Polaroid is in fresh talks over the survival of its professional instant sheet film following its failure to reach agreement with UK firm Ilford Photo.

Polaroid bosses have confirmed that they are in discussions with a 'third party' over the continued production of 20x24in large format professional b&w sheet film.

In a meeting with , Polaroid's European vice-president Paul Telford also revealed that there is a 'strong possibility' that production of 8x10in format sheet film will be taken up by an, as yet, unnamed manufacturer.

Earlier this month we reported that Polaroid had failed to agree a manufacturing deal with Ilford Photo, which is based in Cheshire.

At the time a spokesman for Harman Technology Ltd, which trades as Ilford Photo, said that the move would have been 'cost prohibitive', given declining demand.

In February, Polaroid announced plans to axe film production, blaming competition from digital cameras, 61 years after it hailed the birth of 'instant photography'.

The move comes as Polaroid prepares to launch an assault on the consumer market.

Next month sees the UK debut of a portable 'inkless' £99 digital printer called PoGo (pictured).

This will be followed later this year by a digital camera featuring a built-in printer that uses the same technology.

]]> http://sirint.com/design/polaroid-in-fresh-talks-over-continued-production-of-instant-sheet-film.htm Sharon Stone, above and below, in new ads for Damiani. Beverly Hills, Calif.—Damiani has chosen iconic screen siren Sharon Stone as the new face of the Damiani brand.

The brand officially introduced its new advertising campaign at a press event on June 19 at Damiani's Beverly Hills, Calif., store. In attendance were members of the news media, along with Stone, Silvia Damiani, a third-generation member of the Damiani family, and Antonio Pavan, chief executive officer and president of Damiani USA.

Guests attending the event watched as Silvia Damiani introduced the campaign, while images of Stone were revealed on large plasma screens.

 The campaign epitomizes female icons throughout legend and history, with images inspired by the biblical figure Eve, Amelia Earhart and today's modern woman, who the brand said in a media release is "unique and as strong as the 'every' woman."

Renowned photographer Solve Sundsbo shot the campaign, with Stone wearing jewels from Damiani's most important collections.

"Damiani campaigns have always featured women with strong personalities and natural beauty," the brand said in the media release. "This is a unique campaign, one of great impact as Sharon Stone perfectly interprets the house's style."
]]> http://sirint.com/design/sharon-stone-new-face-of-damiani.htm "Time for Music" stainless steel timepiece by Moschino CheapandChic; suggested retail price is $195. Moschino.it By Mary Wisniewski

Basel, Switzerland—Fashion label Moschino just got an additional job.

A subsidiary of Italy's AEFFE Group, the brand signed a five-year deal with watch and jewelry manufacturer Binda Group for the licensed production and marketing of watches and jewelry under the Moschino "CheapandChic" label. The new collection, which debuted at this year's BaselWorld, confirms the ongoing trend of fashion houses moving into the jewelry and watch realm.

Moschino Creative Director Rossella Jardin said during the show that she wanted to make watches that were more like jewelry.

"Creating watches inspired by jewelry makes them 'fashion accessories' besides their technical specs and functions," she said, adding that the brand was a hit with both buyers and press at BaselWorld.

Though the brand's accessories are varied, most share a common tongue-in-cheek element. For example, the "Don't Be Too Late," timepiece includes multiple dials scattered throughout the bracelet, while another, entitled "Time for Music," offers a record album-inspired dial.

Other fashion brands already in the bauble business expanded upon their collections at BaselWorld. Diane von Furstenberg teamed up with H. Stern once again for the "Rock Watch Collection," revealing three jewelry-style watches with Swiss quartz mechanisms.

Early adapter Gucci, in the watch and jewelry business since the 1970s, just reopened its New York flagship store on Fifth Avenue in February, upping the ante on its accessories offerings by creating a free-standing watch and jewelry boutique.

Amanda Gizzi, the Jewelry Information Center's associate director for public relations, says more fashion brands are entering the jewelry and watch arena because jewelry itself is becoming an extension of fashion.

"It makes perfect sense since they already have brand recognition," Gizzi says. "Loyal customers are already there."

Besides the heavy logos that are usually incorporated into fashion accessories, similar themes tend to run through a label's offerings. For example, a necklace may resemble the chain featured on a handbag or a pair of jeans under the same label.

"It gives the recognition of cohesive design," Gizzi says.

Gucci 's iconic "Horsebit" earrings and necklace in 18-karat gold; suggested retail is $2,225 and $2,490, respectively. Gucci.comVera Hennrich, European manager of public relations and events for European Fossil, says Michael Kors' accessories take a cue from the brand's apparel, as do accessories from Marc by Marc Jacobs and Burberry.

