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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.)
EDITORIAL:
LIVICK QUITS!
12/28/05 - (12/28/05) Refering to:
www.livick.com/method/inkjet/pg1.htm
Well, this is unfortunate.
I've had my disagreements with Steven Livick's testing methodology over the years; e.g., he used outdoor sunlight testing, which might make sense for him doing murals, but to me is inappropriate for most fine art prints that should never see a ray of sunshine. But that's all good, debatable stuff, and I've included him and his testing in my later book and article writing. He had the guts to put himself and his quest for print permanence info out there for all to see.
If he's been pressured to stop telling his story, it's a loss for everyone.
For those interested, here is an archive link (thanks for Mike Chaney of Qimage) for the old Livick content:
http://web.archive.org/... .../http://www.livick.com/method/inkjet/pg1.htm
Harald Johnson
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PRESS RELEASE:
PHASE ONE STARTS SHIPPING THE ULTIMATE DIGITAL CAMERA BACK--THE P 45
The first and only 39 MP digital camera back--the best image quality in the industry.
12/18/05 - (12/13/05) Phase One today begins shipping the highest quality digital camera back ever--the P 45. The P 45--the world's only digital camera back with a 39 Mega Pixel sensor--captures images that are sharper and more detailed than ever before. It is the latest release of Phase One's revolutionary P-series digital camera backs. Offering unsurpassed image quality, the P 45 is the ultimate in medium and large format digital photography equipment.
With the release of the P 45, Phase One once again rises above its competition and stands alone in fulfilling the aspirations of professional photographers. Commercial photographers in the advertising and marketing fields achieve incredible speed and efficiency through the P 45's capture rate of 35 frames per minute and write speed of up to 20 MB per second. Whether shooting for giant billboards or high-end fashion magazines, the P 45's 117 MB per file size capabilities provides industry leading image quality.
Using Phase One's Capture One software with the P 45 enables professional commercial photographers to capture, adjust, prepare for print and archive perfect images in mere minutes. This increased workflow efficiency and impeccable image quality significantly decreases the amount of time spent in post-production, enabling studios to take on more clients and ultimately increasing studio profits.
The P 45 digital camera back also includes Phase One's revolutionary secure storage system (3S) technology. The 3S technology eliminates the risk of writing to damaged storage media by first checking the validity on every compact flash storage card inserted in the camera back.
Henrik Hakonsson, CEO of Phase One said, "Today is a landmark in digital photography. The availability of the P 45 throws off many technical limitations experienced by professional photographers. Photographers using the P 45 will achieve exceptional image quality never before possible in professional photography. They will also spend less time in post-production and can focus more on their craft and creativity."
About Phase One
Phase One is the world leader in digital imaging solutions for professional photographers. Its primary products are high-end digital camera backs and the Capture One workflow management software. Phase One is based in Copenhagen, Denmark. www.phaseone.com
The P 45 digital camera back is aimed at the world's most demanding commercial photographers. It has a 39 Mega Pixel sensor and creates 117 MB file sizes per shot resulting in sharper, more detailed images than ever before.
For full specifications of the P 45 digital camera back please visit: http://www.phaseone.com/upload/p_45_datasheet_(screen).pdf
SOURCE: Adobe Systems Incorporated www.phaseone.com
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PRESS RELEASE:
ADOBE COMPLETES ACQUISITION OF MACROMEDIA
Combined company to deliver software platform that redefines how people engage with digital information.
12/7/05 - (12/5/05) Adobe Systems Incorporated (Nasdaq:ADBE) today announced the completion of its acquisition of Macromedia, Inc. The transaction was finalized on Saturday, Dec. 3, 2005. As a result of the acquisition, Macromedia common stock is no longer being traded and shares of Macromedia common stock were converted into the right to receive 1.38 shares of Adobe common stock.
The combination of Adobe and Macromedia creates one of the world's largest, most innovative and diversified software companies. The acquisition brings together some of the industry's strongest software brands and most ubiquitous technologies for creating, managing and delivering compelling content and experiences across multiple operating systems, devices and media. The move also accelerates Adobe's strategic initiative to advance a powerful software platform, based on PDF and Macromedia® Flash® technologies, that scales from mobile devices to high-end servers.
"The explosion of digital content, combined with the accelerating proliferation of mobile phones, wireless devices and the growth of broadband are transforming the way the world engages with information," said Bruce Chizen, chief executive officer of Adobe. "Adobe and Macromedia are at the center of this trend, and together we will build on our combined heritage to redefine the way people and businesses communicate."
