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: MOAB PAPER CO. RELEASES PROFESSIONAL ICC PROFILES BY ANDREW BEHLA. 9/29/03 - (9/23/03) Moab Paper Co. announces the release of free professional ICC profiles created by color specialist Andrew Behla. These profiles distributed gratis online at moabpaper.com give users of the Epson 2200, 7600 and 9600 professional quality color control for the full line of Moab Paper Co. products including the incredibly popular Entrada Fine Art and Fine Art Natural. According to Gregory Schern, President of Moab Paper Co., "Great color and beautiful prints shouldn't require a lot of time and effort. It is for this reason we have relied on the color expertise of Andrew Behla to create the best profiles possible so that we can distribute them freely with our product. Now anyone can achieve perfection with the Moab Paper Co. full line of media." Andrew Behla recently released a full range of ICC PROfiles through a sister company of Moab Paper Co., InkjetGoodies.com. These PROfiles were created using the latest technologies and have been individually tested. They cover several paper lines including Hahnemuhle, Somerset, Arches, and Ilford and are available for $39 from InkjetGoodies.com and can be downloaded immediately upon purchase. About Moab Paper Co.: Headquartered in Moab, Utah, the Moab Paper Company is surrounded by some of the USA's most-photographed landscapes. This setting has inspired a new line of inkjet media that includes a full complement of fine art, photographic and canvas media. Moab Paper Company, http://moabpaper.com, is a division of Red Rock Innovations, Inc. (Moab, UT). About Andrew Behla: Andrew Behla is a color management consultant, educator, and graphic designer with a deep level of experience in the fine art printing field. Since 1998, Behla has been teaching classes in Digital Imaging for Design at Santa Monica College's Academy of Arts and Entertainment Technology. He was the manager of Duganne Ateliers for three years where he was responsible for printing hundreds of editions for artists like Mark Ryden and institutions like the Getty. Behla has been a featured speaker for the National Association of Photoshop Professionals' National Conference, Thunder Lizard Productions' National Photoshop Conference, and the Los Angeles Mac Users Group. Behla recently created a course now being taught at UCLA Extension's Graphic Arts Department called Mastering Fine Art Digital Printing. Visit www.uclaextension.org for more details or to enroll in the next course being offered. SOURCE: Moab Paper Company http://www.moabpaper.com ^ back to top PRESS RELEASE: NEW ARTISTRY PAINTER RETREATS ANNOUNCED: the Artistry Corel Painter 8 Beginners Retreats in Washington, New York and Southern California. 9/28/03 - (9/27/03) Ever wonder why the photos you turn into paintings in Corel Painter still look like photos? The reason has to do with basic art concepts that distinguish paintings from photos. Find out what they are at the Artistry Corel Painter 8 Retreats. Taught by artist and author Karen Sperling, who wrote the first Painter manual 12 years ago, in addition to the Painter Complete series of books, this seminar will show you art techniques and Painter tools to turn your portraits and landscapes into true paintings and not just photos with brush strokes. Portrait photographers are making big bucks with their "Paintered" portraits. You can, too! The techniques also apply for making architect's CAD renderings more painterly, creating pet portraits--just about anything that you want to give a painted, vs. photographic, look. Traditional artists: you're welcome, too! The Painter techniques would work just the same when starting with a pencil or ink sketch, a watercolor wash, a grisaille, anything! The newly announced dates and locations for The Artistry Corel Painter 8 Beginners Retreats include: Tacoma, WA October 11 and 12, 2003 Register by September 26, 2003 to get the early bird special tuition New York, NY October 18 and 19, 2003 Register by October 3, 2003 to get the early bird special tuition Southern California November 8 and 9, 2003 Register by October 24, 2003 to get the early bird special tuition SOURCE: Karen Sperling http://www.artistrymag.com/docs/classes.html ^ back to top PRESS RELEASE: KODAK CUTS DIVIDENDS, LOOKS TO DIGITAL IMAGING. 9/27/03 - (9/25/03) Thursday was a milestone day for Kodak. The company's stock took a dive as Kodak revealed plans for a digital future and cut the dividend it pays to shareholders for the first time in more than a century. Kodak said that will free up $3 billion for new acquisitions as it moves away from film and refocuses on digital cameras, digital health imaging, and digital commercial printing. All of this is expected to take five to seven years. There are huge implications for the 15,000 people who work in "film-related" businesses at Kodak Park. The job of making film will be shifted to countries where there will still be a market for it, mainly China and India. Kodak's CEO Dan Carp said that while film is still important, people won't see major innovations in consumer film like the Instamatic and Advantix that once meant so much to people who worked at Kodak Park. Financial advisors said the dividend cut is huge, not what we normally see from companies that have not cut dividends once in more than a century. For every share of Kodak stock a person owns, they'll now receive fifty cents each year instead of a $1.80. That means the stockholder who owns 100 shares, will be receiving $130 less each year. Financial Consultant Rob Bradley said, "It creates more of a cloud of uncertainty around the company. So I would say near-term, no matter how you slice it, it's really hard to put a positive spin on this, until six, twelve, eighteen, twenty-four months down the line, when they're demonstrating that they're successfully executing that strategy. So there will not be more dividends but they hope to be growing earnings." In the short term, analysts expect to see Kodak's stock price drop because the dividend was a big draw to the stock. The company has been slashing jobs and shifting production, but there was always the lure of that dividend. There will be "few" new jobs for Rochester in the digital world. Kodak said it will acquire some existing companies and use outside suppliers whenever possible. SOURCE: WOKR13TV http://www.wokr13.tv.com ----------------------- KODAK UNVEILS DIGITALLY ORIENTED STRATEGY TO ACCELERATE GROWTH. 9/25/03 - Eastman Kodak Company will present to investors today a broader strategy for growth that will harness the power of digital technology to expand into a range of commercial businesses, resulting in a more diversified business portfolio with the potential to generate $16 billion in revenue by 2006--and $20 billion by 2010. At an investors meeting in New York City, Kodak's new leadership team will detail its plans to build on its foundation in consumer, medical and professional film imaging products and services to become a more balanced, diversified company that is a leader in the digital markets it serves. Those plans include leveraging its significant presence, and strong growth, in commercial markets and health imaging; refocusing research and development dollars on bigger, bolder ideas; accelerating investments in commercial markets; and acquiring other companies and technology to broaden Kodak's portfolio of digital products and services. Kodak anticipates spending as much as $3 billion on investments and acquisitions to achieve its 2006 revenue goal, including the transactions already announced this year. Each of the company's key business areas is now headed by leaders with experience in digital products and services, knowledge of both consumer and commercial printing markets, and a history of creating successful businesses throughout their careers. Since the start of 2002, Kodak Chairman and Chief Executive Daniel A. Carp has recruited a team of leaders, including President Antonio Perez, whose digital experience will allow the company to thrive in a time of structural change in the imaging industry. "We are acting with the knowledge that demand for traditional products is declining, especially in developed markets," Carp said. "Given this reality, we are moving fast--as digital markets demand--to transform our business portfolio, with an emphasis on digital commercial markets. The digital world is full of opportunity for Kodak, and we intend to lead it, as we have led innovation in the imaging industry for more than a century." At sales of $16 billion by 2006, and in the absence of special charges that cannot be estimated currently, Kodak's earnings per share potentially could exceed $3.00 that year. Kodak will center its growth efforts on three broad markets: Commercial, Consumer and Health. The Commercial initiatives include developing commercial imaging services for business customers, such as on-demand digital color printing, led by James Langley, Kodak's new President for Commercial Printing. As with Perez, Langley formerly was an executive at Hewlett-Packard Company. The Consumer initiatives include accelerating the growth of Kodak's successful EasyShare digital camera business and increasing the printing of pictures at home, from home or at retail. Bernard Masson, formerly an executive at Lexmark International, is leading this effort, supported by, among others, Yusuke Kojima, formerly of Olympus Optical Company, Ltd. The Health initiatives involve gaining more market share in the digital capture of medical images and building an information services business that takes full advantage of the convergence of images and information technology. Dan Kerpelman, who joined Kodak last year from General Electric Co., will continue to lead this effort. The path to Kodak's revenue goals features short-, medium- and long-term objectives. In the short term--the next 2 years--the company will reinforce its foundation by cutting costs and by managing the consumer film and paper businesses for cash and manufacturing share. In the medium term--2 to 5 years--Kodak will use the cash generated by the traditional businesses to strengthen the three market segments: Commercial, Consumer and Health. In the long term--after 5 years--Kodak will expand its reach by using its brand and technology to build new businesses in such markets as commercial workflow management, mobile imaging and flat-panel and flexible film displays, among others. Willy Shih, who in the past five years has created a $1 billion business from Kodak's consumer digital assets, is leading the display effort. "I am committed to ensuring that we execute on our growth strategy," Perez said. "We have the technology, the brand and the cash flow from our traditional business to help take advantage of these opportunities, and we intend to compete aggressively for market share." Achieving the revenue goals requires that the company maintain financial flexibility while taking advantage of the cash-generation capability of its traditional businesses. To that end, Kodak's management has recommended to the board of directors that the dividend be reduced to a semi-annual payment of $0.25 per share ($0.50 annually) from the current semi-annual payment of $0.90 per share ($1.80 annually). Acting on this recommendation, the board voted yesterday to declare a cash dividend of $0.25 per share, payable Dec. 12, 2003, to shareholders of record as of the close of business on Nov. 3, 2003. "Becoming a growth company demands that we invest money to harness the opportunities afforded by digital markets," said Robert Brust, Kodak's Chief Financial Officer. "As a result, we've reduced our dividend payout to a level that's about in line with the average payout of the companies