ChromaFax from Compressent

You produce fabulous color documents on your computer - proposals, graphics, presentations, brochures, artwork, and more. Why fax them in black and white? With ChromaFax from Compressent, you can fax any document you create or scan into your computer in brilliant color. Because color enables you to communicate more clearly and present a more professional image, ChromaFax is ideal for individuals working in small or home offices where professionalism is a competitive advantage. In addition, home computer enthusiasts will also find sending greeting cards, photos and artwork to others just plain fun.

ChromaFax is a Windows 95 electronic fax application that lets you send and receive faxes in full color from your personal computer. ChromaFax supports a variety of color scanners and printers so you can capture color documents into your computer as well as print out color faxes you've received from others. And ChromaFax squeezes files down to a manageable size so that sending a color fax is practical.

Because it's based on industry standards, ChromaFax allows you to send faxes to and receive faxes from anyone who has software or equipment that supports recognized fax standards, which includes most fax machines and fax software. You can send a color fax to any Windows 95 user who has ChromaFax Receiver software, which is available free of charge and can be freely distributed. ChromaFax also communicates with today's installed base of black and white fax machines and e-fax software. If your destination is a black and white device, or the recipient does not have ChromaFax Receiver, the fax image is simply converted from color to black and white.

ChromaFax Benefits

• Color is a competitive advantage. Color brings a professional touch to brochures, proposals, and presentations created on a computer. The results enhance the professionalism of you and your organization.
• Color faxing is time and cost-effective. Overnight delivery is expensive and (relatively) slow. When material is best viewed in color, color faxing is a cost-effective way to get it there -- and fast!
• ChromaFax is easy to use (and fun!). Similar to a fax machine, the simplicity and ease-of-use of ChromaFax makes it usable by novice and experts alike.
• You won't be alone on an island of color. ChromaFax Receiver is free; distribute it to anyone with whom you wish to send a color fax
• Works with fax devices of today and the future. ChromaFax is based on established industry standards and is designed to work with today's installed base of fax machines, black and white e-fax software, and other PCs installed with ChromaFax.
• It's a great black and white fax program too! ChromaFax also sends in black and white and includes the key features you use in your favorite black and white fax program.

ChromaFax Features

 

Easy, flexible addressing

• Multiple phonebooks
• Group addressing
• Import existing phonebooks/databases

Save time and money

• Background send/receive
• Attach files via drag-and-drop
• Includes more than a dozen cover pages
• Send at off-peak hours

Customizable

• Cover page personalized with your color logo
• Custom cover page editor
• Fax annotations

And more...

• Integrate multiple files into one fax
• Support for all Twain-compliant scanners

 

System Requirements

• Pentium PC recommended
• Windows 95
• Standard Fax modem
• 16 MB RAM recommended

 

ChromaFax Was Ahead of Its Time.

1997:
ChromaFax was considered a cutting edge software that permitted the sending of color faxes anywhere in the world. That was how ChromaFax was promoted. However, in a world where color fax machines were few and often incompatible it was not as simple as you might think. NOTE: You needed to have the same brand of fax machines on both ends of the transmission.
According to Compressent that developed the digital image coding and data compression software, you could just use your color scanner to create an electronic color copy of the document to be faxed. Then the file was converted into a special digital form. The recipient's number is dialed, but before transmission occured, the program gathered information about the abilities of the fax system at the other end and automatically selected the appropriate transmission method.
It would transmit either as black and white to an ordinary fax machine or  to a computer running fax software, color to a color fax machine, or to a PC running ChromaFax software.
When the PC running ChromaFax received the transmission, the computer used its color printer to print out the faxed document. Color faxing made easy!
Until color fax machines become more commonplace and standardized, using the digital image coding and data compression ChromaFax software was probably the best way to send a color document via fax at that time.

Fifteen years later....there is now an abundance of color fax machines available from moderately priced models to very expensive laser color printer / fax machines from all the major brands. And most people don't think twice about sending brightly colored documents via fax.

 

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More Background on Compressent.com

Compressent.com is a fascinating digital platform that delves into the legacy of a niche technology from the 1990s. Originally focused on a pioneering fax technology known as ChromaFax, the website has been repurposed to offer a historical perspective on this once-groundbreaking innovation. Despite its specific technological focus, Compressent.com holds significant cultural value as it preserves a slice of tech history that might otherwise have been forgotten. This article provides a comprehensive overview of Compressent.com, exploring its history, cultural impact, audience, and significance.