This week the company will begin executing the planned integration of the two companies' operations, networks and customer care organizations to ensure a smooth transition and immediate value for customers, partners and investors. As part of the initial integration of product portfolios, Adobe today announced three new product bundles that combine the design and publishing power of Adobe® Creative Suite 2 and Adobe video tools with the interactive strength of just-released Macromedia Flash Professional 8 and Macromedia Studio 8 software (see separate press release).
Management of the combined company includes executives and board members from both organizations. Bruce Chizen continues as chief executive officer and Shantanu Narayen remains as president and chief operating officer. Macromedia's Stephen Elop has joined Adobe as president of worldwide field operations. Murray Demo remains executive vice president and chief financial officer. Dr. John Warnock and Dr. Charles Geschke remain co-chairmen of the Board of Directors of the combined company and Macromedia's chairman, Rob Burgess, has joined the Adobe Board.
Conference Call for Financial Analysts, Press
Additional information regarding acquisition-related expenses and Adobe's fiscal year 2006 financial targets will be provided during the company's fourth quarter fiscal 2005 earnings conference call scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 15, 2005 at 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time.
About Adobe Systems Incorporated
Adobe revolutionizes how the world engages with ideas and information - anytime, anywhere and through any medium. For more information, visit www.adobe.com. Editor's Note: For additional information on transaction details, post-acquisition organizational structure, leadership and customer focus, please refer to the following link: www.adobe.com/macromedia .
SOURCE: Adobe Systems Incorporated www.adobe.com
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PRESS RELEASE:
THE AMERICAN PRINT ALLIANCE ANNOUNCES A TRAVELING EXHIBITION OF "WORK FROM THE DIGITAL ART STUDIO"
12/1/05 - (11/30/05) "Work from the Digital Art Studio" is an inspirational exhibit of original art created using innovative techniques developed by artists Karin Schminke, Dorothy Simpson Krause, and Bonny Lhotka over the last ten years. The work was curated to illustrate the groundbreaking blend of traditional and digital media documented in their best-selling book "Digital Art Studio: Techniques for Combining Inkjet Printing with Traditional Art Materials" published in 2004 by Watson-Guptill.
An inclusive and integrative approach towards media is taken in the exhibit. Paint, collage, fresco, transfers and inkjet prints are among the materials combined in a rich tapestry that fuses technique and imagery. The innovative approaches explored within will stimulate ideas in artists of all levels.
"Work from the Digital Art Studio" is being offered by the American Print Alliance for exhibit in 2006 and beyond. Alliance Director Carol Pulin talking about both the book and the exhibition, says, "Even for artists (and viewers) who are uninterested in computer and inkjet options, it is an amazing inspiration for thinking outside the box--for techniques and media, of course, but also in terms of transfers, surfaces and all sorts of conceptual and imaginative ideas." (Contemporary Impressions, Vol. 12, No. 2)
The exhibit premiered in March 2005 at the New Bedford Art Museum in New Bedford, Massachusetts. During the summer of 2005 it was shown at the Center for Contemporary Printmaking in Norwalk, Connecticut. The exhibit will be available beginning in January 2006. It includes 36 pieces plus educational panels and fills about 100 running feet.
If your gallery is interested in hosting the traveling exhibition go to http://www.DigitalAtelier.com to download a PDF file of the Exhibit Prospectus.
For additional information contact Karin Schminke at Karin@Schminke.com.
For scheduling contact Carol Pulin, Director, American Print Alliance at director@printalliance.org or visit the Alliance website at http://www.PrintAlliance.org.
SOURCE: Digital Atelier www.DigitalAtelier.com
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PRESS RELEASE:
EXTENSIS PORTFOLIO 8 CENTRALIZES KEY DIGITAL ASSETS FOR EASIER SHARING ACROSS WORKGROUPS
Now available, Portfolio Digital Asset Management solution helps companies manage their brand more effectively.
12/1/05 - (11/29/05) Extensis, a division of Celartem, Inc., today announced the availability of Portfolio 8, a major advance in its digital asset management (DAM) solution. The new version of Portfolio provides industrial-strength workflow features to organize and share digital files with visual catalogs and embedded metadata, making it easy to quickly find, route and distribute valuable branding collateral like images, brochures, layouts and logos within asset creation workgroups and externally with global partners. The Portfolio 8 product family includes a standalone version, Client/Server solution, as well as NetPublish and SQL Connect Modules.
"Your number one business asset is your brand -- it pays to invest in a comprehensive solution to keep track of critical creative assets and help teams company wide work with those assets effectively and efficiently," said Dan Harlacher, Portfolio product manager for Extensis. "Portfolio 8 was created for companies that want to organize, find, and distribute key brand assets. Portfolio 8 is our best effort to help companies to thoughtfully manage their brand to remain a market leader or, for that matter, to become one. Portfolio allows them to create and distribute approved branding assets both internally and externally with partners, and maintain up to the second control over these critical business components."
