Just Out 07/04

SPECTACULAR SHADOWS

Portrait lighting just got easier. Westcott's new Master's Brush softbox add-on gives you a two-stop difference between the center and outer edges, so you get a gentle fall-off of light. Westcott achieves this with a multilayer front panel and an internal baffle. The Master's Brush is a variation on Westcott's 16x22-inch silver-interior Box 1 softbox and comes in a package with a Box 1 ($229.90 list) or as an add-on kit for any 16x22 softbox ($99.90 list), or (F.J. Westcott Co.; 419-243-7311; www.fjwestcott.com)

STOWAWAY TRIPOD

So you're on a shoot and need a tabletop tripod, but you left it at home? If you had a Davis & Sanford tripod and the company's new SwitchGrip ($19.97 list) you could just remove a hidden mini-tripod from your regular tripod's handle and shoot away. The SwitchGrip fits Davis & Sanford's CourierXT, MagnumXT, Explorer, and Ranger tripods. Stowed, the SwitchGrip with mini-tripod weighs eight ounces and is eight inches long. (Tiffen Company; 631-273-2500; www.tiffen.com)

POSH PAPYRUS

Adorama's new ProJet Elite fine-art inkjet papers let you add anything from texture to shine. The line includes Photo Rag, Linen Texture, Silver Mirror, and Velvet Smooth varieties. Photo Rag is 100-percent cotton, acid-free watercolor paper, Linen Texture gives you just that. Silver Mirror is a reflective, polyester-based foil, while Velvet Smooth has a texture to match its name. All ProJet Elite papers come in a range of weights, 4x6- to 17x22-inch sizes, as well as rolls. Prices start at $9.99 for 10 8.5x11 sheets of lightweight Photo Rag. (Adorama; 800-223-2500; www.adorama.com)