Backchannelmedia

Akron Beacon Journal (Akron, Ohio)

By Courtney Blowers, The Akron Beacon Journal, Ohio

Jul. 26--Now you see it.

Now you don't.

Magic Pictures, a Canton product that changes from one image to another as you view it at different angles, is beginning to be marketed across the country.

Chris Skeeles, founder and director of Magic Picture Co. Inc., has signed an agreement with the Home Shopping Network that should take his product from kiosks to television.

Skeeles started a program in January aimed at distributing his pictures through gift shops and specialty retailers. Then in early July, he entered into an agreement with distributor Home Shopping Network LP in St. Petersburg, Fla.

"Since we have stepped into the national arena with HSN, things have really stepped up," Skeeles said.

HSN declined to disclose sales, but offered an e-mail statement about the product.

"We felt that Magic Pictures was great for TV," said Korrie Goodman, assistant home furnishings buyer.

"It is a great technique, which is very demonstrable for television."

Skeeles founded his company in 2003. Although he would not disclose sales figures, he characterized his company as growing steadily, with eight employees.

Skeeles began by selling Magic Pictures from a kiosk in the Hartville Market. The company now has outlets around the country, Skeeles said.

Clients in Ohio include Max and Erma's Inc., Aultman Hospital in Canton and the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce, Skeeles said.

Amanda Schervish, project manager at the chamber, said it has received a lot of compliments on its 18-by-24-inch magic picture that transitions from an image of downtown Canton in 1897 to present-day downtown Canton.

Another picture showing the same scenes hangs at the Max and Erma's Restaurant in Canton.

"We have an awesome, awesome picture as soon as you walk in the door. It's of downtown Canton," said restaurant manager Kristy Dolph. "It's a huge hit."

Magic Pictures are created using two photographs the customer provides. The photos are resized and combined to create a magic picture that ranges from 5 by 7 inches to 2 by 3 feet.

"A computer is used to do the art preparation, but the rest is handmade," Skeeles said.

The business started as a hobby four years ago, Skeeles said.

"I like to look at aerial photos. My dad is a pilot," Skeeles said.

In 2003, he decided to take a 1934 aerial photo of his neighborhood in Louisville -- when it was vast farmland -- and a current photo, then create a screen saver that would transition from the old one to the new.

He continued to experiment with different pictures and ways to transition them.

Not too long after that, he found there was a market for the pictures, Skeeles said.

While Skeeles was starting Magic Pictures, he was still running an Internet company that provided electronic access to public records. In 2004, Skeeles began devoting all his time to Magic Pictures and closed the Internet company because of competition and privacy issues.

Now he is working on expanding the business.

A magic picture, which costs $69 for an 8-by-10-inch photo, should not be confused with a hologram, Skeeles said.

"Holograms are made in a different process and tend to be yellowish in color, whereas the magic pictures are very crisp and clear, and it's easy to see the transition," Skeeles said.

The company's headquarters are in the lower floors of a Canton house that has been turned into an office. The space is becoming cramped; boxes of shipments are stacked to the ceiling, Skeeles said.

He said he hopes to move into a warehouse with a loading dock in North Canton and hire more employees within a year.

Courtney Blowers can be reached at 330-996-3550 or cblowers@thebeaconjournal.com

-----

Copyright (c) 2006, The Akron Beacon Journal, Ohio

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Business News.

For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.