in the S&P 500. This reallocation of cash will help us achieve our revenue targets while carrying an amount of debt that's appropriate for the goals we intend to pursue." To complete the transformation to a digital-oriented growth company, Kodak will create new businesses through a mix of internal growth and acquisitions, which will be funded through aggressive cost and balance-sheet management. "We have a goal of becoming a $20 billion company by 2010, reflecting a healthy mix of businesses that are commercial and consumer, traditional and digital, new and established--and all of them taking advantage of the opportunities available in the $385 billion infoimaging market, Carp said. "Today, we are experiencing a structural shift in our traditional film and paper business in developed markets," Carp said. "To address this shift, we've begun a transformation that is pragmatic and bold. We are determined to win in these new digital markets, and we are creating a Kodak that is geared for success." SOURCE: Eastman Kodak Co./Pressi.com http://www.kodak.com ^ back to top PRESS RELEASE: CYGNUS BUSINESS MEDIA LAUNCHES THE PHOTOIMAGING & DESIGN EXPO. 9/27/03 - (9/16/03) Cygnus Business Media, a leading diversified business-to-business media company, announced today it will launch PhotoImaging & Design Expo, May 5-7, 2004, at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, California. Sponsored by the company's publications - Studio Photography & Design and Digital Imaging, the groundbreaking event will be managed by Cygnus Expositions and will focus on providing cutting-edge training, technology, and networking opportunities for photo and imaging professionals. "This event will add a totally new dimension to trade shows in the imaging field," says Cygnus Imaging Group Publisher Kathy Schneider. "Developed by and for the industry, commercial, portrait, and wedding photographers, as well as creative illustrators and designers, will now have one powerful and inspirational event to attend." The PhotoImaging & Design Expo is sponsored and developed by industry leading publications Studio Photography & Design and Digital Imaging, in association with an advisory board comprised of world-renowned photographers and industry leaders to meet the unique needs of the imaging community. Members of the board include Douglas Dubler, Eddie Adams, Joe Buissink, Helene DeLillo, Douglas Kirkland, Andy Marcus, and Vincent Versace, as well as executives from Fujifilm, Eastman Kodak, Nikon, Mitsubishi, Hasselblad, Tamron, Applied Science Fiction, Art Leather/GNP, Dyna-Lite, Contax, and Epson. The PhotoImaging & Design Expo will enable imaging professionals to expand their knowledge of traditional and digital products, technologies, and techniques. The three-day conference will feature dynamic content at various levels of difficulty, in a variety of session formats, including seminars, panel discussions, and hands-on workshops, as well as high-impact networking events and special mentoring programs for students. Thousands of square feet of exhibit space will cover the latest imaging equipment and supplies, including cameras, film, albums, backdrops, filters, lighting, digital backs, printers, processing equipment, pro labs, and software. A highlight of the Expo will be live on-location wedding, fashion, and beauty photo shoots. "In this rapidly changing landscape of digital photography, technology and equipment are evolving at a pace never experienced before in the history of photography. To be competitive, both creatively and financially, the photographer of today must be ahead of the information curve. The PhotoImaging & Design Expo will be the next step in the evolution of trade shows, where content, technique and technology all merge," says Douglas Dubler, commercial photographer. The PhotoImaging & Design Expo will debut May 5-7, 2004, at the San Diego Convention Center, capitalizing on the strong Southern California imaging marketplace. For information on attending or exhibiting at the 2004 event, visit http://www.PhotoImagingandDesign.com or call 800.827.8009. Cygnus Business Media currently publishes four leading photo and digital imaging-related publications reaching over 110,000 professionals. In addition, it recently launched Imaging-Info.com, an online portal for the photoimaging industry. SOURCE: Cygnus Business Media http://www.cygnusb2b.com ^ back to top PRESS RELEASE: A WHOLE NEW SET OF EFFECTS! 9/21/03 - (9/10/03) Photo/Graphic Edges is by far one of the most popular Photoshop plug-ins ever created. With hundreds of thousands of users it has set a trend that has continued to grow for over a decade. Everywhere you look these days, you see images wrapped in creative edges and frames made with Photo/Graphic Edges--people love these effects. We are pleased to announce the release of our newest version of Photo/Graphic Edges and hope you enjoy learning more about this exciting new product. The most exciting new feature we have added is the ability to brush on effects and interact with the creative process at a new level. Photo/Graphic Edges 6.0 includes 14 new effects: Acid Brush - Ambient Brush - Burned Edges - Distort Edge - Edge Brush - Edges - Frames - Montage - Photo Border - Photo Tabs - Putty Brush - Smudged Edge - Transfer - Vignette. PGE 6.0 also includes 3 CDs of professionally created content to help users quickly achieve the look they desire. Included are over 10,000 edge effects, 1,000 matte surface textures, hundreds of color frames, vignettes and other creative content. Some of the edge styles found in Photo/Graphic Edges 6.0 include: * Traditional * Darkroom * Geometric * Artistic * Digital * Painted * Deckled * Feathered * Semi-Transparent * Torn and Ripped * Film Frames * Impressionistic * Watercolor Fadeouts * Rubbed Charcoal * Splattered Airbrush * Etched Scratchboard * Darkroom Transfers * Brushed Acrylics * Rough and Gritty * Abstract Shapes "Photo/Graphic Edges 6.0 offers imaging enthusiasts a rich set of creative tools for enhancing their photographs" says Cliff Weems, Founder and CEO, "Photo/Graphic Edges now features layers, visual presets, unlimited undo / redo functionality and a rich set of brush on effects for exacting control over where the image is enhanced. Version 6.0 now offers more than just edges and borders--new creative brush on effects let the user interact with effects like Burned Edges and create their own unique Brushed Edges using watercolor, charcoal, oils, and other media." Who Will Benefit From This Software? Digital camera owners, graphic designers, professional photographers, web designers and anyone involved with digital imaging. Price and Availability: The estimated street price of Photo/Graphic Edges 6.0 is $179.00 (USD). Upgrades from any previous version of Photo/Graphic edges are available for $79. Photo/Graphic Edges is sold through select dealers and resellers worldwide or through Auto FX Software direct at 1-800-839-2008 (toll free) or (205) 980-0056, or ordered online at http://www.autofx.com New Features in Photo/Graphic Edges 6.0 Photo/Graphic Edges 6.0 is a major upgrade offering 14 new effects for users to work with. Features in this release include: * PGE 6.0 now lets you combine different edges together onscreen and dynamically reshape and transform them to create new edge looks. This is a very powerful new feature! * PGE 6.0 is built on a powerful framework that uses effect layers, visual presets, layer presets and dynamic effect controls that allow users to rapidly explore new looks and quickly achieve the desired effect they are after. * PGE 6.0 includes 12 new effects : Acid Brush - Burned Edges - Edge Brush - Edges - Frames - Media Brush - Montage - Photo Border - Photo Tabs - Putty Brush - Transfer - Vignette. * PGE 6.0 includes over 1000 surface textures that can be used as mattes behind the edges. Also included are hundreds of lighting tiles, brush shapes, surfaces and other creative content. * PGE 6.0 includes advanced Lighting, Shading, Shadow Generation, Blending Modes, Opacity Rendering, Edge Coloring, Visual Catalogs of Effects and Effect History features. * PGE 6.0 is fully backward compatible with previous versions of Photo/Graphic Edges. * PGE 6.0 allows users to create, save and load up their own customized edges and settings. Photo/Graphic Edges 6.0 Feature Highlights * Photo/Graphic Edges ships with both a stand-alone application and a Photoshop compatible plug-in that works in popular programs like Photoshop, Elements and Paint Shop Pro. * Effects are Resolution Independent. You can apply an effect to a small image and get the same result on a different sized or much larger image. This feature is useful for preparing content for both print and the web. * Users can build effects using SmartLayers T that work together to make a composite effect. * Supports Adobe Photoshop Actions, Layers and Last Filter Commands. * Supports unlimited Undo / Redo. Memory Dot functionality allows you to click and capture a look so you can explore and then come back to that same look at a later date. * Paragraph length Tool Tips containing detailed instructions pop up when the mouse is held over a control for several seconds. * User defined visual presets can be saved for capturing the exact look of an effect for later use. Presets save a small thumbnail for visual reference when selecting a preset at a later date. * File loading and saving support for: .psd, .tif, .bmp, .jpg, and .png file formats. Saving in Photoshop .psd format will export the effect onto a layered document with full transparency. System Requirements & Product Compatibility: Windows 98/NT/2000/2000 ME/XP Macintosh 9.0 or higher including full native support for OS X or higher - Requires a G3 or higher Minimum 256MB of RAM required / 512MB of RAM or higher recommended About Auto FX Software: Founded in 1994, Auto FX Software has grown to become the largest developer of Adobe Photoshop plug-ins in the market. Auto FX Software is exclusively focused on the development and marketing of visual imaging software for creative professionals. Auto FX products are distributed in over 45 countries around the world and are also available for digital download on the Internet at http://www.autofx.com. SOURCE: Auto FX Software http://www.autofx.com ^ back to top PRESS RELEASE: MEDIASTREET DEBUTS GENERATIONS G-CHROME INKS. 9/14/03 - (9/1/03) MediaStreet.com has released its new Generations G-Chrome™ inkset as their latest addition to their Generations Micro-Bright Pigmented Inkjet Ink solution™. This ink set (version 6.0) allows for printing onto most resin coated (RC) glossy papers with little to no "rub-off" effect so commonly associated with pigmented ink. It lays down on Glossy papers with less sheen and less bronzing than any other pigment ink on the market. You have your choice of using our Photo Black or our Universal Matte Black: * Photo Black is geared toward printing onto Resin Coated (Glossy) Papers, and will exhibit little to no rub-off. * Universal Matte Black is geared for printing onto Matte papers including Fine Art Papers. It will offer a denser D-Max than the Photo Black on Matte Papers. You can also use this ink on Resin Coated (Glossy) Papers, but there will be a slight rub-off of the ink possible. This inkset uses the base ink of our Enhanced Generations ink which is rated to last beyond 100 years by the Wilhelm Imaging Research for both the 4-color, as well as the 6-color sets. If you are switching to Generations G-Chrome, you MUST flush your old ink out of your system prior to loading the new ink. Our JET Jrano is perfect for the job of flushing out and purging your lines. Availability and more: * Generations G-Chrome Inks have been designed for use with Epson 2200, 7600 and 9600 Printers as a replacement for the OEM UltraChrome™ Ink. * We professionally fill OEM compatible, brand new cartridges with our Generations G-Chrome ink. Also immediately available pre-filled into the Niagara II continuous flow ink system for the EPSON 2200. The new wide-format 7600/9600 Niagara will be released in October. * Generations G-Chrome Inks have been developed and proven to produce long-lasting digital prints (greater than 100 years). You can now make inkjet prints that last longer than traditional photographs! * Generations G-Chrome Inks are dramatically more stable, with respect to color shift and fading, than "dye-based" ink sets. * Generations G-Chrome Inks are a perfect compliment to our NEW line of Generations ProPhoto True Photographic Media. SOURCE: MediaStreet.com http://www.mediastreet.com ^ back to top PRESS RELEASE: NEW EPSON STYLUS® C84 INK JET PRINTER WITH DURABRITE® INKS PRODUCES WATER-RESISTANT, SMUDGE-RESISTANT AND LIGHT-RESISTANT OUTPUT FOR LESS THAN $100. 