World Tech Update #88

WORLD TECH UPDATE #88 - October 29, 2009 In this week's World Tech Update Motorola and Verizon unveil an Android smartphone, Toshiba launches a fuel cell charger, Apple releases the Magic Mouse, Nintendo's profits slide, Netflix streams directly to Playstation 3 consoles, a robot folds clothes, a prototype ring crosses between real and virtual worlds and Panasonic demonstrates robots as part of a push into a new business stream. Find out what's coming up on each week's show by following us on Twitter (WorldTechUpdate) or check out our Facebook fan page at www.facebook.com/worldtechupdate

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Dreamstime Ups Collection of Free Images

Several Thousands Of Free Stock Photos Added In First 24 Hours Of Enhancement

NASHVILLE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Serban Enache, CEO of Dreamstime, one of the world’s leading digital image stock photography agencies, announced the company’s initiative to up the number of images made available ABSOLUTELY FREE.

In January 2007, Dreamstime made available an assortment of images under its FREE umbrella. The FREE selection—an original and revolutionary sector that has attracted bargain hunters from around the globe—is a successfully proven concept that has secured Dreamstime’s footprint in the industry as one-stop-photo-shop giant.

Dreamstime has nearly doubled the number of images available ABSOLUTELY FREE (increasing its FREE library of images by 10% in the first three hours of the FREE upgrade as effected on October 27th).

While the total number of images in the Dreamstime gallery is fast-approaching 7 million (with the whole gamut of images all being licensed—from the FREE to the economically priced, quality images), the increased offering of the vast and diverse, FREE images (which can be used for any project) elevates the company’s reputation as a principal in the industry.

“We anticipate a significant increase in free images,” Enache said. “…increasing the number of available images from a few thousand upward toward the hundreds of thousands in the near future.”

Improving content daily, one single photographer may add up to ten new images. The FREE section will be updated in real time and imagery licensed under the regular royalty free license (the image may be used for its intended purpose up to 10,000 times). Link: http://www.dreamstime.com/free-photos.

To further entice the photo shopper, Dreamstime has also upgraded the site’s search engine making results infinite. Rather than sorting through the vast array of high quality, reasonably priced treasures (as discovered by Dreamfinder), page after page, real-time results appear as the user scrolls down the page. Extinguishing slow page loads, the new “panoramic” option is one more Dreamstime “convenience.”

“We’ve enjoyed feedback from users telling us they are able to find the image they are looking for within the first three pages of suggestions,” Enache added. “This search engine upgrade will negate ‘next page’ loads which can be burdensome to even the most patient shopper.” Link: http://www.dreamstime.com/best-stock-photos-dynamic.

Dreamstime.com is currently the second leading agency in customer number with over 10 million unique visitors to the site monthly. The acceleration in numbers overall makes it the fastest growing stock agency in the world. In addition to the FREE images available, Dreamstime’s growing gallery is constantly updated with images from the site’s more than 77,000 contributors.

“Dreamstime has reached its peak in the rate of total downloads; a new file is licensed every 2 to 3 seconds. The FREE image offering and search engine enhancement not only make Dreamstime images priceless, but timeless,” Enache summarized.

For more information on Dreamstime, please visit: www.Dreamstime.com.

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World Press Photo Contest Archive Opens

30 OCTOBER 2009 (CEPIC) - The launch at the beginning of this month of World Press Photo Contest Archive, a major educational resource for the global photographic community, has been enthusiastically welcomed. The archive, which goes back to 1955, includes all World Press Photo award-winning images in chronological order.

The archive gallery comprises some 10,000 images. It includes photos that have become icons, by some of the leading names in the profession. World Press Photo has put them online with the aim of sharing our knowledge, resources and experience with the widest possible network.

Click here for further information on the archive.

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Fotolia Exhibiting At MediaPro '09 Nov 4th - 5th - Stand 122

Come and see Fotolia in London at MediaPro 2009 on Nov 4th - 5th - Stand 122. www.mediaproexpo.co.uk

MediaPro 09 is a unique exhibition with inspiring seminars for all those involved in the creation, production, procurement and distribution of media and marketing communications.

From content creation and production through to distribution, mediaPro 09 will cover all aspects that extend across print, web, video, rich internet applications, interactive and mobile channels.

Key issues such as innovation, cost-effectiveness, increased ROI and quality improvement across print, web, video, rich internet applications, interactive and mobile will be addressed.

Tags : Mediapro | Fotolia | Royaltyfree | Microstock | Stock Photography

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Canson Infinity Introduces Two New Digital Photo Papers At PhotoPlus 2009

NewswireToday - /newswire/ - Austin, TX, United States, 10/28/2009 - The Canson® Infinity line of digital papers for art and photography, adds Baryta Photographic (310gsm) and Photo HighGloss Premium RC (315gsm) to its range of digital photo papers.

Baryta Photographique 310gsm is a true Baryta paper developed for inkjet technology and optimised for pigment inks. It consists of an alpha-cellulose, acid-free, pure white paper, coated with a layer of Barium Sulphate - the same coating as for traditional silver halide - and a premium inkjet colour receiver layer.

This museum-grade photo paper offers the look and aesthetic of the original darkroom baryta print and complies with the ISO 9706 standard for maximum longevity.

Both water-resistant and instant dry, Baryta Photographique shows excellent black density and great image sharpness, making it ideal for black and white photography, especially portraits.

Photo HighGloss Premium RC 315gsm consists of an ultra smooth, alpha-cellulose, acid-free paper coated with polyethylene and multiple micro-porous color receiver layers. This ultra white photo paper currently has the highest gloss level of the photographic resin coated paper available. Photo High Gloss Premium RC has been designed to comply with the highest lifespan requirements, and respects the ISO 9706 standard.

Photo HighGloss is compatible with pigment and dye inks, and is also instant dry and water resistant. It offers vivid colors and deep blacks, excellent image sharpness - with a resolution of up to 5760 dpi - and a wide color gamut, making it the product of choice for stunning color photos.

Both products are available in cut sheets and rolls, and will be distributed through specialized photo stores and the Canson reseller network. ICC profiles available at no charge on the Canson Infinity website cansoninfinity.com.

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onOne Software Announces Plug-In Suite 5

New version of award-winning software suite offers six essential tools that help photographers achieve better results.

onOne Software, Inc., a leading developer of innovative, timesaving solutions for professional and advanced amateur photographers, today announced Plug-in Suite 5 for Adobe Photoshop. Designed to solve the most common problems facing photographers in the areas of color correction, enlarging, masking and professional photographic effects, the Plug-in Suite 5, combines full versions of six essential software tools in one affordable package: FocalPoint 2, PhotoTune 3, PhotoFrame 4.5 Professional Edition, PhotoTools 2.5 Professional Edition, Genuine Fractals 6 Professional Edition and MaskPro 4.

With support for Photoshop CS2, CS3 and CS4 the onOne Software Plug-in Suite 5 now includes the new onOne Panel which provides quick access to all products, Windows 64 bit support and the ability to access select plug-ins from within Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 2 and Apple Aperture 2.1. Plug-in Suite 5 will be available in November.

