The fourteenth installment of the One Minute Rant. Each audio is one minute or less and focuses on a very specific topic to engage readers here on the FR to comment and start a dialogue! Just click on the RANT logo to listen.

Author: EveNSteve
The Cuboid Multi-Aspect Ratio Pinhole Camera – Part 2
The Cuboid is set for release December 1, 2009 so over the next month I will do one article a week focusing on this unique new camera in addition to my regular articles.
The first in this series is on the multi-aspect ratio possibilities of the Cuboid. The attached image
illustrates that with the 7 included masks the Cuboid is capable of an incredible variety of image sizes and also is capable of doing the Overlapping Frame Panoramic Technique I outlined here on Figital Revolution a few months ago- but to a much greater degree of control and creativity.
Viva la Revolution!
The Cuboid Multi-Aspect Ratio Pinhole Camera
Click on the video below to watch a 10-minute overview of the new Cuboid multi-aspect ratio Pinhole Camera.
The Cuboid is in final testing now and is expected to be released around December 1, 2009. This is a very limited production camera- at first, only 3 will be available with an additional 6 cameras around March 2010… each is entirely hand-made by Matt Abelson of Abelson Scope Works. The Cuboid will be available exclusively here on the Figital Revolution E Store / Indian Hill Imageworks, so stay tuned!
NOTE: I will be in NYC for Photo Expo on Friday, October 23, with my Cuboid in hand… so if you see me on the floor and want to chat, just give a shout!
Viva la Revolution-
Stephen
Dust Cover for the Epson 9900 Printer
It drives me nuts that on a fantastic printer like the Epson 9900- which I recently purchased for Indian Hill Imageworks – that it does not come with a dust cover… the 7880 does, so why not the 9900. On my d’Vinci Fine Art Printer this is not an issue due to the horizontal paper feed but on the Epson printers the paper feed on the top is just asking for dust and dirt to make its way to your print heads. I run a very clean studio but dust, as any knows, is always a problem, especially in the winter months when the air has less moisture.

Solution… Epson makes and starts to offer a cover for the 9900 (better yet would be to include it with the printer!) or I found on the web Digital Deck Covers who made a custom cover for my 9900 out of silver nylon for $179… not cheap, but if it keeps the printer clean than it is a sound investment in my book. Yes, I could have just put a nylon blanket over the printer at night or a large sheet of butcher block paper as I had been doing, but for $5,300 bucks plus ink, I think my investment in this cover make sense, and it looks nice when clients are in my studio.
Canson Baryta Photographique Review and Additional Thoughts
Here is a quick informal review of a new offering by Canson, Baryta Photographique 310 gsm… this paper exhibits many of the qualities of a air dried darkroom print but how does it compare to other Baryta papers tested here at Indian Hill Imageworks. Give a listen…
Link to information on Canson Baryta Photographique.
Can I Touch It?
This audio blog is on alternative hanging solutions and how the tactile quality of some printed artworks changes the viewers relationship to the art. Give a listen!!
Stephen Schaub Interview on Inside Analog Photo Radio… Part 2
Premium Inkjet Paper Tests Epson 9900
The audio portion of this post contains my thoughts and test information on the following papers:
- Crane Silver Rag
- Canson Platine Fibre Rag
- Hahnemuhle Photo Rag Baryta
- Hahnemuhle Photo Rag Pearl
Gamut projections of tested papers in Chromix Color Think.
All tests were done on the Epson 9900 using RIP and profiling software by Ergosoft.

Bad batch numbers for Hahnemuhle Photo Rag Baryta 315 gsm:
- 601.098-A
- 601.099-A
- 601.100-A
- 601.208-A
- 601.211-A
Note: As I mentioned in the audio portion of this post the new batch of paper supplied to me by Hahnemuhle is perfect and the issue of the black specs has now been corrected from what I can see. I was informed that the issue was “fixed” back in May/ June but unfortunately the bad stock does still exist so check before you buy!
Missing The Mark: What Are Printer Test Targets Really Worth?
The Scarlet Disclaimer
This audio blog focuses on a proposed French law that would require all Photoshop manipulated images of a person to carry a warning label- give a listen. One quick note, in the audio I say that taking two aspirins and eating a banana on one foot will make you 6 inches taller… I meant to say will not.

Link to Article on French Law:




