DIMA 2008 Innovative Digital Product Award winners announced

Tag : Digital USB PC Camera

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Of the hundreds of digital products on display at PMA Sneak Peek 2008 , the official press event of PMA 08 in Las Vegas, Nev., 13 have been selected by a panel of digitalimaging editors to receive the prestigious DIMA Innovative DigitalProduct Award. The annual award is one of several events sponsoredby the Digital Imaging Marketing Association ® (DIMA®), a PMA ® member association,Jackson, Mich.
DIMA Innovative Digital Product Awards recognize products orservices utilizing new technologies and/or applications that makethe product either distinct or the first of its kind.
PMA 08 exhibitors were asked to submit entries and digital photosfor their products/services by December 17, 2007, to allow a panelof industry press to evaluate the products and services for theDIMA Innovative Digital Product Awards. All entries were evaluatedbased on the following questions:
1. Why is this product/service considered innovative?
2. What sets this product/service apart from its competitors?
3. How does this product/service benefit its user?
Companies honored for their innovative digital products, inalphabetical order by company, are:
Grand Photographer Series PC-12.2 UDM (Ultra D-Max) Waterfast MatteCanvas
BF Inkjet Media
PC-12.2 UDM is designed for use in professional-qualityblack-and-white photographic applications requiring a canvassubstrate. This waterfast matte canvas exhibits exceptional D-Max,wide ranging tonal and grayscale articulation and will not bleed ordrift in extremely dark image areas. While focused onblack-and-white applications, this canvas also produces stunningcolor imagery with razor-sharp resolution, remarkable color depthand density, clear chromacity and excellent soft tone colortransition for high bokeh areas.

Delkin Dual Universal Charger ™
Delkin Devices
The Dual Universal Battery Charger does just what the name states:it enables a photographer to charge almost any two digital camerabatteries simultaneously without increasing the overall charge timeof either battery. When viewed straight on, Delkin's chargerappears to be similar to almost any other battery charger on themarket, but flip it around and you'll find that a second batterycharging bay, identical to the first, lies on the other side of thecharger. When two batteries are inserted, they charge back to backalmost as if they are two separate chargers that have been bondedtogether.
The Dual Universal Charger's base unit is primarily designed fordesktop use, with four slip-free rubber feet and a removable poweradapter. For traveling photographers, the Dual Universal Charger is110/220V with automatic switching capability, and comes with avehicle adapter for mobile charging. European and British powerplug versions are also available, with the ability to expand plugoptions in the future for worldwide distribution.
ImageRouter ™
Delkin Devices
Delkin's ImageRouter is the new reader that provides professionalphotographers a complete file import system designed to improveworkflow speed and efficiency. ImageRouter is a four slot, USB 2.0CompactFlash reader, complete with software that allows up to fourFlash cards to be written to a PC simultaneously. Images arerenamed and filed based on the user's chosen parameters, and thenburned to a CD or DVD – all automatically!
Kodak Adaptive Picture Exchange (APEX)
Eastman Kodak Co.
The KODAK Adaptive Picture Exchange (APEX) is a new dry lab systemdesigned to meet the evolving needs of retailers throughunprecedented flexibility and efficiency in providing digitalproducts and services to consumers while minimizing retailer costsand complexity. The APEX system not only fulfills consumer printorders from existing KODAK Order Stations (up to 13 stations) andInternet-based orders, but it also includes capability for premiumproducts, such as KODAK Picture Movie DVDs, and options for postersand single-sided or duplex photo books, calendars and greetingcards.
The enclosed thermal printer engines deliver a unique set ofbenefits including:
• Dual Finish technology – one button selection ofglossy or satin print surfaces from the same media SKU
• Patented Clear Caption technology – a unique retailerconfigurable capability to print information inconspicuously right on the front of the print
• Patented Ribbon Optimization technology – allowingretailers to cost effectively make 4-by-6-inch, 6-by-8-inch andbordered 5-by-7-inch prints from the same media SKU.
The system addresses retailer needs for print capacities that rangefrom 450 prints per hour up to 2250 prints per hour with spacerequirements as small as 6 square feet. Its adaptive architecturemakes it easy to add printers and peripherals to the system as thebusiness grows. Printer modules are compact and affordable,enabling multiple print engines for redundancy and high operationaluptime. And the system delivers environmental benefits as well. Itsets a high standard for energy efficiency by saving up to 90percent on the energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions needed torun comparable digital AgX (silver halide) labs.