"This is our biggest product update and release in over 4 years," said Craig Keudell, president of onOne Software. "Since the release of Plug-In Suite 4, we have been working closer than ever with both professional and enthusiast photographers to make sure that Plug-In Suite 5 continues to solve the most common problems they face as photographers. We are confident that Plug-In Suite 5 continues in the onOne tradition of providing photographers with software that sets the standard for value, quality and ease-of-use."

Plug-in Suite 5 includes full versions of the following onOne Software products:

FocalPoint 2 - Like bringing the camera lens inside Photoshop, this new version of FocalPoint 2 gives photographers the best way to add the most realistic depth of field and selective focus control to any image after it is photographed. Photographers now have an incredible amount of flexibility and control over the look of the blur with FocalPoint 2's new blur algorithm, FocusBrush, Lens Presets and multiple FocusBug features.

PhotoTune 3 - Getting great color doesn't have to be so hard. This new version of PhotoTune 3 uses patented eye-fidelityTM technology, originally developed by and licensed from imsense to optimize the dynamic range, color and sharpness of images so that they look more true-to-life. The improved Wizard offers fast color and tone correction in as little as two steps while giving pro users direct access to advanced and innovative controls. SkinTune, which represents two years of research and analysis of thousands of skin tones, now offers one-click color correction of portraits and the option to correct just the skin in an image.

PhotoFrame 4.5 Professional Edition - With PhotoFrame 4.5, you can add the perfect finishing touch to your images with over 100 exciting new professionally designed frames, backgrounds, textures and layouts including over a dozen from professional photographer Kersti Malvre. With one thousand design elements like film edges, borders, textures, backgrounds and adornments, PhotoFrame 4.5 Professional Edition even has complete layouts where users can simply drop an image in and they are done. It is the easiest and fastest way to add an authentic darkroom touch with a film edge or to create beautiful albums or scrapbook pages

PhotoTools 2.5 Professional Edition - PhotoTools 2.5 is the highly acclaimed Photoshop plug-in that allows photographers of all skill levels to maximize the full power of Photoshop with it's ability to preview and combine Photoshop Actions in a single, intuitive interface. Designed by photographers for photographers, PhotoTools 2.5 Professional now includes a new MaskingBug control based on the FocusBug control from the award-winning FocalPoint plug-in. The new MaskingBug allows photographers to create high-quality masks to selectively apply effects to images. With over 30 new creative effects, for a total effect library of 280, photographers can easily find, combine and save the results to create images that truly stand out.

Genuine Fractals 6 Professional Edition - The industry standard for enlarging photos, Genuine Fractals 6 enlarges images up to 1,000% while maintaining sharp edges and important image details. Genuine Fractals 6 now includes an automated gallery wrap feature and output options for tiling an enlarged photo. No other resizing plug-in is as widely used by more professionals than Genuine Fractals.

MaskPro 4 - For those times when you need to extract a subject from a photo, Mask Pro 4 uses a color-based method that allows users to easily remove unwanted backgrounds from your photos. Mask Pro's unique Color Decontamination technology allows users to get realistic results by maintaining transparency in hard to mask objects like hair, smoke and glass in a fraction of the time using traditional tools.

Availability

The new Plug-in Suite 5 will be available in November to new users for $599.95; purchased separately the products would normally cost $1,300. Existing users of Plug-in Suite version 1, 2, 3 or 4 can upgrade to the Plug-in Suite 5 for $199.95. Customers who own any one or more of the products in Plug-in 5 will be able to upgrade as well by visiting http://www.ononesoftware.com/upgrade/. For more information on the Plug-in Suite 5, please visit http://www.ononesoftware.com/.

About onOne Software

onOne Software, Inc. a leading developer of innovative software tools for photographers, develops time-saving software solutions for professional and advanced amateur photographers. onOne Software solutions have been created to help photographers spend more of their time behind the camera taking pictures instead of the computer workstation. Such solutions include a wide range of easy-to-use plug-in enhancements for Adobe Photoshop, Photoshop Elements, Photoshop Lightroom, Apple Aperture, Apple iPhoto and iPhone applications. Founded in 2005, onOne Software is a privately held company located in Portland, Oregon. For additional information, visit http://www.ononesoftware.com/ or call 1-888-968-1468.

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onOne Software Announces PhotoTune 3

New version of award-winning software gives photographers perfect color in their photos with an all-new correction engine and advanced controls.

onOne Software, Inc., a leading developer of innovative, timesaving solutions for professional and advanced amateur photographers, today announced PhotoTune 3, an Adobe Photoshop plug-in for optimizing digital photos. The improved PhotoTune Wizard walks new users through the optimizing process in as little as two steps with no need to understand color theory or complex controls like levels or curves. PhotoTune 3 also offers access to advanced adjustments for pro users who want more control. A powerful feature of PhotoTools 3 is SkinTune, which can color correct portraits in just one click, with the option to correct just the skin in an image. PhotoTune 3 works as a Smart Filter in Photoshop allowing Photoshop Lightroom 2 users to open their images as Smart Objects giving them the ability to work in a non-destructive manner and the flexibility to go back and make changes later should they decide to.

Available in November, PhotoTune 3 is a key component of onOne Software's Plug-in Suite 5, also announced today. The new Plug-in Suite 5, which includes the new onOne Panel and Windows 64-bit support, also features the award-winning plug-ins FocalPoint 2, PhotoTools 2.5 Professional Edition, PhotoFrame 4.5 Professional Edition, Genuine Fractals 6 Professional Edition and Mask Pro 4.

"Photographers consistently tell us that one of the key problems they face with digital photography, is spending too much time color correcting and optimizing their photographs. Now PhotoTune 3 offers photographers more powerful and easy-to-use tools that will help them get excellent color and more detail in just a few clicks," said Craig Keudell, president of onOne Software. "We are excited about the new capabilities in PhotoTune 3 made possible through imsense's eye fidelity™ technology as we continue to deliver products that help photographers achieve better results faster than ever."

New features in PhotoTune 3 include:

Automatic Correction - featuring the patented eye-fidelity™ technology, originally developed by and licensed from imsense to address the issue of Dynamic Range Correction in images. With a single click this new advanced dynamic range enhancement algorithm, remaps the tones in your image to match what you saw. This means no more blown out highlights or plugged-up shadows which photographers typically struggle with when trying to increase the dynamic range of an image from a single file.

Professional Controls - For those pro users who want more control, the new Pro interface provides access to advanced controls like tone, color and sharpening. PhotoTune 3 strips away complex concepts like levels and curves and introduces a new method where the image itself is the control. Simply drag the image up or down, left or right or even at an angle and PhotoTune 3 applies the adjustment immediately allowing the photographer to focus on the image and not on a series of sliders and buttons.

Intuitive Black and White Conversions - With a flick of the new Black and White switch, PhotoTune 3 lets you create great looking black and white images from your color photos. Using the new Pro interface controls to change tones, you can get quickly get the black and white conversion you want in seconds.

Automatically Color Correct Portraits - The improved SkinTune controls, which automatically color-correct skin color in a one step, now provide the option to target the color correction to just the skin of the subject, rather than the whole image. This is the perfect tool for portrait and wedding photographers who need a streamlined and efficient solution to getting correct skin tones in their digital images.

