R media.
With the included CD printing software, customers can design and print
professional looking CDs and DVDs with customized text and colorful
backgrounds and images. When the user is ready to print, the ink-jet
printable CD or DVD is placed in a tray that protects the CD or DVD during
the printing process as the tray passes through the printer's
straight-through paper path.
Only ink-jet printable CD-R and DVD-R media are compatible with the EPSON
Stylus Photo 900. Ink-jet printable CD-R media are produced by several
major media brands including Imation, Maxell, Memorex, Mitsui, TDK and
Verbatim. The ink-jet printable CD-R media can be purchased from a variety
of online retailers including www.cdw.com, www.macconnection.com,
www.pcconnection.com, www.warehouse.com, and www.zones.com.
Media Flexibility with the EPSON Stylus Photo 900
Epson offers a wide variety of papers for use with the EPSON Stylus Photo
900 including EPSON Glossy Photo Paper, EPSON Premium Glossy Photo Paper,
EPSON Premium Semigloss Photo Paper, EPSON Premium Luster Photo Paper, EPSON
Matte Paper Heavyweight and EPSON ColorLife Photo Paper. The EPSON Stylus
Photo 900 can print on cut-sheet media sizes from 3.5" to 8.5" wide.
Additionally, the EPSON Stylus Photo 900 offers the convenience of two
separate paper paths including the standard paper path for most media and a
straight-through paper path for thicker media. The straight paper path
supports a variety of media up to 1.3 mm thick and also supports the CD/DVD
tray.
For printing continuous photos, the EPSON Stylus Photo 900 comes with
Epson's unique roll paper holder accessory for printing multiple borderless
4" x 6" snapshots and panoramas on 4" glossy paper rolls. Larger images can
be produced on the printer with a maximum printable area of 8.3" x 44" on
8.3" wide roll paper.
Using Epson's optimized combination of quick-drying EPSON Photo Inks and
certain Epson papers, the EPSON Stylus Photo 900 produces water-resistant,
fade-resistant photos which can resist fading up to 27 years*.
Included Software and Connectivity
The EPSON Stylus Photo 900 offers built-in parallel and USB ports
and includes the following software applications: CD design and printing
software, EPSON Software Film Factory(tm) and PRINT Image Matching Plug-in
(for Adobe(r) Photoshop(r) 6.0, 7.0 and Elements 1.0 and 2.0). The printer
and all of the included software are Windows and Macintosh compatible.
Optional accessories for the EPSON Stylus Photo 900 include the Bluetooth
Print Adapter from Epson and the external EpsonNet 802.11b Wireless Print
Server.
Pricing, Support and Availability
The EPSON Stylus Photo 900 will be available at the end of April for an
estimated street price of $199 through consumer electronics stores, office
supply stores, computer superstores, specialty camera stores, mail order and
Epson's retail Web site (www.epsonstore.com). The printer is backed by the
one-year EPSON Exchange Warranty and is supported by the EPSON Connection, a
customer support technical assistance line. More information about Epson
and its products is available by calling 1-800-GO EPSON or visiting the
company Web site at www.epson.com.
SOURCE: Epson America, Inc. http://www.epson.com
PRESS RELEASE:
DUPONT™ CROMAPRO™ XP PROVIDES PROFESSIONAL COLOR PROOFS FOR DROP-ON-DEMAND INKJET PRINTERS.
4/14/03 - (10/02) DuPont Imaging Technologies announces the rollout of its DuPont™ CromaPro™ XP Inkjet Color Proofing System, a high-end color management and RIP solution for drop-on-demand (DOD) inkjet printers. This integrated system allows even casual users to produce professional quality proofs for less than one-quarter the cost of traditional systems, with total confidence in color performance.
"CromaPro™ XP was created to serve customers asking for a professional level digital proofing system, only at a lower cost," says Bob Sherman, product marketing manager for DuPont Imaging Technologies. "The affordable technology behind CromaPro™ XP makes it a viable option for most designers, trade shops and printers, allowing them to save time and money in the overall print production process."
Building on the long history of DuPont in color science and proofing knowledge, CromaPro XP incorporates DuPont™ CromaNet™ color management and profiling software with a genuine Adobe® PostScript® 3™ RIP, drivers for the leading desktop and wide-format printers from Hewlett Packard and Epson, and a new line of cross platform proofing media.
CromaPro™ XP utilizes International Color Consortium (ICC) profiles, has the ability to create new ones, and actually adds an extra stage that goes beyond ICC color management. While many standard ICC products rely on different software for profiling and color management, CromaPro™ integrates both processes within the same workflow -- producing reliable results.
For more information on CromaPro™ XP, please call us at 1-800-345-9999 or Pitman at 1-877-374-8626. You can also visit the CromaPro™ Web site: www.cromapro.com.
DuPont Imaging Technologies is the world's largest supplier of color proofing products, offering the widest variety and most precise digital, analog and imposition proofing systems for use throughout the workflow.
SOURCE: DuPont Imaging Technologies http://www.cromapro.com
PRESS RELEASE:
HP INTRODUCES INDUSTRY'S FIRST 24-INCH MULTI-FORMAT PRINTING SYSTEM FOR GRAPHICS PROFESSIONALS.