History of Compressent.com

Compressent.com was initially created to support and promote ChromaFax, a software developed in the mid-1990s. ChromaFax was an innovative solution that allowed users to send and receive color faxes using their personal computers. At a time when fax technology was still widely used but mostly limited to black-and-white transmissions, ChromaFax represented a significant leap forward. It enabled users to send colorful documents, graphics, and images with greater clarity and professionalism, which was particularly valuable for businesses and creative professionals.

Despite its promise, ChromaFax faced several challenges that limited its commercial success. The primary hurdle was the lack of widespread adoption of color fax machines and compatible software, which made it difficult for users to fully utilize the technology. Additionally, as digital communication technologies rapidly evolved, the relevance of fax technology diminished, leading to the eventual decline of ChromaFax and its associated products.

After the original domain expired, it was later acquired and repurposed by an individual interested in preserving the historical significance of ChromaFax. The current iteration of Compressent.com serves as a digital archive, showcasing the history and development of ChromaFax, as well as the broader context of fax technology during the 1990s.

Press & Media Coverage

While Compressent.com itself has not garnered significant press coverage, the technology it represents has been discussed in various technology and business publications over the years. ChromaFax was highlighted in industry reports as a cutting-edge innovation during its time, particularly for its ability to transmit color documents—something that was a rarity in the mid-1990s.

Industry analysts and tech historians have occasionally referenced ChromaFax in discussions about the evolution of communication technologies, particularly in the context of how quickly some technologies can become obsolete due to rapid advancements in the field. The preservation of this history on Compressent.com provides a valuable resource for researchers and enthusiasts interested in the technological transitions of the late 20th century.

Audience and Cultural Significance

The primary audience for Compressent.com includes technology enthusiasts, historians, and individuals with an interest in the evolution of digital communication. The website serves as a nostalgic reminder of a time when fax machines were a central part of office life and when sending a color document was a groundbreaking achievement.

From a cultural perspective, Compressent.com holds significance as it highlights the transient nature of technology. ChromaFax, despite its innovative approach, was quickly overshadowed by more advanced digital communication methods, illustrating the rapid pace of technological change. The website offers a reflective look at how far communication technology has come, from the limitations of early fax machines to the instant, high-resolution image transmission capabilities we take for granted today.

Insights and Specifics

One of the unique aspects of Compressent.com is its detailed documentation of ChromaFax’s features and capabilities. The website meticulously outlines how the software worked, the technology behind it, and the various challenges it faced in the market. For instance, ChromaFax was designed to be compatible with a wide range of scanners and printers, and it could compress files to manageable sizes, making it practical for transmitting color faxes. However, the software’s reliance on the recipient having compatible technology was a significant barrier to widespread adoption.

Moreover, Compressent.com provides a rare glimpse into the corporate culture surrounding ChromaFax’s development. The site recounts how the development team’s efforts were recognized with unique rewards, such as Superman sweatshirts, symbolizing their "superhero-level" contributions to the project. This anecdote not only adds a human element to the story but also underscores the pride and excitement that often accompany technological innovation, even in projects that ultimately do not achieve commercial success.

Examples and Details

A notable example of the cultural impact of ChromaFax is how it was positioned as a professional tool for small businesses and home offices. By enabling users to send professional-quality color documents, ChromaFax aimed to give small enterprises a competitive edge. This focus on accessibility and user-friendliness was a hallmark of many technological products in the 1990s, as the tech industry sought to empower smaller players in a rapidly changing market.

Additionally, the technological specifications detailed on Compressent.com, such as the software’s compatibility with Windows 95 and its integration with TWAIN-compliant scanners, offer a snapshot of the era’s technological landscape. These details are invaluable for historians and technologists interested in the development and limitations of 1990s software.

 

Compressent.com is more than just a website; it is a digital time capsule that preserves the memory of a once-innovative technology. By documenting the history and features of ChromaFax, the site provides valuable insights into the evolution of digital communication and the cultural shifts that accompany technological change. For anyone interested in the history of technology, Compressent.com offers a unique and informative perspective on the fleeting nature of technological innovation.