Portfolio 8 provides built-in workflow tracking out-of-the-box. And with its new ability to add cataloging presets to AutoSync folders, users can add files to Portfolio with predefined metadata and move them through a workflow simply by dropping them into folders on the file-server. The new Portfolio can also keep track of a job's status and help communicate with and route files to other team members.
Portfolio 8 makes it easy for new users to get started and find guidance when needed. For instance, a new series of sample catalogs are provided for specific tasks like professional photography, stock-image management, and document routing and approval. The new fast-cataloging feature lets users quickly add files to the Portfolio catalog and start working with them right away while other cataloging tasks continue in the background. Additionally, Portfolio can now use automatically created Screen Previews to create CDs, DVDs, websites, and emails, making the process of sharing even offline files significantly faster.
Other improvements in Portfolio 8 include private galleries, accessible only by the original creator, and scratchpad galleries to easily collect items from several different locations and organize them for printing or other activities. Portfolio 8 users who utilize the NetPublish plug-in can create dynamic searchable websites powered by their Portfolio catalogs and even control which assets are viewable by simply changing metadata. Significant improvements in speed, workflow and metadata handling, make it easy for companies to implement a full-featured DAM solution without extensive disruption and retraining.
Pricing and Availability
Portfolio 8 for both individual users and workgroups is currently available for download and purchase from the Extensis website. Portfolio 8 Client/Server Solutions start at an estimated street price of $6,000US and can be extended to include SQL database options with SQL Connect Modules ranging in price from an estimated street price of $6,000US to $10,600US. Client connections for Portfolio Server are available in volume licenses at an estimated street price of less than $300US per seat. Portfolio catalogs can be shared via the web with the addition of Portfolio NetPublish for Server for an estimated street price of $6,000US. All Portfolio Client/Server products come with a 12-month Annual Service Agreement providing free updates and priority support 24/7.
Portfolio 8 is also available in a single-user version at an estimated street price of $199.95US. Portfolio catalogs can be published to the web by adding a Portfolio NetPublish license for an estimated street price of $249.95US (includes five concurrent web connections). Upgrades to Portfolio 8 are available for $99.95US from Portfolio 6 and 7.
French and German language versions of Portfolio are also available now for download from the Extensis website. Japanese language versions of Portfolio are available from .
For information on where to purchase the Portfolio family of products visit http://www.extensis.com/portfolio.
System Requirements
Portfolio 8 supports Windows 2000, XP or higher, Pentium class processor at 1GHz or faster 256MB RAM (512 Recommended) XGA or higher display at millions of colors. 200MB Hard Drive space, CD-ROM for installation, Network interface for server connection, Apple QuickTime 6.5 or higher, web browser with Macromedia Flash 7 or higher plug-in installed. Portfolio 8 also supports Mac OS X 10.3 or higher, G3 processor at 1GHz or faster (G4 or G5 recommended), 256MB RAM (512 Recommended) XGA or higher display at millions of colors, 200MB Hard Drive space, CD-ROM for installation, Network interface for server connection, Apple QuickTime 6.5 or higher, web browser with Macromedia Flash 7 or higher plug-in installed.
About Extensis
Extensis is a software solutions company that allows creative workgroups and professionals to streamline their workflow and secure their brand by efficiently and effectively managing their creative assets and fonts. Extensis' award-winning client/server and desktop products are used by hundreds of Fortune 5000 companies and include Suitcase and Font Reserve for font management and Portfolio for creative assets management. Extensis was founded in 1993 and is based in Portland, Oregon, and the United Kingdom. Extensis is a division of Celartem, Inc., which is wholly owned by Celartem Technology Inc., (Hercules: 4330). For additional information, visit http://www.extensis.com or call 1-800-796-9798.
About Celartem
Celartem Technology, Inc. develops and sells innovative technologies for storage, access and distribution of rich media content. Celartem has developed technology in the areas of digital image compression, scalable image viewing and secure content distribution and management. Celartem is listed on the Osaka Securities Exchange, Hercules:4330. Established in 1996, Celartem is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan and has a wholly owned subsidiary, Celartem Inc. with headquarters in Seattle.
SOURCE: Extensis www.extensis.com
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PRESS RELEASE:
LACIE INTRODUCES THE BRICK, AN EXCLUSIVE DESIGN BY ORA-ÏTO
Stackable hard drives in red, white and blue.
12/1/05 - (11/22/05) LaCie introduces a playful new set of stackable hard drives in vibrant white, red and blue colors: the LaCie Brick Desktop Edition (3.5" from 160-500GB) and Mobile Edition (2.5" from 40-120GB). For this unique range, LaCie teamed up with renowned designer Ora-Ïto to create colorful building block-shaped hard drives--making everyday storage and backup not only functional, but fun.
