It is always difficult for an ad to make an impact in specialist publications and even more problematic in the crowded computer press. Even so, Olympus UK has found a way by lightening its communications with humor.

The promotion for the C-1400L digital camera spoofs cosmetics ads right down to the samples they include. Since January, the ad has been running in a broad selection of photographic and computer publications.

The visual features Quentin Crisp - the man immortalized by Sting in the song "An Englishman in New York" - and credit for the image is given to the famed professional photographer David Bailey. Backed by the precision of the C-1400L's 1.4 -million-pixel CCD, the shot is so detailed that it shows wrinkles a person might not have noticed.

Playing on the cosmetics theme, the copy included on the reverse side of the sachet attached by a special glue. Beneath it is a coupon for those interested in further information.

(From Pursuit vol. 17 no. 3, 1998 )