Designing Awesome Graphics

If you are creating high-end graphics for product packaging, presentations or promotional materials, you may want to consider using advanced graphics software such as Adobe CS2 or CorelDRAW.

Adobe Creative Suite 2.0 is a comprehensive digital imaging environment, with innovative color management for print and Web publishing. It includes several of the company's excellent graphics creation and editing programs, including Photoshop CS2, Illustrator CS2, GoLive CS2, InDesign CS2, and the indispensable file-management application, Adobe Bridge. This powerful $899 design application (Mac/Win) supports several advanced file formats, including Camera Raw 3.0,. for working with uncompressed digital photography.

Another good suite for Windows users is CorelDRAW Graphics Suite 12, which includes CorelDRAW, Corel Photo-Paint, and Corel R.A.V.E. With this easy to use $399 application, you can create precise drawings, dynamic layouts, and Flash-compatible Web animations.

Image Projection

By selecting the appropriate projector for your business presentations and other applications, you can present brilliant images with true-to-life colors to larger groups.

Portable multimedia projectors that deliver bright and clear images are available from several manufacturers. For video-centric applications, the InFocus X3 ($1,199) and Sharp XR-X1 ($2,495) offer a 2000:1contrast ratio with XGA resolution.

Ultra bright SXGA projectors, such as the Canon Realis SX50 (less than $5,000) offer high brightness levels of 2500 ANSI lumens, and are good for spreadsheets and multimedia. The Realis SX50 features the company's 6 Axes Color Adjustment that lets you fine-tune the hue and saturation of each of the primary and secondary colors.

Hitachi's CP-SX5600 uses LCOS (Liquid Crystal Over Silicon) technology to deliver images with a native resolution of 1280 x 1024 pixels, and can easily display images as high as 1600 x 1200 pixels. This HDTV-compatible, 1800-ANSI-lumen unit weighs about 12 lbs. and costs less than $6,000.

Brightness, contrast, resolution, size, and connectivity are key factors in the selection of a projector. You will need to make trade-offs on these factors based on type of content, number of viewers, and room size and lighting conditions. The display screen will also significantly impact the quality of the projected image.

Print and Deliver

Color laser printers are now within the reach of every business and workgroup. The low cost-per-page makes printing in-house cost-effective. Konica Minolta's new magicolor printers can output photo files at a high resolution. For instance, the magicolor 2450, rated at 9600 x 600 dpi, can output superb photographic detail. This model (prices start at $699) also features automatic ICC-based color matching that provides single-button controls for automatic color correction of print files.

For a more powerful network color laser printer, you will want to consider Konica Minolta's magicolor 5450. High performance color laser printers are also available from HP and Xerox.

Although the cost-per-page of inkjet printers is typically much higher than color lasers, they are worth the extra bucks for photo-quality marketing displays and brochures. We have put Canon and Epson inkjet printers through their paces with excellent results.

Sidebar: Bright Multimedia Projection

With a brightness of 1,500 ANSI lumens and weighing only 4.84 lbs., the new Performa(TM) model CP-RS55 projector from Hitachi features the high-end performance required for use in corporate and small business environments, and an intuitive user interface that makes it ideal for home use.

Moreover, because of its light weight and connectivity options, the Performa allows for hassle-free portability between the home and the workplace, making it a true-to-form, dual-use projector. Its user-friendly features make it easy to set up, and make the adjustments you want simple with the remote control.

The Performa model CP-RS55 features Progressive Scan Technology, which allows users to enjoy realistically beautiful images with no flicker. Its Equalizing function (Gamma Correction and Color Balance) lets users make adjustments to achieve the desired picture quality. Three Picture Mode settings (Normal, Cinema, and Dynamic) enable users to choose the best mode to match the source.

The Performa also allows for a Whisper Mode option, which reduces fan noise to 32 dB. This provides quiet performance in a variety of applications, from living room to boardroom or classroom.

For more information, call 1-650-589-8300 or visit www.hitachi.us/digitalmedia.