Midsouth Distributors

Midsouth appointed Noritsu agent for Sub-Sahara Africa

webmaster — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 03:39:28 +0000

We are proud to announce that we have been appointed the Noritsu agent for Sub-Sahara Africa.

The printing world we know is changing

webmaster — Thu, 10 May 2012 07:41:00 +0000

Source: The Lensman Aug-Sept 2011 Download full article here

As technology marches to the cloud – photographers need to do the same

The buzz in technology circles is all about the cloud and cloud computing. But what is the cloud and what can it do for us, and will it change the way in which we engage not only with people and technology, but with our photographic peripherals too? Cloud Computing is the moving of traditional bricks and mortar based technology solutions from their physical infrastructure into the cloud. In simple terms it means doing what we have always done on our computers, but engaging not with servers and data stores that are onsite, but rather accessed in real time over the Internet.

The cloud?

Before you tear your hair out about a new technology movement that you have to get to grips with, after you have just gotten the handle of your smartphone and touch screen tablet device, let us explore the benefits of ‘cloud computing’ for you as a photographer or someone in the photographic industry.

Firstly the cloud is safe, you don’t have to walk down that route, there are a whole bunch of very smart technical guys who have sorted that out for us already. Secondly cloud service providers need to guarantee us the bandwidth needed to support their services so let us put that argument to bed before it starts, and thirdly yes it is available for the man on the street and is not just for big business.

Will it work for me?

Well it’s simple, imagine a world where firstly you could store your images offsite, putting an end to the apocalyptic event of one of your thousands of hard drives crashing and putting an end to your career. Secondly think of being able to send prints off into the ether and arriving the next day to collect them. Giving you more time to secure another valuable appointment or negating the need for buying expensive colour cartridges for your high quality printer that is in for repairs once a month. It might sound like a nirvana, but with the cloud rapidly advancing and becoming a viable solution for all, it is today a reality.

Cloud printing for you

It is with this that the team at MidSouth Distributors, a local HP reseller, have decided to make the cloud work for them as well as for you their customer. You can go to the MidSouth Web site (www.midsouth.co.za) and download the software (22MB download) from the link on the home page to leap frog into the world of cloud computing and get access to cloud services right from your desktop.

The software includes an online home client that will provide you access to print your images and photographs directly to a photo centre in the MidSouth premises. For those of you visiting the Photo & Film Expo you are in for an even better deal, as all images sent to the photo centre prior to the expo can be collected at the MidSouth stand (just look out for the HP balloon) and be provided at a massively discounted rate of 30%.

No hassle, no fuss

The real beauty of this service is that you have access to printing on the latest, most innovative and best quality photo printers available on the market, without having to own or purchase them yourselves. This removes the need to service printers regularly, replace cartridges and service heads and moving parts on your device. All you need is a computer and access to the internet and you are already in the cloud.

In addition you can be assured of the best prints at all times and you can then extend this quality guarantee to your own customers, providing you with a competitive edge over and above your competitors in the market. It really is that simple and it has been designed to make not only your life easier, and more convenient, but to ease the pressure on your wallet as well.

Printing on the best – HP Photosmart ML2000 Minilab Printer

The days of toxic chemicals used in exposure laboratories leading photographers and their lab assistants to an early grave are long gone. But do we get the same quality from the pictures printed on mass produced printers available today? For those using the HP Photosmart ML2000 Minilab Printer the answer is yes.

This printer is an advanced printing system that delivers exceptional photo quality easily and cost-effectively. It has been optimised for quality, productivity and volume, and produces print sizes in a range from 3.5 x 5 inches to 12 x 18 inches. The printer is also exceptionally fast and can process 4×6 inch prints at a staggering rate of 1500 prints per hour.

In addition its no-compromise, high capacity six-ink system delivers outstanding image quality that is consistent print after print. Quality is also guaranteed when it used with HP’s retail exclusive photo paper, which produces a broader colour gamut than dye sublimation or silver halide and with durable HP photo inks, you get waterproof prints and enlargements that will last for 200+ years.

Printing on the best – HP Designjet Z3200 Photo Printer series

If you are looking for long lasting, gallery quality prints that will provide a wow factor to your works as well as an exhibition, then you need to demand it is printed on an HP Designjet Z3200 photo printer.

This unbelievable beast of a machine comes coupled with new HP 73 Chromatic Red ink, ensuring that no matter whether your prints are printed in black and white or colour, they are done so with complete precision every time. The printer also enables easy calibration and profiling with its embedded spectrophotometer, and also delivers great ink efficiency, which is translated into cost savings for you.

