News

PhotoKit Color 2.0 replaces PhotoKit Color 1.0, an Adobe Photoshop Automate Plug-in
that applies precise color corrections, automatic color balancing and creative
coloring effects. With a retail price of $99.95, PhotoKit Color 2.0 offers a comprehensive
set of coloring tools for Photoshop CS and Photoshop CS2 for both Macintosh and
Windows. PhotoKit Color 1.0 users can upgrade for $29.98. The upgrade will be
free to users who purchased PhotoKit Color 1.x after the public announcement date
of October 20th, 2005.



PhotoKit Color 2.0 features a preview display, so you can quickly preview the
effects before you apply them and combine effects in a single batch operation.
Included in the new effects are the Dodge and the Burn filter sets, which were
in the original PhotoKit plug-in. The Special Effects series contains many new
filters including color infrared, sunshine filters, color transfer effects and
more. The Film Effects series offers accurate simulation filters of several generic
chrome film emulsions, simulating both color and contrast. Like its predecessor,
PhotoKit Color 2.0 provides a comprehensive suite of effects that let you recreate
creative effects like black and white split toning and cross processing. All these
effects are applied as separate layers so you can make further variations, adapting
each effect to suit your own taste. With PhotoKit Color 2.0, you can enhance specific
colors in your photographs. You can make skin tones less red or lighter. With
the Blue Enhance effect you can darken a blue sky and enhance the cloud contrast.
And with the RSA Gray Balance set, you can automatically remove color casts from
almost any type of image.
...

Sony has established a new brand name for its digital single lens reflex (D-SLR)
cameras that will be launched worldwide this summer. Meaning "beginning"
and "essential," the symbol ? (pronounced alpha) will be used. Under
this sub-brand, Sony will produce a complete camera system of accessories and
lenses.



The Sony Alpha system of cameras, lenses and accessories are said to integrate
advanced electromechanical technologies that are key to D-SLR performance, the
versatility of the well-established Maxxum lens mount system, and Sony's
renown in imaging devices and technologies. These include CCD and CMOS imaging
sensors, as well as other image processing technologies, in addition to overall
product miniaturization. People who have already made investments in many of
Konica-Minolta's lenses and accessories will be able to take full advantage
of Sony's new D-SLR cameras.



Sony is already handling support and repair service for existing Konica-Minolta
digital and film cameras, as well as related lenses and accessories in the U.S.
A dedicated call center and strong levels of web support have been established
for these customers.

There is more information available about the new sub-brand at www.sony.com/dslr.
Sony camera and related product support for Konica Minolta customers is also
being offered at www.support.sony.com/EN/KM/service.html.

...

Software Cinema has announced The Best of Dean Collins Finelight Video DVD set,
featuring the late Dean Collins, one of the most celebrated educators of lighting
and camera techniques in the industry. To honor Dean Collins, a portion of all
proceeds will be donated to CureSearch, the world's largest pediatric cancer
research organization working towards the cure and prevention of childhood and
adolescent cancer through scientific discovery.



Transferred from video to the high-quality DVD format, this six-hour tutorial
created for photo enthusiasts and professional photographers covers fundamental
and advanced lighting techniques that can be applied to standard or digital photography.
Lessons range from lighting techniques in portrait, product and fashion photography
on both small and large sets. Dean Collins teaches in-studio and on-location about
set up and reasons for lighting when creating the image. Included in the re-release
are commentary and overview by Skip Cohen, Rangefinder Magazine's publisher
and author; Tony Corbell, noted photographer and author; and Julieanne Kost, Adobe's
official Photoshop Evangelist.



Since the loss of Dean Collins to cancer, Software Cinema has become proactive
in the support of cancer research. In Dean's honor, the company now partners
with CureSearch, the largest pediatric cancer research organization. CureSearch
unites the Children's Oncology Group (COG) and the National Childhood Cancer
Foundation (NCCF) through a shared mission to cure and prevent childhood and adolescent
cancer through scientific discovery and compassionate care. For every Dean Collins
DVD purchased, Software Cinema will donate $5 to CureSearch.



