dean_matsueda

@ j s:

Regarding Photoshop CS and SP2, if you follow that link and scroll down the page, running

Photoshop CS (version 8) on a 64-bit CPU has issues; specifically, "Program installs, but

will not start." according to Microsoft.

<p>Well, I think from a security standpoint, this is a Good Thing. Here's a list of known

incompatibilities w/ SP2 from Microsoft:</p>

<p>

<a href="http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?

kbid=884130&product=windowsxpsp2" target="_blank">support.microsoft.com</a></

p>

<p>

Note that Photoshop CS on a 64-bit processor doesn't seem to work.</p>

<p>

But with companies using LAN's, their sys admins can block access to

windowsupdate.microsoft.com so they're not really forced to upgrade. You can do the

same or turn off Automatic Update.</p>

<p>Well me and my big mouth... now I can't think of a subject to photograph for this

contest... :-)</p>

<p>

Hopefully, I'll come up with something although now <a href="http://www.photo.net/

bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00BjAN" target="_blank">Sheldon</a> (link opens

in a new window) is taking my 1950's-ish Certo to Europe for a few weeks. What were

those 1950's $50 cameras again?...</p>

<p>

I'm no expert but a couple of web sites may be helpful. Found this site from a post in the

MF forum a couple of months ago:</p>

<p>

<a href="http://www.cleanimages.com/Article-MediumFormatInYourPocket.asp"

target="_blank">Medium Format in Your Pocket</a>

<p>

...which also led me to Jurgen's site:

<a href="http://www.certo6.com" target="_blank">www.certo6.com</a></p>

<p>

Sample pix on the certo6 site, by the way.</p>

<p>

[Links will open in a new browser window]</p>

Interesting answers, everyone. From my understanding, GIMP will do about 90% of what

most people do in Photoshop so for millions of Photoshop users, it seems like this

project really lowers the barrier to entry from at least trying GIMP.

And for F/OSS advocates, this is important I think. Almost on a daily basis, I see questions

in this forum about recommendations on image editing software or one that doesn't cost

$600+ USD and while GIMP is always suggested, I'm not sure how seriously it's taken.

The reasons for this preceived dismissal are most likely varied from person to person. But

if all the Photoshop users on PN start recommending GIMP as an alternative because

they've actually used it, I think it could take off.

And yes, it remains to be seen what Adobe's reaction will be, if any.

<p>Just read on slashdot.org that someone released a very impressive looking

Photoshop-like interface for the free, open-source image editing program, GIMP. My

biggest complaint/resistance towards GIMP was its interface but now... I think it could be

worth a second look.</p>

<p>

<a href="http://plasticbugs.com/index.php?p=241" target="_blank">GIMPshop</a> (link

will open in a new browser window)</p>

<p>

Anyone using GIMP here? Do you think this new intereface might help sway Photoshop

users?</p>

<p>

Note, as of this posting, the developer has yet to compile a Windows version. So, Mac and

Linux only at this time.</p>

Sounds great! I think in honor of your birthday and age, how about a "50" theme.

Something broad enough to allow our creativity to run wild and yet something that ties all

the photographers, cameras and images together.

50 could mean a picture of something from the 1950's; 50 objects in a shot; something

that worth USD$50 or 50 in whomever's native currency; etc.

Feature-wise, there is no difference and as far as I know, nothing is locked or

encumbered. Academic versions are supposed to be used for educational

institutions only, hence the price. Whether or not you can legally -- per Adobe licensing

agreement -- use the software or not, I won't get into the ethics of that. But if the issue is

not wanting to pay several hundred dollars for image editing software, there are

alternatives out there. Gimp is one and so is Adobe's Photo Elements.

I think your best bet is keh.com. The two that I know of downtown are a bit over-priced, in

my opinion -- Adolph Gassers on second and "Discount Camera" (ha!) on Kearny near

Market street.