9/4/03 - (9/2/03) Epson America Inc. is introducing the ultimate all-purpose printer that offers an impressive combination of quality and print durability for an affordable price. The EPSON Stylus C84 can meet the challenges of today's busy customer. It prints documents and text quickly; produces beautiful, frame-ready, borderless photographs; and provides output that will resist light, water and smudges. This printer replaces the popular EPSON Stylus C82 and becomes Epson's new flagship, all-purpose ink jet printer, available for $79 (after a $20 mail-in rebate). The EPSON Stylus C84 boasts Epson's renowned, DuraBrite ink for long-lasting output. The EPSON Stylus C84 is the fastest Epson desktop in the product line, delivering up to 22 pages per minute (ppm) in black and up to 12 ppm in color*. Not only is the EPSON Stylus C84 able to print quickly, but the printer also does it quietly. Epson engineers have created a new engine and mechanism for this printer, which has resulted in quieter printing of output from the start to the finish. This printer offers 5760 x 1440 optimized dpi with ultrafine three-picoliter ink droplets for sharp, vivid images and photo-quality results. The EPSON Stylus C84 also takes advantage of a convenient and cost-effective individual ink cartridge system along with true black printing on glossy media for more realistic and sharper images. "Whether a customer is printing a document on plain paper or printing a photo of the family's summer vacation on our new DuraBrite Ink Glossy Photo Paper, this printer ensures that precious memories are printed on output that is durable and will stand up over time to light, water and smudging," said Rodrigo Catalan, product manager, consumer ink jet printers, Epson. "Knowing that their output is printed on the Stylus C84 with DuraBrite ink provides a level of confidence and security for our customers that no other printer in this price range can offer today." Enhanced DuraBrite Inks The EPSON Stylus C84 utilizes the newest and most advanced formula of DuraBrite inks yet for brighter, more saturated colors and is designed to produce impressive looking, durable output that is water-resistant, light-resistant and smudge-resistant. Because DuraBrite inks are pigment-based inks, output from DuraBrite inks can be submerged in water without the ink coming off the page, unlike dye-based inks, which typically run and smudge. This feature is designed to give creators of photographs, fliers, menus, signs, postcards and any other printed output the ability to produce documents and images that will withstand damage caused by moisture-based threats such as rain, spills, humidity or people with wet hands. DuraBrite inks also have a light-resistance rating of up to 80 years on certain specialty media and an unmatched 70-year** rating on plain paper, making it possible to safely place prints in areas where light would normally cause images to fade quickly. Bleed-through is reduced since DuraBrite inks rest on the surface of the paper, which is ideal for applications that require double-sided printing. Media Flexibility and New DuraBrite Ink Glossy Photo Paper The EPSON Stylus C84 offers great results on all different types of media ranging from ordinary plain paper to DuraBrite Ink Glossy Photo Paper, the newest paper to join the wide assortment of Epson media. This new paper was designed especially for use with the latest formulation of DuraBrite ink to create bright, beautiful, borderless glossy prints that are water-resistant, light-resistant and smudge-resistant. DuraBrite Ink Glossy Photo Paper will be available in two popular sizes - 4" x 6" (50 sheet packs) and letter size (20 sheet packs) - for $9.99 and $12.99, respectively, and will be available at the end of September. The printer also supports a variety of other Epson specialty media including Epson Premium Bright White Paper, Glossy Photo Paper, Matte Paper Heavyweight, Glossy Photo Greeting Cards and Ink Jet Transparencies. Individual Ink Cartridges With the new DuraBrite ink formulation, a new cartridge design is being used in the EPSON Stylus C84 for optimal printer performance. This new cartridge design is not backward compatible with the EPSON Stylus C82 and Stylus C80, but as with these predecessors, the EPSON Stylus C84 includes four separate "snap-in/snap-out" ink cartridges to maximize ink yield - one extra-large black ink cartridge and three color ink cartridges (cyan, yellow and magenta). Since these individual color inks can be replaced at any time, efficiency is maximized, lowering the total cost of ownership. Each cartridge also contains a chip that relays ink level information on screen to the user via the printer driver, while self-sealing valves preserve the inks up to six months once removed from the printer. Therefore, reinserted cartridges that haven't been fully depleted can be reinserted for later use. High Volume Printing The EPSON Stylus C84 is capable of large-quantity printing when needed. The printer's paper input tray holds up to 120 sheets of 20-pound paper at a time, reducing the number of times a user will need to refill the tray during a large print job. It also has the capacity to print as many as 5,000 sheets per month. Additionally, the Stylus C84 offers both USB and parallel connectivity for simultaneous use of either Macintosh or Windows platforms. Wireless and Network Connectivity Increasing use of networking and wireless technology protocols such as WiFi(tm) have led to the creation of two similar printers called the EPSON Stylus C84N and C84WN. The Stylus C84N includes a 10/100 Ethernet print server, while the Stylus C84WN includes a wireless Ethernet 802.11b WiFi print server that supports multiple network protocols. Epson also offers Bluetooth(tm) capability for the Stylus C84 with an optional interface adapter available for $129 that simply plugs into the printer's parallel port. Availability, Warranty and Support The EPSON Stylus C84 is currently shipping to computer superstores and specialty retail stores nationwide and can also be purchased through mail order, PC manufacturers, the Internet and Epson's own retail site, www.epsonstore.com. The EPSON Stylus C84WN and C84N will also be available at www.epsonstore.com and select retailers. Each printer carries a one-year Epson Exchange Limited Warranty, enabling customers to receive a replacement printer if a problem cannot be corrected by telephone technical support. The printer models are also supported by the EPSON ConnectionSM, a customer support and technical assistance line. For more information on Epson and its products, call 1-800-GO-EPSON (1-800-463-7766) or visit our Web site at www.epson.com. *Pages per minute based on text memo in Economy Mode on plain paper. Additional processing time may vary based on system configuration, software application and page complexity. ** Light-resistance ratings based on accelerated testing of prints displayed indoors, under glass. Actual print stability will vary according to image, display conditions, light intensity, paper or specialty media, humidity and atmospheric conditions. Ratings based on ink only; some papers may discolor over time. Epson does not guarantee the longevity of prints. For maximum print life, display all prints under glass or lamination or properly store them. SOURCE: Epson America Inc. http://www.epson.com ^ back to top PRESS RELEASE: ILFORD ADDS NEW WIDE FORMAT ROLLS TO THE GALERIE LINE OF PROFESSIONAL INKJET PHOTO PAPER. 9/1/03 - (7/27/03) ILFORD Imaging announced the launch of 24", 36" and 44" rolls to the ILFORD GALERIE professional inkjet media range. The new roll formats are available in the two GALERIE Smooth RC surfaces. Both Smooth Gloss and Smooth Pearl utilize microceramic technology to enable instant drying. The expanded line of professional quality photo papers features a wide range of choices and solutions for digital imaging enthusiasts and is available at photo retailers in North America. "There has been great demand from imaging professionals for wide roll paper," said Brian Zimmer, Marketing Manager, Reseller Channels and Consumer Markets for ILFORD Imaging USA Inc. "Reduced printer prices and improved ease of use have enabled many users to purchase their own wide format inkjet printers for making their photographic enlargements. These users have re-cently been asking ILFORD for GALERIE products in wide rolls. Now we can offer both sheet and wide roll sizes to meet their needs" GALERIE Smooth wide rolls were designed specifically with the EPSON® Stylus™ PRO 7600 and 9600 printers in mind. A perfect combination with EPSON UltraChrometm inks, GALERIE Smooth papers offer superb image quality and permanence. GALERIE Smooth Papers are compatible with leading dye and pigment-based printer brands in-cluding Epson®, Hewlett-Packard®, Canon® and Lexmark®. In addition to the new 24", 36" and 44" roll sizes, GALERIE Smooth products are available in the following sizes: 8-1/2"x11" in 25, 100 and 250 sheet configurations, and 11"x17" and 13"x19" in 25 sheet boxes. Additional infor-mation is available on the ILFORD Web site at: www.ilford.com/galerie. ILFORD Imaging is a leading developer and manufacturer of digital/inkjet products and photo-printing technologies for a diverse range of applications, as well as black & white and color photo-graphic materials. ILFORD is totally committed to maintaining the highest standards of quality and integrity in every aspect of production and service within the imaging industry today. SOURCE: ILFORD Imaging USA Inc. http://www.ilford.com ^ back to top PRESS RELEASE: MOAB PAPER COMPANY ANNOUNCES MARKETING AGREEMENT WITH ERGOSOFT PAPER COMPANY TO BUNDLE ENTRADA™ FINE ART PAPER LINE WITH STUDIOPRINT™ RIP. 8/26/03 - (8/20/03) Moab Paper Company announces a new marketing agreement with ErgoSoft, a leading manufacturer of high fidelity inkjet RIPs. Moab will begin bundling two 24" rolls of its Entrada™ fine art paper line with every purchase of ErgoSoft's StudioPrint™ RIP. Moab will also bundle a demo of StudioPrint with purchases of Entrada paper upon request. ErgoSoft also announced that StudioPrint now includes embedded ICC profiles for the Entrada paper line, meaning lower cost of ownership, immediate results, and even greater ease of use. Commercial and Fine Art photographers as well as Fine Art printmakers with demand for high quality prints or contact proofs will greatly enhance their image quality, color accuracy, and print volume by using StudioPrint and Entrada paper. "ErgoSoft is excited about our new relationship with Moab," noted Robert Eversole, president of ErgoSoft-US. "The Entrada fine art paper by Moab is very impressive. With the ICC output profiles included with StudioPrint, absolutely stunning images are achievable right out of the box." Entrada