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News Archive
(NOTE: the following is a mixture of press releases and editorial comments. When ONLY a company-provided press release is used--either in full or excerpted--
it will be identified as such.)
SIX FEET UNDER IN DIGITAL STYLE
12/27/02 - WhiteLight, LLC, a custom casket design and production firm in Dallas, Texas, is taking the funeral business by storm with its "Art Caskets." From the company's information: "No one's life is a blank. It's an idea that drove founder Patrick Fant to create a 'theme casket' that would provide a more personalized memorial of one's life. Forty tasteful designs now depict everything from military service and hobbies to ethnic and collegiate pride.
"The Art Casket™ features a quality, domestic-made 18-gauge gasket protective steel shell, plus a fully lined interior. To create the casket, a digitally imaged photomural is applied to the steel frame to create a hand-painted appearance. [The murals are printed out of a Scitex Novo solvent-based printer.] The graphics are applied before the hardware is installed. Upon completion, the WhiteLight casket is packed in a specially designed shipping container to fully protect it during shipping."
"No life is ordinary," Fant, an award-winning radio and TV veteran of more than three decades, said. "So why should the remembrance of someone's life be ordinary?"
SOURCE: WhiteLight, LLC www.artcaskets.com
EUROPEAN UNION PASSES LAW AFFECTING INKJET REFILL RESTRICTIONS
12/22/02 - The European Parliament has approved a law that would require printer manufacturers such as HP, Epson, Canon, and Lexmark to redesign their inkjet cartridges to eliminate the "smart chips" that make it difficult for the "carts" to be refilled and reused. The main purpose of the law, which goes into full effect in 2006, is to reduce the amount of "electroscrap" produced by the computer and home electronics industries. This mounting scrap is increasing as consumers throw away unwanted PCs, cell phones, and now, inkjet carts. The law also requires manufacturers to fund systems for disposing of the products they make.
Many of the newer inkjet printers have smart-chipped carts with built-in microchips. Although they help keep track of ink usage, one side effect of this technology has been to thwart the use of cartridge refills and third-party inks. This often results in consumers having to buy replacements and discarding the original carts.
According to ZDNet UK, these proprietary cartridges make up a substantial portion of the $30 billion annual global printer market.
SOURCE: Harald Johnson and ZDNet UK/CNET Networks, Inc.
http://news.zdnet.co.uk
UCLA TO OFFER COURSE ON FINE ART DIGITAL PRINTING
12/18/02 - According to instructor Andrew Behla, "I'm forwarding this message about the course that will be offered at UCLA [Univ. of California/Los Angeles] next Spring. I think this will be the first class that I know of offered for digital fine art printing at a U.S. university, and it will use YOUR book ("Mastering Digital Printing") as the main text. The course is titled "Mastering Fine Art Digital Printing." (X 481.98C Art 3 units $625)
The preliminary course description reads, "This hands-on course allows students to develop their skills in the process of digital printing. Students scan, print, and edit their photography or art to create their own limited edition prints. Students learn about the history of fine art digital printing, how to choose a printer, inks and papers, color management, print permanence, wide-format vs. desktop printers, scanning and advanced printing, and image-editing techniques. Special topics also include using Photoshop to color correct and edit artwork to get professional results with both large and small format digital printers. Two sessions at On the Path, a multimedia gallery and fine art printing studio are included to allow students to print on a large format professional digital printer. No refund after April 15. Students wishing to use the large format printing facilities pay an additional $125 nonrefundable lab fee."
Reg# N8894B $625 (Macintosh Workstation)
Reg# N9284B $625 (NT Workstation)
Westwood: B04 1010 Westwood Center
?Wednesday, 1-4pm,
April 9-June 11, 10 mtgs.
Instructor: Andrew Behla, Owner, Behla Design & Consulting
SOURCE: Harald Johnson and Andrew Behla www.behladesign.com
DIGITALCUSTOM ANNOUNCES DEAL WITH INDEPENDENT PHOTO IMAGERS TO OFFER PHOTO ART TREATMENTS, REPAIR AND RESTORATION
12/16/02 - DigitalCustom Group, Inc. today announced that it has reached agreement with the 450-member Independent Photo Imagers (IPI) retailers group to offer their members immediate fulfillment for a new series of custom edited photo-to-art treatments.