LaCie Bricks are hard drives even children can appreciate. Designer Ora-Ïto took one of his favorite childhood objects and created a hybrid hard drive that doubles as desk art. He chose primary white, red and blue colors to add vibrancy to everyday desktops. LaCie Bricks offer nearly effortless setup, and are ready to use seconds after removing from the box. They're built to fit large amounts of music, photo, video and office files.
Ora-Ïto says, "Why should data storage be boring? Add color to your desktop with LaCie Bricks!"
LaCie Bricks can be used on a PC or Mac and come with free backup software. LaCie Brick Desktop Editions are equipped with a Hi-Speed USB 2.0 interface and come all necessary power adapters. LaCie Brick Mobile Editions are bus-powered and are available with either a Hi-Speed USB 2.0-only interface, or dual FireWire 400 and USB 2.0 interfaces. LaCie Brick Desktop Edition 300GB and 500GB include an automatic thermo-regulated smart fan that changes airflow based on need. Lower capacity models are fanless for near-silent operation.
"LaCie has always pushed the boundaries of timeless hard drive design and performance. This new unique Brick range shows our playful side," says Olivier Mirloup, LaCie Senior Product Manager. "Now storage is as fun as a child's game with bright, primary hues that add color to your digital life."
Features
* Spacious storage capacities of 160-500GB (Desktop) or 40-120GB (Mobile)
* Ultra quiet operation for use in the office or living room
* No setup needed, just plug-and-play
* Compatible with Windows and Mac
* Backup software included for PC and Mac
Availability
LaCie Brick hard drives are available for pre-order today at the LaCie Store online (http://www.lacie.com/shop) and will be widely available through LaCie's specialized dealer network end of December 2005 at the suggested retail prices below. LaCie Bricks ship with LaCie One Click Backup Software for PC/Mac, and LaCie Silverlining and SilverKeeper drive management and advanced backup utilities for Macs. Detailed product information can be found at www.lacie.com.
Desktop Editions
LaCie Brick Desktop Edition (USB) 160GB White $119.99
LaCie Brick Desktop Edition (USB) 250GB Red $149.99
LaCie Brick Desktop Edition (USB) 300GB Blue $199.99
LaCie Brick Desktop Edition (USB) 500GB Red $399.99
Mobile Editions
LaCie Brick Mobile Edition (USB) 40GB White $99.99
LaCie Brick Mobile Edition (USB) 80GB Blue $149.99
LaCie Brick Mobile Edition (USB) 120GB Red $299.99
LaCie Brick Mobile Edition (USB/FW) 40GB Blue $119.99
LaCie Brick Mobile Edition (USB/FW) 80GB Red $169.99
LaCie Brick Mobile Edition (USB/FW) 120GB Blue $329.99
About Ora-Ïto
Though his name implies a Japanese background, designer Ora-Ïto is French. A do-it-all designer, he was barely 20 years old when he created the very first virtual brand in 1998. Propelled to the front of the international scene, he then started prestigious collaborations with LOréal, Vogue Magazine, Heineken, Adidas, Kenzo, electronic musicians AIR, Honda, Guerlain, Swatch and Nike. www.ora-ito.com
SOURCE: LaCie www.lacie.com
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PRESS RELEASE:
INKAID™ IRIDESCENTS GIVE ARTISTS LUMINOUS OPTIONS
Inkjet Precoats Now Available in Pearl, Silver, Gold, Red and Blue.
11/27/05 - (11/25/05) Artists, photographers, and designers printing on non-porous surfaces like metal and porous surfaces like paper can now add an iridescent glow to their prints with five new precoats that are premixed with glowing tints. The new inkAID Iridescents are offered in pearl, silver, gold, red and blue. This one-step precoat contains both an adhesive and precoat for inkjet printing and will adhere to virtually every surface.
"Iridescents were formulated to allow the user to add a lustrous undertone to photographs and original art", comments Jim Kedenburg, Product Manager of inkAID. He adds, "Now artists can create a sheen under an entire image or just under selected areas. They can also use the new Iridescents with other inkAID products and be confident of a uniform printed image."
Surfaces coated with these new precoats have a glossy finish that enhances the luminous effect. Metals take on a colored sheen, while prints on paper coated with inkAID Iridescents have a metallic tone.
inkAID Iridescents are available in pints. For more information, visit the inkAID website at http://www.inkAID.com. For orders call (888) 424-8167 or outside the US call (315) 786-4094.
SOURCE: inkAID www.inkAID.com
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PRESS RELEASE:
LYSON INTRODUCES BULK INK AND BULK INK FEEDER SYSTEM FOR HP'S POPULAR DESIGNJET 5000 AND 5500 SERIES PRINTERS
Lyson REPLEO™ inks color matched to OEM originals; cuts costs significantly; no need for new color profiles.
