ALPHARETTA, Ga. - Neenah Paper today introduced the first iPhone and iPod Touch application that allows designers to create color palettes from the palm of their hand.  Think Ink: Color Unleashed was created specifically for the iPhone to allow users to build custom color palettes using the Dewey Color System.   It can be downloaded for free at http://tinyurl.com/oujv4o.

"We wanted to give designers and printers the ability to pull inspiration from a variety of resources, whether it's a vibrant green found on a blade of grass or a pale shade of yellow, and create a perfect color palette for their project," says Tom Wright, senior director of advertising and design for Neenah Paper.  "This application is unlike anything on the market.  Users not only can translate the source of the inspiration into an immediate color palette, but they can use the app to select a paper that best enhances the design."

A new hand-held tool for designers and printers, the application begins with one of four approaches: a photo taken on the iPhone's built-in camera, a product from Neenah Paper, a predetermined color swatch, or the psychology of color with the Dewey Color System.  After the initial color is selected, Think Ink gives users various palettes, such as subdued, pop, traditional and blended.

From there, designers can place their palette on a variety of Neenah papers to see which works best for their selection.  They can then save and email their custom color palette, order coordinating samples of Neenah Paper and see the palette in different proportions, all from their iPhone. In addition, they can shop for Neenah paper and explore the psychological meanings of hundreds of color combinations with Think Ink.

"This is a smart and powerful tool," says David Schimmel, president and creative director of And Partners (www.andpartnersny.com), which developed the iPhone application for Neenah.  "Inspiration strikes anywhere at anytime, and with this app, designers can capture the moment of inspiration in color.  Within minutes, you can have a palette and paper for a design project or idea."

"We've strived to be a critical resource for designers when searching for innovation and quality in paper," Wright adds. "There wasn't an application out there that does what Think Ink does – that is, capture inspiration for colors no matter where it strikes, and help designers translate color ideas into work.  We hope this will be a very valuable app for designers."

The Think Ink: Color Unleashed application is the latest in a series of technology firsts for Neenah Paper.  Over the last several months, Neenah Paper has released a series of innovative BlackBerry applications such as Paper Math which provides mobile access to Neenah Paper's online paper calculator, the Stocking Guide for mobile access to specifying paper, and the Eco Calculator which allows users to calculate the environmental savings realized by choosing recycling papers consisting of different levels of post consumer fiber content.