DigitalCustom's new service allows IPI retailers to order virtually any photo to be custom edited to appear as though it were an original watercolor, oil or pastel illustration. Common subjects include formal portraits, casual photos of children, couples, families and animals, homes and architecture and vacation scenes. For retailers whose print fulfillment is limited, DigitalCustom will provide prints on premium art media. Standard turnaround on digital files is 8 business days, with expedited 3-day service available.
Brent Bowyer, IPI's President, said, "DigitalCustom's new series of custom edited photo-to-art services really caught our attention and in-store tests convinced us this service should be offered immediately to IPI stores. We have all seen, and some of us sell, simple "plug-in" conversions of photos to simulated artwork. DigitalCustom's service is different, as it is done by creative artists with hands-on attention to detail. An example is that DigitalCustom can make adjustments to image composition to eliminate elements that detract from work's impact. The brushwork of the paintings looks every bit real, and customers will think the pastel will rub off on their fingers. This service wonderfully combines technology and creative talent."
DigitalCustom's President, Jeff Makoff, said "We look forward to extending our new series of custom edited photo-to-art service to IPI stores. Stores will appreciate the quality control, ease-of-use and support for which DigitalCustom is known. Our fine art treatments show customers how much can be done with professional digital editing. These services will help stores carry the message that 'The Photo Is Only The Starting Place'" into new areas. These services will lead directly to more sales of enlargements, frames, cards and other types of displays."
SOURCE: Karen Thomas, Thomas PR for DigitalCustom www.digitalcustom.com
FREE DOWNLOADS FOR DIGITAL ROC & DIGITAL SHO
12/13/02 - Applied Science Fiction is offering free-trial downloads of their photo-restoration duo: Digital ROC and Digital SHO. These are both plug-in software that works within image-editing programs like Adobe Photoshop and other compatible products. The plug-ins automatically restore and/or optimize digital images regardless of the digital source (flatbed scanners, digital cameras, images on CD). Digital ROC restores color quality to digital images removing the color cast from fades images and effects of tungsten and fluorescent lighting. Digital SHO automatically reveals details hidden in shadows commonly caused by exposure problems such as backlit subjects, uneven flash illumination, and partial shade.
Each plug-in normally costs $49.95. Images processed with the free trial versions will appear with a watermark. To disable the watermark, a Registration Code must be purchased through ASF. Works only with 8-bit, RGB images. Mac or Windows.
SOURCE: Applied Science Fiction http://www.asf.com
THREE-DIMENSIONAL MAGAZINE LIVES AGAIN IN TWO DIMENSIONS
12/9/02 - Published 10 times between 1965 and 1971, Aspen billed itself as the first three-dimensional magazine. Most issues arrived in a notebook-size box stuffed with articles that had been printed individually rather than stapled together. But it was the nature of its contents that made Aspen magazine stand out like a ski lift in a corn field. Each issue was as likely to hold postcards, posters and phonograph records as essays. And among the magazine's 235 contributors were many prominent figures on the 60's cultural landscape, including Roland Barthes, John Lennon, Marshall McLuhan, Lou Reed and Andy Warhol.
Thirty years after Aspen ceased publication, copies of the actual magazines are rarely found outside museum libraries and dusty flea-market bins. Now, though, Aspen can be viewed on the Internet, where the three-dimensional magazine has been digitally reproduced for the two-dimensional computer screen with remarkable verve. The material was put online last month at Ubu.com/aspen.
Given Aspen's historical importance, one might assume that a digital re-creation of the magazine would become the work of a museum. Instead, the online version is a labor of love by Andrew Stafford, 48, a San Francisco bookseller who gradually amassed a set of the magazines during the 1990's. He wanted to share his collection.
"As an example of creative publishing, Aspen is just stunning," he said.