11/24/05 - (11/21/05) Lyson, Inc., a leading provider of inks, media, and related products to the printing, photography, graphic arts, and other allied industries, is introducing a bulk ink feed system and bulk ink for Hewlett-Packard's popular Designjet 5000 and 5500 large format printers.
The Lyson bulk feed system for HP's Designjet 5000 and 5500 features specially modified REPLEO bulk ink cartridges with an everlasting chip. Lyson's REPLEO ink sets are color matched to original OEM inks, in this case HP's dye and pigment-based (UV) offerings, so there is no need to create new color profiles.
"The system is non-invasive, requiring no need to modify the printer or install non-OEM electronics," notes Tony Martin, President of Lyson, Inc. "For the thousands of users of this excellent printer, there is now a means to cut ink costs substantially without any sacrifice of quality."
For users of the HP Designjet 5000 and 5500 printers, adding the Lyson bulk ink system can save up to 50% on ink costs! For more information on this new bulk feed system or Lyson's other bulk feed systems for popular inkjet printers, contact sales@lysonusa.com.
SOURCE: Lyson, Inc. www.lyson.com
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PRESS RELEASE:
LYSON INTRODUCES BULK FEED SYSTEM FOR EPSON STYLUS PHOTO R1800
New system saves users upwards of 70% on ink costs;
features new version of renowned Lyson Cave Paint™ pigment ink set.
11/15/05 - (11/15/05) Lyson, Inc., a leading provider of inks, media, and related products to the printing, photography, graphic arts, and other allied industries, is introducing a bulk ink feed system and bulk ink for Epson's popular Stylus Photo R1800 inkjet printer.
Unlike most bulk feed systems, which use modified generic bottles and foam-filled standard ink cartridges, the Lyson bulk feed system for the Epson R1800 uses components specifically designed for use in continuous ink supply systems. The space-saving modular ink reservoirs can be topped up while printing, and sealed when not in use to prolong ink life. The proprietary bulk ink feed cartridges feature built-in pressure dampers to automatically regulate ink flow, filters to protect the print head, and uses no foam rubber (which can deteriorate and lead to clogging during use). Even the ink tubing used is laboratory standard to reduce thickening of ink over time.
"This system features a new version of our Cave Paint pigmented inks, which provide a wider color gamut than Epson's Ultrachrome Hi-Gloss, while delivering deep rich blacks with no gloss differential," says Tony Martin, president of Lyson, Inc. "The installation and use of this system couldn't be easier--it takes about 30 minutes to install, and doesn't require any permanent modification to the printer."
The Lyson bulk feed system for the Epson Stylus Photo R1800 retails at $399, and comes complete with a set of eight 4 oz. Ink bottles and a CD containing instructions, a user guide, and free ICC color profiles for Lyson inks on a variety of media.
For more information on the Lyson bulk feed system for the Epson Stylus R1800, please contact sales@lysonusa.com or call (847) 690-1060.
About Lyson
Headquartered in Elk Grove, IL, Lyson, Inc. is the North American operation of Lyson, Ltd., a privately-owned company based in Stockport, U.K. Lyson specializes in the development and production of fluids and related products for the inkjet industry. Lyson's inks and media support all major inkjet print technologies. All registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
SOURCE: Lyson, Inc. www.lyson.com
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PRESS RELEASE:
HAHNEMüHLE ANNOUNCES TWO NEW PHOTO RAG PAPERS
11/2/05 - (10/20/05) Hahnemühle USA, North American distributors of world-renowned
media from Hahnemühle Fine Art GmbH, recently announced the
addition of two new inkjet papers. Designed for creative digital artists,
these new products are intended to meet the growing requirements of the
high-end digital artist who prints limited editions, giclees, original digital
art and the like.
Photo Rag Satin 310 gsm is the most innovative and technically
advanced digital fine art paper to date. While maintaining the same
surface characteristics as all the Photo Rag papers, Satin will take on a
"satin" or "luster" look where there is a printed image yet remain matte
on the perimeters. Photo Rag Satin is ideal for photographic and fine art
reproduction where a slight surface variation is desired.
This paper works well with both dye and pigment inks.
Hahnemühle's new Photo Rag Bright White 310 gsm paper offers the
same smooth surface as the very popular Photo Rag papers already
offered by the company. This 100% rag, acid free paper provides a
brighter white base and is designed to give extra brilliance to both color
and monochrome images. The coated side of this paper provides
excellent image sharpness and optimum color gradation. The coating also
offers a very high level of water resistance. Photo Rag Bright White is
ideal for photographic and fine art reproduction, business cards, greeting
cards, certificates and bookmaking as well. It is compatible with both dye
and pigment inks.
