 BetterPhoto Member |
photography facility Hi, What equipment would I need to set up a digital photography facility, including software and hardware(not camera)with costings.
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robert G. Fately |
The first answer is "how much do you want to spend?" Computer: the most powerful mutha you can afford - Mac or PC - because photgraphic images require a lot of horsepower to play on Photoshop. By "powerful", I mean a)fast CPU, b) as much RAM as you can stuff into it and c) a big hard drive. Monitor: most folks will say that a CRT type monitor is still the best way to go if you are concerned about color-correctness. Probably a 20" monitor at minimum, and again, the good ones aren't cheap. Backup: At least one external hard drive to act as a backup - using a Firewire (IEEE1394) or USB2 connection so you can transfer files quickly. Printer: boy howdy are there a lot of options here. Inkjets from Epson and HP come in a variety of sizes, up to poster producing large models. How large do you plan to print? Or there's the dye sublimation approach - output looks far more photographic but color life may be a bit more limited, and maximum size print is 8x12 (Kodak 1400). And know that if you use cheap paper or ink to save money, you may well compromise the quality of your final output. Software: Photoshop Elements at a minimum, Photoshop CS if you want to go nuts. Also important - some kind of digital asset management (DAM) software like iView Media Pro or Canto Cumulus. And some kind of color calibration software/hardware system, to ensure that the colors you see on your nifty fancy 20" monitor are the same that you'll get out of your spiffy poster sized printer. Oh, and speaking of printers, if you do want to get a large size model (Epson 4800, for example) you should also get a RIP - that is, software that sits between your computer and the printer and does a better job of controlling output than the printer drivers you get in the printer box. Misc: a UPS (Uninterruptable Power Supply) to protect the gear. Perhaps a Wacom tablet to enable you to use more natural pencil-handling motions to manipulate images. An ergonomically correct desk and chair (you'll be spending a bunch of time in them). Sorry I can't put a number on this - but you really weren't specific enough to give a real answer yet.
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