Our Picture This! assignment this month was Silhouettes and readers responded with a wide variety of images that used shadow and background effectively. In essence, the inversion of context and figure was used for both compositional and contextual ends. Often mysterious and elusive, images using this technique more often than not coax our mind to form a picture of what lies within the deep shadow. Think of Thai Shadow Puppets and the way their forms play along the screen, and how the drama of the play becomes somehow more poignant when we fill in the blank, if you will, with our own references and dreams.

UMAX Technologies, Inc. has announced the availability of SilverFast HDR and SilverFast
HDR Studio for its full line of UMAX scanners. SilverFast HDR enables users to
process images at 48-bit full dynamic range.



The four upgrade and purchase options are:



1. SilverFast Ai upgrade to SilverFast HDR: This offer is only good for existing
SilverFast Ai UMAX users and is available for $199.00.

2. SilverFast SE upgrade to SilverFast HDR: This offer is only good for existing
SilverFast SE UMAX users and is available for $250.00.

3. SilverFast HDR full version new purchase: Retail is $299.00.

4. SilverFast HDR Studio full version new purchase: Retail is $499.00 and comes
with IT8 color calibration and pocket target



Prior to SilverFast HDR, many of today's scanners did not allow the ability to
write the full dynamic range into TIFF-data, making the reduction to 24-bit RGB
obsolete. Scanners with only 30- or 36-bit capability save up to their maximum
output, but today's leading scanning software, such as PhotoShop, saves
images down to a 24-bit file, discarding the extra information supplied from the
scanner. SilverFast HDR and HDR Studio software gives users the ability to save
and edit 'raw' files in full 48-bit resolution. 48-bit editing opens up a whole
new workflow, enabling images to be scanned and archived into digital format,
and then accessed later without any loss of quality.



SilverFast HDR and HDR Studio allow for raw data processing enables color corrections
in 48-bit. In this extremely large color space no significant shade is lost during
image corrections. When all corrections are done the image can be saved into 48-bit
again and further corrections can be done later.Instead of driving the scanner
directly, SilverFast HDR enables the user to read these raw files and process
the data as if they had access to the original image on the scanner. SilverFast
Scan Type (Image Type in HDR) offers 48-bit Color and 16-bit Grayscale. While
48-bit HDR color scans into an uncorrected 48-bit raw data file (only gamma correction
and ICC-matching can be applied), 48-bit Color or 16-bit Grayscale allows users
to save all corrections into the raw data file (48- or 16-bit Tiff file). It is
also possible to scan directly into Photoshop using the image corrected in high
bit mode.



SilverFast also offers a full set of tools including the ability to define output
size, Auto-Adjust, Histogram, Gradation curves, Selective Color Correction, Unsharp
Masking, Color Separation, and CMYK-Preview.



SilverFast accelerates the processing of large files in real-time, even greater
than 500MB, without delay. Files that have been scanned with SilverFast Ai and
subsequently opened in HDR will have the HiRePP functionality (High Resolution
Picture Performance). SilverFast HDR Studio is an enhanced version of SilverFast
HDR and adds even more power by including Auto Adaptive Contrast Optimization,
SilverFast PhotoProof, a cloning tool, unsharp mask Plus, automatic image import
with renaming functions, conversion of RAW data and JPEG 2000 support.



Additionally, free copies of Taz Tally's Official Guide to SilverFast Ai
6.0 will be included with any upgrade or purchase from UMAX.com for the first
30 days from today.



http://www.umax.com.
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Here’s a simple but enlightening photo tip we had not fully thought of before.

Sinar
Bron Imaging has announced the latest View Camera from the award winning Swiss
manufacturer, Sinar AG. The Limited Edition Sinar x3 view camera is designed to
help photographers work faster and more accurately. It features the best from
the Sinar View Camera line, including Sinar Gear Driven Movements, the smooth,
self-arresting precision drives and it's based on asymmetric tilts and swings.
The x3 features the unique Sinar focusing technique. The built-in scales permit
accurate determination of depth of field, tilt and swing angles, which systematically
lead to perfect focusing without the camera distracting from the creative task.
Like the Sinar p3 studio camera, it features integrated contacts and electrical
bellows, which makes it possible to control the electronic between-the-lens shutters
of Sinaron Digital CMV lenses without additional cables. When used with any Sinar
digitalback, the sharpness can be focused with pixel accuracy via "Live Video."
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