Workflow Integration - Like other onOne products, PhotoTune 3 now supports integration with Adobe Photoshop Lightroom and Apple Aperture so that it can be accessed inside the workflow applications used everyday. PhotoTune 3 can be used as a Smart Filter inside of Photoshop allowing photographers to send their images to Photoshop as Smart Objects to maintain a non-destructive workflow that is increasingly important to more and more photographers.

Additional New Features - PhotoTune 3 also includes an improved color correction Wizard that can be completed in as few as two steps; the ability to save presets, which saves all of the color and tone corrections so they can be applied to other images which is ideal for batch processing through Adobe Bridge for example; and non-destructive editing as a Smart Filter in Photoshop CS3 and CS4.

About PhotoTune 3 and imsense

The new PhotoTune 3 uses patented eye-fidelity™ technology, originally developed by and licensed from imsense. imsense has developed and patented breakthrough algorithms to solve the problem of Dynamic Range Correction in standard and HDR images. eye-fidelity renders images faithful to the image the eye saw. It ensures that detail is revealed while maintaining color balance and integrity and the deliberate effects, such as region highlighting, employed by the photographer. eye-fidelity™ technology is unmatched for the speed, quality and versatility of its output.

"We are delighted that onOne has chosen to license imsense's eye-fidelity™ technology as a core feature of PhotoTune 3," said Philippe Dewost, imsense CEO. "Now professional photographers as well as imaging enthusiasts will have access to instant, one-click, optimal tone mapping thanks to imsense's patented Dynamic Range Correction, saving precious time for other, more creative aspects of image processing."

PhotoTune 3 will be available in November to new users for $159.95 and can also be purchased as part of the affordable Plug-in Suite 5 for $599.95. Existing users of PhotoTune 1 or 2 can upgrade to PhotoTune 3 for $99.95 or can upgrade to the Plug-in Suite 5 for $499.95. For more information on the Plug-in Suite 5, please visit http://www.ononesoftware.com/.

About onOne Software

onOne Software, Inc. a leading developer of innovative software tools for photographers, develops time-saving software solutions for professional and advanced amateur photographers. onOne Software solutions have been created to help photographers spend more of their time behind the camera taking pictures instead of the computer workstation. Such solutions include a wide range of easy-to-use plug-in enhancements for Adobe Photoshop, Photoshop Elements, Photoshop Lightroom, Apple Aperture, Apple iPhoto and iPhone applications. Founded in 2005, onOne Software is a privately held company located in Portland, Oregon. For additional information, visit http://www.ononesoftware.com/ or call 1-888-968-1468.

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onOne Software Announces FocalPoint 2

New version of award-winning software helps photographers create realistic depth of field after the shot with powerful new features that provide blur control and lens simulation.

onOne Software, Inc., a leading developer of innovative, timesaving solutions for professional and advanced amateur photographers, today announced FocalPoint 2, an Adobe Photoshop plug-in for simulating depth-of-field and selective focus. With FocalPoint 2 photographers can create realistic selective focus, depth-of-field and vignette effects that help focus attention on an area of an image in an easy to use plug-in. Photographers can create an authentic out-of-focus look with aperture shaped highlights with the new blur algorithm that accurately matches the blur a real lens would create. To assist photographers in getting the most out of FocalPoint 2, new lens presets are included that simulate desirable fast aperture lenses that cost 10 times more than FocalPoint 2. By popular demand from customers, FocalPoint 2 supports multiple FocusBugs that let photographers create multiple areas of focus or create complex depth-of-field looks. Finally, there is a new FocusBrush that allows for detailed painting in of the new blur effect in an image for those who want ultimate focus control.

Available in November, FocalPoint 2 is a key component of onOne Software's Plug-in Suite 5, also announced today. The new Plug-in Suite 5, which includes the new onOne Panel and Windows 64-bit support, features the award-winning plug-ins PhotoTune 3, PhotoTools 2.5 Professional Edition, PhotoFrame 4.5 Professional Edition, Genuine Fractals 6 Professional Edition and Mask Pro 4.

"The first version of FocalPoint was very well received by both professional and amateur photographers due to it's ease-of-use and creativity," said Craig Keudell, president of onOne Software. "With FocalPoint 2, we've taken the feedback from our customers and developed an entirely new blur algorithm from scratch that simulates the physical characteristics of a real lens as well as added features like support for multiple FocusBugs that were highly requested. This release of FocalPoint 2 is in large part a direct result of feedback from the photographic community."

New features in FocalPoint 2 include:

Ultimate Blur Control - The unique controller in FocalPoint called the "FocusBug" now has new controls for you to set the kind of blur you want. Included options for blur quality, amount of blur, the number of blades in the virtual aperture, their rotation and optical quality all achieve the most realistic lens blur you can create without a lens.

Multiple FocusBugs - With FocalPoint 2 you can use up to six FocusBugs to define the areas you want to keep in focus allowing for multiple areas in your photo to remain in focus while adding the lens specific blur to the rest of the image. It also provides for the ability to combine multiple FocusBugs together to create complex shapes with ease.

FocusBrush - With the new FocusBrush you can paint focus or paint blur on any part of your photo providing for more control over the image's focal point. Use the planar or round focus bugs to get started and then use the new FocusBrush to fine-tune the effect. Providing these types of tools within FocalPoint 2 will help save photographers time because it allows them to see exactly how their desired effect looks before clicking the apply button.

Lens Presets - Using a proprietary blur algorithm designed to replicate the physical properties of a lens, combined with easy-to-use presets, photographers can simulate the blur normally achieved only with "fast" lenses that cost thousands of dollars each. This is perfect for times when a photographer cannot shoot with their lens "wide open" to get the desired depth-of-field as they can now go back with FocalPoint 2 and apply the background blur that they would have originally achieved.

onOne Panel - The new onOne Panel in Adobe Photoshop provides fast access to FocalPoint 2. This allows the user to quickly launch a module without having to navigate through Photoshop's menus. But it takes that power even farther by giving users access to their favorite presets right from the panel as well. This will save users time by allowing them to apply their most frequently used effects right inside of Photoshop.

Additional New Features - FocalPoint 2 includes many new features like Brightness and Contrast controls; nondestructive editing as a Smart Filter; and the ability to access FocalPoint 2 from within Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 2 and Apple Aperture 2.1.

Availability

FocalPoint 2 will be available in November to new users for $159.95 and can also be purchased as part of the affordable Plug-in Suite 5 for $599.95. Existing users of FocalPoint 1 can upgrade to FocalPoint 2 for $99.95. Upgrades from FocalPoint 1 to the new Plug-In Suite 5 are also available at http://www.ononesoftware.com/upgrade/. For more information on the Plug-in Suite 5, please visit http://www.ononesoftware.com/.

About onOne Software

onOne Software, Inc. a leading developer of innovative software tools for photographers, develops time-saving software solutions for professional and advanced amateur photographers. onOne Software solutions have been created to help photographers spend more of their time behind the camera taking pictures instead of the computer workstation. Such solutions include a wide range of easy-to-use plug-in enhancements for Adobe Photoshop, Photoshop Elements, Photoshop Lightroom, Apple Aperture, Apple iPhoto and iPhone applications. Founded in 2005, onOne Software is a privately held company located in Portland, Oregon. For additional information, visit http://www.ononesoftware.com/ or call 1-888-968-1468.