is Moab Paper Company's new line of fine art inkjet papers. The paper is 100% cotton, dual sided, archival fine art media. Entrada was developed to please both the discerning professional and the serious amateur artist/photographer, this selection of media answers the challenge of the professional inkjet printing market for high quality media at affordable prices. These media come in a broad array of weights and size offerings, in sheets and rolls. "This agreement reiterates both companies dedication to providing the finest quality solutions for photographers and fine artists," noted Gregory Schern, president of Moab Paper Co. "ErgoSoft has raised the bar for the production of digital art and Moab is proud to partner with them. This combined solution makes possible immediate results without the need for custom profiling." StudioPrint, a stand-alone application optimized for photography and fine-art reproduction, is a highly intuitive professional-level software solution for production of digital images. StudioPrint's density calibration and ink-limiting features are designed to optimize color gamut, tonal gradation, highlight purity and shadow detail while maximizing color gamut. Its open color architecture supports up to eight separate color channels independent of one another for wide gamut printing. StudioPrint's open color architecture also makes it a powerful Quad Black printing solution, using four dilutions of black or grey, for monochromatic photographic printing. Additional features include multiple screening algorithms, including Epson® proprietary screening algorithms, as well as sophisticated color transformation features. StudioPrint's open-architecture ICC-based CMM (color management module) ensures accurate, hassle-free ICC-based profile generation and application. Familiar, user-friendly tools for color correction are also imbedded into StudioPrint, making last second color tweaks or adjustments fast and efficient. StudioPrint supports today's most popular Piezo-head and variable-droplette inkjets such as Epson, Roland®, and Mimaki®. StudioPrint is currently available for use with Windows XP, Windows® 2000, Windows NT®, and Windows® ME. StudioPrint is priced at $2300 for Large Format and $1300 for Small Format (supported devices 24" and below). About Moab Paper Company Moab Paper Company is a division of Red Rock Innovations, Inc. (Moab, UT). A sister division, Inkjet Goodies (http://www.inkjetgoodies.com) will be the primary distributor for Moab Paper Company products. Inkjet Goodies is one of the nation's premier online retailers with a full compliment of professional photographic and fine art inkjet supplies including printers, inkjet media, inks, color management tools, continuous bulk ink systems, scanners, rotary cutters, print storage solutions, and many other products for today's professional. About Ergosoft U.S. LLC. ErgoSoft's mission is to provide intuitive, high fidelity digital printing solutions to the creative professional. Each of ErgoSoft's comprehensive line of inkjet RIPs is designed to meet the unique requirements of Fine Art, Photography, Large Format Display, Textile and Sublimation. We do this by developing feature-specific, production-oriented applications to optimize image fidelity, color accuracy and production speed in the most demanding digital printing environments. For more information, visit www.ergosoftus.com or call 703.464.0876. SOURCE: Moab Paper Company http://www.inkjetgoodies.com Ergosoft U.S. http://www.ergosoftus.com ^ back to top PRESS RELEASE: HAWK MOUNTAIN ANNOUNCES TWO NEW FINE ART PRINT PAPERS. 8/22/03 - (8/1/03) Nighthawk: Archival, Heavyweight Fine Art Print Paper Hawk Mountain Art Papers (Leesport, PA) introduces Nighthawk, a new 100% cotton heavyweight paper formulated to be entirely free of optical brightening agents (OBA) in both the paper and coating. This paper is for those who demand the most in sheet weight and the ultimate in archivability. Nighthawk is a mould-made, acid-free paper with an inkjet receptive coating formulated especially for use with archival pigment inks. Nighthawk is an excellent choice for printing all varieties of artwork. This very thick paper weighs 500 grams per square meter and has a thickness of .035". Nighthawk is available in sheet sizes of 13" x 19", 22"x30", and 24"x36". Condor BriteWhite: Double-Sided Fine Art Print Paper Hawk Mountain Art Papers introduces Condor BriteWhite, a new 100% cotton, acid-free paper which is coated on both sides with an inkjet receptive coating formulated especially for use with archival pigment inks. Condor BriteWhite is an excellent choice for printing photographs and all varieties of artwork. The paper is bright white, weighs 300 grams per square meter, has a thickness of .020", and has both smooth and slightly textured surfaces on the front and back of the sheet. The paper is available in 13" x 19" sheets and wide format rolls, 50 feet in length on three-inch cores and widths of 24", 36" and 44". Custom cut roll widths are also available. "Condor BriteWhite gives wonderful results for color and black and white inkjet printing of photographs and artwork", states Anders Jonsson, formerly technical support engineer for BrightCube, and now sales representative for Hawk Mountain. "The color gamut, tonal quality, and resolution achievable with Condor BriteWhite is amazing", he continues. Hawk Mountain Art Papers produces a line of high quality 100% cotton papers for the photographic and fine art inkjet printing markets. Further information and swatchbook are available by calling toll-free 888-807-2248 or on the web at www.hawkmtnartpapers.com. SOURCE: Hawk Mountain Art Papers http://www.hawkmtnartpapers.com ^ back to top PRESS RELEASE: HP HELPS PRESERVE ART AND CULTURAL HERITAGE. 8/18/03 - (7/28/03) Curators from around the world are increasingly turning to technology to aid in the preservation of artistic masterpieces, with dozens of museums, galleries and cultural organizations relying on technologies provided by HP (NYSE:HPQ) to support their efforts. According to a 2002 report by the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services, 87 percent of museums use at least some information technology, with that number growing as many institutions turn to solutions--like those offered by HP--that support the study, documentation and preservation of virtually all artistic mediums, including paintings, textiles, photographs, porcelain and pottery, sculptures and countless others. Technology not only supports the preservation of fine art, but also helps break down cultural barriers by making collections and resources available to as many people as possible via the Web. * At the National Gallery of London, masterpieces by van Gogh, da Vinci, Rembrandt, Titian and Monet have been painstakingly restored and catalogued using HP technologies. HP technology also has enabled the Gallery to provide prints of its vast collection "on demand" to museum patrons. * Art lovers can now access online rare collections of Rabindranath Tagore, Amrita Sher Gil and other India modern art from the National Gallery of Modern Art in New Delhi, which has used HP technologies to digitize at high resolution and catalog its collection. * At Brazil's Lasar Segall Museum, innovative HP wireless solutions make the visitor's time in the museum more dynamic by transmitting information about works of art to handheld devices. * HP technology has enabled the Holy See to give millions of people online access to the Vatican's Apostolic Library, one of the most prestigious collections of manuscripts, documents and antique texts in the world. Additionally, HP will provide the Holy See with HP technology to maximize service availability, reliability and processing response speed. The IT infrastructure will ensure that all visitors have an optimal experience navigating the precious works of art. Users also will soon be able to access the Museums Web site on the go using mobile telephones and mobile devices such as HP iPAQ 5450 Pocket PCs powered by Wi-Fi (wireless fidelity) technology. * HP has assisted 18 Native American tribal communities in Southern California to preserve their unique culture online by recording their own languages with video and audio support, and then creating an archive of their languages and their elders' stories on the site. "It's a great privilege that such prominent museums and cultural institutions turn to HP for assistance in maintaining the world's greatest treasures," said Huw Robson, head of the HP Labs Arts and Sciences Division. "We look forward to working with these institutions and many others to help preserve the arts and culture for future generations." HP technology solutions for the preservation, conservation and communication of art and culture, include: * Infrared scanning and imaging solutions that see through paint pigment to reveal an artist¹s original charcoal or lead drawings that formed original sketches, allowing curators to see how paintings evolved and changed during the preparation phase; * Large format printers that allow for near-perfect color reproduction and are used by curators in advance of touching original works of arts to ensure color matches; * Polynomial texture mapping technology used to study the precise brushwork of major paintings so curators can mimic brushstrokes when retouching original pieces; * HP high-volume storage and processing server systems scanning collections at extreme quality resolution and storage; * Services such as printing on demand, which requires the development of innovative fine arts digitization processes and high-quality HP printing solutions; * Design and improvement of the information technology infrastructure of art and cultural Web sites so consumers can access the millions of treasures online from the convenience of their own homes; * Mobile technologies, such as HP iPAQ 5450 Pocket PCs powered by Wi-Fi technology, make museums' Web site information available for people on the go. "Van Gogh and Monet never could have imagined the technology that's being used today to preserve their paintings," said Clare Gough, head of communications and media at the National Gallery. "The HP technologies that are being used on these masterpieces, as well as numerous others at the National Gallery, are invaluable tools to the curators who work so diligently to ensure the pieces maintain their original artistic integrity despite weathering the elements and enduring the passage of time." The achievements of HP's technology and its impact on the arts and culture are being highlighted in a worldwide brand advertising campaign that kicked off May 27 in USA Today and will run throughout 2003. The campaign, created by San Francisco-based Goodby, Silverstein & Partners, features "Yellow Lives On" by Vincent van Gogh, which is currently being conserved using HP technology solutions by the National Gallery of London. For more information on and to see how HP technologies support the preservation of art and culture, visit http://www.hp.com/go/nationalgallery for an online press kit and b-roll. SOURCE: Hewlett-Packard Company http://www.hp.com ^ back to top PRESS RELEASE: LYSON'S 310 STANDARD FINE ART PAPER REALLY "BRINGS OUT THE IMAGE." 