When printing on a Z3200 you will also be assured of beautiful black and white prints that boast smooth transitions and true neutral greys. Superior gloss uniformity is also assured while bronzing can be minimised on glossy papers. Its expanded colour gamut achieves 95% PANTONE coverage, enabled by its new chromatic red ink. In addition, users also have the option of doing canvass prints and ordering online.

Be smart – Print smart

Printing only the top quality prints needn’t cost you an arm and a leg and it needn’t need a mammoth investment from yourself either. Making use of the latest smart cloud printing solutions from MidSouth Distributors you can be assured of only the best in quality prints and with the flexibility and convenience demanded by the world of photography and its admirers.

Midsouth acquires Dai Nippon Printing (DNP)

webmaster — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 08:32:02 +0000

We are proud to announce that Midsouth Distributors has acquired Dai Nippon Printing (DNP).

Take a look at the new products we have available and for further information, please contact us.

ILFORD MULTIGRADE ART 300 Released

webmaster — Sun, 02 Oct 2011 07:46:16 +0000

Freedom of Expression

HARMAN technology launch the first new ILFORD Black and White Silver Gelatine Paper for 13 years – ILFORD MULTIGRADE ART 300

HARMAN technology is delighted to announce the introduction of a new silver gelatine photographic paper produced in co-operation with Hahnemühle FineArt GmbH.

Following extensive consultation with photographers and printers, an R&D project was started 18 months ago when a survey of users identified the need for a true fine art base with a MULTIGRADE silver gelatine coating. The ideal product would have a cool base colour and a neutral to warm image tone. Many of those surveyed yearned for long lost papers and these features came out repeatedly during the survey where over 150 respondents around the globe gave their views.

Steven Brierley, Director of Sales and Marketing at HARMAN, says ‘It seemed to me that if we could meet this clearly identified need we would please many and significantly widen the choice for those who wish to use silver gelatine papers when making fine art B&W prints. By offering a true fine art textured matt paper with a MULTIGRADE coating we believe we have met their needs and expanded the range of paper surfaces available today’

’This silver gelatine paper is a true fine art product and we were delighted when Hahnemühle agreed to help us by producing a special paper base. The brief was clear, 100% cotton rag paper base, acid free but with the wet strength needed to survive the archival washing required when making fine art prints – all of which have been met’

Users will find the new ILFORD MULTIGRADE Art 300 a delight to use with many of the merits for which ILFORD MULTIGRADE papers are renowned and some exciting new benefits. Exposure times and product handling will be very familiar for MULTIGRADE users who will quickly find they are producing excellent prints.

The new surface delivers a matt fine art print that has both a texture and what some users have described as an eggshell sheen. Compared to ILFORD FB (baryta) papers slightly shorter wash times are achieved, and the paper can easily be handled in large sheets thanks to its 300 GSM weight.

The product will be branded as ILFORD MULTIGRADE Art 300 and will be available in sizes from 5 x7 up to 20 x 24 inch packed in boxes of 10/15/30/50 sheets

Quotes from users:

“I’d just like to say that I LURVE it.
It’s a very easy paper to work with: you can “throw “ exposure at it and it seems to come up looking lush and lovely with good blacks, sensitive shadow areas and responds as it should to all the usual burning and dodging without fuss. It has all that lovely Kentmere Art Classic inky black texture when dried and the paper weight seems to be heavier than normal. It seleniums beautifully whether split or full, to a nice chocolaty brown and dries perfectly without overly much “drying down”. I give it a mighty thumbs up, as soon as it’s in production I’ll be buying the larger sizes”
~ Robin Bell, London.

“This new art paper is, in my opinion, the most exciting paper I’ve seen since the launch of ILFORD MULTIGRADE FB WARMTONE in 1997. To hear about the launch of a paper which is ideally suited to an artistic use or interpretation – especially in times of austerity is a welcome surprise.
I was fortunate to be able to try some pre release samples and fell in love with the paper immediately. It has a wonderfully heavy base, a beautiful colour and responds better than any other paper I know in split toning in Selenium. I am planning on doing a series of paper negative images specifically for printing on the paper.”
~ Andrew Sanderson, Photographer and Master Printer – Holmfirth, England.

“I’m beyond excited about the paper, even though I get excited about a lot of new products. This one in particular looks amazing – the blacks are incredible. You must make this stuff.”
~ Sam Davis, Photographer and Instructor – Los Angeles CA, USA.

“For B&W art prints there is nothing like it on the market, and it will, I am sure become much loved by fine art printers. Larger prints are even more suited to this very heavy textured near matt paper, which I am finding to be a joy to print with. The DMax is superb for any paper and especially for a matt paper and is improved by selenium toning. I think this paper is a very welcome addition to the silver gelatin market.”
~ Tim Rudman, Photographer and Master Printer – Woking, England