Eastman Kodak Company has introduced new versions of KODAK PROSHOTS Studio Software
Suite v6.3, KODAK PROSHOTS Basics Software v2.0 and KODAK PROSHOTS Online Services
v7.0 that, via labs, will provide photographers with a broader range of templates
for their print ordering process. Photographers will also have improved tools
for previewing and selling their images to customers in-person or over the Internet.
The KODAK PROSHOTS System, a powerful set of image-management, design and ordering
tools, serves professional wedding, social and portrait photographers whether
they work with film or digital cameras. PROSHOTS System Participating Labs use
hybrid and complete digital lab workflows to offer a broad range of products and
services to photographers through the PROSHOTS System. The KODAK PROSHOTS System
is the industry's most-used service of its kind, with more than 40 labs,
11 album and frame companies and two studio management software companies integrating
it seamlessly with existing lab products.
PROSHOTS Studio Software Suite v6.3
Available as a free download to photographers with a current version of PROSHOTS
Studio Software Suite, or US$249 for new users, version 6.3 includes enhanced
proof book options with a variety of selectable background colors and definable
cover pages. Additional improvements include enriched digital product ordering
and presentation features:
· Lab templates now can be organized into categories, e.g., "Weddings,"
"Sports," etc., for easier navigation.
· More sophisticated lab products, e.g., templates with images displayed
on an angle or customizable text, can now be displayed and cropped as "what
you see is what you get" for better previewing and ordering.
· Enhanced slide-show options to play music through a PC, and a slide show
that can now easily be saved to be burned later to CD or DVD.
The album and frame interface definitions are streamlined, further enhancing Kodak's
full-featured software product for both photographers and labs.
PROSHOTS Basics Software v2
PROSHOTS Basics Software now includes additional features to simplify the image-ordering
process. As with the PROSHOTS Studio Software Suite, PROSHOTS Basics Software
now allows the organization of lab templates into categories, and enhanced proof
book options are now available. The features are all available in the intuitive,
easy-to-use interface for which PROSHOTS Basics Software is known.
In addition, key selling features have been added to PROSHOTS Basics Software.
With version 2, users can for the first time:
· Preview and order a broad range of lab digital products in a "what
you see is what you get" manner.
· Access the capabilities of PROSHOTS Online Services to create product
and price lists, post images and take orders over the Internet.
· Use a new built-in slide show capability for reviewing images with customers.
For PROSHOTS System Participating Labs, PROSHOTS Basics Software expands the potential
printing volume by providing a solution for the estimated one-third of professional
photographers who are MACINTOSH OS users.
PROSHOTS Basics software is free, runs on both MACINTOSH OS X and WINDOWS 2000
or XP platforms, and is available as a download at www.kodak.com/proshots/basicsinfo.
KODAK PROSHOTS Online Services v7
The award-winning PROSHOTS Online Services have been redesigned to enhance the
image viewing and ordering experience for the increasing number of consumers using
the Internet. Redesign features include:
· A modern, sophisticated look and feel with a cleaner shopping cart and
checkout process.
· Improved slide show with faster refresh and improved navigation and speed
controls.
· Increased image-zoom capability to better view image details.
Access to PROSHOTS Online Services is integrated within PROSHOTS Studio and PROSHOTS
Basics Software so photographers only need one piece of software for lab print
ordering, in-studio presentations and online selling. A new rewards program provides
benefits to photographers the more they make use of PROSHOTS Online Services.
The PROSHOTS System software updates will be available in March. For more information
on the KODAK PROSHOTS System and membership benefits for photographers ¾
including Web site and other training resources ¾ please visit www.kodak.com/proshots/membershipinfo. ...
Sigma has introduced two digitally optimized teleconverters for use with their
telephoto and telephoto-zoom lenses. Both models utilize the latest multi-layer
lens coating and a new optical design to reduce flare and ghosting and maintain
optimum image quality.