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Phase One Releases Capture One 5 PRO

The Pro Photographer's Trusted Digital Darkroom

COPENHAGEN, DENMARK--(Marketwire - October 28, 2009) - Phase One, the world's leader in open-platform medium format camera systems and solutions, today released Capture One 5 PRO. Known for rendering superior quality images from a wide range of pro DSLR, Mamiya and Phase One medium format cameras, Capture One PRO is now enhanced with workflow accelerators to handle large volume shoots faster.

Capture One 5 PRO is the RAW converter and workflow application with the broadest tethered shooting support, not only for Phase One digital backs, but also for DSLRs from Canon and Nikon. This version adds support for additional DSLR models and RAW file support for selected Leaf digital backs.

"Today's pro photographers are shooting with both medium format and DSLR cameras, so having a truly professional quality digital darkroom, that can manage RAW files from both systems, makes life easier," said Carsten H. Olsen, Phase One product manager for Capture One. "Capture PRO helps photographers reduce the time and effort required to deliver stunning ready-to-use images with excellent color and detail."

About Capture One 5

Capture One 5's simple, intuitive interface is designed to achieve superior image quality through easy-to-use tools that match a professional photographer's daily workflow requirements. Now pros can:

-- Get an instant view of image focus with the Focus tool and
use the Focus Mask for quick selection of images with correct
focus;
-- Perfect the appearance of smooth, soft skin tones with the Skin
Tone Enhancer;
-- Add vignettes to the edges of your images for artistic effect
(follows crop);
-- Adjust individual color channels easily with RGB Levels and
Curves;
-- Access and edit an expanded set of IPTC metadata fields.


For complete product details, please see www.phaseone.com/5.

Pricing and availability

Capture One 5 is available in three versions: Capture One 5, Capture One 5 DB and Capture One 5 PRO; each version is localized for Chinese (simplified), Czech, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Spanish and Swedish.

Capture One 5 PRO is available via download for 399 USD and 299 EUR through Phase One's Online Store www.phaseone.com/store and through leading professional photography dealers worldwide. Capture One 5 is available for 129 USD and 99 EUR.

Existing Capture One 4 PRO customers can upgrade to Capture One 5 PRO for 99 USD and 69 EUR. Existing Capture One 4 customers can upgrade to Capture One 5 PRO for 299 USD and 229 EUR. Please visit Phase One's Online Store www.phaseone.com/store for other upgrade options and free trials.

For a comparison between Capture One and Capture One PRO please see: www.phaseone.com/comparison.

System Requirements

Capture One 5 for Microsoft® Windows® requires at least an Intel® Pentium® 4 processor, 2 GB of RAM and 10 GB of free hard disk space as well as Windows XP® SP3, Windows Vista® SP2 or Windows 7®.

Capture One 5 for Apple® Macintosh® requires at least an Intel-based Mac, 2 GB of RAM and 10 GB of free hard disk space as well as Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard or Mac OS X 10.5.8.

About Phase One

Phase One is the world's leader in open-platform based medium format camera systems and solutions. Phase One medium format cameras, digital backs and lenses are designed to deliver superior quality image capture and investment value. Phase One's Capture One software helps streamline capture and post-production processes for both medium format and DSLR cameras. Phase One products are known for their quality, flexibility and speed enabling pro photographers shooting in a wide range of formats to achieve their creative visions without compromise. For more information about the products, visit the Phase One web site on www.phaseone.com.

Phase One is an employee-owned company based in Copenhagen with offices in New York, London, Tokyo, Cologne and Shanghai.

Phase One and Capture One are registered trademarks of Phase One A/S. All other brand or product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

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Skid Row Photography Club

A Program to give cameras to, and teach photography to the people of skid row sees success in what has developed!

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Science Photo Library Relaunches Website

Science Photo Library’s new website celebrates the breadth and depth of the collection

London (UK) (CEPIC), 26 OCTOBER 2009 - The world’s leading provider of science and specialist imagery Science Photo Library (SPL) has re-launched its website. The new site divides SPL’s vast collection into seven searchable categories: Animals, Environment, Flowers, Healthcare, History, Science & Technology and Space. For more than 25 years Science Photo Library has had an unrivalled reputation in the fields of technical and medical imagery. The SPL collection has evolved over time to represent the many other subjects falling under the broad term ‘science’.

SPL’s Sales manager Mark Abbott says: “ SPL has an incredible collection of over 300,000 images. For a long time we have been the first place to visit for specialist image requests. With our new website it is easy to see that we excel in many other areas than our unique selling point”. The website also marks the launch of SPL’s new Motion collection, comprising the best science footage from around the world.

The video clips range from the ocean floor to the edge of space, from nanorobots to aerial cityscapes revealing the world in ultra high speed, showing the beauty of time-lapse sequences and displaying events beyond the reach of the human eye Head of SPL Motion Ben Jones says: “ We are delighted to work with so many exclusive specialist footage contributors, and trust that the high-quality and unique nature of our collection will appeal to a broad range of clients”.

Click here for more information: http://www.sciencephoto.com/

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Make Your Job Your Passion-Turning Your Hobby Into a Career

Biznik National Small Business Survey Reveals Entrepreneurial Spirit Is Alive and Well Despite Change and Challenging Market Dynamics

SEATTLE, WA and CALGARY, AB--(Marketwire - October 27, 2009) - Many people look to find a way to do what they love and let their talent bring in some extra cash. With unemployment at nearly 10%, levels not seen in decades, many Americans are looking for ways to either supplement their incomes or perhaps even start their own small businesses. Biznik, the award-winning support community of entrepreneurs and small businesses, recently teamed with a professor from the University of Washington's Foster School of Business to determine the primary concerns and motivations of U.S. entrepreneurs. The survey of nearly 1,000 small business owners across the country showed that while entrepreneurs face a number of challenges ranging from sales obstacles, lowered personal income, a sense of isolation, or a lack of healthcare coverage, the overwhelming majority of them are satisfied with their decision, as passion and values continue to be the leading motivations for starting and pursuing their own businesses.

So why do people start their own businesses? According to the survey:

-- Nearly 33% of people said they "wanted to do something they enjoy"
-- Nearly 60 % said that "personal interests and values were the main drivers behind their entrepreneurial pursuits"
-- Another 25% cited the fact that they did not want to work for someone else
-- And, while only 60% of the respondents said they were satisfied with the performance of their business, 91% claim they are satisfied with their decision to work for themselves


"Overall, the study supports the entrepreneurial spirit and the value of following your passions and personal ideals to find satisfaction and financial success," said Biznik co-founder, Dan McComb. "We saw that, even in tough economic times, these people are able to quickly adapt to changing technologies and market dynamics and do what they need to do to keep driving forward."

