Fujifilm Announces Finepix X100 APS-C Compact Digital Camera

I came across this article on Popphoto.com and had to share.  Fujifilm is joining Leica and Sigma in the APS-C compact camera category, but what I love about the Leica and now the Finepix X100 is the nostalgia factor.  As an avid camera collector I can’t resist the 70’s rangefinder look of this new compact.  It’s gorgeous and as we all know beauty does not come cheap.  Expect a price tag of around $1000 when it becomes available in 2011.

Here is full article from Popular Photography & Imaging:

Fujifilm entered the all but non-existent large sensor compact camera category this morning, with the launch of the Finepix X100—a 12.3MP APS-C sensor camera with a 35mm equivalent f/2 lens, a newly developed EXR processor and a 1970’s feel.  

Attempting to capitalize on the mass number of professional photographers looking for a compact with the image quality of a high-end DSLR to be used as a backup, as well as advanced amateur shooters looking for a high-end compact, FujiFilm built the Finepix X100 from the ground up. It is meant to compete directly with the Leica X1 and the Sigma DP2.

The X100 features a hybrid viewfinder that allows users to switch between a rangefinder-style optical viewfinder and an electronic viewfinder.  Other key features include 720p HD video capture, a magnesium alloy body and old-school analogue controls.  

The camera is well equipped for low-light situations, offering a maximum ISO of 6400. Other notable specs include 5 fps continuous shooting, support for the SDXC card format and a 2.8’’ LCD.

Expect this beautifully crafted high-end compact to hit stores sometime in 2011. We will keep you updated as our editors over at Photokina in Germany have a chance to get their hands on this bad boy.

Overheating Problems With Sony A55 and A33 DSLR

Apparently the new Sony A55 and A33 DSLR's experience overheating problems if video capture is utilized too long. Below is a recent article from Popular Photography and Imaging.

Plenty of DSLRs put a limit on how long video clips can be. Canon's 7D and Rebel T2i cap out at 12-minutes and even the current king of video DSLRs, the 5D Mark II, maxes out at 29:59 or when the file size reaches 4 GB. But, Sony has recently stated that their new A55 and A33 cameras will overheat after a couple minutes of video capture when the in-body SteadyShot is turned on.

Read more...

New Facebook Page

CTZ Photography has entered the social networking universe. Visit our new Facebook page. The plan is to post lots and lots of photography related links and discussions with some photos sprinkled around for good measure.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/CTZ-Photography/141596672538493

New and Improved Online Photography Stores

August and September mark the beginning of the youth sports season here in the Valley of the Sun Stroke because we don’t want our children bursting into flames on the soccer and football fields during a 115 degree July afternoon.  I’m geared up and ready this season to capture the fun and excitement.  I’m also looking forward to giving parents a better shopping experience when it comes to choosing the images captured of their family sports stars.  

The CTZ Photography Store is available and provides an improved purchasing experience.  Parents can view the game photos by date and team, select their desired images and choose from multiple print sizes, calendars, trading cards and more; all at competitive prices.  Custom print packages will be coming soon as well.  The CTZ Photography Store also features beautiful and compelling images from locations such as New England, Flagstaff and the Grand Canyon, up to 24x36 posters or museum prints.

Oliverimages.com offers custom t-shirts, apparel, gifts and merchandise for guys, gals, kids and even ‘man’s best friend’, including colorful Polaroid SX-70 emulsion manipulation photographs, motivational images, and humorous graphics and sayings.  T-Shirts start as low as $11.99 plus shipping.  I’m looking forward to consistently expanding the images available each month to ensure a wide variety of topics to choose from.

CTZ Photography Store

OliverImages.com

The Nobel Prize in Physics 2009: CCD Sensor

Above:  Bell Labs researchers Willard Boyle (left) and George Smith (right) with the charge-coupled device, which transforms patterns of light into useful digital information and is the basis for many forms of imaging, including camcorders and satellite surveillance. Photo taken in 1974.

Photo: Alcatel-Lucent/Bell Labs

Below is the official press release regarding the recent announcement of the Nobel Prize in Physics to the inventors of the CCD sensor.