"They always try to match the clothes line with accessories," she says of the brands, which are among the labels that Fossil has watch licensing deals with.

Italian accessories designer Isabella Zocchi keeps similar elements throughout all of her bags, shoes and jewelry. For example, the metal decorations accenting her "gritty-stiff bags" are the same asymmetrical motif featured on her rings and bangles. She says a brand's quality, the VIP factor and the high level of customer service may attract women to buy branded jewelry, but they still won't buy a product solely based on a name.

"In general, I think good style is always the best motivation to buy a jewel," she says.

Although the watch world is branded, Gizzi says, the jewelry world is, unfortunately, not. She says jewelers should view the category's expansion as an opportunity to pair up with a fashion brand or big fashion store.

"If someone spends five grand on an evening gown, they will spend the same amount on jewelry, or at least they should," she says. "The jewelry industry needs to wake up to another whole world outside of jewelry stores."

And part of the industry already is. To wit: Tanagro Fine Jewelers in New York recently introduced a fine-jewelry collection created for fashion designer Loris Diran's "Illumination" collection. Tanagro's master craftsman and creative director, Antonio Dibenedetto, crafted the pieces in 18-karat gold with diamonds and mandarin garnets, and says their value goes beyond the brand and lies also in the design.

Of course, Diran says, he knows consumers can be very loyal to brands, buying items like sunglasses and perfume just because they're made by a designer name they love. But that doesn't mean they buy jewelry for the same reasons.

When a woman buys a terrific garment for her wardrobe or an accessory to accent it, it's an impulse purchase, whereas jewelry is more of a lifetime commitment, he says. Although most associate jewelry with an emotional experience—or a gift—he says a growing number of women understand there isn't that big of a difference between a $5,000 dress and a pair of fantastic earrings to go with it.

"[You're] not buying it for a few seasons," he says. "You are buying it for its longevity."

Editor's note: This article first appeared in the May 16, 2008, issue of National Jeweler.
]]> http://sirint.com/design/label-lovers-get-their-fix-with-jewelry-watches.htm

UK consumers print more of their photos at home than those in France, Germany and Italy, reveals a new survey.

More than 60% of respondents said they had printed all their pictures at home over the previous 30 days, according to a survey conducted in April by Lyra Research.

This compared to around 40% in France and Germany and just over 30% in Italy.

'Results of this survey indicate that the majority of digital photos printed over the past 30 days were printed in the home,' said a spokeswoman.

She added: 'For those users who print photos at retail, ordering at a self-service kiosk with a built-in printer is preferred in the United Kingdom, while off-site processing is preferred in Germany.

'Users in France and Italy prefer prints made in store on equipment operated by staff behind the counter.'

The full survey results will be revealed at the Lyra Europe Imaging Conference, which takes place from 18-19 June in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

]]> http://sirint.com/design/britons-top-home-printing-poll.htm Mary-Kate Olsen, above, and her twin sister, Ashley, are partnering with designer Robert Lee Morris on a jewelry collection to debut this fall. New York—Fashion mavens Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen aren't limiting themselves to designing apparel these days. According to a story published yesterday by Women's Wear Daily, the famed twins are partnering with jewelry designer Robert Lee Morris to create a licensed jewelry collection.

The collection will fall under the label Robert Lee Morris for Elizabeth and James, the latter being the Olsens' contemporary apparel brand.

According to Women's Wear Daily and confirmed by Heidi Schuster, director of sales and communications for Robert Lee Morris, the line will hit stores in September and will consist of 80-plus styles, including thick metals cuffs and rings, earrings and necklaces accented with turquoise beading, crosses and daggers.

Pieces in the collection will retail from $65 to $700 and will debut in Intermix stores nationwide.
]]> http://sirint.com/design/olsen-twins-ink-deal-with-robert-lee-morris.htm

QuickPro has just released two Camera Guides for a couple of the most popular DSLR models on the market, the Nikon D60 and Canon XSi. The QuickPro Camera Guides include interactive camera-body tours, professionally shot pictures, and are narrated by Todd Hansen, the Emmy-winning writer. “QuickPro’s mission is to make sure SLR consumers realize the potential these cameras have by empowering them with camera and photography skills through our high-quality tutorials.” commented Landon Bradfield, QuickPro’s sales manager. The Nikon D60 and Canon XSi Camera Guides cost $24.95 each.

