News

Epson America Inc. has announced what many professional photographers are saying
is the perfect blend of revered darkroom papers with the limitless creative
control of ink jet printing with the introduction of its Signature Worthy Exhibition
Fiber Paper. The paper will be available in 25-sheet packages of 8.5"x
11," 13"x 19," 17"x 22," and 24"x 30"
cut sheets.



This breakthrough paper was developed over several years in collaboration with
many of the industry's leading professional photographers to meet their
most discerning requirements. Many who have contributed to the development of
Exhibition Fiber Paper have commented that what sets it apart are its extraordinary
blacks, clean whites and a surface texture that is just like a true black-and-white
silver gelatin print. Additionally, Exhibition Fiber Paper produces extraordinary
color output enabling photographers to make stunning prints in both color and
black-and-white.



As part of an ongoing collaboration with creative professionals to produce the
highest quality prints, Epson has partnered with the Pixel Genius group, a unique
collaboration of industry-leading digital workflow experts, to produce custom
color profiles for use with the new Exhibition Fiber Paper. The custom profiles
will be available for download October 15 at www.pixelgenius.com/epson,
along with valuable information on their use and how to optimize a color managed
workflow.

More information about Exhibition Fiber Paper can be found at www.proimaging.epson.com.

...

Think of a scanner as an archivist and a digital recording device for both prints and film images. Next think of a scanner as a kind of large format copying device and even a camera. Now put those together and you’ll get an idea of what Epson’s new 12000XL scanner has to offer. 

Epson America Inc. has introduced a new digital workflow system that is tailor-made
for portrait photographers who are looking for an immediate and simple way to
increase their productivity, image quality and profitability. The Epson Gemini
K3 Portrait Printing System combines the benefits of Epson's UltraChrome
K3 photographic printing technology with new image management and enhancement
programs that are designed to dramatically improve the way portrait photographers
do business.



Epson Gemini K3 is designed to give portrait photographers a simple way to control
and speed up the entire print production process while eliminating their dependence
on printing labs, and lab-related issues such as delays, peak season cut-off
dates and unpredictable results. Whether a photographer captures all of their
images from a digital camera or with the combination of film and a scanner,
the Epson Gemini K3 Portrait System is engineered to help manage all their photographic
files in an organized method that enables them to quickly and easily select
the images they want to print. By having this system on site, photos can be
viewed by clients immediately and selecting images is simply a matter of mouse-clicking
their favorites.



Once images are selected, the photographer can quickly crop and retouch images
prior to creating proofs using either the system's built-in photo enhancement
software or with other programs such as Adobe Photoshop. When clients place
their orders, the photographer simply drags and drops the selected images into
built-in or custom-designed photo templates that enable them to print in a variety
of common or custom sizes, on different types of media and into a wide array
of custom packages. The system can save additional time by applying automatic
color corrections that are pre-determined by the photographer.



Epson UltraChrome K3 ink technology uses eight high-density pigments designed
to increase image quality for both professional color and black and white prints.
In addition to cyan, magenta, yellow, light cyan and light magenta, Epson UltraChrome
K3 features a unique three-level black ink system that simultaneously uses black,
light black and light light black inks. These new inks combined with Epson's
proprietary driver and screening technology are designed to create professional
neutral and toned black and white prints without color crossover or color casts.




The Epson Gemini K3 Portrait Printing system incorporates the Epson Stylus Pro
4800 printer (see review in Shutterbug at http://shutterbug.com/equipmentreviews/scanners_printers/1105epson)
which is capable of printing a wide selection of images up to 17 inches wide
with unprecedented image quality. In addition to printing on traditional E-surface
luster papers, Epson



Gemini K3 offers a wider range of media types such as photographic matte, fine
art and canvas. The printer also features a built-in, high-capacity paper tray
that can handle up to 100 cut-sheets of 8.3" x 11" photographic
media or up to 50 cut-sheets of photographic media up to 17" x 22".
As the photographer's business grows, or if they require printing in sizes
beyond 17 inches wide, he/she can print up to 24 inches or 44 inches wide (respectively)
by adding an Epson Stylus Pro 7800 or Stylus Pro 9800 printer to their existing
system.

...

Epson has partnered with ExpressDigital to introduce a new workflow and printing
solution called the Epson Portrait Edition Series, available for both the Epson
Stylus Pro 3800 and 4800 printers. The new Series represents a complete hardware
and software solution that gives wedding, portrait and event photographers virtually
everything they need to create customized print packages that can be sold in-house
or online via a customized Web store front. Featuring Epson's award-winning
UltraChrome K3 printing technology and full-featured workflow management functionality,
the Epson Portrait Edition Series enables photographers to sell, fulfill and
print orders right in their studio, producing prints that surpass the quality
of traditional lab prints and generate increased profits.



The Epson Portrait Edition Series is the one-stop photo business answer for
busy photographers, from weekend warriors to principals of medium-size studios,
providing the creative and business management functionality needed to maximize
profitability. It includes a customized version of ExpressDigital Darkroom Core
Edition software that integrates crucial workflow components, including importing,
cataloging and archiving photos, enhancing and editing photos and projects,
creating new photo products with easy-to-use tools, and comprehensive selling
and marketing features. Easy set-up and configuration enables photographers
to create a Web storefront within a few hours and sell prints the same day.
In addition, Epson's printer drivers and advanced color management technologies
are seamlessly integrated into the customized software.



Designed to give professional photographers a simple way to control and speed
up the entire print production process while eliminating their dependence on
traditional printing labs, the Series provides virtually limitless on-demand
printing capabilities, including batch or rush printing, and a wider range of
media choices for photo products ranging from wallet to 16"x 20"
portraits and even customized 17"x 22" prints. The ability to print
in-house provides extreme convenience and flexibility, eliminating traditional
photo lab fees and giving photographers more control over shooting and delivery
times.

...

At the PhotoPlus Expo show in New York City this past week, Epson introduced its most advanced line of photographic papers—Epson Legacy Papers.

Epson has introduced the new WorkForce WF-100, which the company is calling "the world's smallest and lightest wireless mobile printer."