The APEX system builds on Kodak's category leadership for retailphoto solutions with modularity, scalability, consumermerchandising, software upgrades, clerk support and open systemconnectivity. APEX also takes a forward looking view towards futureapplications with its fast processing capability to support everincreasing image file sizes as well as music and video content.
HP Photosmart Pro B8850 Photo Printer
Hewlett-Packard Co.
The HP Photosmart Pro B8850 Photo Printer is the perfect printerfor passionate hobbyists and advanced amateur photographers. Idealfor creating professional-quality photos, marketing collateral andother image-rich materials, the HP Photosmart Pro B8850 PhotoPrinter enables photographers to easily produce archival photos ona wide variety of photo papers and fine art media in an array ofsizes – from 3.5-by- 5-inch to 13-by- 19-inch – at homeor in-studio.
HP Photosmart ML1000 Minilab Printer
Hewlett-Packard Co.
The fastest dry minilab printer in the world!
The HP Photosmart ML1000 Minilab Printer is HP's most advanced dryinkjet retail photo printing system. Optimized for speed, amazingphoto quality and high volume, the ML1000 Minilab retail photoprinting solution delivers lab-quality 4-by-6-inch photos at a rateof 1500 prints per hour and offers 15 different print sizes infinishes of gloss and matte. The ML1000 performance on other printssizes is unparalleled, with fast 750 prints per hour of 5-by-7-inchprints, highlighting the impressive performance of this mostadvanced printing system from HP.
The Photosmart ML1000 produces great image quality using speciallydesigned inks and papers to create smudge-, water- andfade-resistant prints that retain vivid, accurate colors forgenerations. Redefining retail photo printing, HP's PhotosmartML1000 photos are the longest lasting retail photos available andlast five times longer than traditional photos. HP PhotosmartML1000, with the rest HP Retail Photo Inkjet printers, delivers"best overall image permanence of any consumer 4-by-6-inch printsin the entire 130-year history of color photography," according toHenry Wilhelm, Wilhelm Imaging Research, Inc. The finding is basedon a more than 200 years display permanence rating by WilhelmImaging Research, Inc. using select HP ink and paper versus up to40 years for silver halide prints.
Equally impressive is the range of fifteen print sizes offered byML1000 Minilab Printer including traditional print sizes of4-by-6-inch, 5-by-7-inch, and 8-by-10-inch to panoramas and amazingenlargements up to 12-by-18-inch, to highlight just a few.
The HP Photosmart ML1000 offers a high-volume order managementsystem and includes high-capacity, redundant supplies for maximumproductivity. The order management system offers 16 bins, anadditional enlargement output bin and includes backprinting,enabling maximum operator productivity. Redundant 12 high-capacityink supplies for its six color inkjet printing system withautomatic switch-over maximizes utilization and minimizesreplenishment cycles. The HP Photosmart ML1000 minimizes mediainterventions with an industry leading cut sheet print media and anew innovative photo finishing system that enables configurationsthat support printing all 15 print sizes available without having asingle operator intervention. The capability of the HP PhotosmartML1000 Minilab Printer is unmatched!
Eliminating the traditional environmental burdens of silver halide(AgX) systems, the HP Photosmart ML1000 Minilab Printer isself-contained and does not require a water source or drains,eliminating the overflow of developer, fixer and wash water tomunicipal or private waste treatment facilities. Lower operatingcosts will also be recognized as the ML1000 footprint is only 16square feet and draws about as much power as a traditional silverhalide (AgX) film processor.
HP's $1.4 billion investment in fourth-generation printingtechnology is embedded in the Photosmart ML1000 printing systemWith Edgeline scalable printing technology and page wide arrayprintheads, a printing system designed with retail photo at thecore, and an optimized ink and media solution for great imagequality, HP's Retail Photo Inkjet Printing portfolio with its HPPhotosmart ML1000 Minilab Printer is poised to be the leader indigital dry printing solutions.

HP Photosmart PM2000e Microlab Printer
Hewlett-Packard Co.
The most flexible and scalable retail photo printer in the world!
The HP Photosmart PM2000e Microlab printer is the next generationof HP's dry retail photo printing solutions delivering lab-qualityphotos in both 4-by-6-inch and 5-by-7-inch print sizes andconfigurable to simultaneously support two finishes of gloss andmatte prints in one printer. The PM2000e performance isunparalleled and produces fast five-second 4-by-6-inch photos and12-second 5-by-7-inch photos.