Pricing and Availability

Software Cinema's The Best of Dean Collins will be available in June 2006
and can be purchased by going to www.software-cinema.com.
Regular price is $179.00, but reserve a copy before June 2006 to save over $50.00.

Extensis, a division of Celartem Inc., has released two free updates to Portfolio
8 -- the Digital Asset Management (DAM) solution for creative professionals.
These updates include two file format support filters, which add support for Microsoft
Office allowing users to catalog, find and view files from Microsoft Word and
Excel on the Windows platform. Additionally, Extensis has added support for 22
new camera RAW formats on both Mac and Windows versions of Portfolio. Registered
owners of Portfolio 8 are eligible to receive the free upgrades immediately through
the Extensis website at http://www.extensis.com/portfolio.




The Portfolio RAW Filter 3 update adds support for many current cameras, bringing
the total number of supported professional digital cameras to more than 80. For
a complete list of supported file types please visit: http://www.extensis.com/portfoliofilesupport.




The Portfolio RAW Filter is powered by technology from Bibble Labs, one of the
leading developers of RAW image processing software.



The RAW Filter and MS Office updates for Portfolio are immediately available via
download from the Extensis website and are free of charge for registered Portfolio
8 users. Portfolio 8 is available for a suggested retail price of $199.95US for
full product.

French- and German-language versions of the Portfolio update are also available
now for download from the Extensis website. The Japanese-language version of the
Portfolio update is available from http://www.extensis.co.jp.




For information on where to purchase the Portfolio family of products visit http://www.extensis.com/portfolio.

New gold CD-Rs and DVDs that are said to extend the storage life of data, music
and images for many decades are being introduced by KMP Media, LLC of Rochester,
NY. Operating under trademark license from Eastman Kodak Company, KMP Media
is marketing them as the KODAK Preservation CD-R and the KODAK Preservation
DVD (-R).

...

Phase One has updated Capture One RAW Workflow to support more cameras, more
RAW file formats and Intel-based Macs. Capture One 3.7.4 is a Universal Mac
application designed to run natively on both Intel and PowerPC-based Mac computers.
Initial tests by the company show that the capture rate has increased by up
to 40 per cent when version 3.7.4 is run on an Intel-based Mac. Processing RAW
files with Capture One 3.7.4 is now 15 per cent faster on both Intel-based and
PowerPC based Macs. Windows users will also enjoy enhanced capture rate and
RAW processing speed with Capture One 3.7.4. Initial tests show performance
gains of up to 200 per cent in capture rate made possible by an improved high-speed
capture option in the Capture One software. Tests also show a 10 per cent increase
in the processing speed of RAW files.

...

X-Rite Inc. has introduced the the OPTIX XR2 display calibration and profiling
solution. Combining a state-of-the-art colorimeter with enriched software, the
OPTIX XR2 is said to deliver an unparalleled color management solution for displays;
including LCD, CRT and newly developed wide gamut technologies. Easy to use, the
OPTIX XR2 is X-Rite's most recent upgrade of MonacoOPTIX XR, which joined
X-Rite's product line after X-Rite acquired Monaco in 2003. This latest
iteration completes the integration of the product into the X-Rite family of color
measurement solutions.



The first and most fundamental step to ensure consistent and accurate color is
a properly calibrated monitor. The OPTIX XR2 allows users to adjust color at the
touch of a button. Plus, a new help system puts easy to find answers at the user's
fingertips.


OPTIX XR2 also has the ability to automatically recognize and take control of
your color display, with Automatic Display Control (ADC). Using one touch, ADC
will optimize your display's color temperature, contrast and brightness
settings to ensure you build the highest quality ICC profile and obtain the best
color results from your monitor.



In addition, an ambient diffuser attaches to the bottom of the OPTIX XR2 hardware,
allowing for more exact characterization of the user's environment, thus
improving the accuracy of profiles.



Designed to advance with users as they upgrade their display types, the OPTIX
XR2 builds the highest quality profile for today's as well as tomorrow's
advanced display technologies. Additionally, it recognizes when an upgrade is
necessary and prompts users to download the correct information required to properly
profile their monitor.



The OPTIX XR2 will be available to the market in late May, as will the OPTIX XR2PRO,
a network version for multi-workstation environments.



www.xrite.com...