The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences has decided to award the Nobel Prize in Physics for 2009 with one half to Charles K. Kao.  Standard Telecommunication Laboratories, Harlow, UK, and Chinese University of Hong Kong.  "for groundbreaking achievements concerning the transmission of light in fibers for optical communication"

and the other half jointly to Willard S. Boyle and George E. Smith.  Bell Laboratories, Murray Hill, NJ, USA.  "for the invention of an imaging semiconductor circuit – the CCD sensor"

The masters of light

This year's Nobel Prize in Physics is awarded for two scientific achievements that have helped to shape the foundations of today’s networked societies. They have created many practical innovations for everyday life and provided new tools for scientific exploration. In 1966, Charles K. Kao made a discovery that led to a breakthrough in fiber optics. He carefully calculated how to transmit light over long distances via optical glass fibers. With a fiber of purest glass it would be possible to transmit light signals over 100 kilometers, compared to only 20 meters for the fibers available in the 1960s. Kao's enthusiasm inspired other researchers to share his vision of the future potential of fiber optics. The first ultrapure fiber was successfully fabricated just four years later, in 1970.

Today optical fibers make up the circulatory system that nourishes our communication society. These low-loss glass fibers facilitate global broadband communication such as the Internet. Light flows in thin threads of glass, and it carries almost all of the telephony and data traffic in each and every direction. Text, music, images and video can be transferred around the globe in a split second.

If we were to unravel all of the glass fibers that wind around the globe, we would get a single thread over one billion kilometers long – which is enough to encircle the globe more than 25 000 times – and is increasing by thousands of kilometers every hour.

A large share of the traffic is made up of digital images, which constitute the second part of the award. In 1969 Willard S. Boyle and George E. Smith invented the first successful imaging technology using a digital sensor, a CCD (Charge-Coupled Device). The CCD technology makes use of the photoelectric effect, as theorized by Albert Einstein and for which he was awarded the 1921 year's Nobel Prize. By this effect, light is transformed into electric signals. The challenge when designing an image sensor was to gather and read out the signals in a large number of image points, pixels, in a short time.

The CCD is the digital camera's electronic eye. It revolutionized photography, as light could now be captured electronically instead of on film. The digital form facilitates the processing and distribution of these images. CCD technology is also used in many medical applications, e.g. imaging the inside of the human body, both for diagnostics and for microsurgery.

Digital photography has become an irreplaceable tool in many fields of research. The CCD has provided new possibilities to visualize the previously unseen. It has given us crystal clear images of distant places in our universe as well as the depths of the oceans.

Read more on the Nobel website.

Adobe Creative Suite 4 Announcement

Adobe® is announcing the release of Creative Suite 4 and we are all invited. Adobe will be providing a special web announcement on September 23. Simply register to receive information for viewing the broadcast.

Samsung Makes Bid for SanDisk

The New York Times is reporting today that Samsung Electronics has made an unsolicited $5.85 billion cash offer for SanDisk, the flash memory card manufacturer.

According to the article, Samsung's offer of $26 a share was first made in August and only revealed to investors after the U.S. market closed Tuesday with SanDisk trading at $15.04. In after-hours trading, shares rose to nearly $23 a share as news of the proposal spread.

In an earlier Sept. 5 statement, the company had acknowledged, "SanDisk periodically has conversations with multiple parties, including Samsung, regarding a variety of potential business opportunities. We evaluate all of these opportunities, but maintain a policy of not commenting on market rumors or speculation."

But in a letter released Tuesday, Eli Harari, SanDisk founder and chief executive, had rejected the offer, claiming it significantly undervalued the company and characterizing it as "opportunistically timed."
Courtesy of Mike Pasini, The Imaging Resource

PhotoShelter Abandons its Stock Sales Effort

Not all online stock photo enterprises are apparently successful. Just a year after announcing a new stock photo licensing business with great fanfare, PhotoShelter says it will close its PhotoShelter Collection on Oct. 10.

Read the entire article on PDN.com

New Sony 24.6MP Alpha 900 DSLR

It's been vaporware for over a year and now if finally becomes a reality. Popular Photography & Imaging have been testing the preproduction unit and have posted an article about the forthcoming Sony Alpha 900. 24.6MP CMOS sensor and a $3000 price tag are just the tip of the iceberg.

Read the entire article on popphoto.com

Digital Photography Review also has a 'first look' at the A900.

Nikon Announces New D60 DSLR

Yet another new Nikon DSLR. The D60 has been added to the lineup expanding consumer choices even further. Here is the official Nikon press release...

