In an email sent to color consultants today, GretagMacbeth announced their intention to merge with X-Rite. From the email:

It is my pleasure to share with you some exciting news. Today, we are announcing our intent to join forces with X-Rite, also a recognized leader in the color industry.

RAW Survey launched: An International Study of the Experiences, Requirements, Preferences, and Concerns of Photographers regarding RAW Imaging Technology

Press Release: On January 31, 2006, the OpenRAW initiative launched an international survey on its Web site (http://openraw.org/survey/) to collect information about the experiences, requirements, preferences, and concerns of digital photographers and other interested parties regarding RAW imaging technology a concept that many writers are comparing to a “digital negative”.

Source: The Luminous Landscape
Written by Michael Reichmann

Sometimes photographers have little appreciation for what others types of photographers have to deal with. The fine art photographer may go out on a weekend and take a few dozens exposures, while a wedding photographer may come back with many hundreds. A photojournalist or a wildlife photographer may return from a major shoot with many thousands of images.

How each one handles their digital workflow will depend on the photographer’s temperament as well as practical issues.

…with a few friends for the new Epson Print Academy in Miami!
Now we get to try some Miami Vice…

Walt Disney announced Tuesday that it’s paying $7.4 billion in stock to acquire Pixar Animation Studios–a deal that puts Apple Computer CEO Steve Jobs on Disney’s board of directors.

Source: ZDNet
By Ina Fried, and John Borland, CNET News.com

For the venerable animation giant, the move is a significant bet on Pixar’s digital approach as the successor to the pen-and-ink industry popularized by Walt Disney. The purchase is also the latest indication of a tectonic collision between technology and Hollywood.

At Macworld, Apple announced that a Universal Binary version of Aperture would be made available at the end of March, 2006 for a charge of $49.00.

Aperture owners have balked at having to pay to get a UB build of Aperture and apparently Apple has reversed the decision to charge customers for the upgrade.

PMDA ANNOUNCES WINNERS OF VISIONARY AWARD: GRAHAM NASH AND MAC HOLBERT. Graham Nash from Rock Group Crosby, Stills, & Nash and Partner Mac Holbert Win Award for Inventing Digital Fine Art Printing

Press Release: NY, NY, January 23, 2006—The PhotoImaging Manufacturers & Distributors Association (PMDA) http://www.pmda.com announced today that Graham Nash, award-winning photographer and legendary member of the rock group Crosby, Stills, & Nash and his partner, master printmaker Mac Holbert of Nash Editions, are winners of the prestigious PMDA “Visionary Award” for inventing digital fine art printing. The prestigious Visionary Award will be presented during the annual PMDA Awards Dinner, held the night before PMA on Saturday, February 25, 2006 at the Caribe Royal Hotel in Orlando, Florida.

Newspaper Says Iger To Propose Buyout To Jobs
Source: SiliconValley.com
Written by John Boudreau–Mercury News

A marriage between Steve Jobs and Disney, a relationship sure to hasten Hollywood’s embrace of the digital world, could be announced as early as this morning.

Soucre: The New York Times
Written by Nicholas Wade

Among the many temptations of the digital age, photo-manipulation has proved particularly troublesome for science, and scientific journals are beginning to respond.

Press Release: RALEIGH, N.C.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Jan. 24, 2006–Alien Skin Software today released Exposure, an all-new plug-in for Adobe® Photoshop® and other compatible host programs. Exposure brings the look and feel of film to digital photography. Digital photographers can now simulate current and discontinued film stocks, as well as recreate their signature look as a one-click effect. Exposure also simulates darkroom and studio effects such as push and cross processing. Moreover, saturation, light temperature, dynamic range, softness, sharpness, and the addition of realistic grain can be managed in one place.

Source: ZDNetWritten by Martin LaMonica

Microsoft on Tuesday released early versions of a new line of tools meant to lure illustrators and designers closer to Redmond’s world.

Adobe Action Grant program funding aimed at supporting local education, the arts, the environment and fighting hunger and homelessness

Press Release: SAN JOSE, Calif. — Jan. 23, 2006 — Adobe Systems Incorporated (Nasdaq:ADBE) today announced philanthropic funding for the second half of 2005 through the Adobe Action Grants program. This funding is one part of a multi-faceted approach to community involvement that encompasses investment grants, software donations, employee volunteerism and scholarships. The Adobe Action Grants program provides one-time, cash only grants that are issued quarterly to non-profit organizations operating in the communities where Adobe has a significant presence. During this funding cycle, Adobe is providing $165,000 to 20 Silicon Valley non-profit organizations. These organizations play vital roles in the community, delivering programs in education, the arts, the environment and alleviating hunger and homelessness.

Source: The Japan Times
Written by Reiji Toshida

Business is booming at the camera shop managed by Hiroaki Kitahara, but he has a sense of emptiness regarding the past and is worried about the future.

Visit the ADIM 9 website

Click to see larger sized image in a new window.

March 19-24, 2006
Special guest instructor–Martin Evening,
author of Photoshop for Photographers

June 23/24, 2006–Let the Wild Games Begin!

Source: Adobe Bridge Support

Issue: The Bridge Center is missing from Adobe Bridge 1.0.x

Source: Photoshop Support Knowledgebase

Issue: Adobe Photoshop CS2 or the Editor of Adobe Photoshop Elements 4.0 freezes immediately after you start it.

Source: Mac Observer
Written by Mike Serieys

It is almost universally accepted that the Mac is the preferred platform for photo pros. Almost any photographer at a major organization will be using Photoshop for several hours a day, so Steve Jobs’ announcement Tuesday of the world’s fastest notebook computer should have been a great thing for them.

Adobe has posted the Camera Raw 3.3 update information to the Camera Raw product page. The links to the actual Macintosh and Windows download pages have been updated to show the correct download links. PSN has the updated links for download. Here are the direct links for Macintosh and for Windows.
Updated on 01/20/2006 at 10:30 AM Central time

Source: ars technica
Written by Peter Pollack

What do The Incredibles, My Favorite Martian, and The Hulk have in common?

Major InfoTrends Study Indicates Digital Cameras Will Dominate Professional Photography Market by 2010 90% of professional pictures will be taken with digital cameras by 2010

Press Release: (Weymouth, MA) capv_convert_date(’20060117′) January, 17 2006… InfoTrends, the leading worldwide digital imaging and document solutions research and consulting firm, is pleased to announce the release of its highly anticipated multi-client study, North American Professional Photography Market (http://www.capv.com/home/Multiclient/ProPhotography.html) .

Konica Minolta Holdings will withdraw from the camera and film businesses, marking the end to one of the best known brands in the photography world.

Source: CNET via Reuters

As part of the surprise move, the Tokyo-based company said Thursday it will sell a portion of its digital single lens reflex (SLR) camera assets to Sony for an undisclosed sum and cease production of compact cameras by March of this year.

Press Release: The Plugin Site (www.thepluginsite.com) is pleased to announce the release of the MacOS X versions of FocalBlade. FocalBlade is a Photoshop -compatible plugin for sharpening photos for screen display and printing and for producing great looking blur, soft focus and glow effects on 8bit and 16bit images.

New digital photo software features advanced auto black and white conversion, auto sepia tone, sharpening, and noise removal for turning everyday pictures into fine art images

Press Release: BURNSVILLE, Minn., Jan. 17 /PRNewswire/ — PictoColor Corporation has released iCorrect EditLab Pro 5.0, a new version of its highly acclaimed color correction and color editing Photoshop plug-in. The new version features automatic black and white conversion and automatic sepia tone. It also includes sharpening and noise removal technology for enhanced image quality and productivity.