Consumers can become publishers with new Photo CD disc format





New York, Aug. 25 - KODAK's new Photo CD format extends consumer and 

commercial uses for Photo CD discs.  Like the KODAK Photo CD Master

format that KODAK began shipping in April 1992, KODAK Photo CD Portfolio

discs can combine sound, text, graphics, and interactive branching with

photographs.

KODAK Photo CD Portfolio discs differ from KODAK Photo CD Master discs

in three ways:





- KODAK Photo CD Portfolio discs can hold up to 800 images at TV-



  resolution or one hour of audio CD - quality stereo sound or any



  combination of images and sound, such as 400 images and 30 minues 

  

  of sound.





- KODAK Photo CD Portfolio discs must be created from KODAK Photo 



  CD Master discs or other Photo CD Portfolio discs.





- KODAK Photo CD Master discs are created from consumers' original



  35mm slides or negatives, or they are reproduced fom other Photo 



  CD Master discs.  Because Photo CD Master discs always contain 



  images of full photographic-quality, they are limited to approx-



  imately 100 images.



"The KODAK Photo CD Portfolio format is one of the most exciting extensions

of the Photo CD technology," said Stephen S. Stepnes, general manager and 

vice president of CD Imaging at KODAK.  "It adds new dimensions to photo-

graphy by merging pictures with voice-overs, music, or sound effects and by

extending image capacity when more than 100 images are required.  With KODAK 

Photo CD Portfolio discs, we're making it possible for everyone to be their 

own storyteller."



One important feature of both KODAK Photo CD Master and Photo CD Portfolio 

discs is what KODAK calls branching (or interactive programmed access) 

capability that lets users look at images on a disc in the way that suits 

them best.  A user might choose to view all the pictures of an individual

child versus another, for example.



Like the KODAK Photo CD Master format, the KODAK Photo CD Portfolio format

also lets users add sound, text, or graphics to their pictures - creating

audio captions to accompany the pictures on a family tree or of a wedding

or creating multimedia-style business presentations.



All of these capabilities will become available by mid-1993.  The KODAK

Photo CD Portfolio format was described in KODAK announcements earlier this 

year as the KODAK Intercative Photo CD disc.  The KODAK Photo CD Master

format has been previously described simply as "Photo CD" discs.  The KODAK 

Photo CD Portfolio disc, like all Photo CD format discs, can be displayed on 

TV (using a Photo CD or CD-I player) or input to a desktop computer (using

a Photo CD-compatible CD-ROM XA drive).  The Photo CD players that are 

currently on the market can already play the new features of Photo CD Master

and Photo CD Portfolio discs.









About the KODAK Photo CD formats





The KODAK Photo CD Portfolio format is one of four new disc formats KODAK

introduced today as the company brings the benefits of Photo CD technology

to new groups of users and to new markets.



Besides the KODAK Photo CD Master and Portfolio formats, the other formats 

include:





-KODAK Pro Photo CD Master discs, which store the larger film 



 formats favored by professional photographers (such as 120 and 



 4 x 5-inch)





-KODAK Photo CD Catalog discs, which allow easy distribution of disc



 catalogs containing hundreds of pictures of vacation destinations,



 art works or retail products





-KODAK Photo CD Medical discs, which can store computed tomography



 (CT) scans and magnetic resonance images (MR) in addition to 



 film-based images







It is expected that most applications for KODAK Photo CD Portfoliodiscs will

fall into one of three categories: personal pictures, business presentations, 

and premastered prerecorded discs for sale through retail channels.





*Personal pictures: 



These include programs such as family trees, where the viewer can look at 

pictures of grandparents, birthday celebrations, or even the family dog just 

by choosing the appropriate branch from an on-screen menu.  As the pictures 

are displayed on either a Photo CD player or a computer's Photo CD 

compatible CD-ROM XA drive, any sound or graphics linked to the image will 

also play.



A depression-era photo of grandparents, for example, might include on screen 

text noting the year and location, along with reminiscences of the period in 

grandma's own voice.



To create KODAK Photo CD Portfolio discs, consumers will use special 

authoring software scheduled to become available in 1993 at minilabs and 

other locations.  They'll bring in their KODAK Photo CD Master or Portfolio 

discs and audio selections and follow the directions in the authoring 

software to assemble their own unique program.



Easy-to-use templates will be available for the most popular applications, 

such as family trees, weddings, and birthdays.  Once the consumer has 

assembled the program, it will be turned over to the photofinisher, who will 

create the KODAK Photo CD Master or Portfolio disc at a KODAK Photo CD 

Imaging Workstation (PIW).  





*Business presentations:



This application area comprises anything being produced in quantity - large

or small - for distribution to others, including business presentations, 

real estate listings, travelogues, and similar programs.  All of the same 

branching, audio, and visual options are available.



The key difference in business presentations lies in how discs are created.  

In addition to the KODAK Photo CD Imaging Workstations with authoring

software, properly configured desktop computers can be used tocombine text, 

graphics, and images on either a KODAK Photo CD Master or Portfolio disc.  

These desktop computers will be equipped with Photo CD compatible CD-ROM XA 

drives, KODAK authoring software, and KODAK Photo CD 200 Writers (to be

introduced later this year).  With the help of the software, people can 

select images from among their existing Photo CD discs and add graphics, 

text, and sound to create a program script.



With the script, users can produce finished discs in moderate quantities at 

the photofinisher or on their own compact disc writers.





*Premastered discs:



Because Photo CD-compatible playback devices, including Photo CD and CD-I 

players and computers equipped with Photo CD compatible CD-ROM XA drives 

will be widespread, it is expected that software publishers will make the 

KODAK Photo CD Master and Portfolio disc a preferred format for the creation

of multimedia-style titles that can be stamped for mass production under the 

disc publisher's brand.



KODAK has already had preliminary discussions with organizations interested

in publishing guided tours of major museums, narrated summaries of fine art 

collections (complete with mood-setting music), a series of children's 

books, and other programs.  Rick Smolan, the author of the photographic 

A Day In The Life of ... book, series, is including a KODAK Photo CD disc in

his new book, From Alice to Ocean, which documents the story of a woman's 

journey across the Australian Outback.  (This disc contains photos, 

narration, and ambient sound that could not be included in the book itself).



Production of these premastered discs begins at a desktop computer or 

workstation, the same way that a personal KODAK Photo CD Portfolio discs do.

Final production of large quantities of discs, however, would take place at 

a compact disc mastering house similar to those that stamp thousanfs of 

audio CDs.



"The significance of this new format encompasses both the consumer and 

commercial sectors," Stepnes said.  "Consumers will have an opportunity to 

create the ultimate photo album, with music and narrative that brings their 

pictures to life.  Commercial users will have a powerful presentation and 

marketing tool, as well as the opportunity to tap exciting new markets for 

their creative work.



"With all that potential, this new Photo CD format stands poised to bring 

the power of multimedia to everyone.  It will truly be 'multimedia for the 

masses.'"



The first KODAK Photo CD Portfolio discs are set to be available next year.

Those interested in more information may call the KODAK Information Center 

at 1-800-242-2424, ext. 77.







