Kodak PhotoCD Imaging Workstation - Printable Version
+- IRIX Network Forums (//forums.irixnet.org)
+-- Forum: Other Platforms (//forums.irixnet.org/forum-5.html)
+--- Forum: Sun/ORACLE/Fujitsu (//forums.irixnet.org/forum-21.html)
+--- Thread: Kodak PhotoCD Imaging Workstation (/thread-4547.html)
+- IRIX Network Forums (//forums.irixnet.org)
+-- Forum: Other Platforms (//forums.irixnet.org/forum-5.html)
+--- Forum: Sun/ORACLE/Fujitsu (//forums.irixnet.org/forum-21.html)
+--- Thread: Kodak PhotoCD Imaging Workstation (/thread-4547.html)
Kodak PhotoCD Imaging Workstation - protocol7 - 06-08-2025
While flicking through PhotoCDs on archive.org I found a couple of interesting images of this system, immediately recognising it as a rebranded Sparc system.
https://discmaster.textfiles.com/browse/1412/PCD1904.BIN/photo_cd/images (<- pics 18, 19 and 21).
I can't find any info on the software in image 21. Is anyone familiar with this system?
RE: Kodak PhotoCD Imaging Workstation - robespierre - 06-09-2025
From the picture, it uses the OpenLook interface widgets. A photo editing workstation needs a 24-bit graphics board, which was not super common on the pizzabox Suns.
It might be a SparcStation 2 or 10 with CG12 or ZX graphics, running Solaris 2.2, if the date is around 1993. The CD-R module is a 411 box, very common on Suns of that era.
I think it looks more like a SS2 than a SS10; the SS10 has a deeper chassis without open space between the "feet".
RE: Kodak PhotoCD Imaging Workstation - protocol7 - 06-09-2025
Thanks for the reply. I think those photos show an early system.
I recognised the 411 CDROM case right away as I have one, though mine only has a reader. I still have a few SSs but they're later models than what was shown there (5, 10 and 20) and yep all have 8-bit framebuffers. The power led on the front of the case means this would be a 1, 1+ or 2. The 10 has one too, but it also has the recess for the model badge beside it and there's none here.
Update: I've found a few articles covering the system around launch and they confirm it's a SS2.
I've done a bit more digging around on the Kodak site via The Wayback Machine and found links to some more info. The later/final systems were SS20-based. I've also seen a reference to a Kodak photo retouching system called Premier that also ran on Sparc. Not sure if it's part of this Photo CD system or another tool.
This page has some info for the PIW at the bottom. And this software update document lists compatible hardware, including an SBUS CMYK accelerator card. Unfortunately I can't find a copy of the users guide mentioned at the end.
Update: From a feature in Popular Electronics (Feb 93):
Quote:The scanned image is sent to a Kodak PCD Data Manager S200 (which is a specially adapted Sun SPARCstation computer) where color correction and density correction are performed. The image is then compressed according to an algorithm proprietary to Kodak; the resulting file is about 4.5 megabytes. Some proprietary Kodak hardware is also contained in the S200.
The SPARCstation outputs to an index printer that produces the thumbnail index prints. Data is also fed to a Photo CD disc writer that is made by Philips. The disc writer records the pictures on a write-once CD, which is then given to the customer.
RE: Kodak PhotoCD Imaging Workstation - legodude - 06-09-2025
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTkx8CamFbI
From a photo, not Unix channel so there is less discussion of the Sun.
RE: Kodak PhotoCD Imaging Workstation - protocol7 - 06-10-2025
Thanks legodude. That was really interesting. I did a quick look online for Image Magic and found a picture of a third generation unit with what is possibly a SS20 in the photo. I'll dig around on The Wayback Machine and see what I can find on Kodak's site.
I used these type of kiosks a few times in the past (though I think they were mostly Fujifilm ones) and always assumed they used some generic PC. Wouldn't have expected a Sun workstation to be lurking inside (at least with the early ones).
I had another look for Premier and found a reference to it on Kodak's milestones page (under 1990, the same year PhotoCD was announced).
Quote:Kodak announced the development of its Photo CD system for playing images on television screens, and proposed a worldwide standard for defining color in the digital environment of computers and computer peripherals.
The KODAK PREMIER Image Enhancement System helped commercial and industrial photography labs achieve new levels of quality and productivity by combining silver-halide and electronic technologies to scan photographs, digitize the information, and then output to photographic film or paper.
And another one:
Quote:The Kodak Professional PIW 4200 can also serve as the gateway to more sophisticated image editing. For example, with a feature that will be added later this year, users can network the Kodak Professional PIW 4200 to an image-editing workstation_such as the Kodak Premier image enhancement system or the Macintosh Quadra computer_edit the content of an image, and return it to the Kodak Pro Photo CD Master disc.