But if you're looking to purchase one NOW and don't want to wait or don't mind paying a

little extra, then Gassers might have a used body for sale. The folks behind the counter

are a bit surly at first but once they know you're serious, I found them to be pretty cool.

www.gassers.com

Good luck!

There is no functional difference between the full retail version of Photoshop and the

Academic version. The difference, as you've probably seen, is the price because the

academic versions are meant to be used by educational institutions only.

I won't get into the ethics of all of this because we're all adults and understand right from

wrong but as others have said, be very wary of the software that's being offered on ebay.

That said, I did indeed win an auction of a legitimate, full retail version of Photoshop on

ebay that I was able to register in my name and I've even gone through one upgrade with

it. Paid $300 for the original version so "deals" are there. Just be careful.

Are you printing this on an offset printer (as opposed to a laser printer or an inkjet

printer)?

If so, JPEG's are really only good for web display and aren't really the best choice for offset

printing. If you can convert to PDF, that would be the easiest way. Are you using Mac OS X?

You can convert ANY document into a PDF with a Macintosh. If not, I know there's an Free/

Open Source PDF converter but I've forgetten the name. Go to sourceforge.net and search

for "PDF converter".

I agree w/ Dave H.... between the F2as and FM2n, that's a tough choice. I have both and

love them equally although I shoot with the F2as more because of the 100% view in the

finder (I like shooting macro and portraits so this important, at least to me). One minor

inconvinience is that if you're going to be shooting with a flash a lot, you need a separate

hot-shoe accessory for the F2 that goes over the winding knob.

KEH also has a relatively inexpensive F2as here... at least it's cheaper than a FM3a:

http://www.keh.com/shop/SHOWPRODUCT.CFM?

CRID=10197761&SKID=NK0201020075906&SID=newused&BID=NK&CID=02&SOID=N&c

urpic=0&dpsp=0

wow, you have an *amazing* collection of cameras on your web site! yes, please do post

some pictures!

Would love to participate, so if it makes a west coast swing here in the States, let me

know!

Yeah, I was talking to a friend about this recently... we have no idea how these camera

stores stay in business, trying to sell film gear -- especially in this brave new digital world

-- at like, 1990's prices.

And in a lot of ways, it's sad to see these small mom-and-pop stores go down. But, when

you're trying to sell a Nikon FM2n for $400, well... it's awfully hard to support these small

business with your pocketbook.

...for my bank account, anyway. There's a camera store in downtown San Francisco that is

closing this week and all their cameras and accessories are "half-off". Granted, their stuff

was overpriced before so now they seem to be at the "going rate."

Anyway, if you're in the Bay Area they have a couple dozen "classic" cameras... Leica III's; a

Reflex; medium format folders; a couple of Speed Graphics, Zeiss Ikons, etc. I don't know

the working condition of any of these... they've been sitting in case for *years* but, if this

is of interest to anyone, here's the address:

Camera Boutique, Inc.

342 Kearny Street (between Pine and California)

415 982 4946

Happy shopping!

..dean

Y'know, I don't go down to the waterfront very often (although I work downtown... it's silly

that I don't) so I couldn't tell you if the artwork is new or not. But, I would guess that in the

past three or four years there certainly seems to more public art cropping up. "Cupid's

Bow" is in South Beach between the Ferry Building and the ballpark and the city has

recently installed all over town those giant hearts.

Great shots with the Kodak Retina, too! Sharp lens.

allan,

<p>

Beautiful shot of PacBell Park (still like calling it by its original name...) at night!</p>

<p>

I was getting kinda tired of shooting around in San Francisco but your photo gallery has

inspired me again.</p>

<p>

Did you catch some of the public art around the Embarcardero and Ferry Building? I think

this sculpture was made by a well-known local graffti artist... or at least it really looks like

his style.</p>

<p>

<a href="http://www.fiveoh.org/images/rolling_heads.jpg">Rolling Heads</a><br>

-- Certo Six, c.1952 6x6 Folder</p>

<p>

I was going to enter this image into the contest but I don't think I'm going to be able to

get a shot of my Certo Six folder in time... </p>

Cheers,

..dean

<p>One more option, Graphic Converter, an old Mac-only image editing program. More

info here:</p>

<p>

<a href="http://www.lemkesoft.com/en/index.htm">www.lemkesoft.com</a></p>

<p>

Its strength is being able to batch process multiple files in different formats very quickly.

