New Terrastations

Buffalo have added some new Network Attached Storage devices (NAS) to their range. They will be available in the UK from Febuary. I have seen a price of £577 + VAT for the 1TB version.

We like these (and earlier) drives because they can be configured in a RAID 5 array, a great place to store valuable images in some safety. The capacity of the drive is lowered when set to RAID 5 but they can still store approx 12,000 60MB files which works out at about 5p per image (The price of a GePe slidemount 15 years ago!).
This new version has much easier access to swap the drives out if one fails. Im not certain as yet what the real life file transfer rate is but I have a feeling that like a lot of other similar devices they are not very quick.

These drives are suitable for individual photographers and small photolibraries. Larger organisations may need something bigger and faster. Contact me if you have any queries.

Buffalo website

Advisory – Adobe Bridge

I have noticed that Adobe Bridge displays images with a different colour balance than Photoshop CS2. Furthermore if the files are 16bit in depth the problem is worse and there is posterisation and colour artefacts present in the Bridge thumbnnails on some images.

This appears to be a display problem with Bridge (possibly a trade off to increase speed?) I will look into the matter to see if there is a fix.

In the meantime be careful of making colour judgments of images using Bridge, check colour by opening them in Photoshop.

This behaviour has been noticed on both Windows and Mac platforms

UPDATE
I have come across other references to this problem in the Adobe forum but have seen no feedback from the engineering team, perhaps they are busy with Lightroom…

Getty deadline for Digital Submissions

If you are a Getty photographer and would like help with meeting the April deadline for digital only submissions then please feel free to get in touch. I can help on a one to one basis to ensure that your new work is up to the required technical standards and provide training to help keep these standards.

Whether you would like a second opinion on a new submission or have no electronic imaging experience at all and need to start from the beginning I can help.

Tel: 01263 825277 or 020 7871 7519
Skype: copyrightimage
email: Stephen@copyrightimage.com

New raw workflow program from Adobe

Adobe have pre anounced a new program (still in beta) that they hope will take the wind out of Apple Apeture sales. Its called Adobe Lightroom and the free Mac beta can be downloaded from here:

http://labs.macromedia.com/technologies/lightroom/
(Short registration process to get it)
Adobe are reported to be working on a Windows version of the program.

more information on lightroom here:
Apple insider
Adobe Lightroom Forum

It looks like Adobe have decided to make a separate workflow / editing program for RAW files rather than bending bridge to fit. They describe this arrangement as being “modular” to Photoshop.

I will be checking out the beta this week once I have gone through some urgent client work.

Imacon Flextight 3f files and Adobe Bridge

Hasselblad have sent out a technical newsletter warning that Adobe Bridge can corrupt 3f files created using their Imacon scanning software.
They advise not using Bridge to manipulate 3f files, even giving an image a star rating could corrupt it. They are working with Adobe to fix the problem.
This information came from a client with a Flextight scanner, a nice piece of kit and this problem is in no way typical of Flextights quality standards.

Using the 3f file format is an option if you have lots of time and storage space to spare but is not necessarily the best workflow system to use for efficient production. Contact me if you would like to know more.

If you have information that would be useful for this site then please feel free to contact me on 01263 825277 or email me stephen@copyrightimage.com

Microsoft U-turn as WMF patch released early

Microsoft have caved into pressure and released a patch for the WMF exploit earlier than expected.
If you are running windows systems then I would advise running Windows Update as soon as possible in order to download and install the patch.

Click on the start button, select help and support then select windows update.

Mac users need only giggle (until their next OSX crash)
Me? Im platform independant (suffer from windows and OSX crashes)

Support calls via video conference / VoIP telephony

Anyone needing immediate help is free to call me on the usual number but for clients who like to dabble in technology there is another way to contact me for help and advice.
I have the video enabled Skype 2 set up here in my office in Norfolk so feel free to contact me via this method my Skype address is copyrightimage.

I have a web cam set up so you can see me, you dont need a web cam to contact me though. You can download Skype 2 from here:

Windows users:
Windows download page

Mac users:
Mac OSX download page (no video as yet)

If you have broadband these call are free and they will impact BT’s profits so all the more reason to give it a go!

New firmaware for Canon 5D and 1D Mk2n (not 1Ds Mk2)

Clients with these cameras may wish to download the updates. The updates involve minor fixes as well as improving the brightness of the preview display. You can read more and download the firmware by following these links:

Version 1.0.3 for the Canon 5D
http://www.canon.co.jp/Imaging/eos5d/eos5d_firmware-e.html

Version 1.0.2 for the Canon 1D Mk2n
http://www.canon.co.jp/Imaging/eos1dm2n/eos1dmk2n_firmware-e.html

Read the instructions for using the updater very carefully, especialy about having a fresh battery or the mains adapter attached, you dont want to have the power on the camera shut down in the course of the update. If you wish I can perform the update whilst next on site.