Endless MediaTM – See What You Think

Masterfile announces Endless MediaTM: the next generation web application that revolutionizes image searching for picture buyers.

Toronto / Düsseldorf (CANDANA, GERMANY), DECEMBER 2008 - Stock photo agency Masterfile Corporation has just launched its revolutionary new user interface, Endless MediaTM, heralding the next generation of online image searching. The project has been under wraps for more than a year with Masterfile’s development team while the company applied for international patents on the unique methodology and its underlying logic.

Endless Media's innovative features deliver new dimensions in image searching for industry professionals. It is simple, fast and efficient - enabling users to streamline their existing workflows. It reduces typing, eliminates “unproductive” mouse clicks and annoying pop-up windows while providing a unique display methodology that makes the site easier to navigate. Users can search deep in the collection without ever getting lost.

John McDonald, Masterfile’s Vice-President of Product Development and the technology’s creator, says “Think of it as visual logic for designers with the extreme speed of a desktop application. It’s a ‘type less and see more’ paradigm where users follow their own visual instincts to direct the search. There is nothing out there with its speed and simplicity… and this is just the beginning.”

Beyond the speed of the application, there are many new features built into it, including:

* An “endless” horizontal image display eliminates the concept of “pages”;
* The site’s unique design logic prevents users from losing their place when they refine their search within results.
* A powerful history feature allows users to review any of the images they’ve previewed a few minutes ago, or even a few months ago.
* An advanced and improved SimSearch® automatically displays visual similars as well as images from the same shoot whenever a user previews (enlarges) an image.

* An innovative ”pairing” feature allows users to use any image to find other visually similar images of a different subject. This feature is ideal for rapidly selecting multiple images for communications media based on a visual theme or design.
* There is support for hundreds of lightboxes and up to 4 active ones to enable users to save images for multiple projects/concepts in one pass.

Says Masterfile President, Steve Pigeon: “A year ago I said we were working on something that would make our competitors weep. This is it. We have taken the search for images to an entirely new level. With Endless MediaTM, you can see what you think.”

Source: CEPIC

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Masterfile Pocket Diary 2009: Daydreaming

Toronto (CANADA)/ Düsseldorf (GERMANY), NOVEMBER 2008 - For the third consecutive year stock photo agency Masterfile is delighted to present its strictly limited edition pocket diary. The chosen images are inspired by the theme “Daydreaming” and taken from Masterfile’s outstanding and extensive rights-managed and royalty-free collection.

It is a blend of classic diary pages and eye-catching collages, whose dreamlike quality allows the viewer to be momentarily transported out of their everyday lives. From time to time one comes across fantastic short stories added to these colourful collages. The diary demonstrates the depth of creativity Masterfile’s image collection has to offer. The 168 page, high-quality diary’s cover is coated with woven cotton. Inside, each double spread is ideally structured to make up one week in the calendar year, with plenty of space for daily appointments, notes or letting the mind wander. Carefully arranged within these pages also lie Masterfile’s memorable images. The pocket diary is clearly set out and practical, making it the perfect addition to the office, home or on the go.

The diary's concept and layout was realised by the in-house creative team at Masterfile’s European Headquarters. The image collages and illustrations were made by Parasol Island (parasol-island.com) in Düsseldorf. Hamburg based company “Produktionsschmiede” once more dealt with production. The diary has been manufactured according to Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) standards and was a carbon-neutral production. Masterfile’s exclusive diary will be delivered to selected clients worldwide, in their particular national language, in mid-November.

Source: CEPIC

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Masterfile envisions the 'Green World'

Toronto (CANADA) / Düsseldorf (GERMANY), SEPTEMBER 2008 - Masterfile’s next magazine-style publication (The File 2.08) - entitled 'Green World' - will be distributed to clients around the world in mid-September 2008.

With 'Green World', Masterfile tackles the topic of environmentally compatible living – a trend that will dominate and define our futures as no other. In fact, 'green' consciousness is no longer simply a trend. Environmental awareness has gone mainstream, and ecology minded thinking will necessarily play a key role in the actions of all people from now on. This has recently become very apparent in the field of advertising and media, where the topic is more and more prevalent.

Major corporations are increasingly putting out a 'green' message in their marketing strategies; on television, in print and on the web. With powerful, expressive photographs of landscapes, nature, animals and people, Masterfile’s 'Green World' brilliantly illustrates this sea change with images from its collections. All of these and countless more ecologically relevant photographs and illustrations are available for on-line research and licensing at masterfile.com.

Surprising facts about global climate and environmental issues are intriguingly presented throughout the magazine in different hand-lettered styles. This treatment accentuates the strong expressiveness of the imagery available in Masterfile’s Royalty-Free & Rights-Managed collections, and also demonstrates Masterfile’s appreciation for unique design.

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'Green World' was produced carbon-neutrally and printed on 100% recycled paper. At masterfile.com/city there will be a link to the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) website where visitors can learn all about their important initiatives. Any resulting monetary donation made to the FSC to assist them with their efforts in conserving the world’s forests and diminishing climate change will be rewarded with a newly planted tree in Masterfile City (masterfile.com/city), Masterfile’s virtual online world!

'Green World' will be available in two versions, just like Masterfile’s prior publication 'Mysteries'. There will be a 32 page Deluxe Edition and an 8 page Standard Edition, both in a 240 x 335 mm oversized format. Also, an animated interactive version of 'Green World' will be found at masterfile.com/greenworld. 'Green World' was created in-house by Masterfile’s European design department in Düsseldorf.

In conjunction with this elaborate publication’s release, Masterfile is offering a special discount promotion for new customers. They’ll get 20% off their first image purchase made before the end of the year. All the details about this attractive introductory offer can be found at masterfile.com.

Source: CEPIC

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