December 2008
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LARGE-FORMAT PRINTER
Make beautiful fine-art prints with the HP Photosmart B8550, a dye-based printer with a new five-ink printing system. The B8550 prints a range of sizes from 4x6 to 13x19 inches, with a 4x6-inch color photo printing in as fast as 30 seconds. You can view and print photos just by inserting your memory card into the built-in card slot. The 2.4-inch color display lets you review and enhance images. HP’s dual-drop volume technology helps enhance detail by using small ink droplets. Estimated Street Price: $299. Contact: HP, (800) 752-0900, www.hp.com.
ON THE BORDER
Frame your images in new and creative ways using PhotoFrame 4 from onOne Software. Available in Standard and Professional editions, both feature a base of 1,000 frames to choose from, with the same features for searching, combining and applying various edges. The Pro version includes an additional 300 frames, textures, overlays and presets designed by top Photoshop experts. The new Library window lets you easily search, browse and preview frames in real time. Estimated Street Price: $159 (Standard); $259 (Professional). Contact: onOne Software, (888) 968-1468, www.ononesoftware.com.
ULTIMATE EDITING TOOL
Remove an unwanted background with Corel’s Paint Shop Pro Photo X2 Ultimate. The full-featured image-processing suite includes a Background Remover tool that isolates and takes out part of a background, allowing you to replace it with another image. Fine details, like strands of hair, are preserved. There’s also a new Creative Content Pack that includes 150 custom-made photo frames, edges and graphics designed to fuel your creative side. Estimated Street Price: $99. Contact: Corel, (800) 772-6735, www.corel.com.
PHOTO MANAGER
Organize and manage your images with greater efficiency using ACDSee Pro 2.5, a workflow program that has received a major upgrade. You now can create a folder system, back up files, set categories and modify metadata as images are imported. Embedding custom metadata, like categories and ratings, saving custom search criteria and nondestructive editing round out the update. The auto slideshow feature is also improved. Estimated Street Price: $129. Contact: ACD Systems, www.acdsee.com.
TRAVEL BAG
Wrap up your laptop in an AeroPro bag from Sima Products. The wrap is made from Aeroprene fabric, which provides a clear view for airport X-ray scanners while protecting your laptop from accidental scratches, bumps and dents. High-strength Velcro® seals the closure securely. The bags come in two sizes to fit all notebook sizes. Estimated Street Price: Starts at $89. Contact: BKA Photo, (847) 821-0450, www.bkaphoto.com.
ROLL THROUGH
Transport your valuable photo equipment in Porter Case’s PCX Lite series. The carry-on-sized luggage cases have wheels and a built-in cart feature that allows you to stack more than 100 pounds of other baggage on top. Optional adjustable dividers and a customizable, layered foam interior help to protect your gear. Estimated Street Price: Starts at $149. Contact: Porter Case, (800) 356-8348, www.portercase.com.
| Hard Copy | |
| Photographic Lighting: Essential Skills, Fourth Edition by John Child and Mark Galer (Focal Press, 2008; ISBN: 978-0-240-50095-7). Gain a practical understanding of the characteristics of light and basic photographic lighting principles. Topics cover film, filters, exposure, compensation and the Zone System, as well as creative techniques. |  |
| The Creative Digital Darkroom by Katrin Eismann and Sean Duggan (O’Reilly, 2008; ISBN: 978-0-596-10047-6). Traditional darkroom techniques and concepts are translated into digital solutions using Adobe Photoshop CS3 and Lightroom. This how-to guide is ideal for intermediate and advanced photographers. |  |
| The Eternal Light of Egypt: A Photographic Journey by Sarite Sanders (Thames & Hudson, 2008; ISBN: 978-0-500-54362-7). Featuring infrared photography, the book portrays images of Egypt’s ancient monuments in a dark, edgy and visceral way. The stunning photos are accompanied by quotes from various sources. |  |
| The Photo Workshop Series by various authors (Wiley, 2007; ISBN: 978-0-470-11433-9). The books are written by professional photographers and cover behind-the-camera skills and techniques, including lighting, composition and macro work. End-of-chapter assignments can be posted on www.pwsbooks.com for peer evaluation. |  |
| The Art of Black and White Photography: Techniques for Creating Superb Images in a Digital Workflow by Torsten Andreas Hoffmann (Rocky Nook, 2008; ISBN: 978-2-933952-27-7). Focusing on composition and image capture, Hoffmann takes a look at the more creative aspects of shooting black-and-white photography. |  |
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