Thanks!  Worked just fine!

Wil

I use Qmiage for all my printing to my ink jet printers with great success.  Lately there are may jobs that can be done at Costco at less cost and very good quality.  It seems that the obvious answer is to use "Print to File" to get all the advantages of Qimage in the files to send to Costco.

I can, and have, downloaded printer profiles for the Costco printers in my area.  To get the best results, the files need to be converted to the Costco specific printer profile and Qimage does that very well when saving the file.

On the surface, it seems that this should solve the problem, but there are some problems:
1.  There is no way to print to file without specifying a page size.  The Costco printers don't want a page size to start with -- you select that later 0n.  They want a 300 ppi file at the size specified.

2.  The entire page layout, including borders, is written to the file.  What is needed, is to write the file to file with just the image data only.  I tried to print to file using borderless prints, but I still get a white border around the data.

Other applications like Lightroom and Photoshop allow you to convert an image to a profile and save it.  That has worked very well for me, but I'm making a presentation  about color management and would like to feature Qimage as an application that can be used to send color corrected files to outside print labs.


Is it possible to just write the file data alone using "Print to File?"

The constant requirement to rejoin the group on yahoo is so bad that I'll not go there again.

please bring it all here!

Wil

Since that first post, I have spent a lot of time trying to fine an acceptable flash for the Panasonic G1.  In some cases my Canon 580 II worked just fine, but in other cases, the results were awful.

After a lot of searching, I decided on the Metz 48 AF-1.  It arrived today and initial shots around the house indicate that, straight out of the box, it does just what it should do.

The G1 allows very limited functions for external flash units -- essentially only TTL.  That seems to be enough.  Except for outdoor fill flash, I shoot all flash in bounce with "ABetterBounceCard" which I made myself for about $0.50.  I've only had time to test the combo at home with 9 ft. ceilings and simple subjects.  So far, the flash is perfect.  Even at about three feet, there is no over exposure.  At 30 ft. with 9 ft. ceilings all is very well.

I'll be shooting a church Vacation Bible School tomorrow where the ceilings are more than 20 ft. and some of them are black.  I have been shooting this job with a Canon 1DIII and a 580 II.  The results are exceptional.  Now we'll see how the G1 and the Metz 48 do compared the the 1DIII and 580 II.  More as tghe job cotinues.

Wil

Among the reasons to select the Panasonic G1 is its small size.  It would be nice to find a small flash to complement this fine small camera.  While i am waiting for my copy to be delivered, I have been collecting data on the most common flash units that will work with this camera.

My major requirement is that the flash can be used in bounce mode, and I only surveyed units that allowed that.  It seems that many flash units will work.  It seems that the requirements are that the flash and camera communicate and that the flash allows the camera to set the flash exposure.  It may also work if the flash can set its own exposure.

Mike reports that his Canon 580 works very well with the G1.  That means that many others will work.  Below is a table showing the guide numbers and size of my Canon EX 580 II and the other two units that seem to work with the G1 with the bounce function that I require.

Flash for Panasonic DMC-G1   Guide Number   W   H, folded   D, folded
Canon 580 II      58/190      3.0   5.4   4.6
Metz 48 AF-1      48/157      71/2.79   5.4   3.89
Olympus FL-36   36/118      67/2.6   4.3   3.7

As you can see, there isn't much difference in the size of the units.  That means, to me, to pick the best specs.  If you have a Canon 580/ 580 II, it should serve you well.  If you must buy one, the Metz seems to be an obvious choice.  Its specs are materially better than the Olimpus unit in all ways as well as proce.

Good luck!
Wil

Thanks Mike!

I have a G1 coming and hope to use it on an assignment a week later at a church Vacation Bible School.  A flash will be needed and there really isn't time to get a dedicated flash for the camera.  From my reading, the Metz 48 AF seem to be the best match.  All of the best matches are larger than the camera, and it seems that choosing a flash on size isn't the way to go.

You use the Canon 580, and I plan to make some tests with the Canon 580 II.  You said that you just use manual, but I hope you could be a little more specific since my time is getting short.

1. In manual mode, do you try to set the exposure correctly for the scene?

2.  Do you set the 580 to ETTL?

Thanks
Wil

That looks great.  While I use a Canon 1dIII as my main camera, I have bought a Canon G10 for a walk around -- expedition camera.  After your article and other reviews, I have put the G10 on eBay and will buy the Panasonic G1.  Thanks for your efforts.

Have you used the tele-lens at all?

Wil

That's very interesting.  I have an EX 580 II and use a lot of bounce flash.

How do you set up the exposure, etc. using your 580?

Wil

The new G1 sounds great, but it will need some lenses and a good external flash.  It should be easy to find the lenses, but:

Who knows about a flash with a head that can turn up and also rotate and use the functions of the camera?

Wil