It comes with a nice set of editing features but if you don't need batch-

processing, Elements might be the better choice.</p>

Thank you, Bueh, you just saved my two- to three-hundred dollars on purchasing a used

Macro lens!

<p>

Yes, I'm curious about this, too. Mamiya makes two different sizes of extension tubes and

there's a 140mm Macro lens but according to KEH[1], you still need an extention tube +

the macro lens to get 1:1.</p>

<p>

But, if it helps, Hakon, here's a shot on my RB67 w/ a 90mm and the bellows fully open.

It's close but not exactly "macro".</p>

<p>

<a href="http://www.fiveoclockheroes.com/20041008_ggp_800.jpg">flower</a> (159

KB

image)</p>

<p>

[1] http://www.keh.com/shop/SHOWPRODUCT.CFM?

CRID=9860840&SKID=RB06000600004N5&SID=newused&BID=RB&CID=06&SOID=N&cur

pic=0&dpsp=0</p>

We use Linux as a *server* and Linux is a wonderful, secure and robust machine for this

purpose. But as a desktop machine... well, I kind of have to wonder why.

Yes, you can use GIMP but how are you going to get your digital photos into your

computer? If you use a digi, does the manufacturer make drivers for your *specific*

distribution of Linux? Or your scanner? These are some things you might want to check

before diving in... search slashdot.org for tips and tricks. I remember a discussion about

this on slashdot a couple of months ago.

If you want to get into Unix, why not pick up a Macintosh? With a Mac, you can use

Photoshop, MS Office applications; you can plug just about any digi and Apple's iPhoto

software will automatically recoginize the camera and will download your shots (it now

supports RAW); most major scanners are supported; AND you can "geek out" to your

heart's content via the command line and all those great open source and Unix goodies.

Good luck!

Well, generally speaking, you really don't want pure black or pure white areas when

printing images. And when they're speaking about areas of solid black and the

recommendation to use rich-black, they're referring to text that will be printed in black or

background colors in solid black and not images. Dark areas in photos -- shadows -- will

already print in "rich black"... you don't need to do anything special for this.

For proof, open up the "Info" palette in Photoshop and in the upper-left corner of the

palette click on the eyedropper icon. Make sure it reads "CMYK". Now mouse-over the

image randomly and read the CMYK percentage values in this Info palette. This tells you

what percent of what ink will be used to make that color in that particular pixel and you

should see

that even in the darkest shadows, there are some high percentage values for each of the

four

colors. Presto! there's your "rich black"! :-)

Yes, as Andrew noted find out the lines-per-inch the printer will be printing at and what

kind of paper they'll be using and then double it for the PPI resolution. Generally speaking,

however, image file resolutions larger than 300ppi would be a waste. But I, too, wonder

why you're printing in four-color process for black and white photos. One- or two-color is

significantly cheaper[1].

I haven't read the Real-World Photoshop book but as a graphic designer, the book, "Digital

Prepress Complete," has been my bible... I'm sure you can find one used and inexpensive

on Amazon. You'll need to understand stuff like "dot-gain" and how to compensate for

that when printing on cheaper

paper or uncoated paper stock.

[1] You'll find some print houses that do 4-color postcards very cheap, though. They

"gang-run" several different postcards together on large sheets of paper and run them all

at once and split the costs among the different projects. It looks like this is what

psprint.com does. I've used rocketpostcards.com

here in San Francisco and have been pleased with the results however, these were for

postcard flyers for clubs in the Bay Area and I'm sure you'll want to scrutinize the quality a

lot more. Just be aware that these inexpensive gang-runs are meant to be fast and cheap

and as a fine arts photographer, you may need a higher quality printer.

HTH,

..dean