The PM2000e Microlab Printer includes a new innovative ordermanagement system capable of holding up to 18 orders (80 prints perbin) without needing operator intervention and offers a radical newbackprinting capability for optimal retailer productivity. ThePM2000e's cut sheet media handling system enables "topping-off"paper replenishment, thus eliminating the risk of running out ofmedia mid-order. Included is also a new integrated 8-inch touchscreen color display, bar code reader and secure vending option forfront-of-counter use models providing retailers a versatileprinting solution extendible to either back-of-counter or instant,front-of-counter configurations. The versatility and extendibilityoffered by the PM2000e enables retailers to deliver consistent,high-quality HP prints regardless of configuration: in seconds,minutes, one hour, or for next-day pick up.
The PM2000e delivers great image quality using specially designedinks and papers to create smudge-, water-, and fade-resistantprints that retain vivid, accurate colors for generations.Redefining retail photo printing, The PM2000e photos are thelongest lasting retail photos available and last five times longerthan traditional photos. HP's PM2000e delivers the "best overallimage permanence of any consumer 4-by-6-inch prints in the entire130-year history of color photography," according to Henry Wilhelm,Wilhelm Imaging Research, Inc. Based on a more than 200 yearsdisplay permanence rating by Wilhelm Imaging Research, Inc. usingselect HP ink and paper versus up to 40 years for silver halideprints.
Eliminating the traditional burdens of silver halide printprocessing, the PM2000e allows for minimal interventions withindustry-leading cut sheet print media, anytime replenishment ofconsumables and simple startup/shutdown procedures. The PM2000eprovides retailers a flexible, scalable solution that willintegrate seamlessly into HP Photo Center solutions or existingretailer systems.
The PM2000e is a compact device capable of being placed under aretailer work surface being just 32 inches in height and 33 inchesin depth. The PM2000e is configurable to support multiple HP RetailPhoto Inkjet printers in one location, allowing a retailer to scaleaccording to their print volume needs. The PM2000e is asimple-to-operate system requiring only front access forreplenishment and order access and plugs into any ordinary walloutlet (110v), drawing only a fraction of the power of traditionalretail photo equipment.
HP's $1.4 billion investment in fourth-generation printingtechnology is embedded in the PM2000e printing system. WithEdgeline scalable printing technology and page wide arrayprintheads, a printing system designed with retail photo at thecore, and an optimized ink and media solution for great imagequality, HP's Retail Photo Inkjet Printing Technology Portfolio andthe PM2000e Microlab printers are poised to be the leaders indigital dry printing solutions.

Photo Finale 6.0
Lucidiom Inc.
At its most basic level, Photo Finale is a software suite of onlinetools that enable consumers to order photo merchandise from theirlocal retailer. However, with its latest upgrades, it is much moreand becomes a full e-commerce solution for photofinishingretailers. With Lucidiom's Photo Finale 6.0, photofinishingretailers can connect their online stores and customer networkswith their brick-and-mortar offerings in one seamless system undertheir own branding. The software upgrade goes beyond helpingconsumers organize and order photos online and now helps retailerscross-promote their inventory at the photo kiosk and online, whilebuilding social picture networks for their customers.
FireFly
NRD LLC
The FireFly is a handheld sensor cleaner that was designed toprovide a safe, effective and convenient, non-contact method toremove dust, pollen and other types of dirt from components of themirror box, shutter chamber and, most importantly, the image sensorfilter of a DSLR camera.
Swiss Picture Bank (www.swisspicturebank.com)
Tribeca Imaging Laboratories Inc.
Swiss Picture Bank is an online photo archive, insuring the longterm care of digital photographs for generations.
At Swiss Picture Bank, your pictures are stored in redundantlocations throughout Switzerland. Swiss Picture Bank is operated byTribeca Labs and hosted by Swisscom IT Services, the leadingprovider of IT infrastructure to Swiss banks.
You may access your entire personal photo archive from anyInternet-connected computer at any time. With affordable, pay-onceper picture service plans, you can ensure your memories last for 30or 99 years.
And with the free desktop archiving software, Photobot Guardian,your pictures are automatically copied to your Swiss Picture Bankaccount for you. You never need to learn complicated networkingsoftware or schedule a back up. Photobot Guardian monitors selectedfolders on your computer for new pictures and uploads them to yourSwiss Picture Bank automatically.