Nick Monu, also known as nico_blue on iStockphoto, is an example of someone who made a lucrative business from his hobby. Nick graduated with honors from high school and college and is now a 23-year-old medical student at Brown University. Proceeds from iStock have helped him repay medical loans, tuition and support himself completely independent from his parents. His goals are to create a hybrid career for himself by being a part-time doctor and a part-time artist.

Dan McComb, co-founder and editor of Biznik.com is a former photojournalist whose work has been published in magazines like Time and Newsweek. In 2005, he co-founded Biznik with a simple premise: business networking shouldn't suck. Today, Biznik is an award-winning community that connects more than 35,000 forward-thinking business people in 140 countries.

The 58-question survey was sponsored by iStockphoto, the world's leading royalty-free stock multimedia destination, whose customer base is largely small businesses. It covers a range of topics including demographics, business type, work habits, operational issues and personal issues faced by the Biznik community. Taken as a whole, it gives significant insight into what drives entrepreneurs to succeed and what they are willing to do to protect and grow their businesses.

The complete survey results can be found at: http://biznik.com.

Links: www.twitter.com/istock

About iStockphoto
iStockphoto offers easy, affordable inspiration with millions of safe, royalty-free photos, illustrations, video, audio and Flash® files. Using the most accurate search in the business, customers download a file at least every second from a collection of more than five million files for business, marketing and personal projects. iStockphoto started in 2000, pioneering the micropayment photography business model, and has become one of the most successful and profitable user-generated content sites in the world. iStockphoto pays out approximately $1.2 million weekly in artist royalties. iStockphoto is headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Getty Images.

About Biznik
Biznik is an award-winning community of entrepreneurs and small businesses dedicated to helping each other succeed. Biznik helps businesses grow smarter by combining the power of social networks with face-to-face connections that foster collaboration. Based in Seattle, Washington, Biznik connects 37,000 members in 140 countries.

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World Tech Update #87

In this week's show Steve Ballmer launches Windows 7, the latest auto-tech is on show in Tokyo, Twitter isn't for sale, Google Street View goes places it never could, scientists develop a safer battery and Sony shows an impressive 3D screen that doesn't require glasses.

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2009 World Press Photo Exhibit

Learn more about the World Press Photo exhibit, and check out some of the best photos of the year.

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Mamiya Debuts New Open Platform Digital Camera

Elmsford, NY – October 23, 2009 – Mamiya, synonymous with professional medium format photography for 50 years, announces an entirely new medium format camera body, the Mamiya 645DF. The 645DF delivers exciting advances in core-camera technology, including an innovative new selectable dual shutter system with available flash sync speeds of up to 1/1600 of a second. Designed specifically for use with digital camera backs in the Mamiya 645AF mount, the 645DF is a true open platform camera system, compatible with digital backs from Leaf, Mamiya, Phase One, and Sinar.

The photographer can now select the best shutter for the conditions — either the integral focal plane shutter, which can be used with any of 15 existing Mamiya 645AF system lenses, or the photographer can choose to use one of three new lenses containing an in-lens leaf shutter for high-speed flash sync.

Combining 35mm handling ease and speed with an available image capture area nearly 3 times larger, the Mamiya 645DF is a full-featured camera utilizing comprehensive digital controls and LCD displays, and featuring 19 custom settings for creative, personalized digital photography.

In addition, Mamiya announces three new leaf shutter digital lenses, designed for use with the new 645DF camera: the Sekor 80mm f/2.8 LS D, the Sekor 55mm f/2.8 LS D, and the Sekor 110mm f/2.8 LS D. Designed by Schneider-Kreuznach, and manufactured by Mamiya, these new lenses are designed for the stringent demands of the latest high-resolution digital backs. With top flash sync speeds of up to 1/1600 second, these new lenses allow for effective use of professional strobe equipment in even the brightest of conditions.

The Suggested Retail Prices for the 645DF Camera (body only) is $5,990; Sekor 80mm f/2.8 LS D lens $2,490; the Sekor 55mm f/2.8 LS D lens $3,490; and the Sekor 110mm f/2.8 LS D lens $3,990.

For more information, visit the 645DF product page.

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Mamiya Introduces Four New Digital Backs

Elmsford, NY – October 22, 2009 – For 50 years Mamiya has provided professional photographers with medium format technology — film and digital. It is continuing that support and leadership today by introducing four new Mamiya DM digital backs, available in resolutions of 22, 28, 33 and 56 megapixels.

"We want to empower Mamiya photographers to grow with technology, all the while providing a comfortable and familiar shooting experience," says Mamiya Product Marketing Manager Mike Edwards. "Mamiya cameras are modular by nature, so this product line is a natural progression."

Customers will also enjoy Mamiya’s new Guaranteed Trade-Up Program, which offers purchasers of new Mamiya digital products the peace of mind of knowing they can safely choose the right product for their specific needs.

The Mamiya DM digital back series features 16 bit/channel image capture and recording, both in tethered and untethered modes, as well as the open-standard HDR-type Mosaic file format. Images from the Mamiya DM digital backs can be processed using a variety of popular professional software solutions, Phase One Capture One™ or Leaf Capture™, both of which are included. Photographers may also choose to use many optional 3rd-party image-processing programs, such as Adobe Lightroom™.

Compatible camera systems include: Mamiya 645AFD, 645AFDII, 645AFDIII, and 645DF, Mamiya RZ67 (via optional adapter), Mamiya RB67 (via optional adapter), and 4x5 view camera (via optional adapter).

For more information, visit the DM Series Product Page.

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New Mamiya DM56 Digital Camera Introduced

Elmsford, NY – October 21, 2009 – Mamiya has partnered with industry leaders Schneider, Phase One and Leaf to produce the best of all worlds — the new Mamiya DM56 professional digital camera.

The camera features a 56 megapixel sensor, and is precision-matched to new optics designed by renowned lens maker Schneider-Kreuznach. "The results have created a new standard for digital images," says Mamiya Product Marketing Manager Mike Edwards. "The large sensor, 56x36mm, coupled with a 16 bit/channel color palette, provides exceptional color accuracy and rich high dynamic range images in just a single capture. Other digital camera systems simply cannot compare."

The heart of the DM56 system is the new "DF" camera-core technology, developed by Mamiya, featuring two user-selectable shutter systems: leaf or focal plane. In demanding daylight situations, photographers can use predictable high speed flash synchronization to fill-in or overpower even the brightest ambient light on one of three new leaf-shuttered lenses designed by Schneider-Kreuznach and manufactured by Mamiya. The lenses, available in focal lengths of 55mm, 80mm, and 110mm, deliver an effective maximum flash sync speed of up to 1/1600th of a second. For more conventional situations, photographers can choose any one of 15 other world-class Mamiya optics, from 28mm to 300mm APO, designed for use with the cameras’ focal plane shutter system.

Regardless of shutter choice, photographers can look forward to the DM56’s faster autofocus technology, open-platform back selection, improved ergonomics, and performance accuracy.

Mamiya recognizes that stellar camera performance is of little value without equally powerful software options.

"That’s why we offer the flexibility of choosing from the world’s largest selection of professional Raw file processing solutions," continues Edwards, "and that is why we have included both Phase One’s Capture One™ and Leaf Capture™. Or, photographers can choose to use 3rd-party software such as Adobe Lightroom™. The power of software choice is in photographers’ hands, where it should be."

