H14_ Union News______________

Photos dress up  ordinary Shades

An Evemor shade features

window shades with the

customer's choice of color

photos imprinted on them.

By PAT CAHILL

Staff writer

Norman Morrisette of Chicopee is one of those guys who is always comingup with ideas. One day last spring, he was daydreaming in front of the television and his eyes flicked briefly to the window. In that moment he seemed to see the image from the TV screen superinposed on the window shade. It was an illusion of course, but it gave Morrisette an idea. Why couldn't a window shade be decorated with any picture a person might want?

Morrisette who owned a printing shop, decided to do some research. The result is a new business called Evemor shades that are a shade better than the rest. Large colored photos are printed on the customers choice of window shades.

Morrisette says it was discovering the fine detail now available from computers that sold him on the idea. "What attracted me is how sharp the image is," he says, unrolling a 10 foot long shade imprinted with a forest scene.

"At one time in the printing business you couldn't have an enlargement this size without losing details" Now computers allow allow him to go up to 59" wide and still keep a sharp, focused image.The 6 foot wide jet-ink printer Morrisette uses for the process will continue to be available with various coatings and lamination for cleaning. He can also print on silk and othe fabrics. Each shade is finished off at the bottom with a fold, a seam, a wood or plastic shaft, and an old-fashioned tassel. It comes already attached to the standard tube at the top. He can see people having shades for every season of the year, changing  the scenery up to four times a year. He ponders made to order shades for buses and airport shuttles.

Norman looks forward to working with you on your favorite picture shades. Norman can be reached by phone at 413-534-6338