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Rangefinder
Magazine
January 2004
New Products
Specifications in these listings are condensed from information provided
by manufacturers and suppliers. For more information about these new
products or processes, use the Quick Response Form provided on page 96
in this issue. When contacting the companies direct, please mention Rangefinder.
Wacom
has announced the Cintiq Partner Pen tablet. Using Wacom’s
new Cintiq Partner pen tablet, photographers can now paint and draw on
both their interactive pen display and any CRT or LCD monitor, simultaneously.
Designers can easily access palettes and tools on their traditional monitor
while working on the Cintiq tablet. The Cintiq Partner tablet has a 6x8-inch
work area, and the pen itself has 512 levels of pressure sensitivity.
Photographers will also appreciate the consistency of the same pen-point
accuracy on both the Cintiq screen and the Cintiq Partner tablet. Check
out these versatile pens and the tablets at http://www.wacom.com/.
High School Senior clients are certain to like Taprell Loomis’ stylish
new TAP Clearview Composite Holder. The chic black simulated leather
cover opens like a book to reveal rich moiré lining. An 8x10 or
10x8 composite or one favorite portrait is held securely in place by
satin-ribboned corners. Also of note is the fashionable “Orleans” Dance
folder, a smart choice in which to display Senior Prom Photography. Soft
pastels arranged into geometric shapes are combined to create a formal
but fun cover to showcase the pretty prom dresses and fashionable tuxedos
that mark this rite of passage. See both at www.tap-usa.com. Order a
copy of their great wishbook catalog at (800) 827-5679.
MACtac, a subsidiary of the Bemis Company, Inc., has rolled
out a fine film for “smooth, consistent print mounting.” Pressure
sensitive acrylic adhesive coats both sides of this white, opaque film.
Perfect
for mounting photographic, inkjet, electrostatic, lithographic and even
screen-printed images, PermaPrint IP5000 is a new member of MACtac’s
Permacolor family of adhesives and overlaminating films. This film disburses
adhesive very uniformly, covering an image with even, bubble-free protection.
With IP5000, photographers are assured of brilliant, clear color without
bleed-through. For convenience, the film features a single release liner,
eliminating the need for removing a second liner. No heating, drying
or coating with IP5000, and it can be used on a variety of mounting surfaces:
Masonite, Sintra, Fome-Cor, Gatorfoam and Crescent board. For more solutions
to sticky situations involving pressure-sensitive adhesive materials
visit www.MACtac.com, email MACtacdecorative@MACtac.com, or call (866)
622-8223.
Phase One, specialists in digital camera and software solutions, has
presented photographers with workflow solutions in Portrait One
software, version 2.5 (MSRP $1495). Portrait One 2.5 is big on versatility, meaning
it does not matter if you use a Phase One camera back, a Nikon or a Canon
DSLR camera, you still utilize the identical workflow software. The three-in-one
system integrates studio management, image capture, and sales/ printing.
First, use the Management Module to find your clients’ records,
to find your booking calendar, and to organize your digital images. It
also features automatic PTP transfers or CDWriting, and auto-printing
proof sheets. Secondly, the Capture Module provides raw file conversion,
color and skin tone editing, gray balance, focus check and batch processing.
Lastly, the Sales and Printing Module becomes the photographer’s
tireless sales professional. Raw files, TIFF files and JPEGS can all
be easily accessed by the sales software. This versatile software will
present, select, and order images. When you are ready to print those
orders, you can design your own templates and do batch processing. And,
if you don’t feel like running a printer, just instruct the software
to design an order form and send it straight to your favorite lab. The
software runs on Windows 2000/XP. Check out this software at www.phaseone.com.
Albums Unlimited has introduced Design Layout Service for Kingston Album.
They offer a package with complete service of design layout, lab quality
photo printing and the Kingston Album. Simply send them your images on
CD, and they do the rest! You get the opportunity to approve the layout
prior to the printing. A new cover material, Buckram, is now available
in addition to the leatherette, leather and tapestry cover materials.
The company also offers photo covers on the Kingston album. Information:
Albums Unlimited, 1080 Martin Ave., Santa Clara, CA 95050.
Through The Lens, Inc. has recently introduced ImageFlow, a complete
end-to-end software solution that allows portrait and wedding photographers
to easily make the switch to digital. Simplifying the post-capture process,
ImageFlow combines a digital photo studio with client and session management,
communication with print labs, image management, and online display and
ordering. This single application takes the place of the multiple ad
hoc software programs currently needed to successfully manage the digital
workflow. Repetitive tasks like backup, archiving, and RAW data conversion
are handled automatically. An intuitive client and image database makes
finding images and orders quick and easy. ImageFlow eliminates the time-consuming,
multi-step manipulation process currently involved in digital photography
and eliminates the confusion caused when transferring a single image
file across multiple software applications. A task list delineates next
steps for each project and client, keeping the photographer organized
regardless of the number of clients and orders that are being processed
at a given time. And, the simplicity of using a single solution instead
of a host of separate software pieces lets photographers concentrate
on what they love to do—taking pictures. Information: Through The
Lens, (650) 851-1151; info@ttlsoft
ware.com/.
Lexar Media, Inc. recently announced two new compact, portable, high-speed
CompactFlash readers geared toward serious digital photographers. The
next-generation FireWire and new USB 2.0 CompactFlash readers offer data
transfer speeds up to 400Mb/s and 480Mb/s, respectively. With these readers,
users can expect data transfer from CompactFlash to computer to be approximately
4 to 5 times faster than using USB 1.1. The FireWire (IEEE 1394a) and
USB 2.0 readers are immediately available with estimated retail prices
of $49.99 and $24.99, respectively. Both readers include a one-year warranty
and access to Lexar Media’s technical support. Information: info@lexarmedia.com/.
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