Nikon, Inc., has introduced the new D60 digital SLR camera, which provides consumers with stunning picture quality and versatility in an easy-to-use, compact camera design. The D60 joins Nikon’s award-winning line of D-series digital SLR cameras and shares a form factor similar to the D40 – Nikon’s smallest D-SLR camera ever. With 10.2 effective megapixels and a wealth of innovative and user-friendly features, the D60 enables both photo enthusiasts and those new to digital SLR photography to capture incredible images like never before.

“The Nikon D60 makes stepping up to digital SLR photography easy for anyone, but is also a wonderful choice for photo enthusiasts looking for remarkable performance in a compact package,” said Edward Fasano, general manager for marketing, SLR System Products at Nikon, Inc. “This model, like the wildly popular Nikon D40, greatly simplifies use and builds confidence in the user. With a host of innovative features, such as a visually intuitive LCD information display, Nikon’s highly regarded EXPEED image processing concept, new dual dust reduction countermeasures, in-camera editing tools and exciting creative options, the D60 enhances the picture-taking experience for picture-takers of all skill levels.”

Users will immediately appreciate the D60’s fast 0.18-second start-up time and split-second shutter response, which combine to eliminate the frustration of shooting lag – a common issue with many point-and-shoot digital cameras. With a fast and accurate autofocus and the ability to shoot continuously at up to three pictures-per-second, the D60 faithfully captures pictures that other cameras often miss. The D60 does all this while delivering extraordinarily vivid and detailed pictures, ensuring that fleeting expressions, special moments and memorable events are captured beautifully.

Packaged with Nikon’s new AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR image stabilization lens, the D60 camera and lens outfit delivers striking image sharpness. What’s more, Nikon’s proprietary VR (Vibration Reduction) image stabilization technology also dramatically reduces blur caused when shooting handheld pictures, especially in low light.

The camera’s 10.2 megapixel CCD sensor delivers crisp, high-resolution images with astounding color and clarity, while Nikon’s advanced 3-D Color Matrix Metering II ensures that images are exposed beautifully and automatically, even in challenging lighting conditions. Additionally, Nikon’s new digital image processing concept, EXPEED, delivers smooth tones and accurate color for vibrant pictures and flattering portraits.

The D60 also offers consumers comprehensive in-camera functionality, such as Active D-lighting. Through this innovative Nikon feature, the camera can, with the option selected, further optimize shadow and highlight detail—as pictures are taken. Shots that once required adjustment with photo editing software can now go straight to the printer, bypassing the computer altogether.

For added fun and creativity while reducing or helping to eliminate time spent manipulating pictures later, the D60’s In-camera Retouch Menu enables users to accomplish a wide variety of tasks without a computer. The D60 offers new in-camera editing capabilities, including adjustable cross-screen star effects, color-intensifying filters as well as D-lighting, Red-eye correction, Image Trim and more. The D60’s Stop-Motion Movie mode is a D-SLR first that enables users to create stop-animation movie clips from a series of as many as 100 consecutive JPEG picture files. More experienced photographers will also enjoy shooting in the lossless NEF (RAW) format, and then adjusting image parameters, such as size, format, and white balance, all within the camera.

While many cameras now feature a dust cleaning function, the D60 takes this idea one step further. In addition to offering an Image Sensor Cleaning function that quickly and silently shakes off specks of image degrading dust, the camera also minimizes the dust that can come into contact with the sensor through a unique Airflow Control System. This design works to channel particles away from the sensor with every click of the shutter, resulting in even further reduction of dust particles and the spots they can leave on pictures.

Ergonomically designed with intuitively placed controls, the D60 is a camera that’s compact and ready to go wherever life leads. It also features a new power conserving Eye Sensor that turns the big 2.5-inch color LCD monitor on and off automatically when the user alternates between taking pictures and reviewing camera settings.

A customizable LCD monitor user interface rounds out the D60’s convenient features, as users can create their own wallpapers and adjust color settings to adapt to their preferences. The D60’s design also supports Eye-Fi memory card functionality, enabling the convenient wireless transfer of images from the D60 to a computer, when using Eye-Fi memory cards.* Additionally, photos can be securely written to readily available SD cards, high-capacity SDHC cards and Eye-Fi memory cards, offering users a range of data storage options.