QuickPro Turns Beginner SLR Camera Users Into Pros

Nikon D60 and Canon XSi DVD tutorials officially debut to the consumer marketplace

HYRUM, Utah, June 12 /PRNewswire/—Without a good understanding of photography fundamentals, the view through the lens of a fancy digital camera isn’t always what it could be. But QuickPro, LLC, a company that’s dedicated to creating exciting, colorful DVD tutorials (http://www.quickprocameraguides.com/) for Single-Lens Reflex (SLR) cameras is changing this fact—and the fate of amateur photographers everywhere. Since it was founded three years ago, QuickPro has become the definitive resource for high-quality DVDs, which have helped turn beginner picture-takers into pros. Producing 23 tutorials to date, QuickPro officially announces the debut of two QuickPro Camera Guides for a couple of the most popular SLR models on the market—the Nikon D60 and Canon XSi.

“Both the Nikon D60 and Canon XSi are amazing SLR cameras in terms of their technological abilities and wide range of features,” says Landon Bradfield, QuickPro’s sales manager. “But rarely are consumers fully educated on the basics, much less the more advanced features of these cameras. QuickPro’s mission is to make sure SLR consumers realize the potential these cameras have by empowering them with camera and photography skills through our high-quality tutorials.”

Always looking for fresh ways to serve consumers better, QuickPro is forever improving upon its own products, too. As of 2008, the company added an extensive index system to its tutorials so users can easily locate whatever information they wish to find. QuickPro has also created fun, interactive camera-body tours, so the photographer can easily become familiar with the buttons and viewfinder information. This makes for speedier, more comprehensive learning all around.

As well, QuickPro’s new camera guides include hundreds of professionally shot pictures. Each photograph serves as a guide and a source of inspiration for picture-taking endeavors. And finally, Todd Hansen, the Emmy-winning writer, is now narrating QuickPro’s latest DVDs. His crystal-clear voice and easy-to-understand explanations help captivate audiences of all levels.

“QuickPro strives to fine-tune its own products on a regular basis, and we’re ecstatic about these recent enhancements,” Landon says. “The SLR DVD tutorials have always been super slick, and now they’re razor sharp. This improvement on our end means we’ve got a better quality product to offer people. Consequently, there’s now a greater chance that photographers everywhere will grasp the significant value behind our products and, ultimately, realize the great potential that their high-tech digital cameras hold.”

QuickPro Camera Guides and instructional tutorials are available through most independent camera shops nationwide, a few select chains and Amazon.com. For information, visit http://www.quickprocameraguides.com/.

About QuickPro, LLC
Founded in 2005, QuickPro, LLC creates QuickPro Camera Guides and digital-camera instructional tutorials. Serving the market of SLR camera users, QuickPro strives to instill confidence, enhance technical ability and inspire excitement with its dynamic DVD manuals. QuickPro provides camera guides for most major camera brands.

A leading photography body has launched a card, to be carried by its members, outlining photographers' legal rights in response to the ongoing photography in public campaign.

The Bureau of Freelance Photographers (BFP) has today sent the 'Blue Card' (pictured) to all its 7,000 UK members in a move billed as a 'major initiative' to tackle the problem 'on the ground'.

The BFP hopes the card will serve to persuade police officers not to harass its members, who hail from both amateur and professional photography backgrounds.

The BFP acted after what it describes as an 'increasing number of members being stopped by police В– or more commonly, police community support officers В– from legitimately taking picturesВ…'

Acknowledging the 'major part' AP has played in 'spearheading the campaign', BFP chief executive John Tracy said: 'We simply don't know whether it will work. I feel quite passionate about it. Something had to be done and so we bit the bullet. We contacted a barrister to make sure the card is legally correct.'

The card is enclosed with the June issue of the BFP's , which advises members to show it to the particular police officer, security guard or other official, if they feel it necessary.

The BFP warns that it must be used with 'tact and discretion'. 'If it is brandished at a police officer in an aggressive or tactless manner, it may only serve to exacerbate the situation,' it says.

The card also urges members to ensure they are complying with the law when taking pictures in public places. Photographers must not be causing an obstruction, for instance.

Full details will appear in an upcoming issue of AP.

RELATED ARTICLES

Photo rights/BBC TV coverage

BBC article: photography and police

Photographers take fight to Home Office

Police pledge to act on photo fears

MP launches photography petition in House of Commons

Police in 'deleted' pictures storm

Anger at police statement on photography

Police apologise over Christmas lights fiasco

]]> http://sirint.com/design/photography-body-launches-rights-card.htm