Venture Computer, the sole distributor in Southern Africa for Lexmark International, today announced that Lexmark have entered into an exclusive long-term partnership with the French Reunion des musees nationaux (RMN) to promote art at home in Europe and North America. The first step of this partnership is the development and production of a series of high resolution CD ROMs, called the `Print Gallery` collection, containing 100 of the world`s greatest works of art, including the Mona Lisa by Leonardo Da Vinci. This new 11-CD collection is available with all Lexmark Z family printers. Lexmark will also participate in the development of other cultural art CD collections with RMN in the future, as well as joint events at future art exhibitions.
The Print Gallery collection images can be printed in various formats from business cards to greeting cards, from calendars to bookmarks all on Lexmark high quality inkjet printers. This partnership is significant, as it is the first time any art collection is made available to the general public, for reproduction in high quality resolution.
"Without Lexmark`s extremely high-resolution printing technology and our common vision for art and its promotion, the Print Gallery series would never have been created,`` stated Laurence Herszberg, Director of Multimedia for the RMN. "The CD ROMs are a vital tool in helping people familiarise themselves with art by building up their own personal collection and encouraging people to attend museums to discover the originals.``
In making the announcement, Michel Dermont, vice president and general manager of Lexmark`s Consumer Printer Division, Europe, said, "RMN has chosen Lexmark over its competitors. The Z family of printers provides the superior art-quality worthy of the masterpieces featured on the CD ROMs. By next year, the Print Gallery collection will be extended to include the finest works of art from museums around the world.
The Print Gallery Collection - Over 100 Printable Masterpieces
The first CD-ROM in the series contains images of some of the most impressive works of art owned by the Louvre. There are also paintings from the Musee d`Orsay and from the Musee des Arts asiatiques-Guimet. Subsequent CD ROMs, scheduled to appear approximately every six months, will allow users to continue to build their own personal museum of classic masterpieces.
The Lexmark Print Gallery CD-ROM provides an overview of major European works of art. Once a selection is made, it can be printed in a number of different formats. For example, you can use the artwork to jazz up your business cards and letterhead; print your own postcards, bookmarks, posters (with the Z51) and calendars to decorate your home; or send personalised greeting cards to friends.
Each illustration is filed by collection, allowing you to browse effortlessly through categories such as paintings, sculptures, landscapes or portraits. Using the zoom function, you can explore each painting thanks to its 400 percent magnifying function and also view details of each image before printing pre-selected areas. The Print Gallery collection is available in six different languages: French, English, German, Italian, Spanish and Portuguese. The CD ROMs will also be marketed separately by RMN through its traditional channels.
Lexmark/RMN web site
As a further step in their joint effort to increase public awareness of some of the greatest works of art, RMN and Lexmark have created a joint web site: www.print-art.com. Users will have access to a range of features including information such as the history of printing, on-line help for the ``Print Gallery`` CDs, promotional offers and up-to-date information on exhibitions. The web site also features an access to the online shopping Boutique from RMN. This site also has a direct link to art museums and will be a real portal to the art Websites. Ultimately the ambition of Lexmark and RMN is to promote this site as one of the references for art on the web.
RMN
The Reunion des musees nationaux (RMN) was created by the Government in 1895 to enrich the French national art collections through the acquisitions of artwork. The RMN collects and distributes funds to accomplish this goal.
Today, the RMN works with thirty-three museums that differ greatly in size. As well as the Louvre, the Musee d`Orsay and the chateau de Versailles, smaller museums such as the Musee Eugene Delacroix in Paris or the Musee Magnin in Dijon are also included.
The Reunion des musees nationaux (RMN) organises international art exhibitions and also produces and offers to the public a large range of products. (Books, prints, mouldings, jewels, gifts, and of course CD ROMS). RMN is on the Internet at WWW.RMN.FR
For further information, please contact Richard Fearon at tel. (011) 329 0999; fax (011) 792 7449; e-mail rfearon@venture.co.za
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Venture Computer
Venture Computer is the sole distributor in South Africa for Lexmark; and Tally; products including consumables, with offices in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban and Port Elizabeth. They were chosen by CRNSA readers as "Distributor of the Year" in 1996, 1997 and in 1998.