SOURCE: The New York Times and UBU.com http://www.ubu.com/aspen
ADDITIONAL WILHELM DATA FOR EPSON INKS & MEDIA
12/5/02 - Royce Bair of inkjetART.com recently released more permanence results from Henry Wilhelm stating that "an Epson executive has given us permission to post some of this information now (we expect Epson will also be publishing it in the near future)." Says Bair, "Of particular interest to many will be the 'Archival / Enhanced' Matte data. Although the latest published data from Epson will only say that the testing for the Archival / Enhanced Matte papers are still '...in Progress' for the various Epson pigmented inks, the earlier data that we were privately given showed that Wilhelm had already discovered their lightfast ratings (i.e. 62
years for UltraChrome inks), but that there may be a problem with the permanence (in about 30 years) of the paper base itself. We are told this is why more dark storage stability tests are being done (which take longer than lightfast tests)."
SOURCE: inkjetART.com http://www.inkjetart.com/news/longevity/index.html
PICASA SOFTWARE ANNOUNCED FOR DIGITAL PHOTO MANAGEMENT
12/7/02 - (11/7/02) With nearly 95 billion digital images predicted to be stored on U.S consumers' computers by 2005, Lifescape Solutions, Inc. today announced Picasa, a new, easy-to-use program that lets photographers manage this tsunami of images and quickly find and share the individual digital photos they want. Picasa is available for free trial download at www.picasa.net.
Picasa automatically finds, organizes and displays all the digital photos collected on a computer. Unlike traditional digital photo organizers employing arcane and complicated folder and subject-based filing systems, Picasa emphasizes human visual sense and episodic memory so that users can quickly scan through entire archives in chronological order.
"Picasa is unlike any other image editing or display program -- it's totally fresh and new,"
said Lars Perkins, chief executive officer, Lifescape Solutions. Picasa enables photographers to enjoy and share digital pictures quickly and easily through features including:
• On installation, Picasa automatically finds all digital images stored on a computer's hard drive and organizes them into events, sorted by time, and presents them in thumbnails and albums, and on an innovative, scrolling Timeline search and view display; • Provides professionally printed pictures through a simple, direct order process; • ends pictures through e-mail with a single click. Picasa automatically sizes pictures and attaches them to e-mail messages, working with existing e-mail programs or one provided by Picasa; • Compatible with popular operating systems -- Windows® 98, ME, 2000, XP or later, pictures from any digital cameras or Photo CDs, Window®-compatible printers and all digital image editing programs.
Lifescape Solutions is offering for a limited time a full-featured trial version of Picasa. The free15-day trial use software is available through download by visiting the Picasa Web site at www.picasa.net. Picasa can be purchased at www.picasa.net for $29.99 in either packaged or download versions. Starting in November, Picasa will also be available at leading mass merchants, software and photographic retail locations.
SOURCE: Lifescape Solutions, Inc. http://www.picasa.net
WILHELM IMAGING RESEARCH SITE BACK ONLINE!
11/26/02 - After many months of being in a limbo state, Henry Wilhelm's Wilhelm Imaging Research (WIR) is back online with updated print permanence data at: www.wilhelm-research.com. WIR conducts accelerated light exposure and dark-aging tests to determine the comparative life expectancy of inkjet and other digitally printed photographs, as well as that of traditional black-and-white and color photographs.
As high-quality photographic printing has been steadily moving toward inkjet printing--with an ever-increasing number of small and large-format prints being made with pigmented and dye-based inks on a wide variety of inkjet media--so too has the emphasis at Wilhelm Imaging Research shifted to testing inkjet materials.
During December 2002 and February 2003, Wilhelm Imaging Research will steadily post new display permanence ratings (DPR) and other stability data for many more currently available printers, inks, and papers.
Henry Wilhelm is co-founder, president, and director of research at Wilhelm Imaging Research, Inc. and appears frequently as a speaker on inkjet printing technologies and print permanence at industry conferences, trade shows, and museum conservation meetings.