To better meet event photographers' on-demand printing needs, KODAK PROFESSIONAL
will be introducing an upgrade kit and media to enable 5x7- inch borderless
prints on the new KODAK 6850 Photo Printer. The KODAK Photo Printer 6850 5R
Borderless Upgrade Kit includes two plastic flanges for the media roll endcaps,
a metal guide for 5-inch paper and a CD with drivers and easy instructions for
self installation. The 5- inch borderless upgrade kit is to be used with the
new KODAK PROFESSIONAL EKTATHERM 6850 5R Print Kit which provides enough media
and donor to make 375 5x7 inch (13x18 cm) prints. Available worldwide in September,
2005, the KODAK Photo Printer 6850 5R Borderless Upgrade Kit and the KODAK PROFESSIONAL
EKTATHERM 6850 5R Print Kit will retail for US$35 (MSRP) and US$280 (MSRP),
respectively.
Delkin Devices, Inc. has introduced the eFilm Archival Gold "300-Year" CD-R. eFilm Archival Gold CD-R's incorporate patented Phthalocyanine (thalo-sy-a-neen)
dye and a 24k gold reflective layer into every CD-R. The innovative materials
found in eFilm Archival Gold CD-R's are said to make them one of the most
reliable storage mediums available. According to Delkin, CD-R's are known
to deteriorate quickly due to earth's common elements: ultra violet light,
heat, and humidity. Using an accelerated aging process to test the longevity
of CD-R media, eFilm Archival Gold CD-R's have been shown to safely store
your images for more than 300 years.
Editor's Note: We received the following from the Ilford team and report
their release verbatim:
The news that the remaining aspect of the Ilford Imaging Group, the UK arm of
which went into administration in 2004, has been settled with the takeover of
Ilford Imaging Switzerland by Oji Paper of Tokyo, a leading paper manufacturer
in Japan for over 130 years, has been welcomed by ILFORD Photo and HARMAN technology.
Although HARMAN technology, the parent of ILFORD Photo, is a totally independent
company with no corporate ties to the old group, as a gesture of goodwill given
the history of the group, the UK company's directors have been assisting the
Swiss company and the administrators, Grant Thornton, to keep its operation
in a viable state.
The result is that the takeover has been successfully completed for an undisclosed
sum, and that Ilford Imaging Switzerland GmbH will operate as a wholly owned
subsidiary of Oji Paper Company under the continued direction of managing director
David Jones.
Other Ilford Group member companies around the world which also went down have
already been individually sold or replaced, resulting in a global network of
independent companies now distributing ILFORD Photo products.
"Judging by some calls we have received, some confusion has arisen due
to the similarity of company names," says ILFORD Photo's marketing director
Howard Hopwood.
"However, the situation is quite clear: it was the old group headed by
Ilford Imaging UK Limited which went into administration in August 2004. Following
this, the UK operation was bought out by the former management team which established
HARMAN technology Ltd as the holding company trading as ILFORD Photo.
"The Swiss company, which was the old group's inkjet paper manufacturing
arm, remained under the control of Grant Thornton until this acquisition by
Oji Paper. It can therefore be seen that this activity has no connection with,
or impact on, ourselves."
For full detail of ILFORD Photo products and services, visit www.ilfordphoto.com.
Kanguru Solutions has unveiled an external combination hard drive featuring
high-speed transfer rates and capacities up to 500GB. The Kanguru QuickSilver
features both USB 2.0 and Serial ATA connectivity, with blazing transfer rates
of up to 1.5Gb per second! The drive also features a rugged enclosure that resists
up to 200 Gs of shock to protect it from external damage.
Tamron USA, Inc. announced that Jude Wolpert was selected by Tamron judges
to attend Barnstorm XVII: The Eddie Adams Workshop this October. Tamron will
pay Wolpert's travel expenses as well as room and board fees so that she may
attend the tuition-free workshop.