The PackshotCreator® Concept
A universal solution for creating professional-quality photos, which does not require any special knowledge.
The PC Digital Photo Studio
It contains the PackshotCreator software, a USB lightbox, a calibrated digital camera and various accessories.
The PackshotCreator Software
An image-creation and processing software that forms the link between the PackshotCreator digital workstation and your PC. Its intuitive user interface lets you preview product images directly onscreen, take photographs of them, and organize your images into files and folders.
The USB Lightbox
This lightbox connects to your PC and neutralizes cast shadows as well as interfering reflections. It contains fluorescent lamps and aluminum diffusers providing a uniform natural-lighting environment.
PackshotCreator Mini
A turnkey mini-photo studio. Compact and efficient, it allows you to create professional-quality photos of all your small- to medium-sized products in-house. This all-in-one package contains the PackshotCreator software, a dedicated digital camera, a lightbox measuring 44.5 x 44.5 x 49 cm (17.5 x 17.5 x 19 in), and photography accessories for shoots.
PackshotCreator Business
A PC-compatible photo studio and the highest-performing workstation in our product line. As easy to use as a photocopy machine, PackshotCreator Business is the ideal turnkey solution for perfect true-color images for all your Web and print communications. This complete package contains the PackshotCreator software, a dedicated digital camera, a lightbox (standard size: 61 x 61 x 73 cm or 24 x 24 x 29 in), and photography accessories for shoots.
PackshotCreator 360
A photo studio that connects to your PC, it takes multiple images and creates 360-degree animations. Thanks to its software-controlled turntable, PackshotCreator e360 guides users step-by-step through the animation process, giving them total control over it. Containing many customizable features, the software automates image capturing by synchronizing it with the turntable. This package comes with the three standard components: the PackshotCreator software, a dedicated digital camera, a lightbox (standard size: 61 x 61 x 73 cm or 24 x 24 x 29 in), and photography accessories for shoots.
Image Characteristics
An image has three attributes: its size in points (or pixels), its true dimensions (in centimeters or inches), and its resolution. These three aspects are interrelated.
PackshotCreator Image Formats
JPG (or JPEG): Images come in 24 or 32 bit compression depending on the image size and quality desired.
TIFF: A universal format used extensively in desktop publishing, it contains the image itself as well as a preview of it.
GIF: A bitmap format used extensively on the Web. PackshotCreator e360 creates 360-degree GIF animations.
Image Resolution
Resolution, expressed in DPI, determines the number of pixels relative to an image's true dimensions. The higher the resolution, the smaller and more numerous the points, and the sharper the image. A higher resolution also means a larger file size.
DPI (Dots Per Inch)
A measurement unit used to express image resolution.
dpi = dots per inch
(one inch is equal to 2.54 cm)
Dots = points = pixels
DPI (Dots Per Inch)
Computer monitors / Web site images: 72 to 75 dpi (not suitable for printing).
Fax machines: usually 200 dpi.
Personal printers: between 300 and 1400 dpi.
Personal scanners: 300, 600 or 1200 dpi.
Professional printing: Photo-composition and professional printing machines generally operate at 4800 dpi or more
PackshotCreator Image Resolution :
300, 150 and 72 dpi
Image Definition :
The number of points composing the image.
Photo Editing Software
Adobe Photoshop is the most popular image-editor
Besides Photoshop, there are other high-performing tools such as Corel Draw, Painter, DeBabelizer, ACDSee, and Gimp (which is excellent and free!). PackshotCreator is most compatible with Photoshop, though it can still be used with CorelDraw and Paint Shop Pro.
Colorimetry and ICC Profiles
Colorimetric rendering is :
- The color spectrum displayed (gamut)
- Color matching and calibration
On a computer screen, colorimetry measures the maximum luminance of the monitor, from black to white. In practice, monitor colorimetry tends to toggle between blue-green for darker tones and red for lighter tones.
PackshotCreator's Colorimetry Tools
PackshotCreator's colorimetry tools can correct screen color distortion in order to restore colors as close to reality as possible. They can also calibrate printers to match colors for printing.
ICC Profile
The ICC Profile is a sort of identity card of an image or a color calibration tool, as it contains colorimetric properties, namely :
- All the colors that can be reproduced by a camera or contained in an image
- All the colors that can be displayed, printed or scanned when an apparatus receives given RGB signals. These are its colorimetric properties. An ICC profile thus associated with the calibration properties of a peripheral device.
Calibration
Calibrating peripheral graphic devices (printers, scanners and monitors) allows for optimal color management. Calibration requires two steps: calibration and characterization. Calibration consists of adjusting the settings of the color-reproducing apparatus.
Characterization is determining the LAB color that is detected by the peripheral device when it receives a given RGB or CMYK signal. In other words, it consists of measuring the characteristics received by the computer, which controls the measuring tool.
For example, if you adjust the contrast of your monitor, you are changing the calibration, so the characterization operation must be refreshed to create a new ICC profile.
The Lab color scheme is absolute regardless of the device and is used as a reference.
- L = lightness from 0 (black) to 100% (white)
- a = red gamma axis (120) -green (-120)
- b = yellow gamma axis (120) -blue (-120)
Calibration Tools
Tools that allow true-color calibration of peripheral equipment.
Miscellaneous: Photography and Computers
TripodAn adjustable camera stand.
Microprocessor
An “electronic chip” containing electronic circuits and installed in the computer's hardware.
RAM (Random Access Memory)
A computer's memory. Its contents can be modified during use. All executable files are temporarily stored in the memory.
Graphics Card
A card that is integrated into the computer hardware and processes the graphic display information to be read by computer monitors.
Monitor
Another word for a computer screen.