SOURCE: staff and Wilhelm Imaging Research http://www.wilhelm-research.com
MONACOOPTIX WITH "LIGHT TUNNEL" TECHNOLOGY FOR ACCURATE LCD
AND CRT DISPLAY PROFILING NOW AVAILABLE
11/20/02 - (10/31/02) Monaco Systems, Inc., a leader in the field of color management, announces the MonacoOPTIX solution for profiling LCD and CRT displays. The MonacoOPTIX profiling package was showcased at the Monaco Systems booth at PhotoPLUS EAST in New York City Oct. 31-Nov. 2. MonacoOPTIX is a monitor calibration system that combines a state-of-the-art colorimeter with powerful and easy-to-use software to provide an outstanding profiling solution for both LCD and CRT displays. A calibrated and profiled display ensures accurate and consistent color throughout the digital workflow. The MonacoOPTIX colorimeter has the following features:
* Intelligent electronics for both LCD and CRT display calibration
* Patented "Light Tunnel" technology for the most accurate LCD profile available
* Unique pulse-period timing for accuracy at very low light levels
* Factory calibrated to NIS (National Institute of Standards) standards
* Attractive design features removable components for profiling LCD and CRT monitors
MonacoOPTIX includes software with an intuitive, wizard-like interface for fast and easy profiling. Additional features include user-selectable white point and gamma settings, and hardware-assisted brightness and contrast adjustment for greater accuracy.
"Creative professionals have relied on Monaco software for accurate color matching," said George Adam, CEO of Monaco Systems. "Now with the new MonacoOPTIX sensor with "Light Tunnel" technology that integrates with the photosensor, we can offer the most accurate and complete monitor profiling solution available today." MonacoOPTIX is priced at $299 and supports the Macintosh OS9, Macintosh OS X and Microsoft Windows operating systems. There is a limited time $75 rebate program for users with the MonacoSENSOR or other similar monitor calibration devices.
The MonacoOPTIX sensor is also integrated into the latest version of MonacoEZcolor, a complete color management solution. MonacoEZcolor creates custom ICC profiles for your monitors, scanners, and printers. These profiles, as part of a color managed workflow, provide accurate, consistent color between devices and paper types, thus saving the user the time and expense of trial and error color corrections. The MonacoEZcolor bundle is priced at $548.
SOURCE: Monaco Systems, Inc. http://www.monacosys.com
MIS ICC PROFILES NOW FREE
11/17/02 - Inkjet ink and paper supplier MIS Associates has negotiated a "no royalty" agreement with the company that does their profiles and is now providing them at no charge. Prior to this, MIS had to charge a royalty fee for each of the profiles. The ICC profiles are for MIS color archival inks, and can be downloaded online.
MIS's Robert Zeiss explains, "the profile library will eventually consist of all the commonly used paper and printer combinations used with MIS Original Archival Ink. It will take some time and effort for us to get all of the possible profiles completed. The ones that are now available are marked with a profile number. To find the application details for a profile you must click on the profile number below. Each profile application document will define what printer settings to use, what paper type to select, and the sequence of events to follow."
SOURCE: MIS Associates, Inc. http://www.inksupply.com
WORLDWIDE PRINTS FROM CONSUMER DIGITAL CAMERAS WILL REACH
11.8 BILLION IN 2005
11/16/02 - (11/4/02) Total direct prints from consumer digital cameras will grow from 4.5 billion prints in 2001 to 11.8 billion prints in 2005 worldwide, according to a new study published by Lyra Research and Photofinishing News. The report, Opportunities and Challenges in Consumer Online Photosharing and Photoprocessing, studies trends in consumer behavior. While some 80 percent of digital photos were printed at home in 2001, the study projects that, in percentage terms, photos will increasingly be printed at retail locations or via an online service, with home printing accounting for just 53 percent of photos by 2005.
This report notes one reason for this change in printing behavior is that consumers are finding the feature-packed digital camera with complex photo-printing software can often be too complicated. Consumers want both capture and output functions simplified. "Over the next couple of years, consumers will begin to favor printing in retail establishments. The prices of prints, when the cost of media and ink is considered, still favor retail printing, although we do expect significant declines in home-printing supplies costs," says Don Franz, president of Photofinishing News, one of the report authors. "Convenience and time considerations will be the deciding factors. We feel that consumers will ultimately opt for that traditional printing choice, although the digital print-fulfillment infrastructure still needs to be put into place."