8/9/03 - (7/11/03) Lyson, Inc., a leading provider of inks, media, and related products to the printing, photography, graphic arts, and other allied industries, features Lyson 310 Standard Fine Art paper as a flagship in its broad line of media for inkjet applications. Lyson 310 Standard Fine Art is a single-sided coated, traditional fine art media that is natural, mold-made, and features optical brighteners for truly stunning digital reproduction. Its surface inkjet coating is a special matte treatment, designed for high quality digital fine art reproduction and print applications on inkjet plotters and printers. The printed side of Lyson 310 Standard Fine Art paper has been specially coated for outstanding image sharpness and optimal color gradation, and to provide the aesthetic view demanded of traditional fine art papers. The coating also delivers a very high level of water resistance. "The very slight texture on the surface of the paper really brings out the image--it leaps at you," says Victor O'Beirne, photographer and proprietor of Blue Heron Editions. "I use this paper not only for my own work, but also for photographers around the world that have me do their prints." He adds that this includes work that has hung in such esteemed venues as New York's Guggenheim Museum. Common applications for Lyson 310 Standard Fine Art paper include: * Fine art print reproduction * Business cards, greeting cards, and postcards * Certificates * Menu and other customer-facing applications * Presentation prints for display requirements SOURCE: Lyson, Inc. http://www.lyson.com ^ back to top PRESS RELEASE: ARTISTS ESTABLISH DIGITAL PRINTMAKERS GUILD TO ADVANCE THE ART OF DIGITAL PRINTMAKING. 8/7/03 - (7/30/03) Three artists from the United States today announced the creation of the Digital Printmakers Guild, an association of print studios nationwide for the advancement of digital printmaking. The Digital Printmakers Guild promotes high quality standards in a rapidly evolving craft, shares resources and expertise among member studios, and raises public awareness of digital printmaking. The DPG was formed by three independent artists including Phil Bard of Cirrus Digital Imaging in Portland, Oregon; Amadou Diallo of editions@Diallo Photography in New York City; and Ron Landucci of Infinite Editions in Denver, Colorado. The DPG monitors emerging digital technologies and incorporates materials and techniques that enhance image quality and longevity of the finished fine art product. Each DPG member studio is owned and operated by an artist who is directly involved in all aspects of the printmaking process. Similar to standards established by photographic processing labs, the standards developed by the Digital Printmakers Guild guarantee a level of quality for clients and ensure that proper techniques and materials are used. A significant emphasis of the association is to educate clients and provide a forum for artists to advance this highly specialized craft. Member studios have provided imaging and printmaking services for nationwide traveling exhibitions and photographic book projects, as well as limited editions for institutions and individual artists. "Working as an independent artist for the past 20 years has allowed me to experiment with a variety of techniques," states Phil Bard of Cirrus Digital Imaging. "Digital printmaking has allowed me to produce fine art prints for clients as never before in a darkroom." "Control over the monochromatic printing process is certainly an exciting area for passionate B&W photographers and printmakers", says Ron Landucci of Infinite Editions. "In the last year alone, many new workflows have come to the market." "We're at a juncture in printmaking where digital technology and individual vision and craft are no longer mutually exclusive," states Amadou Diallo of editions@Diallo Photography. "Exhibits I've printed generally elicit aesthetic, rather than technical comments from viewers. This is gratifying because ultimately it's about the piece, not the process." For further information, please contact: Phil Bard, Cirrus Digital Imaging phil@cirrus-digital.com (503) 636-4950 Amadou Diallo, editions@Diallo Photography editions@diallphotography.com (347) 231-6652 Ron Landucci, Infinite Editions ron@infinite-editions.com (303) 271-9400 SOURCE: Digital Printmakers Guild http://www.dpguild.com ^ back to top PRESS RELEASE: PHOTOPLUS EXPO 2003 SHOW FLOOR & EDUCATION PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS. 8/5/03 - PhotoPlus Expo 2003 Photography & Design Conference, a premier resource for information, new ideas, and networking in the photographic and imaging industry, will offer over 100 seminars on topics as diverse as "Storytelling in the Digital Age" and "Shooting Under Fire." Attendees will get hands-on with the latest technologies, learn innovative techniques in both digital and film, and meet master photographers and creative thinkers in the field. To enhance the attendees' experience, PhotoPlus Expo is offering a Gold Expo Pass for exclusive access to key resources such as the Digital Learning Center. The show will also present, for the first time in the U.S. this year, the prestigious World Press Photo Exhibit. "Today's photographer needs to be grounded and proficient in his art, while also possessing the ability to process the many advantages and opportunities offered in the new digital world. PhotoPlus Expo offers our attendees the chance to improve themselves in both worlds," said Lee T. Arevian, Group Show Director, VNU Expositions. This year, professional photographers and imaging professionals will be able to choose among 11 different seminar tracks, with subjects covering lighting, stock photography, marketing, self-promotion, digital imaging and much more. In addition to the latest technologies and processes taught by such industry experts as John Paul Caponigro, R. Mac Holbert, Julieanne Kost, Joe Meehan, and Mike Ninness, PhotoPlus Expo will offer a new panel discussion on the Future of Technology led by industry's top manufacturers. Legendary photographers such as Rodney Smith, Eric Meola, Steve McCurry, James Nachtwey and Kwaku Alston will also share their experiences and work. Among the new additions this year is the Digital Studio with live rotating photo shoots, which is intended to inspire and to teach digital workflow. The Digital Studio program includes a fashionable wedding shoot with Bambi Cantrell; lighting nude subjects with Christopher Springmann; human motion with Lois Greenfield; and new lighting and portrait techniques with Bobbi Lane, Peter Freed and Monte Zucker. The all-new 2003 Digital Learning Center, an interactive pavilion on the tradeshow floor where attendees can experience the latest digital trends and learn digital productivity, will be a major attraction. PhotoPlus Expo has partnered with the Center for Digital Imaging for a hands-on demonstration of the digital workflow, incorporating Apple Xserve and the recently introduced Xserve RAID hardware. The DLC will feature several OS X native tools that capture, name, annotate, archive, store, retrieve, edit and print images. The Gold Expo Pass, which offers hassle-free registration, will give visitors the opportunity to have one-on-one sessions with exhibitors an hour before the show opens to the public, as well as exclusive access to The Digital Learning Center. The Gold Expo Pass holders will also have special access to The Gold Expo Oasis, a private area to relax, meet friends and colleagues, and recharge for the next seminar. In addition to the technologies and products on view, visitors will have a chance to see several exhibitions of extraordinary images. Among these is the celebrated World Press Photo Exhibit, which will feature over 200 award-winning photographs taken by internationally renowned photojournalists. The images, which cover topics ranging from political conflict to human achievement, were chosen from over 53,000 entries submitted by photojournalists, picture agencies, newspapers and magazines from 118 countries. More than 60% of the images on view are digital. As a bonus, visitors will have access to the Production Expo Plus show, which focuses on pre and post-production of film and television. This show will run concurrently with PhotoPlus Expo at the Jacob Javits Center. "PhotoPlus Expo is the most important gathering of the photographic community - a chance for photographers to come and see the best products and technologies, and learn the newest techniques and the best practices of their peers," said Mr. Arevian. "The show also gives attendees a chance, through the World Press Exhibit and other galleries, to view some of the industry's most potent images." About PhotoPlus Expo PhotoPlus Expo is presented by PDN Events, a division of Photo District News, the number one resource for professional photographers, and produced by VNU Expositions, which manages over 50 business-to-business tradeshows and educational conferences. PhotoPlus Expo 2003 will be held at the Jacob Javits Center from October 30th - November 1st. For press registration, please call (212) 261-4292 or email photoplus@dcinyc.com. Visit www.photoplusexpo.com for more information on PhotoPlus Expo 2003. SOURCE: PhotoPlus Expo 2003 http://www.photoplusexpo.com ^ back to top PRESS RELEASE: RITZ CAMERA CENTERS FIRST TO NATIONALLY LAUNCH FULLY DIGITAL SINGLE-USE CAMERA. 8/2/03 - (7/25/03) Ritz Camera Centers, the largest retail camera and photo chain in the United States, announced today the nationwide launch of the Dakota Digital Single-Use Camera at select Ritz Camera and Wolf Camera locations. The cameras, the first to offer consumers a high-quality, fully digital experience at a single-use price, will sell for $10.99 under the company's Dakota Digital brand. The Dakota Digital Single-Use Camera, built on the Pure Digital™ Imaging Platform, gives consumers the exciting benefits of digital photography without the cost and complexity. The easy-to-use camera offers functions normally associated with sophisticated digital cameras, including the ability to delete unwanted pictures, a fully automatic flash, metered exposure control, and a self-timer feature. Processing is made simple by returning the camera to any of the participating Ritz Camera or Wolf Camera locations for Camera Store Quality DigiPrints and a photo CD. Now with the click of a mouse, even novice computer users can email pictures, create photo greetings, or send multiple photos as a slideshow. Each camera is recycled after processing. "The Dakota Digital Single-Use Camera is the easy and affordable answer to digital photography without giving up prints," noted David Ritz, Chairman of Ritz Camera Centers. "This worry-free digital camera is a perfect choice for capturing the moments of summer or for anyone interested in trying digital for the first time." According to the Photo Marketing Association, single-use camera sales have grown over 15% annually for the last five years, even as film sales have declined. Single-use cameras now represent over 19% of film rolls processed. Digital camera sales have grown 23% over the past year and are expected to be present in almost 30% of US homes by year's end. Despite the increasing popularity of digital, less than 19% of digital pictures are printed, primarily due to the complexity, cost, and time requirements of home printing. The Dakota Digital Single-Use Camera will be available beginning July 28th at Ritz Camera and Wolf Camera locations in more than 14 cities, including Washington, Baltimore, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Boston, Chicago, San Francisco, and Dallas. About Ritz Camera Centers, Inc. Ritz Camera Centers, headquartered in Beltsville, MD, is the largest retail camera and photo chain in the United States with approximately 1200 locations in 48 states and the District of Columbia. The Ritz Camera Centers chain of stores includes Ritz Camera, Wolf Camera, Kits Camera, Inkleys, and The Camera Shop. All stores have Big Print Central Departments offering both traditional and digital prints "in minutes." Ritz Camera Centers, Inc. also owns and operates Boater's World Marine Centers, a leading marine specialty retail chain with 110 stores nationwide. About Pure Digital Technologies, Inc. Pure Digital Technologies is