The Mamiya DM56 continues Mamiya’s reputation of perfecting the professional modular camera system for the ultimate in versatility. Mix-and-match components as needed — perhaps a traditional DM configuration today; then if the photographer wishes, use it with a Mamiya RZ or 3rd-party view camera system tomorrow by using optional adapters.

The new DM56 has an estimated street price of $32,490, and is being introduced at the same time as the DM33, with a street price of $19,990. Both cameras come with the sharp 80mm f/2.8 D Series lens, focal plane shutter, and are fully compatible with any Mamiya AF focal plane series lens. The DM33 also features Mamiya’s new Guaranteed Trade-Up Program, which offers purchasers of new Mamiya digital products the peace of mind of knowing they can safely choose the right product for their specific needs.

Both the DM56 and DM33 are scheduled to begin shipments in November, and feature 6x7 touchscreens, with the DM56 fitted with a 9288 x 6000 pixel sensor measuring 56 x 36mm, with an ISO range of 80-800. The DM33’s sensor has 6726 x 5040 pixels and measures 48 x 36mm, with an ISO range of 50-800.

For more information, visit The DM56 and DM33 Product Page.

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Sony Introduces Unique Digital Photo Frame With Built-In Printer

Combination Device Makes It Easy to View and Share Images

News Facts

# Sony Electronics is launching a stylish multitasking S-Frame® digital photo frame with printer (model DPP-F700).
# The sleek, all-in-one device allows photo viewing and printing for picture lovers who enjoy displaying and sharing copies of their special memories.
# Showcasing your favorite photos in vibrant color and crisp detail, the DPP-F700 features a 7-inch (measured diagonally) (16:10) LCD display with WVGA (800 x 480) resolution.
# The device prints 4 x 6-inch professional quality 300 x 300 dpi photos instantly in just 45 seconds.
# Allowing you to edit images before printing, the device’s options include enlarge, reduce, crop, date stamp on/off, border/borderless (for single prints), and brightness, contrast, hue, and sharpness adjustment.
# In Creative Print mode, you can make a calendar with pictures (more than 30 templates), print an ID photo, and create a "layout print" with multiple images on one sheet.
# Using Screen Capture, you can print exactly what is displayed on the screen during a slideshow.
# The frame-printer device features about one gigabyte of internal storage capacity with an auto-resizing adjustment that downsizes photos to let you store up to 2,000 photos.
# Image transfer is a snap with direct USB input from your PC, as well as support for most memory cards, including Memory Stick PRO™, Memory Stick PRO Duo™, Secure Digital (SD), SDHC, Multi-Media Card (MMC), Compact Flash®, and xD-Picture Card™ media.
# Whether the device is set vertically or horizontally, the Auto Orientation sensor automatically rotates your photos into portrait or landscape format according to the placement.
# A wide range of view and print modes and many other functions can be managed from the included remote control.
# Multiple playback options offer flexibility to display photos as single images, as thumbnails for easy searching, or as a slideshow with ten built-in transitions.
# The new S-Frame model supports JPEG, TIFF, and BMP image file formats.
# Supplied accessories include a paper tray, AC adaptor, CD-ROM (print driver, PMB), operation manual, cleaning kit, and stand.
# Optional print packs include compatible SVM-F series: SVM-F40P (40 sheets of photo paper and cartridge), and SVM-F120P (120 sheets of photo paper and cartridges).
# The DPP-F700 digital photo frame-printer will be available for about $200 in January and can be purchased online at http://www.sonystyle.com, at Sony Style® retail stores and at authorized dealers nationwide.

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Release of Capture 2.1

UK, 23 OCTOBER 2009 - The latest release of Capture 2.1 was recently showcased at the International PACA conference in Miami. Businesses of all sizes came to see a demonstration of the new feature-rich, fully web-based back-office and front-end system that many clients are already working with, from multi-nationals to smaller agencies around the world.

Its customer centric design has been created to save time and money in this challenging economic climate with e-commerce front-end capabilities providing multi drag-and-drop functionality and multiple viewing variations from within the grid – leagues ahead of rival sites. Simple but powerful functionality:

• Contributors can upload and keyword from anywhere.
• Rights aware, sub-agent distribution module
• Pricebook that integrates with PLUS
• Multi-Lingual
• Integrates fully with existing invoicing and sales ledger

In short, Capture 2.1 will dramatically streamline your workflow and provide you with a return on investment at the click of a mouse!

For an online or informal demonstration of Capture or our full suite of products, please email info@capture.co.uk Telephone; 01491 873011 or visit us at www.capture.co.uk

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50-50 ep.05 - day 21-32

Fifty/Fifty is a personal project by Belgian professional photographer Bert Stephani (www.bertstephani.com). For 50 days Bert will shoot whenever and whatever he can with a full frame camera (Canon 5D mkII) and a 50mm lens.

The goal of this project is to become a better photographer by training his photographic eye, working with limited equipment and shooting subjects that Bert is not familiar with in his regular assignments.

Author: bertstephani
Website: www.bertstephani.com
Category: Howto & Style
Tags: stephani bert stephani canon 5DmkII 50mm prime lens photography project personal

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Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3 Beta Now Available

New Lightroom beta delivers faster performance, refined image processing and streamlined publishing

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Oct. 22, 2009 — Adobe Systems Incorporated (Nasdaq:ADBE) today introduced Adobe® Photoshop® Lightroom® 3 beta software for Macintosh and Windows®, a public preview of new and improved functionality to be delivered in the next major release. Lightroom is the essential digital photography workflow solution, helping serious amateur and professional photographers quickly import, manage, enhance and showcase all their images from one application. Available as a free download on Adobe Labs, Lightroom 3 beta delivers a preview of new tools that will be in Lightroom 3, including more intuitive importing, unparalleled noise reduction and sharpening tools, enhanced slideshow capabilities and direct publishing to online photo sharing sites like Flickr®. Adobe encourages photographers to test this early selection of new features and provide the product team with their feedback.

“We are extremely fortunate that a strong community of photographers have rallied around Lightroom, helping to evolve the application and making it a meaningful part of their photographic workflows,” said Kevin Connor, vice president of product management for Professional Digital Imaging at Adobe. “While we’re still hard at work on Lightroom 3, we recognize the value our customers bring to the development process and want their input so we can deliver the best final product possible.”

New in Lightroom 3 Beta
Lightroom 3 beta has been completely redesigned with under-the-hood efficiencies to better handle growing image libraries and improve responsiveness with a higher-quality processing engine. In the Library module, a rebuilt import system makes bringing photos into the software more intuitive. Users can easily specify the source and destination of their images, and save common processing, metadata or destination settings as easy-to-reuse presets.

The Library module also includes new capabilities to publish collections on popular photo-sharing sites. Flickr users now have direct access to their accounts from within Lightroom and can drag and drop images directly into their Photostreams. Flickr Pro account users can automatically synch their images and even view comments made on Flickr directly within the Library. This functionality can be extended to additional sites by adding them as new plug-ins once they become available.