Both papers are available in a wide selection of sheet sizes and rolls.
"We are pleased to present these new products to the digital printing
arena," said Martin Kerver, President of Hahnemühle USA. "We
understand the complex and ever expanding needs of our customers and
are committed to meeting the quality standards that have made us the
preferred choice for fine art digital printing. Hahnemühle has a rich
history with traditional artists and a close involvement with inkjet
manufacturers that has allowed us to develop a series of watercolor
papers specifically engineered and coated for modern ink jet printing."
Hahnemühle Digital Fine Art papers have been extensively tested with
various manufacturer's ink sets for UV stability by the Wilhelm Research
center in the USA and conforms to the Blue Wool scale of '6 or above' in
the UK using their testing procedure requirements.
SOURCE: Hahnemühle USA www.hahnemuehle.com
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PRESS RELEASE:
ANNOUNCING AN END TO THE PAPER CHASE
11/2/05 - (10/20/05) Crane & Co. introduces new, world class, fine art digital papers at Photo Plus Expo. Crane's Museo line of digital printmaking papers has been expanded with exciting new grades that target photographers and fine art printmakers.
Museo II is the new two-side printable fine art paper designed with applications like digital albums, short run books, artist portfolios, and digital scrapbooks in mind.
Museo MAX is our new, best in class, wide format, fine art paper which will allow you to achieve truly spectacular results. Our beta testers have been delighted with the results when using this paper. Big color, outstanding tonal range, and sharp crisp images are just a few of the comments heard back from our users.
Also provided at the show was a sneak preview of the revolutionary archival glossy fine art inkjet paper, Museo Silver Rag, which will be available in the coming months. Designed to match the look and feel of traditional fiber based photo papers, Museo Silver Rag was the hit of the show. Watch this website for further availability information.
Museo is the trademark for Crane's line of digital printmaking papers. All Museo papers are 100% cotton, acid free, archival fine art papers designed for digital printing using inkjet technology. All Museo papers are made here in the USA.
Whether you call it photo rag, watercolor, giclee, or smooth fine art paper, Crane has a Museo paper just right for you.
SOURCE: Crane & Company www.crane.com/museo
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PRESS RELEASE:
CANON ANNOUNCES NEW 'PRINT MASTERS' PROGRAM
From Capture to Output--Canon Extends Legacy of Photographic Innovation and Education to Create a Pilot Expert Image and Printing Panel
10/27/05 - (10/19/05) Once again paving the way to inspire and mentor future generations of creative photographers and graphic artists, Canon U.S.A. today introduced the beginnings of a new education and expert forum--the Canon "Print Masters" program. Introduced as a pilot program to leverage Canon's print technologies, Canon Print Masters will work to educate and broaden the awareness of digital print technology. Through the collective experience of the world's most distinguished imaging, photography and graphic arts professionals, this new program provides Canon Print Masters with imaging equipment, accessories and consumables from Canon's award-wining imagePROGRAF line of large format printers.
Canon also announced the first photographic artists to participate in the pilot program--premier photographer and photo impressionists Bruce Hamilton Dorn and Maura Dutra, the husband-and-wife team of iDC Photography, as well as portraitist and renowned Canon Explorer of Light, Eddie Tapp.
The Canon Print Masters program was conceived--as a forum to develop and promote artistic expression through print expertise--to complement Canon's highly successful Explorers of Light program, which since 1995 has educated and broadened the awareness of Canon's digital photographic technology. As a natural partner to the Canon Explorers of Light program, Canon's new Print Masters program aspires to help promote complete end-to-end, capture-to-output seminars, workshops, gallery showings, and photo presentations that represent specialties and styles spanning a broad range of photographic, artistic and graphic arts disciplines such as photojournalism, wedding photography, portraiture and illustration.
"The Canon Print Masters concept is, in essence, a natural extension of the Company's long-established Explorers of Light program; a means of sharing hard-earned image creation, knowledge and expertise and of actually shedding light on the intricacies of translating vision onto paper," stated Tracie Sokol, director and general manager, Graphic Arts Systems for Canon U.S.A., Inc. "The Canon print masters program is intended to become a groundbreaking forum for experts in the field of capturing, perfecting and presenting images--whether as a photograph, illustration or combination of the two--to teach and inspire other professionals and amateurs alike."
Canon's pioneering new program has been made possible by the rapid expansion and recent technological breakthroughs of its imagePROGRAF large format printer portfolio, the most significant being the launch of the imagePROGRAF W8400 (44") and imagePROGRAF W6400 (24") pigment printers in May 2005.