a digital imaging technology provider based in San Francisco, California. The Pure Digital™ Imaging Platform enables a range of digital photography products that accelerate demand for retail photofinishing services--including the world's first high-quality, 100% digital single-use camera solution. Cameras built on the Pure Digital™ Imaging Platform combine all the unique benefits of digital photography with the affordability, simplicity and quality of traditional film. The Pure Digital™ Imaging Platform is currently being implemented at many of the world's leading retail and photo-taking destinations. SOURCE: Ritz Camera Centers http://www.ritzcamera.com ^ back to top PRESS RELEASE: NEW LINE OF AFFORDABLE FINE ART INKJET PAPERS OFFERED BY MOAB PAPER CO. 7/29/03 - (7/27/03) Moab Paper Company announces its new line of fine art inkjet papers, a complete portfolio of professional inkjet media. Developed to please both the discerning professional and the serious amateur artist/photographer, this selection of media answers the challenge of the professional inkjet printing market for high quality media at affordable prices. The Moab Paper Company portfolio includes Entrada™ 100% cotton, dual sided, archival fine art media, Kokopelli™ photographic media with a traditional look and feel, Lasal™ dual sided multi-purpose photographic media, and Anasazi™ art canvas. These media come in a broad array of weights and size offerings, in sheets and rolls. Headquartered in Moab, Utah, the Moab Paper Company is surrounded by some of the country's most photographed landscapes. Within this setting, creation of the new line of inkjet media has been inspired by the majestic Colorado River, spectacular rock formations in Arches and Canyonlands National Parks, the snow-capped peaks of the Lasal Mountains, and rock art and ancient ruins from cultures long forgotten. Moab Paper Company is a division of Red Rock Innovations, Inc. (Moab, UT). A sister division, Inkjet Goodies (http://www.inkjetgoodies.com) will be the primary distributor for Moab Paper Company products. Inkjet Goodies is one of the nation's premier online retailers with a full compliment of professional photographic and fine art inkjet supplies including printers, inkjet media, inks, color management tools, continuous bulk ink systems, scanners, rotary cutters, print storage solutions, and many other products for today's professional. SOURCE: Moab Paper Company http://www.moabpaper.com ^ back to top PRESS RELEASE: COREL PAINTER EXPERT ANNOUNCES NEXT COREL PAINTER CLASS TO BE CONDUCTED IN MAJESTIC SHADOWS OF MOUNT RAINIER. 7/27/03 - (7/21/03) Renowned artist and author Karen Sperling has announced the date and location of her next Corel Painter 8 Retreat. Karen Sperling's Painter classes have become known as an excellent learning ground for photographers, artists, graphic designers and graphic arts service providers to learn how to quickly and easily use Corel Painter to attract new customer bases and generate exciting new revenue streams. Sperling announced today that the Artistry Corel Painter 8 Retreat will be held Monday, September 8, 2003 through Friday, September 12, 2003 in Tacoma, Washington. For more information, go to www.artistrymag.com. Turning Photos into Paintings... Karen Sperling, who wrote the original manual for Painter version 1.0 and has taught the software to digital artists since 1991, will lead the learning experience herself. The seminar will focus upon art techniques and Painter tools that allow students to become near-experts in converting common photographic portraits and landscapes into true and valued paintings, and not just photos with brush strokes. In addition to enjoying the process from an artistic standpoint, many portrait photographers have found transforming photos into paintings to be financially rewarding, as clients revere the look and added-value of "paintered" portraits. And yet, attendees don't have to have an art background to take this course and become efficient with Painter, nor is the course limited to professional photographers. Sperling does require a laptop computer, a portable digital camera and a fresh outlook to experience something new and exciting. What Attendees will Learn... Just some of the topics covered in the course will include: -- The Right Stuff: Attendees will be shown what makes a photo a good candidate for the basis of a painting and how to fix it in Painter if it's not; -- Painter's A-list Brushes: Students will learn which brushes are Painter's star performers as they turn photos into watercolors, oils, gouaches, chalks and other natural media; -- A Little Art Knowledge: Each attendee will be introduced to art concepts such as values, composition and colors and how the related Painter tools can vastly improve paintings; -- Painter Secrets: Attendees will be shown Karen Sperling's Painter secrets, developed over 12 years of demonstrating, teaching, writing about and using Painter. About the Seminar... The class will cover both landscape and portrait painting. And attendees will spend time both inside and outside of the classroom -- taking pictures outside, and going over Painter techniques in the classroom. Attendees don't have to have an art background to take this course. All the information needed will be part of the seminar. Corel Painter 8 is the latest version of Painter and will be the version covered during the Artistry Painter retreat. Class-goers may purchase Painter 8 through Artistry prior to the retreat. Karen Sperling Background... Leading the Artistry Painter Retreat is artist and published author, Karen Sperling. The original Painter expert, Karen wrote the first manuals for Painter versions 1.0 through X2, including the 2.0 Companion, and she demo'd Painter when it debuted at Boston Macworld in August 1991. She also wrote the Painter Complete series of books, published by MIS: Press, a division of Henry Holt. Her Painter tutorials have also been published in Photo Electronic Imaging (PEI) magazine and SBS Digital Design. She currently publishes Artistry Painter tutorials on CDs and as downloadable files. She has taught Painter since its debut in 1991 to everyone from free-lance artists and photographers to the staffs at major publishers, greeting card companies, design firms and Hollywood movie studios, and at schools including the New School for Social Research in New York. Karen has been the featured Painter speaker at seminars and demonstrations at American Film Institute, the Professional Photographers of America and Seybold. Karen majored in English at Ithaca College with a minor in art, studying drawing, painting and art history. Her photos, art and illustrations have been published in her books, in magazines and in Artistry, a Painter magazine she founded. Her paintings and commissioned portraits are held in private collections around the world. Availability... For more information about the Artistry Corel Painter 8 Retreat in Tacoma, WA, please visit this page: http://www.artistrymag.com/docs/classes.html SOURCE: Karen Sperling http://www.artistrymag.com ^ back to top PRESS RELEASE: ROLAND INTRODUCES NEW HEAVYWEIGHT FINE ART PAPER. 7/25/03 - (7/21/03) Roland DGA Corporation today introduced Tuscan Rag Bright White fine art paper. "Tuscan Rag is a smooth and bright white fine art paper with a nice heavyweight feel," said Laura Wilson, Roland Product Manager. "The paper prints beautifully and is easy to work with. It's terrific for a variety of fine art and photographic output, especially black and white photographic reproduction." Made from 100 percent cotton fiber, Tuscan Rag Bright White fine art paper is a smooth 310 gsm, 19 mil product. This heavier weight paper is specifically engineered for wide format inkjet printing. The paper is water resistant when used with Roland pigment ink and compatible with Roland mild solvent and dye inks. Like other Roland fine art papers, it is mould-made, PH neutral, acid free and lignen-free. Tuscan Rag Bright White Fine Art Paper has a list price of $139.95 for a 24"x40' roll, $209.95 for a 36"x40' roll and $274.95 for a 47"x40' roll. Its price per square foot is a cost-effective $1.70. SOURCE: Roland DGA Corporation http://www.rolanddga.com ^ back to top PRESS RELEASE: EPSON PERFECTION® 3170 PHOTO AND 1670 PHOTO SCANNERS OFFER ONE-TOUCH PHOTO RESTORATION WITH NEW AND EXCLUSIVE EPSON EASY PHOTO FIX™ TECHNOLOGY. 7/24/03 - (7/16/03) Epson is making it very easy for people who want to preserve and share memories to restore their old photos with the introduction of two new EPSON Perfection scanners. The EPSON Perfection 3170 PHOTO and the EPSON Perfection 1670 PHOTO offer an incredible combination of image quality, versatility and innovative photo restoration software at an affordable price. These new scanners are joining Epson's award-winning scanner product line and will both be available this August for less than $200. The EPSON Perfection 3170 PHOTO will be added to the scanner line up, while the EPSON Perfection 1670 PHOTO replaces the popular EPSON Perfection 1660 PHOTO scanner. The Perfection 3170 PHOTO and 1670 PHOTO deliver impressive maximum hardware resolutions: 3200 x 6400 dpi on the Perfection 3170 PHOTO and 1600 x 3200 dpi on the Perfection 1670 PHOTO. The scanners each feature 48-bit color depth for remarkable color accuracy and offer fast scanning speeds with Hi-Speed USB 2.0 for scanning photos, text and graphics with ease.  Both models include exclusive Epson Easy Photo Fix technology, which provides customers with fully-automatic scanning, one-touch color restoration of faded photos, slides and negatives, and one-touch dust removal from slides and negatives. "Many of us don't realize that the old photographs that have been passed down to us and accumulated through the years may be fading with each passing year," said Grace Huang, assistant product manager, consumer scanners, Epson. "By using these new Epson scanners with Epson Easy Photo Fix technology, customers can restore and preserve their treasured photographs with a simple click of a button." The EPSON Perfection 3170 PHOTO The EPSON Perfection 3170 PHOTO is the best choice for an image-driven individual who is looking for a premium quality scanner at an extremely affordable price. This scanner delivers outstanding results with its true 3200 hardware dpi resolution, 48-bit scanning and its built-in slide and film strip adapter for conveniently making duplicates or enlargements from 35 mm slides and negatives, and even medium format transparencies. The scanner is also equipped with an automated four-button interface with each button operating a different function--Start, Scan to Web, Copy, and E-mail--making it easy for customers to scan images quickly and easily into these pre-programmed applications. The EPSON Perfection 3170 PHOTO enables customers to tackle creative projects and challenging tasks with its full-featured creative software bundle that includes: Adobe Photoshop Elements 2.0, EPSON Smart Panel and Epson Scan featuring new Epson Easy Photo Fix technology. The Perfection 3170 PHOTO will be available in August for an estimated street price of $199, and can be purchased through Epson authorized dealers, consumer electronic stores, mail order, and on the Epson Store Web site (www.epsonstore.com). For added versatility, this scanner model also offers an optional automatic document feeder (ADF) for an estimated street price of $199. The EPSON Perfection 1670 PHOTO The EPSON Perfection 1670 PHOTO scanner is perfect for home or office environments with its economical price and ease of use. This scanner delivers resolution of 1600 x 3200 dpi for capturing and reproducing images with incredible detail and accuracy. This scanner also utilizes easy, four-button automated scanning and offers a convenient built-in 35 mm slide and film strip adapter for scanning multiple slides and negatives. The Perfection 1670 PHOTO includes user-friendly software such as Epson Scan featuring Epson Easy Photo Fix technology, which makes scanning and restoring old photos, slides and negatives simple and fun. In addition to Easy Photo Fix, the EPSON Perfection 1670 PHOTO comes with several other software titles including:, ArcSoft PhotoImpression, EPSON Smart Panel™ ABBYY® FineReader® Sprint and NewSoft™ Presto!