In the Develop module, an overhauled processing engine allows users to create the highest quality images. Improved Capture Sharpening and Color Noise Reduction tools provide superior results while still preserving an image’s edge detail and contrast. A new Grain tool adds a film-style grain to images, and two new Vignette modes help photographers get a more natural look.

Lightroom 3 beta also offers advanced output options, including the ability to export slideshows as videos with audio and title screens that can be posted to video-sharing sites or optimized for mobile media. New watermarking capabilities enable photographers to embed text or graphic information directly on an image and then adjust the size, position and opacity. In addition, photographers can customize print layouts and save settings for future use, giving them refined control over their images.

Adobe Photoshop Family
Adobe Photoshop CS4 and Photoshop CS4 Extended software are at the heart of the Photoshop family, joined by solutions for users at every level who want to bring out the best in their digital images. Photoshop Lightroom addresses the workflow needs of serious amateur and professional photographers, helping them manage, find, enhance and showcase images in impactful ways. Adobe Photoshop Elements software provides exciting tools and sharing options for photo enthusiasts. Lastly, snap shooters can access Photoshop.com for free to simply fix and enhance photos, and quickly share those images on Photoshop.com or on social-networking sites.

Pricing and Availability
Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3 beta is available as a free download to anyone on both Macintosh and Windows platforms. Visit to learn more and download the beta. Feedback can be submitted on the Lightroom forums: http://forums.adobe.com/community/lightroom. Users also can connect with Adobe at www.facebook.com/lightroom or www.twitter.com/AdobeLR, and can add the tag #AdobeLR3beta to tweets about the Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3 beta.

About Adobe Systems Incorporated
Adobe revolutionizes how the world engages with ideas and information – anytime, anywhere and through any medium. For more information, visit www.adobe.com.

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Gold Level Photographer Jim DeLillo Cancels iStock Exclusivity, First Stop...Fotolia

Jim DeLillo, a Gold Level contributor (10,000 downloads) has ended his exclusivity agreement with the microstock giant iStock. A New Jersey photographer, DeLillo is ranked 1267 worldwide by http://istockcharts.multimedia.de/ and is credited with over 11,000 downloads. He has uploaded his entire portfolio to Fotolia.

image: Red Beret by Jim DeLillo

New York, NY (PRWEB) October 20, 2009 -- Jim DeLillo, a Gold Level contributor (10,000 downloads) has ended his exclusivity agreement with the microstock giant iStock. A New Jersey photographer, DeLillo is ranked 1267 worldwide by http://istockcharts.multimedia.de/ and is credited with over 11,000 downloads.

Full artist Exclusivity on iStock means images, video or audio files cannot be sold on other royalty-free sites or businesses, with the exception of Getty Images. The agreement restricted DeLillo to selling his royalty-free (RF) stock images only through iStock. The benefits of such an agreement can include increased payout rates, higher upload limits, quicker approval times, and some additional marketing exposure.

Although canceling the agreement means losing some benefits, going non-exclusive empowers DeLillo to sell RF stock photography through whatever outlet he chooses. The microstock market is growing at an amazing rate, as there are over thirty-three commonly known microstock agencies.

DeLillo says, "with iStock's decision to offer exclusive content through non-exclusive partners, and Getty now marketing tiny size images while offering to purchase Flickr photos from individuals it appears that the exclusive marketing model has changed."

"I want to follow the view that more sales channels are better," adds DeLillo, "Fotolia, one of the world's leading sources for high quality microstock imagery is the logical first stop for me. They are experiencing rapid growth and being very innovative in their marketing."

Fotolia is where recent hires Garth Johnson, former VP Business and Community Development of rival firm iStockphoto, and iStockphoto co-founder, Patrick Lor, have recently taken executive positions.

"Having had the privilege of collaborating with Jim DeLillo in the past, I know his exceptional portfolio will only enhance Fotolia's collection of over seven million images," says Garth Johnson, Fotolia Executive Vice President, North America. "We welcome him to the Fotolia community with open arms."

About Jim DeLillo
Jim DeLillo is a photographer that has over 20 years of experience including international publications such as Woman's World Magazine and many other daily, weekly, and monthly periodicals. His photojournalist, reality based, eclectic style provides a refreshing break from the stiffly posed studio shots. Jim can be followed on Twitter http://twitter.com/jimdeli

About Fotolia
Over 1.3 million people prefer Fotolia, LLC for affordable, royalty-free images, graphics and HD videos. With the introduction of the Infinite Collection, Fotolia became the first worldwide microstock organization to offer both crowd-sourced and professional images on one site. Founded in New York City in 2005, Fotolia spans the globe with websites in 10 languages and offices in 12 countries. With over 7,000,000 images to choose from, find it on Fotolia. www.fotolia.com

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Tags: fotolia istock jim delillo photographer photography micropayment microstock royalty-free getty

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Shutterstock Announces New Plan to Protect Each Image and Footage Purchase

Largest subscription stock image site guarantees its entire library of more than 8.5 million images and 140,000 footage clips

New York, October 20, 2009 - Shutterstock, the world’s largest subscription-based stock photo agency, announced today that it will legally guarantee every file in its vast library by providing up to $10,000 to cover legal costs and direct damages for claims arising from the use of an image or footage clip licensed through Shutterstock.

Thanks to Shutterstock’s thorough and selective review process, the agency has become a global leader in providing affordable, high quality images that comply with the highest legal and ethical standards in the industry.

Shutterstock has now gone a step further by covering key areas of liability, including copyrights, trademarks and rights of privacy and publicity. Under the new plan, which begins today, every file in Shutterstock’s expansive library – which consists of more than 8.5 million images and 140,000 footage clips – will be guaranteed.

“We’ve become an industry leader by earning the trust of stock image and footage buyers worldwide,” said Jon Oringer, CEO and founder of Shutterstock. “Although claims involving our content are extremely rare, we wanted to give our customers an even higher level of comfort by providing up to $10,000 in indemnification.”

Shutterstock’s protection plan, along with its uncompromising commitment to the integrity and quality of its images, solidifies the company’s reputation as a trusted resource for image and footage buyers worldwide.

Please see Shutterstock’s Terms of Service for complete details.

About Shutterstock®
Founded in 2003, Shutterstock is the largest subscription-based stock photo agency in the world. Its outstanding collection of premium photos, illustrations, and vectors combined with a selection of innovative, user-friendly subscription plans has made Shutterstock a trusted resource for an expanding global customer base. An industry pioneer in selling royalty-free stock by subscription, Shutterstock was also the first online photo agency to offer editorial photos and launch a video library. Shutterstock Footage offers a comprehensive library of royalty-free video clips available on a per-clip basis or by subscription. For more information, visit www.Shutterstock.com.

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Creating a White Background with a Channel Mask

http://www.alittlephotoshop.com - One question that I get asked more than most is "How can i make my white backgrounds white?" Well, where as most photographers are looking for a one click answer, I am sorry to say there isn't one. But, this podcast comes pretty close as I delve into the world of channel masks, sneakily using channel calculations, and the dodge and burn tools. Remember to check out our other video tutorials.