The D60 will be packaged with the 3x zoom AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR lens and will be available throughout the United States beginning in February 2008. Pricing information will be available approximately 30 days prior to sales availability. For more information, please visit the Nikon website.

Sony Confirms FF 24.6MP CMOS Model By Year End

Sony confirms at PMA '08 that the long rumored Full Frame DSLR flagship model will be a reality.

It's going to be a Full Frame, 24.6MP CMOS model with Super Steady Shot stabilization, and should be available by year's end.

Sony Announces New A300 & A350 DSLR Models

Finally expanding its current Alpha DSLR camera line and lenses even further, Sony has announced two new additions to its Alpha line of DSLR digital cameras, the 10.2 megapixel A300 and the 14.2 megapixel A350. The cameras are aimed at serious photographers as well as consumers looking to get beyond the constraints of typical point-and-shoot digital cameras. Both cameras feature Sony's new "Quick AF Life View," a two-sensor system that enables users to frame images on the cameras' built-in LCD displays without sacrificing auto-focus speed.

"Mainstream users stepping up to DSLRs are looking for a similar experience to their point and shoot cameras, but without compromise in speed or performance" said Sony Electronics' director for digital camera marketing Phil Lubell, in s a statement. "Quick AF Live View gives these new models a familiar shooting style without compromising speed—ideal for the growing market of first-time SLR users."

Both cameras feature 2.7-inch LCD displays that flip out from the camera bodies, Sony's Bionz image processing engine, image stabilization, and sensitivity down to ISO 3,200. The A300 can shoot at three frames per second, while the A350 can manage about 2.5 frames per second (using the optical viewfinder, not the LCD); both store images to CompactFlash cards. Sony is touting the new slimmer bodies on the cameras as friendlier than the typical DSLR, but both are still compatible with a wide range of lenses and accessories, including vertical grips.

The A300 will ship with 18–70mm lens for about $800, with the A350 will be available in an $800 lens-free edition, or a $900 for a kit with lenses. Both should be available in April. Sony has also announced a new series of lenses for use with its Alpha DSLR line.

Adobe Discontinues Adobe Stock Photos Service

Official notice from Adobe...

As of April 1, 2008, the Adobe® Stock Photos royalty-free image service will be discontinued. We made this decision in order to focus our efforts in other areas, and we want to share this news with you and let you know how it affects you.

Over the next few months we will be making changes to Adobe Stock Photos. On March 4, 2008, search functionality will be disabled. You will be able to purchase images through our service until March 31, 2008.

To finalize your transactions with us, please follow these steps:

1. Complete your image searches by March 4, 2008.

2. Make final image purchases by March 31, 2008.

3. If necessary, re-download past purchases and print your purchase history by March 31, 2008.

4. When you're ready, uninstall Adobe Stock Photos from Adobe® Bridge in your Creative Suite® applications.

Download the Windows Uninstaller now.
Download the Mac Uninstaller now.

Thanks for your support of Adobe and the Adobe Stock Photos service.

Sincerely,
The Adobe Stock Photos Team

Super Bowl XLII: The Ultimate Shoot-out

This year the Superbowl is coming back to Arizona, and no I don’t have tickets. But being a sports shooter at the farthest end of the spectrum of an NFL photographer at the “Big Game”, I was interested to read a recent article on popphoto.com regarding the shooters on the sidelines. Here is a brief excerpt.

..Just off-field, sports shooters and their assistants will dash up field and down following the plays. Runners will rapidly ferry memory cards from sideline DSLRs to the nearby media trailers. There, images will be transmitted almost instantaneously to the home offices of the Associated Press, Getty Images, Reuters, Sports Illustrated, and other news organizations.

The goal: To be the first and fastest to deliver images of the game to their print- and web-based clients -- and the world. This intense off-field action carries with it potential rewards just as significant as those of the big game itself...

Not nearly as intense as an NFL game, shooting Youth Sports is rewarding when I see the faces of the players and parents as they view my images. I’m just glad I can capture the action of these “Big Games.” Read the entire article on popphoto.com.

NYIP Award of Merit Winner

Several years ago I decided to explore photography education possibilities, beyond a couple of community college courses I had taken. Up until that point anything I knew about photography was primarily self-taught. Those classes were fun and I learned several things, including the now ancient art of darkroom processing and printing, but the classes were limited in scope.