The combination of Canon's print speeds, precision droplet size and easy-to-use design, plus enhanced archival inks and industry-unique out-of-the-box software, has greatly expanded the outstanding engine functionality and color control to better position these--and future large format printers--within the high-performance, professional photographic market.
Most notable is Canon's high-performance, one-inch wide print head, which features 7,680 nozzles to achieve up to 2400 x 1200 dpi with precise four picoliter ink droplets for crisp image clarity and detail at superior speeds. In addition, Canon's recently enhanced ink formulation, including a new matte black and high-intensity yellow ink, make possible a wider color range and increased intensity for the production of brighter photos and vivid, eye-catching images.
"One of Canon's strongest advantages in the photography, illustrative and graphic arts space is that we are always pursuing and developing technologies designed to improve image quality and unify color reproduction across all of our product lines," continued Ms. Sokol. "By developing products using Canon-specific color measurement and assessment standards, we are able to ensure image consistency across our entire line of digital imaging technology to create the best quality output."
"By approaching the issue of color output from the standpoint of both image capture and processing, today's large format printer output offers improved color depth and translucence, to create color reproduction comparable to that of photo film."
According to Bruce Hamilton Dorn, iDC Photography, "This may be the most compelling and convenient capture-to-output professional education and inspiration program ever developed for the photographic and arts industry. Whether an artist's goal is to create the best exhibit-quality color prints possible or world-class photography and illustrative art prints, their only limitations will be talent and imagination.
"Ultimately, Canon's Print Masters program is an opportunity to truly benefit from the technological synergy across a single company's entire range of imaging products," continued Dorn. "With this program, Canon graciously provides us with a platform and an opportunity to share our vision, our passion and our perspective, all the way from capture--to print."
Canon's Explorer's of Light lecture series was established in 1995 and has featured the world's best-known and respected photographers, including Harry Benson, Monty Zucker, Arnold Newman, Robert Farber and Eric Meola. As part of its continued support of photographers and the photographic industry, all costs associated with the lecture series are underwritten by Canon. The opportunity to host "Explorers of Light" lectures are offered to industry organizations such as ASMP, Advertising Photographers of America (APA), Professional Photographers of America (PPA), Advertising Photographers of New York (APNY), and colleges and universities nationwide.
About Canon U.S.A., Inc.
Canon U.S.A., Inc. delivers consumer, business-to-business, and industrial imaging solutions. The Company is listed as one of Fortune's Most Admired Companies in America and is rated #35 on the BusinessWeek list of "Top 100 Brands." Its parent company Canon Inc. (NYSE:CAJ) is a top patent holder of technology, ranking third overall in the U.S. in 2004, with global revenues of $33.3 billion. For more information, visit www.usa.canon.com.
SOURCE: Canon U.S.A., Inc. www.usa.canon.com
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PRESS RELEASE:
EPSON STYLUS® PHOTO R220 AND R340 COMBINE INCREDIBLE QUALITY FOR BEAUTIFUL PHOTOS ALONG WITH THE CONVENIENCE OF PRINTING ONTO THE SURFACE OF CDS AND DVDS
Two New Printers Join Epson's Six-Color Ink Jet Printer Line and Offer Enhanced Printing Features
10/16/05 - (10/11/05) Epson America Inc. is debuting two new six-color photo printers today--the Epson Stylus Photo R220 and R340--each with a rich set of photo-centric and user-friendly features. The Epson Stylus Photo R220 is the most affordable six-color photo printer in Epson's line with a price tag under $100, but is rich in features and quality. The Epson Stylus Photo R340 is a full-featured, PC-free printer that provides a convenient 2.4" premium photo viewing monitor and memory card slots.
These new printers share some improvements over the previous products, such as better color saturation for brighter reds and yellows and automatic image enhancement for adjusting a photo that is too dark when a subject is backlit. In addition, both printers offer the capability of printing directly onto the surface of ink jet printable CDs and DVDs and can now print from the center to the edge of the CD or DVD with no visible blank space for a cleaner, more professional look. Epson was the first and still is the only consumer ink jet printer manufacturer in the U.S. to include CD/DVD printing on its printers.
"Epson understands that photographs are a crucial part of our customers' lives and we continually strive to develop high-quality products that make sharing and preserving these memories simple," said Lowell Wolf, product manager, Epson. "Whether our customers want to print customized CDs and DVDs or print beautiful photos to document important memories, the Epson Stylus Photo R220 and R340 are ideal solutions."
More about the Epson Stylus Photo R220
The Epson Stylus Photo R220 is a six-color printer that offers 5760 x 1440 optimized dpi using ultra fine ink droplets (as small as three picoliters) and Micro Piezo® ink jet technology for precision color and detail. It is the most affordable ink jet solution available today for printing onto ink jet printable CDs and DVDs. Customers can easily create customized CDs and DVDs with personalized text, graphics and photos; and with the printer's convenient front-loading tray, it's easy and fast.