Author: thelittlephotoshop
Category: Howto & Style
Tags: littlephotoshop adobe photoshop cs4 channels masks alpha video tutorial screencast stuart little

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Photoshop Mama's Pindora Peek and More

How to create a promo card template, do a popout and create a set of production Actions and a sneek peek at Pindora's Box brought to you by Mama Shan and Mike Long.

Author: photoshopmama
Website: http://www.photoshopmama.net/Assets_P...
Category: Howto & Style
Tags: photoshop tutorial pinups templates popouts actions mamashan mikelong

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Paul Debevec animates a photo-real digital face

http://www.ted.com At TEDxUSC, computer graphics trailblazer Paul Debevec explains the scene-stealing technology behind Digital Emily, a digitally constructed human face so realistic it stands up to multiple takes.

TEDTalks is a daily video podcast of the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world's leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes. Featured speakers have included Al Gore on climate change, Philippe Starck on design, Jill Bolte Taylor on observing her own stroke, Nicholas Negroponte on One Laptop per Child, Jane Goodall on chimpanzees, Bill Gates on malaria and mosquitoes, Pattie Maes on the "Sixth Sense" wearable tech, and "Lost" producer JJ Abrams on the allure of mystery. TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design, and TEDTalks cover these topics as well as science, business, development and the arts. Closed captions and translated subtitles in a variety of languages are now available on TED.com, at http://www.ted.com/translate. Watch a highlight reel of the Top 10 TEDTalks at http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/top10

Author: TEDtalksDirector
Category: Science & Technology
Tags: Paul Debevec TEDTalks TED talk TEDxUSC TEDx USC Digital Emily face computer graphics special effects

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Mamiya Debuts DM22 Digital Camera for under $10K

Elmsford, NY – October 20, 2009 – Mamiya, synonymous with professional photography, has introduced a new 22MP, 36x48mm digital camera selling for $9,995. The Mamiya DM22, slated for November delivery, is the perfect choice for photographers when 35mm-sized DSLRs are not good enough. In fashion work, studio product photography, industrial/scientific or other demanding photographic specialties, medium format photography is in many people’s eyes hands-down the winner over 35mm-based digital. The DM22 is the affordable way to achieve that superiority.

“For years, many professional photographers have been relegated to consumer-like DSLR systems, simply due to the high cost of recognized pro-level digital equipment,” says Mamiya Product Marketing Manager Mike Edwards. “This new camera features a premium-quality 22 megapixel sensor, and true 16bit/channel RAW files, resulting in richly detailed images that leave a vibrant and lasting impression for both the photographer and client. We recognize photographers’ need to deliver exceptional quality photographs, along with an impression of professionalism, which a 35mm-sized DSLR cannot present. Files can be processed using either of the included software solutions: Capture One™ by Phase One or Leaf Capture™, or photographers can choose to use Adobe Lightroom™ (not included) allowing the widest variety of professional processing software options available. This is definitely an opportunity to put the finest technology to work at a most affordable price.”

The new camera has an estimated street price of $9,995. It’s being introduced at the same time as the Mamiya DM28, with a street price of $14,990. Both cameras come with the sharp Mamiya 80mm f/2.8 D Series lens, focal plane shutter, and are fully compatible with any Mamiya AF focal plane series lens. In addition, they can be used with older 645MF and Hasselblad lenses (via #310-244 adapter), both in stop-down mode.

Both the DM22 and DM28 feature Mamiya’s new Guaranteed Trade-Up Program, which offers purchasers of new Mamiya digital products the peace of mind of knowing they can safely choose the right product for their specific needs.

The DM22 features a 48x36mm sensor, 5356x4056 pixels, and an ISO range of 25-400. The RAW file is the Mosaic format, HDR-type, with 16 bits/channel and a dynamic range of 12 f/stops. Image storage is either on a CF card or via FireWire™. The DM28 is identical except its sensor is 44x33mm, 6144x4622 pixels, and an ISO range of 50-800.

For more information, visit Mamiya.com

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Microstock Agency PantherMedia Announces Expansion To Poland, Launches Localized Website

Munich (GERMANY) / Warsaw (POLAND), 20 OCTOBER 2009 - PantherMedia, the leading and rapidly growing marketplace for Royalty-Free photography with over one million images, illustrations and a vibrant photocommunity, today announces the opening of its new office in Warsaw, Poland, and the launch of its new dedicated polish website.

PantherMedia Poland (http://www.panthermedia.pl) is led by industry expert Wieslaw Kubajka who will apply his extensive industry knowledge to enhance the international exposure for PantherMedia´s collection of stock photos and illustrations. Mr. Kubajka, who holds an university degree in Economy/International Finance, was formerly the long-time Head of the Photo Department of the Bauer Publishing House Poland and previously the President of KAPA Press Agency.

"I´m delighted to spearhead PantherMedia´s business expansion to Poland", said Wieslaw Kubajka. "Poland is a very valuable market for PantherMedia´s products and services, and its recently launched new subscription plans", he added. "We are creating new possibilities for image buyers and photographers in this market. We do not only start with a localized website for photo buyers, but also with a fully translated photocommunity for photographers. For the first time Polish visitors are now able to buy and sell images on PantherMedia in our native language."

PantherMedia has received many images from international contributors around the world and will continue to expand its sales activities into new international markets with direct customer contact in the particular foreign language as well as local marketing and advertising campaigns in the foreign countries. "Expanding our microstock business to Poland is a logical extension of our strategy to grow our microstock business internationally", added Robert Walters, CEO and co-founder of PantherMedia, "PantherMedia Poland is the first step in this direction." To celebrate the launch, PantherMedia Poland offers a wide range of introductory offers which can be found at http://panthermedia.net/?polska.

Contact details for PantherMedia Poland:

Panther Media Polska
Wiesław Kubajka
ul. Warszawska 55/97
05-075 Warszawa
Polska
Tel: + 48 (0)22 389 77 13
+ 48 (0)22 389 77 14
Fax: + 48 22 489 72 95
Web: http://www.panthermedia.pl
Email: biuro@panthermedia.net


About PantherMedia:
PantherMedia is a marketplace for Royalty Free (RF) photography. Suppliers as well as buyers of commercial and editorial imagery meet on one shared platform consisting of a photocommunity for photographers and a stock agency for image buyers. The photocommunity serves as the creative heart of the image marketplace. Professional photographers and shutterbugs from all over the world can upload, rate and comment on images. They can share their experience, further develop their photographic skills and showcase their artistic potential.

After a legal and qualitative check through PantherMedia, picture editors chose adequate images for the stock agency. Agencies, publishing houses and enterprises which need images can license photographs for their individual purposes - either as single images or through a flexible subscription plan. The revenues will be shared with photographers. This novel business model allows through so-called „User Generated Content“, provided by over 20,000 photographers worldwide, to keep the offer of RF-images far below the average market price. PanterMedia.net is an enterprise of PantherMedia GmbH with headquarters in Munich, Germany and was founded in October 2004. At present, PantherMedia offers more than 1 million images worldwide directly and via an international network of over 90 distribution partners in 36 countries. During the FounderChampions competition of the 25th German Days of Founders and Entrepreneurs PantherMedia represented the Federal State of Bavaria as the best Bavarian Start-up.

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