After some research I determined that the New York Institute of Photography would be a good choice. The self-paced, NYI Complete Course in Professional Photography seemed to provide what I was looking for, and as luck would have it, NYI was offering an enticing discount at the time. So in 2005 I became an NYI student.

I was immediately impressed with the amount of material NYIP sent me. Since I opted to pay for the entire course in one lump sum, not only did I receive an additional discount, I also soon found on my porch, a couple of boxes filled with course materials, DVDs, audio tapes, CDs, books, photographic umbrella, 5-in-1 reflector disc and more. I dived into the material and then completed and submitted the first photo project.

Fast forward to October 2007 and the first project is the only one that I had completed. Life, kids, chronic procrastination and starting my own photography business put NYI on the back burner. I found myself saying ‘I’ll get to that next week’ for about two years.

I am the reason why they provide three years to complete the course. I will inadvertently utilize all of that time by the time I’m done, and I do plan to finish. Back in October I completed and submitted the next two assignments, realizing I could have improved my current skills if I had been reading the NYIP material up to that point.

Recently I received the critiqued projects back in the mail along with notification that both projects had received the NYI Award of Merit. NYI also purchased the rights to those photos for their Student Archives and website. This was a pleasant surprise and provides me with additional motivation to complete the course. I’ve included the four awarded images in this post, and thank NYI for recognizing my work. Even prior to receiving this distinction, I would recommend the New York Institute of Photography to any beginning or advanced amateur photographer looking to improve their technique and knowledge of the photography business.

Nikon and Canon Lead Japanese Camera Market

Tokyo-based BCN said that, having captured 43.3% of Japan's DSLR market between January and November, it expects Nikon to hold on to the top spot once December's sales have been calculated. Despite the successful launch of the 40D, BCN's research suggests that Canon will not be able to overcome its second place, having secured a 39.9% market share up to November. Pentax were positioned third, having taken 6.3% of the market to November.

However, taking compacts into account as well, Canon led the market for the fourth consecutive year. It took 21.2% of Japan's overall digital camera market, ahead of Matsushita (Panasonic), which jumped from fourth to second place with 14.9% of the market, mainly because of the success of the Lumix FX33.

With Electronics giants Panasonic and Sony both launching DSLRs in the second half of 2007 and expected to continue to engage with this relatively high-margin market, 2008 is likely to see the big two's market dominance challenged. The Japanese market for DSLRs grew almost 50% in the first 11 months of 2007, in terms of volumes and around 35% by value.

Nikon was bullish about the additional competition: "Next fiscal year [from April 2008] our competitors will develop their marketing to full extent in the digital SLR market, and we expect this will stimulate market growth and contribute to sales." In November 2007, Nikon revised its sales projections, stating that it expected its DSLR sales to increase 43% over the previous year and account for 40% of the Global DSLR market in the financial year ending March 31st 2008.

The Japanese market buys 14% of all DSLRs and 10.3% of all compacts made by Japanese manufacturers*.

* Figures from CIPA represent only cameras made by Japanese manufacturers. This makes them fairly representative for all DSLR sales, as Samsung is the only major non-Japanese DSLR manufacturer.

Photographer, Editor, Publisher And Sage Herbert Keppler Dies

Herbert Keppler, former editor and publisher of Modern Photography and Popular Photography, died Friday night at the age of 82 from heart failure after a brief illness.

Mason Resnick's Adorama News Desk editorial recalls how Keppler gave him his first break in the business.

Adorama has also published a tribute, noting several of their own products "benefitted from Keppler's design suggestions."

Jason Schneider has published a tribute to him at PopPhoto.com. After citing his many accomplishments, he concludes, "What probably mattered to him most is that millions of photography enthusiasts all over the world thought of him as "Kind Old Uncle Burt," the man whose sage, warm-hearted advice and counsel helped them get more out of their photography for more than half a century."

He was also responsible for 'cleaning up' the shady practices in American mail order retailing with the establishment of a Mail Order Code of Ethics, and received numerous awards and titles, including one of the highest awards to be bestowed on a foreigner by the Emperor of Japan for his contribution to the development of the Japanese camera industry, which included numerous visits to offer his advice to manufacturers. He was elected to the Photo Marketing Hall of Fame in 1985 and received the Photographic Manufacturers and Distributors Association Lifetime Achievement Award in 1991. He will be missed.

