Shutterbug Staff

Bellamax, Inc. (www.bellamax.com)
has announced the open beta release of a new photo editing software tool, UpShot.
UpShot is aimed at the consumer photo hobbyist market and leverages the Bellamax
technology currently used in the professional photography market.

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Eastman Kodak Company has expanded its image sensor portfolio for medium-format
camera manufacturers with announcement of the KODAK KAF-18000CE, a new 18 million
pixel image sensor. This sensor has been selected by Pentax Corporation for
use in the PENTAX 645 Digital camera now being developed. With 18.6 million
total pixels, the sensor provides an output resolution of 18 megapixels to capture
images with exceptional clarity and detail. New to the KAF-18000CE is a dual-output
architecture that enables faster sensor read-out times, allowing camera designers
to achieve increased frame rates in their final camera designs. With this unique
combination of image quality and speed, the KAF-18000CE is said to provide manufacturers
with an affordable image sensor that is ideal for landscape, fashion, or wedding
photography.

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Rick Sammon's latest interactive DVD -- Adobe Photoshop CS2 for the
Portrait and Wedding Photographer -- is the latest DVD available on www.rickspixelmagic.com.
The info-packed DVD includes 20 lessons that make learning fast and fun. Lessons
include: Saving Face, Hand-Coloring, Layer Masks, Creative Studio Color, and
Add a Key Light. The lessons are presented as QuickTime movies that capture
Rick's voice and his on-screen enhancements. It's like having Rick right
there with you, showing you each step of the process. Using QuickTime technology,
users can stop the movies and go "back in time" if they miss a step
in the enhancement process.



The interactive DVD is available for $39.95 (plus shipping and handling). For
more information on Rick's Adobe Photoshop CS2 for the Portrait and Wedding
Photographer, as well as his other DVDs, see www.rickspixelmagic.com.

Crane & Company has introduced new, double sided Museo II, available exclusively
in 250 gsm and 365 gsm weights. This completely new, fine art matte paper is 100%
acid free and buffered with pure calcium carbonate to protect the paper from environmental
acidification throughout its lifetime. Museo II contains no fluorescent brightening
agents. It is made from 100% cotton fibers, which are the purest source of cellulose
and it's produced with micro-filtered, naturally occurring, Artesian well
water. Coated on both sides, Museo II is two-side printable. Museo II's
"felt" side has a subtle Velina finish. The "wire" or
smooth side has an even, smooth surface.



Museo II has a brightness of 91 and a Dmax of 1.65, using Epson Ultrachrome inks.
Significantly higher Dmax can be achieved with the use of dye inks. The company
claims that Museo II will produce the purest blacks and whitest whites of any
available inkjet paper without optical brighteners. When properly profiled and
printed on high-quality dye or pigment photo inkjet printers, it is said to produce
exceptionally smooth gradients and the widest gamut of competitive papers. MuseoII
is also a "forgiving" paper that will produce excellent results from
most desktop inkjet printers, using Crane's available profiles.
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