® Biz Card. The EPSON Perfection 1670 PHOTO is Hi-Speed USB 2.0 compatible for fast connectivity on most systems. This scanner will be available in August for an estimated street price of $129 and can be purchased through Epson authorized dealers, consumer electronic stores, mail order, and on the Epson Store Web site (www.epsonstore.com). More about EPSON Easy Photo Fix Technology It is hard to imagine, but there are billions of photographs in existence either being stored in albums, frames, or shoeboxes and many of them are showing signs of fading or have already faded. There are several factors which can cause photos to fade, including processing chemicals, paper types and various environmental factors. These fading memories can now be easily and affordably restored with the Epson Easy Photo Fix software in the EPSON Perfection 3170 PHOTO and 1670 PHOTO. The EPSON Perfection 3170 PHOTO and 1670 PHOTO are the first scanners to include Epson Easy Photo Fix technology, which provides customers with an easy one-touch solution for restoring color to old photographs, negatives and slides, and removing dust from old slides and negatives. Customers simply scan an image and click on a check box for instant color restoration or dust removal. Epson Easy Photo Fix makes this process effortless since it is incorporated into the Epson Scan driver. The software has three different user modes: Full Auto mode, which automatically scans at pre-determined settings for entry-level users; Home mode, which offers some pre-set recommended settings for the advanced amateur; and Professional mode, which is completely manual which gives the advanced user more control. More about EPSON Smart Panel Software The EPSON Perfection 3170 and 1670 scanner models include the next generation of EPSON Smart Panel software, a comprehensive program that fully integrates all functions of the scanner into one convenient interface. This intuitive software has an improved user interface which provides customers with the tools necessary to scan photos, text or graphics with ease. Some of the functions that are incorporated into the Smart Panel are: * Copy Utility for easily making multiple copies of text and photos * Reprint Photos for easily printing, enlarging and/or restoring color photos, negatives and slides * Scan to Web for automatically scanning images to the EPSON PhotoCenter, the Epson photo sharing Web site * Scan and Save for converting files and easily organizing images and documents * Scan to E-mail for attaching photos to e-mails * Scan to OCR for converting documents to editable text file * Scan to Creativity for the creation of greeting cards, calendars and other creative applications * Scan to Application for directly scanning into a favorite application * Scan to Business Card for scanning business cards to create a virtual rolodex SOURCE: Epson America Inc. http://www.epson.com ^ back to top PRESS RELEASE: APPLE UNLEASHES THE WORLD'S FASTEST PERSONAL COMPUTER -- THE POWER MAC G5. 7/20/03 - (6/23/03) Apple® today unleashed the world's fastest* personal computer--the Power Mac® G5--featuring the world's first 64-bit desktop processor and the industry's first 1 GHz front-side bus. Powered by the revolutionary PowerPC G5 processor designed by IBM and Apple, the Power Mac G5 is the first personal computer to utilize 64-bit processing technology for unprecedented memory expansion (up to 8GB) and advanced 64-bit computation, while running existing 32-bit applications natively. "The 64-bit revolution has begun and the personal computer will never be the same again," said Steve Jobs, Apple's CEO. "The new Power Mac G5 combines the world's first 64-bit desktop processor, the industry's first 1 GHz front-side bus, and up to 8GB of memory to beat the fastest Pentium 4 and dual Xeon-based systems in industry-standard benchmarks and real-world professional applications." Delivering the industry's highest system bandwidth, the Power Mac G5 line offers dual 2.0 GHz PowerPC G5 processors, each with an independent 1 GHz front-side bus, for an astounding 16 GBps of bandwidth. The line also features the industry's highest bandwidth memory (400 MHz 128-bit DDR SDRAM with throughput up to 6.4 GBps); the industry's fastest PCI interface available on a desktop (133 MHz PCI-X); and cutting-edge AGP 8X Pro graphics capabilities, all within a stunning new professional aluminum enclosure featuring innovative computer-controlled cooling for quiet operation. The PowerPC G5 processor is a result of the strategic relationship between Apple and IBM. At frequencies up to 2 GHz, the PowerPC G5 introduces 64-bit processing technology to desktop computing, while also running 32-bit applications natively. The PowerPC G5 processor architecture is based on a completely new execution core that features massively parallel computation for an unprecedented 215 in-flight instructions, full symmetric multi-processing, two double precision floating point units and an optimized Velocity Engine™. The PowerPC G5 chips are fabricated in IBM's $3 billion state-of-the-art semiconductor facility in East Fishkill, N.Y. The new Power Mac G5 is the world's fastest personal computer based on SPEC® CPU 2000 benchmark results and leading professional application performance tests when compared against 3.0 GHz Pentium 4-based systems and 3.06 GHz Dual Xeon-based systems: * In the SPEC CPU 2000 independent testing comparing the Power Mac G5 against leading 3.0 GHz Pentium 4-based systems and 3.06 GHz Dual Xeon-based systems, the Power Mac G5 won three out of four key benchmark tests. All tests were run with the same industry standard GCC 3.3 compiler to insure a fair comparison; * Single processor tests results show the Power Mac G5 an impressive 21 percent faster than the 3.0 GHz Pentium 4-based PC on SPECfp_base2000, which measures single processor floating point performance, and 10 percent slower on SPECint_base2000, which measures single processor integer performance; and * Dual processor tests results, which determine the fastest personal computer since dual processor systems are faster than single processor systems, are a clean sweep with the Power Mac G5 beating the 3.06 GHz Dual Xeon workstations by an incredible 41 percent on SPECfp_rate_base2000, which measures the total floating point throughput of the system, and edging out the same system by three percent on SPECint_rate_base2000, which measures total integer computation throughput. In addition to outperforming Pentium 4- and Dual Xeon-based systems in industry-standard benchmarks, the Power Mac G5 ran significantly faster than Pentium 4 and Dual Xeon-based systems on performance tests of the most popular applications for creative professionals: * On a test of 45 commonly used actions, Adobe Photoshop ran twice as fast on the Power Mac G5 than on 3.06 GHz Dual Xeon workstations; * Logic Audio on the Power Mac G5 can play nearly 40 percent more tracks with reverbs applied than Cubase SX running on a 3.06 GHz Dual Xeon workstation; and * Genentech Blast runs up to five times faster on a Power Mac G5 than on a 3.06 GHz Dual Xeon workstation. Complementing its computational power, the Power Mac G5 provides leading-edge expansion with dual 1.5 Gbps serial ATA interfaces; the industry's fastest PCI interface available on a desktop with a 133 MHz and two 100 MHz, 64-bit PCI-X slots; and AGP 8X Pro graphics capable of supporting the power and thermal demands of high-end professional graphics cards. The Power Mac G5 comes standard with either the NVIDIA GeForceFX 5200 or the ATI Radeon 9600 Pro graphics card. As a build-to-order option for unprecedented 3D design, visualization and gaming, the Power Mac G5 line also features the ATI Radeon 9800 Pro--a workstation-class graphics card featuring per pixel and vertex shaders, and providing an astonishing fill rate of 3 billion textured pixels/second. The Power Mac G5 delivers industry-leading connectivity and high-performance I/O for creative professionals with Gigabit Ethernet, FireWire® 800, two FireWire 400 ports, three USB 2.0 ports, dual display support, optical digital audio input and output, analog audio input and output and a headphone jack. The system also supports 54 Mbps AirPort® Extreme wireless networking and is Bluetooth ready for wireless connections to a host of Bluetooth-enabled peripherals. The Power Mac G5 features a stunning new anodized aluminum alloy enclosure, designed to meet the needs of the most demanding professionals. The new enclosure is built around four independently controlled thermal zones for advanced airflow management, with fans in each zone that are individually controlled based on a sophisticated combination of thermal and power monitoring, resulting in the Power Mac G5 running two times quieter than the previous Power Mac G4. The G5 enclosure also features an easy-to-open access panel allowing quick access to internal components for tool-less installation of memory, hard drives, optical drives or an AirPort Extreme card. Front and rear handles allow professionals to rapidly and safely move Power Mac G5s when and where they need them, and front-mounted FireWire, USB2, and headphone ports provide convenient access for popular peripherals. Pricing & Availability The Power Mac G5, with a suggested retail price of $2,999 (US), includes: * Dual 2.0 GHz 64-bit PowerPC G5; * Dual Independent 1 GHz front-side buses; * 512MB 400 MHz Dual Channel (128-bit) DDR; * 8 DIMMs, 8GB maximum memory; * 160GB Serial ATA hard drive; * AGP 8X Pro graphics slot; * RADEON 9600 Pro-64MB DDR; * 3 PCI-X slots (one 64-bit 133 MHz, two 64-bit 100 MHz); and * 4x SuperDrive. The Power Mac G5, with a suggested retail price of $2,399 (US), includes: * 1.8 GHz 64-bit PowerPC G5; * 900 MHz front-side bus; * 512MB 400 MHz Dual Channel (128-bit) DDR; * 8 DIMMs, 8GB maximum memory; * 160GB Serial ATA hard drive; * AGP 8X Pro graphics slot; * NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 Ultra-64MB DDR; * 3 PCI-X slots (one 64-bit, 133 MHz, two 64-bit 100 MHz); and * 4x SuperDrive. The Power Mac G5, with a suggested retail price of $1,999 (US), includes: * 1.6 GHz 64-bit PowerPC G5; * 800 MHz front-side bus; * 256MB 333 MHz Dual Channel (128-bit) DDR; * 4 DIMMs, 4GB maximum memory; * 80GB Serial ATA hard drive; * AGP 8X Pro graphics slot; * NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 Ultra-64MB DDR; * 3 PCI slots (64-bit, 33 MHz); and * 4x SuperDrive. The Power Mac G5 line will be available in August and will ship with Mac® OS X "Jaguar" with Mail, iChat™, Safari™, Sherlock®, Address Book, QuickTime®, iLife™ (includes iTunes®, iPhoto™, iMovie™, and iDVD™), iSync, iCal™, DVD Player, Classic environment, Acrobat Reader, Art Directors Toolkit, EarthLink, FAXstf, FileMaker Pro Trial, GraphicConverter, Microsoft Internet Explorer, Microsoft Office v. X Test Drive, OmniGraffle, OmniOutliner, QuickBooks for Mac New User Edition and Developer Tools. The Power Mac G5 will be available in build-to-order configurations through the Apple Store® (www.apple.com). Options include up to 8GB of RAM, 250GB hard drives, Combo drive, graphics cards (NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200, ATI Radeon 9600, ATI Radeon 9800), AirPort Extreme Card, Bluetooth module and an Apple Fibre Channel PCI Card. * "World's fastest" based on SPEC CPU 2000 benchmark results and leading professional application performance tests against 3 GHz Pentium 4-based Dell Dimension 8300 and 3.06 GHz Dual Xeon-based Dell Precision 650. SPEC CPU 2000 benchmarks run with GCC 3.3 and independently tested; professional applications tested by Apple, June 2003. SOURCE: Apple Computer, Inc. http://www.apple.com ^ back to top PRESS RELEASE: OLYMPUS INTRODUCES WORLD'S FIRST 100% DIGITAL INTERCHANGEABLE LENS SLR SYSTEM. 