On the technology side, the report notes that today's photos are produced on a variety of media, including silver-halide, ink jet, and dye-sub media. An in-depth review of worldwide media ratios reveals that silver-halide will continue to be the dominant technology, dropping to just below 90 percent of total prints in 2005. "While silver-halide is dominant, great strides are being made in increasing the speed of ink jet photo printing systems while lowering the consumables costs," says Edward Lee, senior analyst and director of Lyra's Digital Photography Service. "The capital cost of a new ink jet system is roughly half the cost of comparable silver-halide systems. Those selling ink jet systems speak of the 'total cost of ownership' rather than about a per-print cost. From a purely economic analysis, the number of prints that will be produced over the lifetime of the system might determine the choice of ink jet or silver halide."
Opportunities and Challenges in Consumer Online Photosharing and Photoprocessing examines overall worldwide trends in both the traditional and digital photo business. It features more than 112 figures with data on shipments, online albums, photo kiosks, and digital photoprocessing revenue. The report is available in a worldwide edition, plus three separate regional editions for the Americas, Europe/Africa, and Pacific Rim/Rest-of-the-World. A complete description and table of contents for the report can be found on Lyra Research's Web site at www.lyra.com.
SOURCE: Lyra Research, Inc. http://www.lyra.com/chart
DAMON RANDO JOINS ERGOSOFT U.S.
11/14/02 - ErgoSoft US announces the appointment of Damon Rando as Director of Business Development. Damon brings to ErgoSoft a tremendous wealth of knowledge and expertise in the areas of digital color application as well as developing a highly effective dealer channel and valuable industry partnerships. Most recently, Damon owned and operated a color service bureau and worked previously with Apple Computer for over nine years. While with Apple, he played a key role in the adoption of ColorSync and introduced key clients to a color-managed workflow including People Magazine, Associated Press, Simon & Schuster, RR Donnelly, McCann-Erickson, Dallas Museum of Art, and others. Damon held the positions of VAR Channel Manager, US Marketing Manager for Publishing, and Business Development Executive while with Apple. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering.
ErgoSoft U.S., a privately owned subsidiary of ErgoSoft AG of Switzerland, is a leading developer of large format inkjet RIPs (Raster Image Processors). 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. The company does 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 on ErgoSoft, please call Robert Eversole at 703-464-0876. Visit ErgoSoft's website at http://www.ergosoftus.com.
SOURCE: ErgoSoft U.S. http://www.ergosoftus.com
MEDIASTREET.COM ANNOUNCES "T007: CHIPS NEVER DIE" UNIVERSAL
CHIP RESETTER
11/11/02 - MediaStreet.com, a technology-led provider of unique digital imaging solutions, announces the release of its Universal Chip Resetter - a highly effective unit that allows the chips on all popular cartridges used in EPSON printers to read full again.
"There are a few Resetter products already on the market, but until now there have been none which will program all of the popular cartridge types in a single unit" explained Norm Levy, President of MediaStreet. "Our unit is able to reset them all without complicated settings. It automatically determines which cartridge is plugged in and re-programs the chip in about five seconds with the press of a single button - simple!"
Once reset, the cartridge is re-filled with the preferred ink of choice, and it may then be re-used many times. This represents a significant savings over OEM cartridges and is also good for the environment, since fewer cartridges will be thrown into landfill.
The high-impact plastic housing is shaped to accept all popular sizes of cartridge, ensuring that the cartridge is securely held during the resetting operation. An LED indicates that the resetting operation was successful.
The Universal Chip Resetter is available on-line at http://MediaStreet.com, or through a MediaStreet Authorized Reseller. It is priced at just $25.99 and can be used for unlimited resets, simply change the 9-volt battery (battery not included). Dealers are welcomed.
