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.