7/12/03 - (6/24/03) Olympus America Inc. will introduce the world's first 100% all-digital interchangeable lens SLR system at a press event in New York City today. The Olympus Digital SLR System with Digital Specific LensesTM is an uncompromising realization of the full benefits of pure digital technology with body and lenses designed to perfectly match the image sensor. "The Olympus Digital SLR System sets a new standard for the future of digital photography," said Mark Gumz, president and chief operating officer of Olympus America Inc. Professional photographers today are mainly working with film-digital hybrid systems because - until now - no digital camera manufacturer has been able to offer a completely digital solution that meets all their needs. "Our new system was designed to be digital from the ground up without making compromises for a film legacy system, a significant limitation for our competitors. The Olympus Digital SLR System is designed to meet the needs of the most demanding pros, offering powerful advantages in terms of image quality, durability, speed, and camera and lens size." Until today, digital photography has lacked a common standard for image sensor sizes and lens mount configurations, resulting in an unwieldy array of specifications. The new Olympus Digital SLR System overcomes this by setting a standard for image sensor and lens mount. Based on this new Four Thirds open standard, the Olympus Digital SLR System achieves an optimal balance between image quality, camera and lens size, and system expandability, maximizing the performance of image sensors and lenses with a 100% digital-from-the-ground-up design. The Olympus Digital SLR System delivers unsurpassed image quality with a high-performance Full Frame Transfer CCD for improved dynamic range, better color, and less noise. The system's interchangeable Zuiko Digital Specific Lenses are designed specifically for digital capture with smart technology that delivers edge-to-edge sharpness with reduced distortion and shading. The lenses perfectly match the imager so light strikes the sensor directly, ensuring rich, accurate colors, sharp contrasts and bright images even at the edges. When 35mm film lenses are used with digital cameras, insufficient light at the edges of the image sensor can result in reduced color definition, particularly when shooting with wide-angle lenses. Olympus' dedicated digital optics outperform film lenses paired with digital cameras, rendering sharpness and contrast more consistently at any given f-stop. It took nearly four years of intensive research and development for Olympus to bring its digital SLR system to market. "The Olympus Digital SLR System was developed for professional photographers with extensive input from professional photographers at every step," said John Knaur, senior marketing manager, Olympus America Inc. The result is one of the most significant technological innovations in the history of Olympus, one of the world's top digital camera brands based on digital camera unit sales. The E-1 The first camera being introduced in the Olympus Digital SLR System is the professional E-1. The most technically sophisticated, computerized digital camera built to date, the revolutionary E-1 is designed to deliver the best digital images for professional photographers today and into the future. It is a dynamic camera that can handle many types of photographic situations and deliver superior results in a wide range of settings, from indoor to studio, fashion to journalism, sports to portrait photography, and more. The camera features a new, high performance Super Latitude Full Frame Transfer CCD from Kodak, the KAF-5101CE, which delivers the highest dynamic range, lowest noise levels and best color of any camera in its class. This innovative 5 Megapixel CCD outperforms many higher Megapixel count imagers. In addition, the E-1 utilizes new and existing technologies like the exclusive Olympus TruePicTM Technology to achieve the highest image quality and most realistic digital photographs. Newly developed Noise Filter technology and the existing Noise Reduction technology produce clear, clean files. A newly developed Supersonic Wave Filter significantly reduces the chances of dust settling on the CCD or image and blocking pixels. The E-1 offers build and features quality equal to or better than the top professional quality cameras at the extremely competitive price of $2,199 MSRP. Lenses & Accessories Initially, Olympus will introduce five Zuiko Digital Specific Lenses, one flash system, and a power grip set for the E-1, as follows: * 14-54mm f2.8-3.5 (28mm - 108mm equiv. for 35mm film camera) at $599.00 MSRP * 50-200mm f2.8-3.5 (100mm - 400mm equiv. for 35mm) at $1199.00 MSRP * 50mm f2.0 1:2 Macro (100mm Macro equiv. for 35mm) at $599.00 MSRP * 300mm f2.8 Super Telephoto (600mm equiv. for 35mm) at $7999.00 MSRP * TC14 1.4X Teleconverter (1.4X - 1 stop equiv. for 35mm) at $549.00 MSRP * FL-50 Flash and Accessories $499.00 MSRP * Power Battery Holder Set $549.00 MSRP Olympus will introduce the E-1 and this initial round of Zuiko Digital Specific Lenses and E-Accessories to the market in October 2003. Over time, Olympus plans to introduce a wide range of bodies, lenses and accessories for its digital SLR system, beginning with an 11-22mm f2.8/3.5 zoom, as well as a Ring Flash and Twin Flash later this year. Olympus has also begun work on a consumer digital SLR camera for 2004. The Four Thirds System The new Four Thirds System is an open standard for digital SLR cameras and interchangeable lens systems that utilize a 4/3-type image sensor. Adopted by a consortium of leading manufacturers including Olympus, Kodak and Fuji, the Four Thirds System is designed to achieve an optimal balance between image quality, camera size, and system expandability. The system maximizes the performance of image sensors and lenses, and establishes a common standard for lens mounts, allowing photographers greater flexibility with a choice of bodies and lenses from different manufacturers using the Four Thirds System. SOURCE: Olympus America Inc. http://www.olympusamerica.com ^ back to top PRESS RELEASE + EDITORIAL: JAMES NACHTWEY WINS $500,000 DAN DAVID PRIZE. 7/10/03 - Earlier this year, the Dan David Prize announced the winners of its three 2003 $1 million prizes for the Past, Present and Future Time Dimensions. Sharing the 2003 award for the Print & Electronic Media are James Nachtwey and Frederick Wiseman. James Nachtwey is a photojournalist who has dedicated his life to documenting the apocalyptic events of our time: war, famine, critical social issues, and the plight of the disfranchised all over the world. With the eye of an artist and the instinct of a journalist, he creates images that may not be easy to look at but are impossible to ignore. He currently lives in New York City. Frederick Wiseman has produced 32 documentaries and 2 fiction films including Titicut Follies. The prize, named after international entrepreneur and auto photo booth developer, Dan David, is funded from a $100 million Dan David Foundation endowment administered by Tel Aviv University. On the announcement of the 2003 winners, Dan David stated, "Even in the most tumultuous times, man's greatest achievements have been the beacon of light to show us to peace and prosperity. The Dan David Prize is an ongoing quest to recognize and award for those who help us understand what we were in the past, to help us to live better today or in the present, and those that further our knowledge and dreams to improve the future." In 1965, an interest-free $200,000 loan from a cousin gave Dan David the chance he needed to develop his photographic inventions and technology patents, including the automatic photo booth -- which have resulted in his becoming a successful businessman and multi-millionaire.  Now, Dan David is Chairman of Photo-Me International Plc, a company listed on the London Stock Exchange, which has about 90% worldwide marketshare of automatic photo booths found in malls and arcades worldwide. Given his background, Dan David understands the importance of getting a break, so he designed the Prize to have the "pay it forward" element with $100,000 of each winner's award establishing scholarships for exceptional young scholars or researchers to invigorate studies in the winner's fields. Calls for 2003 nominations for the Dan David Prize resulted in responses from countries on four continents, Africa, Asia, Europe and North America. Many top academic institutions submitted candidates including some of the world's best-known scientists, public figures, and institutions. The winners of the 2003 Dan David Prize have been selected among the final nominees, by independent review committees made up of distinguished members of the international academic and business community. The Dan David Prize is headquartered, managed, and awarded annually at Tel Aviv University, but is structured on a global basis, reflected in the composition of the Prize's Board. SOURCE: Dan David Prize http://www.dandavidprize.org ^ back to top PRESS RELEASE: FLASHFIXERS OFFERS DIGITAL CAMERA USERS AN EASY WAY TO RECOVER LOST PHOTOS. 7/1/03 - (6/24/03) FlashFixers today announces the U.S. availability of ImageRecall, easy-to-use digital photo recovery software for consumers and photography professionals. Gartner Dataquest estimates that 17 percent of households already own digital cameras and by 2006 more than 50 percent of U.S. households will own one. These camera users will find that digital images on flash memory cards can easily become lost, deleted or corrupted. There are many ways this can happen including: accidental deletion or formatting, too full memory cards, low battery power, exposure to strong magnetic sources, and extreme heat or cold. Using a simple GUI interface, ImageRecall expertly extracts files from the card's internal data structure. The product recovers photos from more digital formats than any other recovery software, including JPEG, CRW, PNG, AVI, BMP, NEF, GIF, TIFF, RIFF, MP3, AVI and MOV. ImageRecall also boasts a 95 percent recovery success rate when photo data still exists on the memory card. "ImageRecall offers fast and efficient expert recovery with no expert knowledge required," explains Steve Duffy, VP Sales and Marketing for FlashFixers. "FlashFixers is uniquely qualified to distribute and support ImageRecall customers because we are also a professional photo recovery service." Product Specifications ImageRecall runs on Windows 98, ME, NT, 2000 and XP. It recovers files from CompactFlash, SmartMedia, Secure Digital, Memory Stick, Microdrive, MultiMedia Card, xD Picture Card, and any other removable media that appears as a letter drive. Availability and Pricing ImageRecall is available now and can be downloaded from the FlashFixers Web site (www.flashfixers.com) as either a free trial version, or a full version for $39.95. ImageRecall can also be ordered on CD-ROM for an additional charge, and includes DataRecall, a data recovery product for Microsoft Office applications. SOURCE: FlashFixers http://www.flashfixers.com ^ back to top Home | About Us | Advertise | Contact Us News & Reviews | How-To's | Resources © 2002-2006 Harald Johnson Communications. All rights reserved.