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: ù 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 minutes of sound ù Kodak Photo CD Portfolio discs must be created from Kodak Photo CD Master discs or other Photo CD Portfolio discs ù Kodak Photo CD Master discs are created from consumers' original 35 mm slides or negatives, or they are reproduced from other Photo CD Master discs. Because Photo CD Master discs always contain images of full photographic-quality, they are limited to approximately 100 images "The Kodak Photo CD Portfolio format is one of the most exciting extensions of Photo CD technology," said Stephen S. Stepnes, general manager and vice president of CD Imaging at Kodak. "It adds new dimensions to photography 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 Interactive 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 Photo CD Portfolio formats, the other formats include: ù Kodak Pro Photo CD Master discs, which store the larger film formats favored by professional photographers (such as 120 and 4 x 5-inch) ù Kodak Photo CD Catalog discs, which allow easy distribution of disc catalogs containing hundreds of pictures of vacation destinations, art works or retail products ù 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 Portfolio discs will fall into one of three categories: personal pictures, business presentations, and premastered prerecorded discs for sale through retail channels. ù 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). ù 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 to combine 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. ù 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 or 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 Portfolio 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 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 thousands 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. ### [Note: Kodak is a trademark.]