Tamron Revamps Educational Purchase Program

Tamron has revamped its Educational Purchase Program to make it easier for students and instructors to purchase lenses through the program, and to allow its educational rebates to be combined with regular Tamron rebates. The program provides rebates ranging from $10 to $100 on a selection of Tamron lenses. The rebates are available to students and instructors who are employed by or enrolled in eligible institutions, and who teach or major in photography, photojournalism, visual media, fine art, design, film, video, or communications.

To participate in the Educational Purchase Program, eligible purchasers must buy a Tamron lens that is included in the program from an authorized Tamron dealer, and then submit proof of eligibility, proof of purchase, and a rebate form to the company in order to receive a rebate. Submitting paperwork and ordering a lens in advance is no longer necessary, as it was under previous program rules.

Complete details on the revamped program are available on Tamron's Web site.

US Department Of Transport Announces Restrictions For Li-Ion Batteries

Passengers will no longer be able to pack loose lithium batteries in checked luggage beginning January 1, 2008 once new federal safety rules take effect. The new regulation, designed to reduce the risk of lithium battery fires, will continue to allow lithium batteries in checked baggage if they are installed in electronic devices, or in carry-on baggage if stored in plastic bags.

Common consumer electronics such as travel cameras, cell phones, and most laptop computers are still allowed in carry-on and checked luggage. However, the rule limits individuals to bringing only two extended-life spare rechargeable lithium batteries*, such as laptop and professional audio/video/camera equipment lithium batteries in carry-on baggage.

"Doing something as simple as keeping a spare battery in its original retail packaging or a plastic zip-lock bag will prevent unintentional short-circuiting and fires," said Krista Edwards, Deputy Administrator of the U.S. Department of Transportation's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration.

Lithium batteries are considered hazardous materials because they can overheat and ignite in certain conditions. Safety testing conducted by the FAA found that current aircraft cargo fire suppression system would not be capable of suppressing a fire if a shipment of non-rechargeable lithium batteries were ignited in flight.

"This rule protects the passenger," said Lynne Osmus, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) assistant administrator for security and hazardous materials. "It's one more step for safety. It's the right thing to do and the right time to do it."

In addition to the new rule, PHMSA is working with the FAA, the National Transportation Safety Board, the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the battery and airline industries, airline employee organizations, testing laboratories, and the emergency response communities to increase public awareness about battery-related risks and developments. These useful safety tips are highlighted at the public website: http://safetravel.dot.gov.

FujiFilm Announces Wide Format InkJet Printing Now Available At Sam’s Club Locations

Sam’s Club Members Can Now Print Poster-Sized Images On-Demand, in Minutes, Hours or Days

“We are always looking for ways to improve services and bring new revenue opportunities to our customers, and we’re especially excited to be working with Sam’s Club on rolling this out to their stores across the country,” said Thomas Curley, director of marketing for lab solutions, Imaging Division, FUJIFILM U.S.A. “The posters can be produced in a variety of sizes on the same day, at reasonable cost, and represent additional revenue for the photofinishing side of their business.”

Poster printing and signage services are now available at more than 580 Sam’s Club locations throughout the United States. The solution combines an EPSON/FUJIFILM Stylus Pro 7800 wide format inkjet printer, provided by Fujifilm Hunt Chemicals for Fujifilm Frontier Systems, with the Frontier Photo Controller (PIC) Version 3, and Fujifilm’s Image IntelligenceTM for enhanced color management.

Sam’s Club members can bring their images to any location, and print out images or signs in sizes ranging from 11”x14” to 20”x30”. In addition, this is one of the only on-demand solutions that will produce mounted poster prints, up to 20”x24”, in a matter of minutes. Fujifilm RC Semi-Gloss Boards fuse photo quality inkjet paper to museum class mount boards. The combination is fed directly into the printer, making it easy to go from printer to presentation.

With this offering, Sam’s Club members can create posters for student or office presentations, create signage for community group meetings and small businesses, as well as make creative decorations for parties and milestone celebrations.

“This is an exciting new addition to our capabilities at Sam’s Club Photo Centers and positions us to better help our members with both their business and personal graphic needs,” said Michael Chaney, merchandise director, Sam’s Club. “We believe our members will find this printing solution convenient and superior in quality to similar production techniques.”