This printer also offers BorderFree® printing in popular, frame-ready sizes such as 4" x 6", 5" x 7", 8" x 10", and 8.5" x 11", and can print a 4" x 6" lab quality borderless photo in as fast as 57 seconds.*
For added convenience, the Epson Stylus Photo R220 uses individual ink cartridges and is compatible with both Windows and Macintosh systems. Additionally, the printer connects to a computer quickly and easily with its front and back positioned USB ports. The Epson Stylus Photo R220 is currently available for an estimated street price of $99.
More about the Epson Stylus Photo R340
The EPSON Stylus Photo R340 is a full-featured, versatile, PC-free printer that offers the same outstanding photo quality and convenient CD/DVD printing as the Epson Stylus Photo R220. What sets this printer apart is its high-quality 2.4" LCD preview monitor, which enables customers to select, crop and print favorite photos in full color without ever having to turn on a computer.
This printer also has an even more intuitive, user-friendly control panel with simple on-screen menus, which provide customers with the flexibility to make selections such as paper type, paper size and number of copies, without having to use a computer. One of the most convenient features of the new control panel is Epson's exclusive "print by date" option. This provides customers with a simple way to find the photos they want to print by selecting the date they were taken. The panel also gives customers the ability to view photos with or without on-screen text, view and select photos using thumbnails and easily select a range of photos for printing.
The Epson Stylus Photo R340 can speed through photos with its fast photo print speeds, printing a 4" x 6" lab-quality borderless photo in as fast as 57 seconds. The printer also handles text with ease and can produce a black text document at up to 15 ppm.* With Epson's patented BorderFree photo printing technology, this printer can deliver beautiful, frame-ready, borderless images with no borders to trim or perforations to tear in all of the popular sizes, including 4" x 6", 5" x 7", 8" x 10", and 8.5" x 11".
Other flexible features of the Epson Stylus Photo R340 are the ability to save images easily to an external CD-R, Zip® or Flash memory drive and the option of direct printing from Bluetooth-enabled phones. The Bluetooth adapter is currently available for an estimated street price of $69.
This printer is both Macintosh and Windows compatible and offers Hi-Speed USB 2.0 connectivity. It is available now for an estimated street price of $199.
Image Quality Enhancements
Both the Epson Stylus Photo R220 and R340 utilize Epson's latest color and image enhancements, which result in improved quality of prints. One of these enhancements is better color saturation, resulting in prints that look richer and brighter and is most noticeable in photos with a large amount of yellow and red in them.
Another noticeable improvement on the printers is the ability to automatically detect when a photo is too dark such as a photo that contains a subject with a bright background behind it. Normally, in this case, the subject would be dark with the background showing up bright. With the Epson Stylus Photo R220 and R340, the subject will be adjusted and brightened. This automatic image enhancement feature will correct a photo that most customers would otherwise delete or choose not to print.
Ink and Media for the Epson Stylus Photo R220 and R340
The Epson Stylus Photo R220 and R340 utilize individual ink cartridges, a practical solution which offers customers more control to replace only the color of ink that runs out. With the combination of Epson's exclusive ink technology and high-quality, value-priced papers, customers can reap the benefits of an affordable home printing solution. Furthermore, Epson's fast and convenient quick-drying inks produce prints that are immediately dry to the touch and water-resistant on Epson Premium Photo Papers.
Availability, Warranty and Support
The Epson Stylus Photo R220 and R340 will be available in major computer, office and electronic superstores, a variety of retail stores nationwide and can also be purchased through mail order, the Internet and on the Epson retail Web site (www.epsonstore.com). The models are backed by a one-year Epson Limited Warranty and are 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 or visit www.epson.com.
Epson's Environmental Commitment
The Epson Stylus Photo R220 and R340 have earned the ENERGY STAR by meeting strict energy efficiency guidelines set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy. Epson offers a range of ENERGY STAR products. Epson encourages consumers to save energy by selecting ENERGY STAR products.
About Epson
Epson offers an extensive array of award-winning image capture and image output products for the consumer, business, photography, and graphic arts markets. The company is also a leading supplier of value-added point-of-sale (POS) printers and transaction terminals for the retail market. Founded in 1975, Epson America, Inc. is the U.S. affiliate of Japan-based Seiko Epson Corporation, a global manufacturer and supplier of high-quality technology products that meet customer demands for increased functionality, compactness, systems integration, and energy efficiency. Epson America, Inc. is headquartered in Long Beach, Calif.
SOURCE: Epson America, Inc. www.epson.com
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