The less time you wait for your Mac to complete a graphics chore, the more time you have to explore and create. Many of this year's award recipients will save you hefty chunks of time. For example, Live Picture 2.0 allows you to quickly composite multimegabyte color images -- with minimal fuss.
Acquiring images is also becoming faster and easier, thanks to digital cameras and advanced scanners. Our favorite digital camera, the Kodak Professional DCS 460 Digital Camera, is equally at home in the studio and in the field. For traditional scanning, we like the Saphir flatbed scanner. It produces beautiful scans and includes software that was formerly available only with Linotype-Hell's megabuck scanners and color workstations.
Print your images on a ChromaxPro dye-sub printer. Its full-bleed tabloid-sized prints are so color-accurate that you may no longer need to use a service bureau to create Matchprints. And -- speaking of service bureaus -- put FlightCheck on your shortlist of time-savers. This handy program analyzes prepress files for problems such as missing fonts, unused spot colors, and poorly set traps.
For real time savings, invest in top-notch hardware. For high-speed storage, use a dual-SCSI-bus RAID 0 card, specifically an ExpressPCI-MC. Hook up two fast hard drives to the card, configure your favorite RAID 0 driver software, and you're off to the races. For displaying color images accurately, you can't beat the PressView 17 SR, a professional color-display system, complete with a neutral gray case, ProSense calibrator, and ColorMatch files for Photoshop. Next, add Wacom's handy ArtZ II drawing tablet, with its erasing stylus, 16 customizable buttons, and pressure-sensitivity adjustments. Team all this up with the PowerShop Accelerator for Macintosh, a superfast Photoshop accelerator, and you are the pilot of an image-processing workstation of unparalleled power.
What to do with all this hot hardware? For jazzing up an image, we like Kai's Power Tools 3, a set of Photoshop filters that let you warp, twist, highlight, and texturize images in every way imaginable. If you need intriguing images to manipulate, check out The PhotoDisc Object Series, a CD-ROM full of beautifully scanned images of cultural relics and household items. If you prefer to start creating on a blank screen, try sketching your ideas with SmartSketch, which makes creating complex illustrations as easy as drawing on paper.
Publishing doesn't mean only paper anymore, though. Adobe has acknowledged this by turning Ceneca Communications' PageMill into Adobe PageMill 1.0, the first WYSIWYG, drag-and-drop Web-page creator. PageMill is a giant leap forward for paperless publishing. A lot of trees will sleep better tonight.
Image-editing Application
Live Picture 2.0
Metatools
The fastest product for compositing multimegabyte images.
Finalists
PhotoFix 2.8.8
Microspot
Affordable, top-notch image editing and color correction.
xRes 1.2
Macromedia (Fauve Software)
Professional painting and image editing in one package.
Digital Camera
Kodak Professional DCS 460 Digital Camera
Eastman Kodak
Exceptionally high-quality imaging for both studio and field.
Finalists
Leaf DCB II
Leaf Systems
A solid successor to Leaf's pioneering Digital Camera Back.
Fujix 515/Nikon E2s Digital Still Camera
Fuji Photo Film USA/NIKON
Identical-twin field cameras that take top-quality images.
Scanner
Saphir
Linotype-hell
Professional flatbed scanner with exceptional image quality.
Finalists
Nikon LS-1000 SuperCoolscan
Nikon
Fast, compact, easy-to-use slide scanner.
ScanMate 11000
Scanview
High-end, 11,000-dpi drum scanning in an elegant desktop unit.
Color Printer
ChromaxPro
Newgen Systems
The most-accurate color we've ever seen from a desktop printer.
Finalists
Color LaserWriter 12/600 PS
Apple Computer
The best color laser printer.
Phaser 340
Tektronix
Affordable high-speed color business printing.
Prepress Application
FlightCheck
Markzware
Save time and money during the preflight process.
Finalists
Download Mechanic 1.6
Acquired Knowledge
There's no better product for troubleshooting PostScript files.
Transverter Pro 3.0.1
Techpool Software
Versatile, powerful vector-art translator.
Professional-storage Product
ExpressPCI-MC
Atto Technology
Two high-speed SCSI ports on one PCI card.
Finalists
APS DLT40
Aps Technologies
The speediest backup system for servers and workstations.
Digital PhotoAlbum for Macintosh
Microtech International
Reliable PC Card reader -- a must for digital-camera users.
Display
PressView 17 SR
Radius
The clear choice for color-critical work.
Finalists
AppleVision 1710AV
Apple Computer
Simply the best multimedia monitor.
ELP-3000/LitePro 580
EPSON/IN Focus Systems
Compact, easy-to-use LCD projector.
Input Device
ArtZ II
Wacom Technology
Versatile tablet with a realistic pen.
Finalists
PaperPort Vx
Visioneer
Elegant essential for well-organized offices.
QV-10
Casio
Affordable digital camera with a unique LCD viewing panel.
Accelerator
PowerShop Accelerator for Macintosh
Adaptive Solutions
The smartest $2,000 a Photoshop user can spend.
Finalists
Turbo 601
Daystar Digital
Add PowerPC punch to your Mac IIci.
YARC Screamer
Yarc Systems
High-powered 2-D and 3-D accelerator.
Graphics Utility
Kai's Power Tools 3
Metatools
Fabulous filters, innovative interface.
Finalists
Series 3 Screens
Andromeda Software
Elegant effects for Photoshop images.
XPert Tools Volume 1
A Lowly Apprentice Production
Productivity-enhancing QuarkXTensions.
Graphics Resource
The PhotoDisc Object Series
Photodisc
Beautiful -- and wonderfully quirky -- images of everyday objects.
Finalists
Art Parts CD-RON 2.0
Art Parts
Weird but wonderful images of people, activities, and things.
Classic PIO Library
Classic Pio Partners
Retro spot art, including classic Hollywood props.
Draw/Paint Application
SmartSketch
Futurewave Software
Easy-but-powerful draw program with intuitive interface.
Finalists
Fractal Design Dabbler 2.0
Fractal Design
Sophisticated painting tools with accessible tutorials.
FreeHand 5.5
Macromedia
A top professional draw program becomes even more refined.
Page-design Product
Adobe PageMill 1.0
Adobe Systems
Drag-and-drop WYSIWYG Web-page creator.
Finalists
Adobe PageMaker 6.0
Adobe Systems
Perennial favorite adds important features.
FrameMaker 5.0
Adobe Systems (Frame Technology)
Powerful, multiplatform book-production tool.
Publishing's not just for paper anymore. With Adobe PageMill 1.0, you can easily launch your creativity onto the World Wide Web.