4/2/03 - HP today introduced a six-color printing system for designers who want the flexibility of printing standard and large-format projects at their desktops with the look and feel of professional comps. Whether making a brochure or a banner, creative professionals using the HP Designjet 120 printing system can spend more time designing outstanding work and less time worrying about the technical printing process.
"HP is leading the way for enterprise companies and creative agencies that want to develop high-return, innovative marketing programs," said Ignacio Fonts, vice president, inkjet commercial division, HP Imaging and Printing Group. "Part of that process requires streamlining the workflow for creative professionals so they can do what they do best -- create. With the HP Designjet 120 printing system, designers not only have the ability to print large-format work in-house, but they can do it with the confidence of consistent, vibrant color for striking results."
The HP Designjet 120 printer is an affordable system that bridges the gap between desktop and oversize printing with the combination of a standard media tray and a 24-inch paper path. Its automatic closed-loop color calibration system also ensures consistent color from print to print and printer to printer with 2,400 dots per inch (dpi) and HP's color layering technology.
In addition to producing consistent, vibrant color, the system's printing drivers are designed specifically for RGB (red, green, blue) workflows plus an optional Adobe® RIP (raster image processor) for CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow, black) color matching and emulation.
"The HP Designjet 120 supports industry standards, such as Adobe PDF® and PostScript®, which provides a continuous, seamless workflow for Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign users," said Don Walker, general manager, print workflow products, Adobe Systems. "Adobe's close collaboration with HP is delivering outstanding solutions that benefit creative professionals worldwide."
Key features of the HP Designjet 120 printer include:
Colors that Convince: Color Image Quality That Brings Ideas to Life
* Automatic closed-loop color calibration ensures color consistency from print to print and printer to printer, saving time and supplies spent on reprinting.
* Superb image quality from the 2,400-dpi writing system, HP color layering technology and a four-picoliter drop system that provides continuous tones, sharp detail, smooth color transitions and area fill uniformity.
* Six-color ink system uses specially formulated, high-quality dye inks to ensure higher contrast, a wider color gamut, better color uniformity and better surface gloss consistency.
* Optional HP RIP -- support for standard automatic PANTONE calibration, color emulation standards (Apple ColorSync, ICC profiles) and offset press emulations (EuroScale, SWOP, DIC, JMPA and TOYO).
* Optional HP software RIP ensures maximum color accuracy and image quality, and it supports true Adobe PostScript workflow for CMYK printing. The HP RIP supports both the Mac OS and Windows®.
* Supports other manufacturers' software RIPs.
Postcards to Posters: No Need to Cut and Paste or Outsource
* Eliminate pasting sheets together with the ability to print common sizes like letter, tabloid and custom sizes from 3 by 5.6-inches to 24-inches wide from a single, in-house printer.
* Convenient media handling: Use the standard tray to load up to 100 sheets of common and custom sizes up to tabloid+; Use the front bypass slot for cut sheet media up to 24 inches; Use the rear bypass slot for rigid media up to 80 lbs. or .0155-inches thick; Use the automatic roll feed to print up to 600-inches long.
* Forget storing and feeding bulky cut sheet media in larger sizes. Use an optional automatic roll feed to print on rolls up to 24-inches wide and 50 feet long. The automatic roll feed allows users to switch between already loaded media types and sizes without intervention.
* Print with support for a full range of media weights up to 80 lbs. and media types such as coated, heavyweight coated, photo and glossy to save time and money by printing projects in house.
* Ability to print up to full-size 2 x 3-foot proofs on HP Proofing Matte, Semi-Gloss and Glossy media enables production of quality proofs for client jobs.
Time to Design: Spend More Time Designing, Less Time Printing
* Print work for client approval right away with text, lines and images that print at up to 10 pages per minute (ppm) for letter size in fast mode on plain paper and 2 minutes per page for tabloid images in normal mode.
* Individually replaceable ink cartridges in six colors reduce the time spent interacting with the printer. Printheads are also separate and can be replaced individually.
* In addition to standard office features, drivers for Mac OS X v10.2 and Windows include graphics features for color control of CMY.
* Easy setup with support for parallel and USB connections. Add a network card to share the printer. An HP Jetdirect print server card (included with the Designjet 120nr) provides high-speed Fast Ethernet networking with a data transmission speed of up to 4.5 MB per second.
* Improve productivity by adding an optional stand and bin for even more convenient printer operation.
Media Options
Several new media options are available for the Designjet 120, including HP Proofing Gloss (13 x19-inch, 18 x 24-inch and 24 x 36-inch cutsheets; 24-inch x 100-foot rolls), HP Proofing Semi-Gloss (13 x 19-inch cutsheets; 24-inch x 100-foot rolls), HP Proofing Matte (13 x 19-inch cutsheets; 24-inch x 100-foot rolls) and HP Coated Paper (18 x 24-inch and 24 x 36-inch cutsheets; 24-inch x 100-foot rolls).
The system is available now for the following estimated U.S. street prices(1):
HP Designjet 120 printer: $1,295
HP Designjet 120nr printer: $1,895
SOURCE: Hewlett-Packard Company http://www.hp.com
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