SOURCE: MediaStreet.com http://www.mediastreet.com
EPSON 2200 PRINTERS TO REMAIN IN SHORT SUPPLY THRU NOVEMBER
11/5/02 - Supplies of the the popular Epson 2200 Stylus Photo printer continue
to be scarce. Epson has put this printer on severe allocation.
Virtually no distributors or dealers are receiving any supplies of
this printer until December, except for some of the super stores that
have contract agreements with Epson. Check with CompUSA, Costco.com
(not the physical stores), Fry's Electronics, and B&H Photo Video.
To check the current shipping status of the Epson 2200 printers, go
to: http://www.inkjetart.com/EpsonStylusPhoto2200/status.html
If you already have a 2200 printer, see our media recommendations
(These recommendations also apply to the 7600/9600 UltraChrome printers):
http://www.inkjetart.com/EpsonStylusPhoto2200/media.html
We also carry a good supply of UltraChrome ink for the 2200:
http://www.inkjetart.com/epson_ink/2200.html
SOURCE: inkjetART.com http://www.inkjetart.com
WEST COAST DOCK CLOSURES CAUSING SOME DELAYS FOR ROLL MEDIA
11/5/02 - Although the U.S. west coast dock closures only lasted about 10 days
(9/29 - 10/9/02), they have created a 10-12 week backlog ripple in the
distribution channels, causing some current delays for Epson Premium
Glossy Photo Paper in the 24" roll sizes and previous delays for the
Epson Premium Luster Photo Paper. You may also see some delays with
other papers imported from Asia.
SOURCE: inkjetART.com http://www.inkjetart.com
EPSON STYLUS PRO 7600/9600 WIDE FORMAT PRINTING SYSTEMS
EARN
SWOP® CERTIFICATION
10/07/02 - Epson America today announced its EPSON Stylus Pro 7600 and EPSON Stylus Pro 9600 have received SWOP (Specification for Web Offsight Publications) certification in combination
with EPSON UltraChrome(tm) Ink, EPSON Semimatte Proofing Paper and the
Colorproof XXL RIP from Best GMBH. The certification recognizes that these
printing systems meet SWOP's strict industry guidelines for commercial
proofing applications, producing images that are consistent and accurate
with those of final Web offset-printed images.
"The introduction of our Stylus Pro 7600, 9600 and 10600 printers, along
with our UltraChrome inks and new proofing media have become a winning
combination of products for today's proofing market," said Mark Radogna,
senior product manager, professional graphics, Epson. "This SWOP
certification will give our customers peace-of-mind knowing that our
products produce 'industry standard' proofs while reinforcing our position
as the printer of choice for professional pre-press proofing and other CTP
applications."
The new EPSON Stylus Pro 10600 is currently being evaluated for SWOP
certification and completion of the testing is expected to be announced in
October 2002.
In order to achieve SWOP certification, manufacturers of off-press proofing
systems must submit a SWOP Application Data Sheet (ADS) and representative
proofs to SWOP for testing. SWOP representatives check proofing systems
submitted for certification against the supplied application data sheet for
quantitative conformance and determine the acceptance of each system's
visual match to a SWOP Certified Press Proof. An ADS must provide
directions for producing proofs as closely as possible to the appearance of
the SWOP Certified Press Proof as defined in ANSI CGATS TR 001. Application
Data Sheets for each analog and digital off-press proofing system are
available through SWOP, Inc.
SOURCE: Epson American, Inc. http://www.epson.com
HAHNEMUHLE FINEART and HP FORM WORLDWIDE STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP
FOR MEDIA
8/19/02 - German paper company Hahnemuhle has teamed up with Hewlett-Packard on two co-branded papers: HP Photo Rag by Hahnemuhle and HP Watercolor by Hahnemuhle. Currently in rolls only. The Photo Rag comes in a 250 gsm weight. On a separate note, Hahnemuhle USA is introducing their new Photo Rag 460-gsm paper. It's a heavier-weight version of the popular inkjet printing paper and comes in sheets only. It's available starting December 1, 2002.
SOURCE: Hahnemuhle Germany and Hahnemuhle USA http://www.hahnemuhle.com
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