RocketLife
Visan
RocketLife is a complete, end-to-end next generation photo productcreation software technology and is available for the Web, as adesktop application, and for photo kiosks. RocketLife createseverything from photo books to new kinds of products such ascollage "Story Mugs" and sophisticated posters and calendars.
RocketLife's revolutionary "Smart Arrangement" Technologyintuitively lays out and designs photos into artistic works of art.Its smart technology unleashes the power to create customizedmulti-photo collages and products in seconds.
RocketLife's "3D Digital Merchandising" real-time, photo-realistic,three-dimensional renderings allow you to make any change you wantand instantly visualize exactly what the end-product will look liketo create a final product that you will love. These RocketLifeexclusive patent-pending technologies make intelligent design andlayout decisions to allow you to create and personalize products,like photo books, in about five minutes, turning the traditionallylong hours of frustrating work into just a few minutes of fun.
By the time other solutions have uploaded just a few of yourphotos, RocketLife.com has already created every item in thecatalog, including a stunning photo book, ready to order. Thebeautiful pages filled with your photos are professionally laid outwith dramatic themes and graphics, saving hours and hours of yourvaluable time. Intelligent theming allows customers to make simpleand easy customizations.
RocketLife is available to consumers, as a reseller offering or asa custom integration for fulfillment businesses.
A new generation of RocketLife will launch in January 2008.
Xerox DocuColor® 5000 Digital Press with Xerox Document Binder120-D and C Coverbind 101 DFS
Xerox Corp.
The 50 page-per-minute Xerox DocuColor 5000 Digital Press deliversoutstanding image quality and productivity on coated andheavyweight media. It features 2400 by 2400 dpi print resolution,media flexibility, robust production capabilities and theproductivity customers need to print high-value photo specialtyapplications, such as photo books, calendars, yearbooks andportfolios. In addition, the press is designed to produce marketingbrochures, posters and customized direct-mail pieces, and providesproductive printing on heavyweight, oversized and coated paper.
The Xerox Document Binder 120-D binds 8.5-by-11-inch or A4documents up to 120 pages in a variety of preformed or customcovers. It features thermal cover binding and runs at the ratedspeed of the connected printer.
When the DocuColor 5000 is connected inline with the Xerox DocumentBinder 120-D and used in conjunction with the Coverbind 101 DFS,this solution enables print providers and photographers to printand finish inline and personalize hardcover and softcover photobooks, among other revenue-generating applications.
Xerox FreeFlow® Print Server with JPEG Plug-In
Xerox Corp.
The Xerox FreeFlow Print Server with JPEG Plug-In, in conjunctionwith the Xerox DocuColor 242, 252 and 260 Digital ColorPrinter/Copiers, allows print providers in the photo market toprint raw JPEG image files without having to pre-process themthrough photo editing software. The plug-in automates andstreamlines the photo production process by allowing printoperators to submit JPEG images in the format they receive them in,while the FreeFlow Print Server automatically sizes and prints thephotos according to how the customer configures their machine.
The Xerox FreeFlow Print Server delivers outstanding image qualityand system performance for a variety of Xerox's production-levelproducts, from the 40 page-per-minute DocuColor 242 to the flagship110 page-per-minute iGen3 Press. The FreeFlow Print Server, builton the success of Xerox's FreeFlow DocuSP platform, offers an easyoperator experience and improved workflow operation andintegration. In addition to the JPEG printing flexibility, theFreeFlow Print Server offers Automatic Image Enhancement (AIE),which provides "one-click" photo enhancements without the time orexpense associated with traditional photo manipulation. TheFreeFlow Print Server with JPEG Plug-In gives operators access tothe latest AIE capabilities, allowing them to adjust for exposure,sharpening, saturation, red-eye reduction and more.
The Xerox DocuColor 242/252/260, built on the proven performance ofthe successful DocuColor 240/250 platform, make professional-gradeimage quality available at an affordable price.
About DIMA
Exploring the technologies that transform the capture,manipulation, sharing and preservation of images, the DigitalImaging Marketing Association® (DIMA®) empowers photoretailers, professional and commercial imagers, and photographersto push the boundaries of possibility and drive theirentrepreneurial success. DIMA builds on an 83-year legacy ofPMA®, the worldwide photo imaging association, by promotingemerging technologies and business innovations throughout theglobal photo imaging industry. DIMA directs this purpose throughthe development of education, marketing research and networkingforums and enables its members to envision and experiencesuccessful methods of technology integration yielding improvedbusiness practices.